Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the science of drugs and their interactions with biological systems, asking how therapeutic agents work, how the body processes them, and how they can be developed to treat disease safely and effectively. If you love laboratory work and are interested in health and disease but do not want to work in a patient-facing clinical role, pharmacology is a discipline that places you at the scientific heart of medicine and drug discovery without requiring clinical practice. Pharmacologists study the pathological changes that underpin the development of disease, investigate the effects of drugs on the body, including their location and mechanism of action, and contribute to the development of new treatments.

At the University of Bath, this three-year full-time programme develops your understanding of drug action and development through both theoretical study and substantial laboratory practice. You will study the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which drugs interact with their targets, the pharmacokinetics that govern how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolised, and excreted, and the pharmacodynamics that describe their effects over time. You will engage with the pathophysiology of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infection, and neurological disorders, learning how understanding the molecular basis of disease informs the search for new therapies.

With a typical entry tariff of 152 UCAS points, this is a competitive programme at a university with a strong scientific reputation. Pharmacology graduates pursue careers in pharmaceutical research and development, drug regulatory affairs, clinical research organisations, biomedical research, toxicology, biochemistry, and medical communications. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in pharmacology, pharmaceutical science, drug discovery, or medicine, and some move into scientific careers in the biotechnology, generics, or contract research industries.

The rigorous scientific training the degree provides is also valued in patent law, health policy, and science communication.