Biomedical Science (Pharmacology) with Industrial Placement

Biomedical science with a pharmacology specialism examines the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which drugs and other chemical agents interact with biological systems, producing their therapeutic, toxic and physiological effects. Pharmacology is fundamental to medicine, underpinning the development of every drug that enters clinical use and providing the scientific basis for understanding how and why treatments work, why they sometimes fail, and how they can be improved. Studying it within the broader framework of biomedical science gives you a grounding in the full range of biological systems, with particular depth in drug action and its clinical relevance.

At the University of Aberdeen this five-year programme includes both an industrial placement and a year abroad, giving you an unusually rich combination of professional experience and international academic exposure. The industrial placement places you in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare or research setting for a sustained period, developing practical skills and professional networks alongside your academic knowledge. The year abroad allows you to study pharmacology or biomedical science in a different university environment and to develop the comparative perspective that is increasingly valued in an international scientific community.

Across the programme you will study biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, neuropharmacology, toxicology and drug development alongside the broader biomedical curriculum.

Graduates go on to careers in pharmaceutical research and development, clinical research, regulatory affairs, the NHS, medical writing, biotechnology and academic science. The pharmacology specialism is particularly valued by pharmaceutical companies and research organisations working on drug discovery and development. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study or doctoral research in pharmacology, biomedical science or clinical research.

The combination of a five-year programme with industrial placement and a year abroad produces graduates with both the scientific depth and the professional experience that employers in this sector most value.