Study Pharmacology & Pharmacy, why & how to study

CONTENTS

1. What’s Pharmacology & Pharmacy?

2. What Pharmacology & Pharmacy degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Pharmacology & Pharmacy degree?

4. What topics does a Pharmacology & Pharmacy degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Pharmacology & Pharmacy?

7. What do Pharmacology & Pharmacy graduates earn?

8. What jobs can you get as a Pharmacology & Pharmacy graduate?

9. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

10. Similar subjects to Pharmacology & Pharmacy

11. Have any questions?

What’s Pharmacology & Pharmacy?

Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action, where a drug can be broadly defined as any human-made, natural or endogenous substance.

Pharmacy is the science and technique of preparing and dispensing the drugs studied and produced by pharmacologists. It links health with chemical sciences to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs.

What Pharmacology & Pharmacy degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Pharmacology & Pharmacy include:

• Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry BSc
• Clinical Pharmacology BSc
• Pharmacology and Physiology BSc
• Pharmacology BSc/MSci
• Pharmacy MPharm

Options may include an integrated foundation year. Year-long placements or year abroad possible with pharmacology. The pre-registration required to practice as a pharmacist may be integrated into some MPharm degrees.

What do you need to get onto a Pharmacology & Pharmacy degree?

Most undergraduate Pharmacology & Pharmacy courses ask for 120–136 UCAS points, although foundation entry and contextual offers will have lower requirements. Qualifications may include:

• A Levels: A*AA–BBB (ABB typical for MPharm)
• BTECs: DDD–DDM (sometimes with A Levels)
• Scottish Highers: AAAAB–AAAB (Advanced Highers: AAB–BB)
• International Baccalaureate: 38–32
• Universities will usually ask that you have studied: chemistry plus one or two other science subjects at A Level (or equivalent)

Other good subjects to have studied include:

• Biology, physics, maths
• General studies A Level may not be acceptable
• A minimum of five GCSEs (or equivalent) including maths, English and a science

Experience that would look good on your application:

• Work placement in the NHS, community pharmacy or an academic research lab
• Work or volunteering roles that could give you insights into the effects of illnesses or health conditions on people’s lives
• Knowledge of the work and areas of interest by checking the websites of professional bodies like the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) or British Pharmacological Society (BPS)
• Summer schools, if available – these could include In2scienceUK or Sutton Trust

Other requirements for this subject include:

• Pass in the practical element of science taken at A Level
• Interview, which may include an admission test at some universities
• MPharm applicants will need to complete Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks (PVG scheme in Scotland)

What topics does a Pharmacology & Pharmacy degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

• Business and pharmaceutical enterprise
• Cellular and molecular biology
• Chemistry for pharmacists
• Clinical drug development
• Experimental pharmacology
• Health, disease and therapeutics
• Toxins, toxicants and toxicity

How will you be assessed?

Assessments are usually carried out by a mixture of the following, and will vary from module to module:

• Coursework
• Exams
• Group projects
• Presentations
• Research project

Why study Pharmacology & Pharmacy?

This subject area could lead to a career that's at the forefront of medical research. Evaluating new generation antibiotics, solving the problems of drug toxicity, finding the best way to treat diseases – pharmacologists are pioneers, and pharmacists practitioners.

Career-specific skills:

• Knowledge of how medicines are discovered, developed and manufactured
• Understanding the biological effects of medicines on patients, including drug interactions and contraindications
• Working within regulatory and ethical guidelines

Transferable skills:

• Analytical and critical thinking
• Communication
• Methodical and accurate
• Numerical and digital skills
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Team work and leadership

Professional accreditation:

• Pharmacy MPharm degrees must accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Pharmacology degrees may be accredited by the Royal Society of Biology or the Royal Society of Chemistry (meeting the academic criteria for Chartered Chemist CChem)

What do Pharmacology & Pharmacy graduates earn?

Pharmacology & Pharmacy graduates can expect an entry-level salary of around £19,000–£30,000.

A registered pharmacist could work wide range of settings including hospital, GP practice or high-street pharmacy. Those working in hospital usually start on NHS Band 6 (£32,300–£39,000). After ten years you could be earning £35,000–£60,000.

Salaries for a pharmacologist range from £25,000–£50,000, although earnings for those working in industry have the potential to be higher.

What jobs can you get as a Pharmacology & Pharmacy graduate?

A Pharmacology & Pharmacy degree opens the door for many professional opportunities, as there's a growing need for medical research into drugs and medicine.

• Clinical researcher
• Drug discovery consultant
• Lecturer
• Medical sales rep
• Patent lawyer
• Pharmacist
• Pharmacologist
• Pharmacovigilance manager
• Policy and public affairs advisor
• Science publisher
• Toxicologist

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

If you have a first degree in another science discipline or a related field, postgraduate study allows you the opportunity to specialise. Examples of taught master’s and research degrees include:

• Clinical Drug Development MRes/MSc
• Clinical Trials MSc
• Experimental and Translational Therapeutics MSc
• Pharmaceutical Science and Medicinal Chemistry PGCert/PGDip/MSc
• Pharmacology MSc/DPhil/PhD

Similar subjects to Pharmacology & Pharmacy

Other subject areas that might appeal to you include:

• Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Sciences
• Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• Natural Sciences

Have any questions?

Ask our experts! You can email ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk with your question about studying Pharmacology & Pharmacy – we’ll be happy to hear from you.