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2023/24
2024/25

BSc Pharmacology with Foundation

  • UCAS code
    B212
  • A level offer
    See entry requirements
  • Year of entry
    2024/25
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years
  • Year of entry
    2024/25
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years

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

This four-year programme includes a foundation year that leads directly into the three-year course.

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.

MPharm

Our BSc Pharmacology with Foundation 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.

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.

BSc Pharmacology with Foundation is ideal for aspiring pharmacologists. The UK is a world leader in pharmaceuticals, contributing nearly £14 million 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 with Foundation is also excellent preparation for further study at master's and PhD level.