Case Study

I applied to study at the University of Sunderland as I wanted to stay somewhat close to home. I also chose Sunderland as it has an amazing reputation, especially within pharmaceutical sciences. The lab facilities are excellent, and the employability rates of graduates are extremely high.

Before coming to university, I was studying for my A Levels, with a plan to study Pharmacy. Unfortunately, I did not achieve the grades I wanted, so I decided to complete BSc (Hons) Biopharmaceutical Sciences with an Integrated Foundation Year. Through this year, I decided that I was more interested in organic chemistry and wanted to pursue the BSc (Hons) Medicinal Chemistry degree, as it incorporates my favourite elements of the course by studying how drugs work within the body and how they are designed and optimised.

Through my degree, I was given the opportunity to apply to gain invaluable experience within laboratory settings. I applied for a Royal Society of Chemistry summer research bursary, which I was fortunate enough to receive. This summer placement gave me so much more confidence within the lab as I was limited to lab time in second year, due to COVID. Also, I was fortunate enough to gain myself a placement at Sterling Pharmaceutical Solutions Ltd. While working there, I have learned many transferable skills, which I will be able to take back to university to help complete my degree, as well as greatly help me in my future career.

The best advice I can give to prospective students is to take full advantage of any opportunities offered and also apply for a placement year in industry. This will help you gain crucial experience as well as giving you a better understanding of how the pharmaceutical industry operates.

My experience at the University of Sunderland has been amazing. Throughout my degree, I have become more and more interested and passionate in pursuing a career in medicinal chemistry, studying drug discovery and development.

Published 27 October 2022