Pharmacology

This programme involves a high proportion of practical work, including a five-day practical molecular biology workshop that brings together theory and practice, to equip you with the laboratory skills employers need. You will gain an understanding of how the body works, what goes wrong in disease and how drugs can be used to manage these diseased states.

In Scotland the expansion of health-related industries and the biotechnology sector means that demand for graduates in this area currently outstrips supply.

NSS results
Our students rate us highly. We achieved 100% student satisfaction in the National Student Survey in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and 91% for academic support in 2023.

Professional accreditation
The Pharmacology programme at GCU is fully accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. In addition, the Pharmacology programme follows the British Pharmacological Society core curricula which is regularly updated to include the latest advances in the field.

Teaching methods
The learning and teaching methods we use ensure that our programme is both vocationally relevant and academically challenging. Our approach is student-centred, practical, participative and relevant to the needs of employers. We've moved away from the traditional teacher-centric learning to a more independent learning approach, where you are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills.

Student prizes
BSc (Hons) Pharmacology graduates were awarded the British Pharmacological Society Undergraduate Pharmacology Prize in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.

Extracurricular activities
The Glasgow Pharmacological Society was founded here at GCU and comprises of staff and students from GCU, the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde. The Society hosts an annual seminar as well as hosting prestigious British Pharmacological Society events. This allows students at GCU to get involved in extracurricular activities, which develop transferable skills and enhance employment prospects.

YEAR 1: HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY AND CORE SKILLS IN BIOSCIENCE1

YEAR 2: CORE SKILLS IN BIOSCIENCE 2, INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY, MECHANISMS OF CELLULAR REGULATION, PRACTICAL SKILLS IN BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCES, FUNDAMENTAL CELL BIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: FROM HEALTH TO DISEASE

YEAR 3: CORE MODULES FUNDAMENTALS OF DRUG ACTION, MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS, SYSTEMATIC & CELLULAR PATHOLOGY

OPTIONAL: EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN & ANALYSIS , CELL SIGNALLING & TRAFFICKING THERAPIES, PAHRMACOLOGY OF CHEMICAL MEDIATORS, OR BIOSCIENCE PLACEMENT

YEAR 4: PROJECT & WORKSHOP, BIOLOGY OF DISEASE, TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, NEUROPHARMACOLOGY, TISSUE NETWORKS AND DISEASE

Assessment methods are designed to produce graduates with a balanced knowledge and understanding of all branches of the subject and to allow our students to become enquiring, independent learners exhibiting high levels of professionalism.

A significant proportion of our assessment is practically based, providing hands-on laboratory skills and experience of data handling and presentation which not only makes our programme distinctive but also attractive to employers seeking to find graduates with the necessary skills and competencies in the global marketplace.