Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Strathclyde offers a BSc Hons Immunology & Pharmacology program that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the immune system and how drugs and other chemicals affect the body in health and disease.

Key Facts

• UCAS Code: CB92
• Accreditation: Royal Society of Biology
• Ranking: 1st in the UK for Pharmacology & Pharmacy and for subjects allied to Medicine (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)
• Flexible degree: Allows students to change to other Biomolecular Science courses throughout their studies

Study with Us

The program covers the study of the immune system and how the body defends itself against disease, as well as the study of how drugs and other chemicals affect the body in health and disease. Students have the opportunity to choose specific degree combinations, allowing them to specialize in areas such as neuroscience, cardiovascular research, immunopharmacology, industrial immunology, drug research, biochemistry, microbiology, and bacteriology.

Why this Course?

Immunology helps us understand how the immune system is tricked into attacking its own tissue, leading to diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, or allergy. It has significantly helped modern medicine in areas such as blood transfusion, vaccination, organ transplantation, and the treatment of allergy and autoimmune diseases. Pharmacology is the study of how drugs and other chemicals affect the body in health and disease, exploring the development of new and improved medicines and the treatment of disease.

What You'll Study

The program is structured over four years, with the first two years providing a foundation in biomolecular sciences. In Years 3 and 4, students specialize in the area in which they plan to graduate, with the opportunity to carry out a research project in either immunology or pharmacology.

Years 1 & 2

• Being a Biomolecular Scientist 1 & 2: Foundation practical skills, statistical and data analysis, presentation, report writing, ethics, and health and safety.
• Cells & their Molecules: Foundation level knowledge relating to basic functions of cells.
• Organisms & Disease: Foundation level knowledge relating to basic evolution, species diversity, development, homeostasis, and infectious disease.
• Bio-Organic Chemistry: Understanding of nucleotide
  ucleic acid molecular structure, stereochemistry, and conformation.

Years 3 & 4

• Being a Biomolecular Scientist 3 & 4: Generic practical skills in biomolecular science, further development of practical skills in specific biomedical biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, histopathology, and serology.
• Fundamental Immunology: Understanding of how pathogens are recognized, how immune cells are activated, and the regulation of the immune system.
• Fundamental Pharmacology: Understanding of how drugs act at receptors, major cell signaling mechanisms, and the properties and distribution of adrenoceptors and therapeutic uses of related drugs.

Optional Modules

• Clinical Immunology: Understanding of the immune responses associated with transplantation, cancer, autoimmunity, allergy, and immunodeficiency.
• Clinical Pharmacology: Understanding of neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric disorders, drug dependence, and endocrine disease.

Assessment

Knowledge and understanding are assessed by written examinations, essays, presentations, and computer-aided learning exercises. Competence is assessed through practical tests, practical write-ups, project reports, and computer-aided learning exercises.

Learning & Teaching

The program includes around 240 hours of lectures, practical modules, tutorials, and computer-aided learning. Quantitative skills are taught by the Department of Maths & Statistics and the Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry.

Entry Requirements

• Highers: AABB/AAAC (two sciences – Biology/Human Biology B and Chemistry B; Maths and English National 5 B)
• Advanced Highers: BB (Chemistry B, Biology/Human Biology B, plus Year 1 above)
• A Levels: BBB (two sciences required, at least one of which must be Biology or Chemistry; GCSE Chemistry 6/B, GCSE Maths 6/B, GCSE English Language 6/B or Literature 6/B)
• International Baccalaureate: 30 (Two science subjects at HL5, at least one of which must be Biology or Chemistry. Maths SL5 and English SL5)

Fees & Funding

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £9,535
• Republic of Ireland: Same as England, Wales & Northern Ireland
• International: £27,800
• University preparation programme fees: Available on the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre website

Careers

Graduates can be involved in the development of drugs, food processing, protecting the environment, fighting disease, or slowing down the aging process. They find jobs in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and agrochemical industries, hospitals, public service laboratories, environmental centers, analytical and forensic science labs, universities, the scientific civil service, and teaching at all levels.

Discover Uni

64% of students were satisfied overall with their course. 72% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well. 85% are in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.