Course overview
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Summer School modules are designed to be intensive, intellectually stimulating short courses. They are taught by King’s academics in academic disciplines where King's has expertise. Classes are highly international, giving students an opportunity to collaborate with peers from all around the globe.
Each module consists of 150 study hours, comprising 45 hours of intensive synchronous and asynchronous teaching, independent study and group work and is examined to university standards. Comparable to an in-semester 15-credit King’s undergraduate module and therefore typically awarded 3-4 US credits or 7.5 ECTS, many summer students ask their home institution to award them external credit for their King's summer module to use towards their degree programme when they return home.
What does this course cover?
During the 2-week taught module students will learn from academic researchers including experts in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry and cell biology covering topics in drug discovery pipeline, clinical trials, regulation and pharmacovigilance. Students will learn about the major diseases and science behind the drugs used to treat them. Students will also learn about designing clinical trials, pharmaceutical market regulation and Good Clinical Practices (GMP) This course is designed to inform and inspire anyone who is interested in a career in medicines discovery and pharmaceutical sciences. As part of this, we aim to incorporate some field visits where students will build on their learning.
By the end of the course the students will be able to give an overview of the medicine’s discovery and development pipeline, understand and explain what factors are considered to help scientists develop a new programme of medicine's research, explain the different types of medicine that exist. Understand and explain concepts relating to drug-target interactions, Understand and explain how we assess mechanism of drug action using research animals. Appreciate the importance of blinding during in vivo research studies and explain the term. Understand the principles of pharmacokinetic studies and why they are critical for drug development, understand and explain the principles of safety pharmacology and toxicology studies and why they are important. Be aware of international guidelines to support harmonisation of drug safety assessment. Understand how data are integrated from different studies to make risk: benefit decisions about progressing a candidate drug or removing it from the pipeline. Distinguish between different type of clinical study, describe the fundamental principles of clinical trials, examine the phases of clinical trial, and understand aims of each phase, understand the rationale of clinical trial design, and explain the ethical principles underpinning clinical trials. Students will look at the importance of public communication of science, so they are able to write lay summaries of scientific findings, describe lay articles and their purpose, understand how to structure lay articles, and explain key points of content and style. They will also study the importance of pharmacovigilance, Bench to bedside case studies and putting drug discovery and development into context as well as the Design and conduct of studies and data collection in drug development.
What will I achieve?
By the end of the module, you should be able to:
- Explain the structure of the drug discovery/development pipeline.
- Classify the types of drugs small molecules to biologic / gene therapy.
- Understand how drugs are tested to see if they work (efficacy) and if they are safe (toxicology and safety pharmacology).
- Explain how the drug are formulated to optimise delivery.
- Explain how clinical trials are conducted.
- Explain the role of the medicines regulator.
- Explain how drugs are monitored once they are in use by the public.
Who is this for?
The King's College London Undergraduate Summer School is open to students who are currently, or have been, enrolled in an undergraduate degree programme. We also welcome applications from professionals who have substantial relevant experience in their chosen subject area.
Entry requirements
- Open to students who are currently, or have been, enrolled in an undergraduate degree. We also welcome applications from professionals who have substantial relevant experience in their chosen subject area.
- Minimum grade requirement of 2:1 degree equivalent. See International grade equivalents on our Undergraduate Summer School homepage, under Entry requirements.
- English language requirement of at least level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). See full English Language requirements on our Undergraduate Summer School homepage, under Entry requirements.
- Minimum age at the start of the course is 18 years old.
How will I be assessed?
Coursework (50%), Presentation (50%)
What is the teaching schedule?
Students should expect to be on campus for 4–5 hours per day, usually scheduled between 9:00–13:00 or 14:00–18:00.
Fees and discounts
| |
2027 tuition fee |
Residential programme fee (Tuition + Accommodation) |
| One session (2 weeks) |
£2,650
(£2,550 if applied by 23:59 on 29th January) |
£3,690
(£3,590 if applied by 23:59 on 29th January) |
| Two sessions (4 weeks) |
£5,100 |
£7,180 |
| Application fee: £65 |
As per the fees listed above, booking two sessions receives a discount. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts of promotions. Subject to availability at the time of application.
Suggested course combinations:
Further information
Full fee £2650
Application Fee £65
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