Medical and Pharmacological Sciences BSc (Hons) at Coventry University

 Medical and Pharmacological Sciences degree is one for the curious! It can help you understand the normal functions of the human body, how diseases develop and how they can be treated.

Have you a passion for science or are you interested in exploring human diseases and the drugs used to treat them?

Following British Pharmacological Society (BPS) guidelines, this course is designed to give you a solid foundation in areas of biology that support an understanding of pharmacology.  
You will study human biology at all levels – from molecules and cells to whole body systems. 

Our multi-million pound Alison Gingell Building features a suite of analytical and biological laboratories where you can gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge industry techniques.

Why Coventry University?

An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.

Course information

This broad-based science degree will suit students who wish to pursue careers in integrative medical and pharmacological science or are interested in focusing on drug development.

It was designed in response to the growing demand for a new breed of scientist who can apply basic science knowledge and skills to speed up the critical task of translating basic laboratory medical research into commercially-ready medical technology and drugs that can be used to diagnose and treat patients. This emerging area of science is known as ‘translational medicine’. 

We apply pharmacology and physiology to topics including diagnosis, understanding and treatment of disease, classical clinical trial design and health outcomes, supported by our excellent laboratory facilities. Core subject areas include: human biology in health and disease, clinical physiology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, drug development, bioinformatics, numeracy, statistics and computing, and a wide range of instrumentation and analytical techniques.

Career prospects

This course is specifically designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required for a career in a range of sectors in a variety of roles in companies and organisations in both the UK and abroad. In addition to discipline specific theory and practical laboratory competence, you will also develop transferrable skills in digital fluency, numeracy, communication and teamwork.

A large number of medical scientists are employed by companies in the pharmaceutical industry, where they are involved in discovering and developing drugs and carrying out clinical trials. 

Medical scientists may also work for contract research organisations (CROs) or academic departments within universities on research projects. There are also opportunities within government laboratories (including environmental agencies), charity-funded research organisations, such as the Medical Research Council (MRC), and with other research institutes. 

The scientific knowledge and skills you acquire during the course can be a useful basis for a career in: teaching; technical and scientific writing (such as medical writing or writing for the media); clinical trials; drug registration, patenting or monitoring; medical publishing or other information services; regulatory affairs or sales and marketing. Opportunities also exist for postgraduate study upon completion of the course, at both masters and PhD level.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The University’s Careers and Employability team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

94% satisfaction for the quality of this course.

Where our graduates work

Our graduates have gone on to careers in drug discovery and development, clinical trials development and governance within the pharmaceutical industry and university and hospital departments. Recent examples include working as a regulatory strategist and trials manager for Pfizer, as an education administrator for Education for Health and as activities coordinator for the TLC group.