Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs and other chemicals affect the body in health and disease, examining the mechanisms by which therapeutic agents produce their effects, how those effects are modified by disease states and by individual variation, and how new and improved medicines are developed. It draws on biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, and chemistry to understand drug-receptor interactions, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and the molecular basis of drug action. The discipline is central to the pharmaceutical industry and to academic biomedical research.

At Strathclyde, this five-year full-time MSci programme combines a rigorous pharmacological education with a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study pharmacology in an international context and to engage with pharmaceutical and biomedical research at partner institutions. The programme covers the full breadth of pharmacology, from the molecular pharmacology of receptor systems and signal transduction to the clinical pharmacology of therapeutic drug use, developing both theoretical understanding and the laboratory skills needed for professional research and development. The typical entry tariff is 200 points.

Graduates of pharmacology programmes work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in drug discovery, development, and regulatory affairs, as well as in clinical research, academic research, medical writing, and healthcare science. The MSci qualification provides a strong foundation for postgraduate research in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, neuroscience, or drug development, and for specialist roles in the pharmaceutical industry where advanced scientific understanding is required. Many graduates also move into clinical trials management, health technology assessment, or public health roles where pharmacological expertise is directly applicable.