Reading lists
Recommended reading materials and textbooks to support your course
MPharm Pharmacy course reading
During the MPharm course, you will be expected to broaden the knowledge you acquire from formal teaching, e.g. in lectures, by supplementary reading in your private study time. Several copies of each book are held in the George Green Library of Science and Engineering and one copy at least will normally be held in the Short Loan Collection and/or available electronically for quick access. Further copies may be available in the Greenfield Medical Library. However, there are often waiting lists for library copies and, since some books will be required extensively as supplementary reading material, you are strongly encouraged to purchase your own copy.
We know that books are expensive and do not ask you to buy any which are not essential. Library copies will usually suffice for the remainder. Books which will be used for more than one year of the course will also be noted. Please ask library staff if you need help using library services or resources or email enquiries-GGL@nottingham.ac.uk
Blackwell's university bookshop on campus holds adequate stocks of the recommended textbooks and you are advised to wait until you come to the university before buying any books. Non-specialist bookshops at home may take a considerable time in supplying books through special orders.
We would advise you to pay attention to health and NHS stories in the media as you will need to increase your awareness of health issues. A good overview of the NHS can be found on the NHS choices website. The Department of Health and Social Care website will tell you about current health policy in the UK.
We will make guidance available on Moodle as to which books we recommend for your course, close to the start of the academic year.
A Level Biology
Some of our new students have not studied A Level Biology. If this applies to you, don't worry. We find that such students may have to put in a bit of extra effort on those parts of the course with strong biological aspects, e.g, pharmacology and microbiology, but we do not find it necessary to provide any additional modules to remedy this lack of background knowledge. Students always seem to cope extremely well without any further formal tuition.
If you do require extra help and advice on biological aspects during the course, please ask and we shall do our best for you. However, you can prepare yourself to minimise the effects by some self-study during the period after A levels and before you begin the MPharm course. During this time, we recommend you read parts of an appropriate A level text, giving particular attention to the area of human biology.
Pharmaceutical Sciences course reading
In the pharmaceutical sciences courses, you will be expected to broaden the knowledge you acquire from formal teaching, e.g. in lectures, by supplementary reading in your private study time. Several copies of each book are held in the George Green Library of Science and Engineering and one copy at least will normally be held in the Short Loan Collection and/or available electronically for quick access. Further copies may be available in the Greenfield Medical Library. However, there are often waiting lists for library copies and, since some books will be required extensively as supplementary reading material, you are encouraged to purchase your own copy.
We know that books are expensive and do not ask you to buy any which are not highly recommended or essential reading. Library copies will usually suffice for the remainder. The recommended books will generally be used for more than one year of the course.
Please ask library staff if you need help using library services or resources.
Blackwell's university bookshop on campus holds adequate stocks of the recommended textbooks and you are advised to wait until you come to the university before buying any books. Non-specialist bookshops at home may take a considerable time in supplying books through special orders.
Before you come to university, and during your university course, we advise you to follow news stories in the media and use reputable online sources to further investigate and critically think about the news items. This will increase your awareness of pharmaceutical science and its relevance to society.
Recommended textbooks
Chemistry
The chemistry modules will refer to:
- ‘Organic Chemistry’ by Clayden, Greeves and Warren. Oxford University Press
In some modules, recommended reading also includes:
- Paul M Dewick – Essentials of organic chemistry (for students of pharmacy, medicinal chemistry and biological chemistry). 2nd edition 2011 Wiley and Sons, ltd
Bioscience
Many basic concepts presented in the bioscience modules are covered in the following text:
- ‘Lehninger - Principles of Biochemistry’ by Nelson and Cox. Macmillan
An older edition of this book is available via the online resource NCBI bookshelf free of charge.
Pharmaceutics
The pharmaceutics modules will mostly refer to the following text:
- ‘Physicochemical principles of Pharmacy’ by Florence and Attwood, Pharmaceutical Press
A Level Biology
Some of you will not have studied A Level Biology. If this applies to you, don't worry. We find that you may have to put in a bit of extra effort on those parts of the course with strong biological aspects (bioscience modules), but we do not find it necessary to provide any additional modules to remedy this lack of background knowledge. In the past, students always seem to cope extremely well without any further formal tuition.
However, you can prepare yourself by some self-study during the period after A levels and before you begin the Pharm Sci course. In particular, the following topics are relevant:
- Biological molecules
- Cell structure
- Cell membranes
- Exchange and transport systems
- DNA, RNA and protein synthesis
These topics can be revised using an A level revision guide.
Molecular Modelling Kits
You will be issued with a complimentary molecular model kit which will be used during several modules.