Pharmacology and Health Science

Pharmacology is the science of how drugs interact with biological systems, examining the mechanisms by which chemical compounds affect physiology, the ways in which drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolised and excreted, and the basis for both therapeutic effects and adverse reactions. Health science extends this foundation to consider the broader contexts of health and disease, public health policy, healthcare systems and the translation of scientific knowledge into clinical and public health practice. Together they provide a rigorous scientific education with direct relevance to medicine, pharmaceuticals, public health and healthcare policy.

This three-year full-time degree at the University of Bedfordshire is aligned to the areas of need identified by the British Pharmacological Society, including clinical pharmacology, public health science and healthcare policy. You will study the pharmacological principles that underpin drug action alongside the broader health science knowledge needed to understand disease, healthcare delivery and public health. The programme develops both laboratory skills and the ability to evaluate scientific evidence and apply it to health-related questions at individual and population levels.

Graduates are well placed for careers in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical research, healthcare management, public health, drug regulatory affairs, health policy and medical science liaison roles. The combination of pharmacological science and health science training provides a foundation for further professional study in pharmacy, medicine, public health or clinical science. Many graduates pursue postgraduate research or training that develops their scientific expertise in specific areas of pharmacology or health science, and some use the degree as preparation for professional qualifications in healthcare or related fields.