Why study this course?
This course focuses on how chemical compounds interact with living systems, looking particularly at drugs and their effects on disease. If you want to be involved in developing or testing new safe drugs for illnesses, or the analysis of pharmacological data, this practical degree will teach you the key laboratory and analytical skills in our cutting-edge Science Centre and in the classroom.
More about this course
You’ll learn about the way molecules act on receptors to produce particular effects in the body, and use this information to understand how compounds can be used to treat disease. You’ll look at examples such as the way antipsychotic drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and the types of drugs used to treat high blood pressure. You’ll also study drug development and screening, as well as how to best analyse pharmacological data.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
Anatomy and Physiology Sem 1 (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits)
Anatomy and Physiology Sem 2 (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits)
Biochemistry for Life Sciences (core, 15 credits)
Cell Biology (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits)
Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits)
General Chemistry (core, 15 credits)
Introduction to Laboratory Skills (core, 15 credits)
Laboratory Techniques with Data Handling (core, 15 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Human Immunity (core, 15 credits)
Metabolism (core, 15 credits)
Microbiology (core, 15 credits)
Molecular Biology (core, 15 credits)
Principles of Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Delivery (core, 15 credits)
Principles of Pharmacodynamics (core, 15 credits)
Quantitative Analysis (core, 15 credits)
Spectroscopic Methods (core, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Biochemical Pathology (core, 15 credits)
Neuropharmacology (core, 15 credits)
Systems Pharmacology (core, 15 credits)
Toxicology (core, 15 credits)
Project (alternative core, 30 credits)
Research Project (alternative core, 30 credits)
Advanced Bioanalytical Science (option, 15 credits)
Bioinformatics & Molecular Modelling (option, 15 credits)
Formulation and Quality Assurance of Solutions, Suspensions and Emulsions (option, 15 credits)
Formulations and Quality Assurance of Solids and Semi-solids (option, 15 credits)
Medical Genetics (option, 15 credits)
Sandwich Placement (option, 30 credits)
Systems Pathology (option, 15 credits)
Virology (option, 15 credits)
Work Placement (for Life Sciences) (option, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
Pharmacologists are in high demand and there are opportunities to work in a wide variety of areas such as drug development, clinical trials and toxicity studies. Our previous graduates have gone on to find employment with companies such as Parexel.
Alternatively, you could choose to work in universities in either teaching or research, or continue your studies at postgraduate level.
You’ll also develop transferable skills such as team-working and research that can be applied to jobs in non-science industries, such as financial services, journalism and marketing.
