BSc Pharmacology

Develop the knowledge and skills to work as a pharmacologist within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industries with our new BSc Pharmacology.

This course has been designed to align with the British Pharmacological Society's core curricula and was developed with the needs of the pharmaceutical industry in mind.

You will:

Study the principles of drug action and molecular targets.
Learn about drug design and delivery.
Learn the key mathematical principles and skills required in the industry. This includes statistical analysis as well as handling and analysing big data sets.
Understand the role of pharmacology in marketing, registration and clinical trials of medicines.

You'll work with academics across our Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, Biological Sciences, and Mathematical, Physical and Computation Sciences schools.

Reading is one of the UK's top 25 universities for pharmacy and pharmacology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024), and we have experts in pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacy practice, as well as biomedical science and mathematics, who are all working on different aspects of drug research. In the National Student Survey 2023, 93% of our students agreed our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (92.56% of respondents studying in the School of Pharmacy).

On this course you will also have the option of spending a year in industry with our four-year BSc Pharmacology with a Year in Industry.

Facilities

During your studies, you'll use our purpose-built suite of teaching laboratories and have access to our research facility. These include:

Laboratories to study organ bath pharmacology
tissue culture suites
multi-mode microplate readers (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence)
multicolour flow cytometry
real-time PCR.

You'll also study in our new £60m Health and Life Sciences Building, which offers state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space.

MPharm

Our BSc Pharmacology course will not result in qualification to work as a pharmacist. Please refer to our MPharm Pharmacy or MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year courses if this is the route you wish to follow.

Overview

Develop the knowledge and skills to work as a pharmacologist within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industries with our new BSc Pharmacology.

This course has been designed to align with the British Pharmacological Society's core curricula and was developed with the needs of the pharmaceutical industry in mind.

You will:

Study the principles of drug action and molecular targets.
Learn about drug design and delivery.
Learn the key mathematical principles and skills required in the industry. This includes statistical analysis as well as handling and analysing big data sets.
Understand the role of pharmacology in marketing, registration and clinical trials of medicines.

You'll work with academics across our Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, Biological Sciences, and Mathematical, Physical and Computation Sciences schools.

On this course you will also have the option of spending a year in industry with our four-year BSc Pharmacology with a Year in Industry.

Facilities

During your studies, you'll use our purpose-built suite of teaching laboratories and have access to our research facility. These include:

Laboratories to study organ bath pharmacology
tissue culture suites
multi-mode microplate readers (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence)
multicolour flow cytometry
real-time PCR.

You'll also study in our new £60m Health and Life Sciences Building, which offers state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space.

MPharm

Entry requirements A Level BBB

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.

Our typical offers are expressed in terms of A level, BTEC and International Baccalaureate requirements. However, we also accept many other qualifications.

Typical offer

BBB at A level, including Biology and Chemistry, or an equivalent qualification.

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall, including 5 in Biology and Chemistry, both at higher level.

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDD (modules taken must be comparable to subject specific requirement)

GCSE

Maths at grade B (6).

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Compulsory modules:

Fundamentals of Cell Biology
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Science
Principles of Drug Action
Maths and Stats for Pharmacology
Anatomy and Physiology
Key Skills for Pharmacology

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules:

Molecular Drug Targets
Drug Design and Delivery
Haematology and Immunology
Medicines in Healthcare
Integrated Anatomy and Physiology
Mathematical Modelling for Pharmacology

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules:

Research Project
Clinical and Societal Impact of Pharmacology

Optional modules:

Experimental Approaches to Neuroscience
Innovation and Product Development

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250

New international students: £27,650

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

BSc Pharmacology is ideal for aspiring pharmacologists. The UK is a world leader in pharmaceuticals, contributing nearly £14m to the UK economy and investing large sums into research and development.

As well as initial drug discovery, expertise in pharmacology can also be used in areas such as clinical trials, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, patenting, and sales and marketing.

BSc Pharmacology is also excellent preparation for further study at master's and PhD level.

Subjects A-B

Subjects C-E

Subjects H-M

Subjects N-T

Subjects A-C

Subjects D-G

Subjects H-P

Subjects A-B

Subjects C-E

Subjects F-G

Subjects H-M

Subjects N-T

Subjects U-Z

Subjects A-C

Subjects D-G

Subjects H-P

Subjects Q-Z

Overview

Entry requirements A Level BBB

International Foundation Programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

Structure

Compulsory modules:

Compulsory modules:

Compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Fees

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

EU student fees

Additional costs

Financial support for your studies

Careers

BSc Pharmacology

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

EU student fees

Additional costs

Financial support for your studies

Ready for more?