Pharmacology BSc(Hons) single or joint honours

Year 1 offers essential understanding of how the human body works, providing knowledge to underpin the study of pharmacology. You will gain a comprehensive overview of physiology from cellular to organ-system level, as well as chemistry, genetics and molecular biology. The Scientific and Laboratory Skills module trains you in a number of practical laboratory techniques.

Year 2 introduces pharmacology as a distinct subject, including the action of drugs at their target sites and the actions of the body on drugs once they have been administered. The Systems Pharmacology module covers drugs acting on the major organ systems of the body, including the cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal, renal, respiratory and endocrine systems. Further coverage of immunology, microbiology and molecular biology enables you to study relevant disease and its treatment. A module in Principles of Pharmacology with Research Methods prepares you to undertake an independent research project in year 3.

Year 3 provides further in-depth study of pharmacology – drugs used to treat cancer and infectious diseases; drugs acting on the brain and peripheral nervous system, such as antidepressants and analgesics; novel drugs used to treat degenerative brain diseases; and the mechanisms of action of drug abuse. You will be able to investigate emerging new techniques in pharmacology, as well as having the option to study bioinformatics and molecular genetics. The wider impact of pharmacology on society is considered, and key skills needed to communicate with both specialists and the public are developed. Your independent project enables you to gain first hand experience of conducting research in a particular area of interest.