Biological Sciences

Physiology and pharmacology are complementary life sciences that together provide a deep understanding of how the body works and how drugs alter it. Physiology examines the normal function of biological systems, from the molecular mechanisms within cells to the integrated performance of organs and organ systems. Pharmacology studies how chemical compounds interact with biological systems, affecting their function in ways that can treat disease, relieve symptoms, or cause harm.

Together they illuminate the complex relationships between molecules, cells, and physiological systems that must be precisely controlled to allow optimum function in living organisms, and the alterations in these relationships that underlie disease.

At the University of Leicester, you will study physiology with pharmacology as a biological sciences specialism, developing a rigorous scientific foundation in both disciplines. The programme covers cellular and molecular physiology, organ systems biology, neuropharmacology, drug mechanisms and development, and the experimental methods used to investigate biological systems. It includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement, providing extensive real-world and international experience alongside your academic training.

The programme runs over three years full-time.

Graduates of physiology with pharmacology programmes enter careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, in academic and clinical research, in healthcare science, and in roles supporting drug development and regulatory affairs. The rigorous scientific training the degree provides is also valued in medical writing, science policy, and public health. Many graduates go on to postgraduate research in pharmacology, neuroscience, physiology, or related biomedical disciplines, where the combined depth of their undergraduate training provides an excellent foundation for specialised scientific work.