Pharmacology with Industrial Placement

Pharmacology is the science of how drugs work, examining the mechanisms by which chemical compounds interact with biological systems to produce their therapeutic or harmful effects. It draws on biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, and molecular biology to understand how medicines are absorbed, distributed, metabolised, and excreted in the body, and how they exert their effects at cellular and molecular levels. Pharmacology is central to the drug discovery and development process, and its graduates are well placed for careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, in clinical research, and in academic biomedical science.

The University of Aberdeen's five-year full-time Pharmacology with Industrial Placement degree carries a typical entry tariff of 184 points and includes a year abroad option. The industrial placement is a structured element of the programme that gives you professional experience in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or biomedical research environment, typically in a company or research organisation where you contribute to real drug discovery or development work. This applied experience is highly valued by employers in the sector.

You will study the molecular and cellular pharmacology of drug action, drug metabolism, the pharmacokinetics of drug distribution, the pharmacology of major therapeutic areas, and the regulatory and ethical contexts within which drugs are developed and approved.

Pharmacology graduates work in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in drug discovery, preclinical research, clinical research, regulatory affairs, and medical affairs. Many also pursue careers in academic research, clinical pharmacology, or the NHS. The degree provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in pharmacology, toxicology, drug discovery, or a related biomedical science, and many graduates continue to doctoral research in these fields.

The combination of molecular science and applied industrial experience the degree provides is a particularly strong preparation for the pharmaceutical industry.