Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the science of drugs and their effects on living systems. At its core, it asks how chemical substances interact with biological molecules, cells, tissues and organs to produce physiological changes, and how that knowledge can be harnessed to develop medicines that treat disease more effectively and with fewer side effects. It is a discipline of direct and enduring importance, because the development of new drugs is one of the primary ways in which medical science is advancing human health.

At Glasgow Caledonian University, this four-year full-time programme gives you a thorough grounding in the biological and chemical sciences that underpin pharmacology, alongside a deep engagement with how drugs are discovered, developed, tested and brought to patients. You will study receptor pharmacology, drug metabolism, the pharmacological basis of disease treatment and the regulatory and clinical processes that govern medicines development. Laboratory work is central to the degree, developing your practical skills and your ability to design experiments, collect and interpret data, and communicate your findings.

Pharmacology operates at the intersection of chemistry and biology, and the programme develops your ability to move fluently between both. You will understand how drug molecules are designed and synthesised, how they move through the body, and how their effects can be measured and predicted. This combination of knowledge is exactly what the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries need.

Graduates of pharmacology programmes go on to careers in the pharmaceutical industry, where roles in drug discovery, development, clinical trials and regulatory affairs are all well-established. Biomedical research in universities and research institutes, laboratory roles in the NHS and public health agencies, and careers in science communication and policy are also common destinations. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study, including doctoral research in pharmacology, toxicology or related biomedical sciences.