BSc Hons Pharmacology at University of Strathclyde

Study with us

Studying BSc Hons degree in Pharmacology at the University of Strathclyde, you'll learn at Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences. A leading centre for research, the Institute is focused on developing new medicines, better medicines and better use of medicines.

We offer innovative teaching by experts who are actively researching in their topic of study. Our researchers work with businesses including Astrazeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Cancer Research UK.

• pharmacology is crucial for discovering new medicines to help fight diseases such as cancer, depression, heart disease and infectious diseases
   
• essential for improving the effectiveness and reducing the unwanted side effects of medicines, understanding why individuals differ in the way they respond to certain drugs, and why some others cause addiction
   
• our pharmacology courses are underpinned by our strong research base, links with industry, the NHS and international partners

Why this course?

Pharmacology is a vibrant area of biomedical science that studies drug action (how medicines and other drugs work and are processed by the body).

Drug action affects all of us in one way or another, through the medicines that we take, the effects alcohol or caffeine consumption or the inadvertent exposure to poisons and environmental pollutants, as well as many other aspects of modern life such as drug addiction and drug abuse including the abuse of drugs in sport.

Pharmacological knowledge and understanding improves the lives of millions of people across the world by providing vital answers at every stage of the discovery, testing and clinical use of new medicines. The ability to use medicines effectively, to maximise their benefit and minimise risk and harm, relies on this knowledge. As new diseases emerge, and older medicines - most notably antibiotics - no longer work as well, the contribution of pharmacology to finding better and safer medicines becomes all the more vital.

Learning & teaching

You’ll gain knowledge and understanding through lectures, including review-type lectures, practical classes, tutorials and computer-aided learning.

To allow you to prepare, class hand-outs are available in advance from Myplace. Hand-outs will also be supported by tasks such as essays, oral and tutorial/workshop presentations.

Quantitative skills are taught by the Department of Maths & Statistics, the Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry as well as the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences.

Most laboratory classes, including the chemistry classes in Year 1, include number and numeracy and statistical skills that are used in the institute. Communication skills are taught throughout the course. Information retrieval, interpretation and research skills are gained through project work which also develops team-working skills.

Careers

Many of our pharmacology graduates are involved in the development of drugs, food processing, protecting the environment, fighting disease or even slowing down the ageing process.

Our graduates find jobs in the pharmaceutical, biotech and agrochemical industries, hospitals and public service laboratories, environmental centres, analytical and forensic science labs, universities, the scientific civil service and teaching at all levels.

A pharmacology degree offers prospects for research careers in academia, industry, the scientific civil service and hospitals. You can work in the product management side of the industry or in areas such as marketing and medical information, acting as the link between pharmaceutical companies and doctors and patients.

The transferable skills you gain from this course will not only prepare you for a career in science but also in areas such as finance, management, marketing, sales, business and media.