Program Overview

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Pharmacology BSc (Hons)

Overview

Study alongside researchers doing important work to understand diseases and enhance your CV with lab-based placements. Using specialist facilities, you'll deepen your chemistry and biology knowledge as you study how drugs – such as painkillers, antibiotics and even caffeine – alter the body.

Key Information

UCAS Code:

B210

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

Typical Offer:

112-120 from A levels, or equivalent, to include 64 UCAS points from specific subjects

Study Mode and Duration

• 3 years full-time
• 4 years sandwich with work placement

Start Date

• September 2025

Course Information

Overview

If you love performing experiments in high-tech labs and want to study alongside researchers who are doing important work to understand how diseases such as Cancer, Alzheimer's and Asthma can be treated, this BSc (Hons) Pharmacology degree is for you.

Pharmacology is the study of drugs and how they affect living systems. Using specialist facilities, you'll deepen your chemistry and biology knowledge as you study how drugs – such as painkillers, antibiotics and even caffeine – alter the body.

You'll set yourself for a fulfilling career working in an industry that improves the lives of millions of people. You could work in areas such as new drug development, medical writing, regulatory affairs and pharmaceutical marketing.

Course Highlights

• Explore the latest techniques and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases
• Investigate how cells communicate with each other and why people's bodies respond differently to the same drugs
• Look at how new medicines are developed, tested and launched
• Enhance your CV on a laboratory-based work experience module and on a sandwich year in industry (subject to successful applications)
• Have the opportunity to do summer research placement at one of our partner universities overseas

Accreditation

This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology following an independent and rigorous assessment.

Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.

You can also apply for Associate Membership of the Royal Society of Biology when you complete the course. This gives you membership benefits including access to professional networks and conferences.

Entry Requirements

Typical Offer (September 2025 start)

• A levels - BBB-BBC
• UCAS points - 112-120 from A levels, or equivalent, to include 32 points from Biology or Chemistry, plus 32 points from a second pure Science subject or Mathematics. Applied Science not accepted. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application.
• T-levels - Merit. Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Health, T Level in Healthcare Science, T Level in Science (Acceptable Occupational Specialisms: Laboratory sciences)
• BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
• International Baccalaureate - 29

You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs – see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

English Language Requirements

• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Your Facilities

Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Unit

Gain expertise in high-magnification imaging and analysis of the chemical and physical structure of natural and manufactured materials.

Pharmaceutics Laboratories

Develop a better understanding of the causes and consequences of diseases in these labs, as well as the skills and expertise needed to develop and test new drugs.

Pharmacy and Biomedical Science Teaching Centre

Practise the skills needed to diagnose and help people manage diseases, including collaborative microscopy - examining 3D microscopic images on a big screen with academics and other students.

Careers and Opportunities

From the medicines in your bathroom cabinet to the drug combinations used to treat cancer, the work of pharmacologists plays a crucial role in society. So there's always demand for pharmacology graduates.

What Can You Do with a Pharmacology Degree?

With your degree in pharmacology, you could start a career in any part of the pharmaceutical industry, including:

• drug development and testing
• medical writing
• marketing and sales
• regulatory affairs

You could specialise in a particular area of pharmacology, such as:

• cardiovascular pharmacology
• psychopharmacology
• neuropharmacology
• animal pharmacology

Roles you could do include:

• clinical trial assistant/administrator
• pharmacovigilance officer
• research and development scientist/technician
• secondary school teacher (with additional training)
• regulatory executive
• operations scientist
• research associate

Further Study

You can also continue your studies at postgraduate level on a PhD, MRes or MSc programme.

Graduate Destinations

Previous graduates have gone on to work for organisations including:

• Bayer
• Barts Health NHS Trust
• Hammersmith Medicines Research
• PharmaTargeting – a research house
• Reckitt – health, hygiene and nutrition products
• Molecular Dimensions – a supplier of specialist lab equipment

Modules

Year 1

• Cells to Systems - 20 credits
• Molecules to Medicines - 20 credits
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry - 20 credits
• Principles of Neuroscience and Pharmacology - 20 credits
• Professional Skills for Drug Discovery - 20 credits
• Scientific Skills for Pharmacologists - 20 credits

Year 2

• Applied Pharmacology of the Nervous and Endocrine Systems - 20 credits
• Immunology, Infection and Inflammation - 20 credits
• Laboratory Skills for Drug Discovery - 20 credits
• Research Methods - 20 credits
• Respiratory, Renal and Cardiovascular Pharmacology - 20 credits

Year 3

• Current Trends in Pharmacological Sciences - 20 credits
• Drug Development and Clinical Pharmacology - 20 credits
• Neuropharmacology - 20 credits
• Personalised Medicine and Cancer - 20 credits

Optional Modules

• Business for Biosciences - 20 credits
• Enzymes and Metabolism - 20 credits
• Project - 40 credits
• Research Based Work Experience - 40 credits

Supporting You

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed.

Types of Support

• Personal tutor
• Learning support tutors
• Academic skills support
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Disability advice and additional support
• Library support
• Support with English

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,535 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,535 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
• International students – £19,200 per year (subject to annual increase)

Funding Your Studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional Course Costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.