BSc (Hons) Pharmacology
University of Portsmouth
Key Information
Campus location
Southsea, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Scholarships
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Introduction
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 Covid-19 spread and evolve, 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 the industry (subject to successful applications)
- Have the opportunity to do summer research placement at one of our partner universities overseas
Accreditation
Royal Society of Biology
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Modules
Year 1
Core modules in this year include:
- Cells to Systems – 20 credits
- Introduction to Formulation – 20 credits
- Introduction to Neuroscience and Pharmacology – 20 credits
- Key Skills – 20 credits
- Laboratory Skills and Analytical Techniques – 20 credits
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry – 20 credits
There are no optional modules this year.
Year 2
Core modules in this year include:
- Biomedical Toolbox – 20 credits
- Immunology, Inflammatory Diseases & Infective Organisms – 20 credits
- Neuroscience, Endocrine and Gastrointestinal Pharmacology – 20 credits
- Pharmacokinetics & Data Analysis – 20 credits
- Pharmacology Tutorials Level 5– 0 credits
- Respiratory, Renal & Cardiovascular Pharmacology – 20 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Business for Biosciences – 20 credits
- Enzymes and Metabolism – 20 credits
- Modern Foreign Language (Institution-wide Language Programme) – 20 credits
Placement year (optional)
In this course, you can apply to do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in the pharmaceutical industry.
We'll help you find work placement opportunities that fit your situation and ambitions. If you successfully secure a placement, you’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Year 3
Core modules in this year include:
- Antimicrobial and Antineoplastic Agents – 20 credits
- Cellular & Molecular Drug Targets – 20 credits
- Drug Development & Clinical Pharmacology – 20 credits
- Neuropharmacology – 20 credits
- Pharmacology Tutorials Level 6 – 0 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Research Based Work Experience – 40 credits
- Project – 40 credits
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry, and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Work experience and placement year
To give you the best chance of securing a great job when you graduate, this course includes an optional sandwich year in the industry and an optional lab-based work experience module (both subject to successful applications). You could also do a summer research placement at a European university.
Previous students have completed work placements at organisations including pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Catalent.
Our specialist team of Science and Health Careers advisors can help you with finding a work placement and improving your employability skills. They'll provide you with a database of placement vacancies, support with your job search – including help with applications and interviews – and support throughout your placement year.
Rankings
No.12 in the UK for pharmacy and pharmacology courses (The Guardian University Guide, 2022)
Career 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
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
Ongoing support
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work. After you graduate, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years as you advance in your career.
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English Language Requirements
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