Microbiology and Pharmacology
Microbiology and pharmacology is a combination that addresses two of the most immediately significant areas in biological and medical science. Microbiology examines the microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, that are central to both infectious disease and the biotechnological processes that produce medicines, food products, and industrial chemicals. Pharmacology studies how drugs and other chemicals affect the body in health and disease, exploring the mechanisms by which therapeutic compounds act on biological systems and how new medicines are developed and evaluated.
Together, they form a rigorous scientific foundation for work in pharmaceutical research, clinical science, and biomedical innovation.
At the University of Strathclyde, this four-year, full-time degree develops your understanding of both disciplines, giving you a strong grounding in the biology of microorganisms alongside the pharmacological knowledge needed to understand drug action, development, and clinical application. A year abroad is incorporated into the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution in a different scientific and cultural environment and to encounter different research traditions in these fields. A typical entry tariff of 184 points reflects the strong scientific preparation expected of students entering this programme.
Graduates are well prepared for careers in pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, clinical research organisations, NHS microbiology and pharmacy departments, public health laboratories, and regulatory agencies. Many pursue postgraduate study in pharmacology, microbiology, drug development, or a clinical science, and the rigorous scientific training provided by this degree supports progression into research positions as well as professional practice. The interdisciplinary character of this combination is particularly valuable as the pharmaceutical and biotech industries increasingly require scientists who can think across traditional disciplinary boundaries.