Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the scientific study of how drugs interact with living systems, examining the mechanisms by which chemical compounds alter biological processes and produce therapeutic or toxic effects. It draws on biochemistry, physiology, cell biology and chemistry to understand how medicines are absorbed, distributed, metabolised and excreted, and how they bind to molecular targets to bring about their effects. This knowledge is fundamental to developing new drugs, improving existing treatments, understanding drug resistance and ensuring the safety of medicines in clinical use.

At the University of Dundee, you will study how drugs affect body functions in health and disease, developing a rigorous grounding in the science that underpins modern medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. The programme runs for five years full time and includes a year abroad, allowing you to experience pharmacological research or teaching at an international institution and to engage with the global nature of drug discovery and development. Dundee is particularly well regarded for its biomedical research environment, and the degree reflects that culture of scientific enquiry, building experimental skills and critical analysis alongside theoretical understanding.

The typical entry tariff for this programme is 184 points.

Pharmacology graduates are highly employable across the life sciences sector. The most direct route is into the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, where roles in drug discovery, preclinical research, regulatory affairs, clinical trials management and pharmacovigilance are all open to well-qualified pharmacologists. Others move into clinical laboratory science, hospital pharmacy (often via a further professional qualification), science communication, patent law and public health.

Academic research leading to a PhD is a common pathway for those drawn to the frontier of drug science, and the combination of experimental competence and theoretical depth that Dundee provides is a strong foundation for doctoral study in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry or related biomedical disciplines.