Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the science of drugs: how they work in the body, how they are discovered, how they are developed from initial candidate molecules into safe and effective medicines, and how they sometimes produce unwanted effects alongside their intended benefits. It is a discipline that sits at the core of pharmaceutical research and the development of new treatments, and it draws on biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, and chemistry to understand drug action at the molecular, cellular, and whole-organism level.

The three-year full-time Pharmacology programme at the University of Leeds equips you with the key skills to address global challenges like antibiotic resistance, and gives you the knowledge to contribute to the development of new treatments for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, epilepsy, cardiovascular conditions, and emerging infectious diseases. The curriculum covers the mechanisms of drug action, pharmacokinetics, drug toxicity, drug discovery pipelines, and the regulatory processes that govern the approval and use of medicines. You will complete a capstone research project that showcases your expertise and integrates everything you have learned during your degree, giving you a tangible piece of independent scientific work to demonstrate to potential employers.

A sandwich year, year abroad, and work placement options build substantial professional and international research experience into the degree.

With a typical entry tariff of 152 points, the programme is rigorous and rewards students who combine scientific aptitude with genuine curiosity about how medicines work. Graduates pursue careers in pharmaceutical research and development, drug regulatory affairs, clinical trials, healthcare science, medical communications, and postgraduate study in pharmacology, toxicology, drug discovery, or medicine.