Hello There..
The Staff really are very supportive, there are loads of tutorials/ extra workshop classes so you can keep asking for help.
We have 8 modules the first yr:
- Human physiology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry/metabolism
- Microbiology
- Cellular Biology/Living cell
- Drug Design & Synthesis: Organic chem
- Physiochemical principles of pharmacy/pharmaceutics
- Pharmacy pratice.
Only the last 2 on the list is solely for pharmacy students, the other 6 are those in which you'd share lectures with biomedical science students, biochemists, zoologists etc.
Also there are some exams which MUST be passed at a certain %.. but the uni are very good as they prepare you really well, and also give loads of chances for re-taking e.g. a pharmaceutical calculations exam which needs to be passed at 70% to get into 2nd yr - but you have like 4 attempts at it and so many workshops to go to.
Also most of our exams end of 1st year are MCQ, so it makes life a little easier..
The student life is really good, loads of societies to join and the uni itself is very active..so there are always people walking around campus promoting stuff..There are loads of places on campus to eat, everything very close to each other..e.g. library and lecture rooms etc.
There is always something or the other happening at reading uni interms of activites
(mind you, I hardly joined any societies because i didn't have time as pharmacy is quite intense)
The timetable was tough during first semester, because it was mostly 9am starts with finshes as late as 6pm, but its always a rotating timetable.. as in you may have a tough week with practicals, but the following week will be more relaxed as a different group will do the practicals. BUT you do get 1 day off, e.g. i had wednesdays off for the first term so it was a good mid-week break!!
Also the people are really nice.. students and staff are very helpful.
Good luck!!