Program Overview
The University of Reading's BSc Pharmacology equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers as pharmacologists in the pharmaceutical or life sciences industries. Aligned with the British Pharmacological Society's core curricula, the program covers drug action, design, and delivery, as well as mathematical principles, big data analysis, and the role of pharmacology in drug marketing and clinical trials. Students benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaborations with experts in pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and other relevant fields.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Develop the knowledge and skills to work as a pharmacologist within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industries with our new BSc Pharmacology. This course has been designed to align with the British Pharmacological Society's core curricula and was developed with the needs of the pharmaceutical industry in mind. You will:
- Study the principles of drug action and molecular targets.
- Learn about drug design and delivery.
- Learn the key mathematical principles and skills required in the industry. This includes statistical analysis as well as handling and analysing big data sets.
- Understand the role of pharmacology in marketing, registration and clinical trials of medicines. Reading is one of the UK's top 25 universities for pharmacy and pharmacology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024), and we have experts in pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacy practice, as well as biomedical science and mathematics, who are all working on different aspects of drug research. In the National Student Survey 2023, 93% of our students agreed our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (92.56% of respondents studying in the School of Pharmacy). On this course you will also have the option of spending a year in industry with our four-year BSc Pharmacology with a Year in Industry.
Outline:
Year 1
- Fundamentals of Cell Biology
- Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Science
- Principles of Drug Action
- Mathematics and Statistics for Pharmacology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Key Skills for Pharmacology
- Placement Support 1
Year 2
- Molecular Drug Targets
- Drug Design and Delivery
- Haematology and Immunology
- Medicines in Healthcare
- Integrated Anatomy and Physiology
- Mathematical Modelling for Pharmacology
- Placement Support 2
Year 3
- Research Project
Careers:
BSc Pharmacology is ideal for aspiring pharmacologists. The UK is a world leader in pharmaceuticals, contributing nearly £14m to the UK economy and investing large sums into research and development. As well as initial drug discovery, expertise in pharmacology can also be used in areas such as clinical trials, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, patenting, and sales and marketing. BSc Pharmacology is also excellent preparation for further study at master's and PhD level.
Other:
- Students will have access to purpose-built teaching laboratories and a research facility.
- The program is offered in conjunction with the University of Reading's School of Pharmacy, which is ranked among the top 25 in the UK for pharmacy and pharmacology.
- Graduates will be well-prepared for careers in the pharmaceutical industry or for further study in pharmacology or related fields.
New UK/Republic of Ireland students:
£9,250
New international students:
£27,650
