Pharmacology (Study Abroad)

A pharmacology degree is your opportunity to study and research new and existing drugs; how they work; how they affect our bodies; and how they can be used to change lives and tackle global healthcare challenges.

With plenty of practical study, you will learn how drugs interact with living systems, how they affect our bodies and communities and their important role in society.

Unlock the power of medicine
This degree will provide you with a deep understanding of how drugs and medicines interact with living systems and affect our bodies which is crucial to health in our society.

In addition to studying drug development, mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and potential side effects, you'll also gain insight into the wider societal and regulatory context in which drugs are used, as well as new drugs being developed.

We’ve designed the content of our course to align with the British Pharmacological Society’s core curriculum, equipping you with the skills and knowledge you need to understand and work in the world of pharmacology.

Pharmacology graduates are in increasing demand with employers who will value your skills in experimental design, research, data recording and statistical analysis as well as teamworking, negotiation and communication. You will also build transferable skills and analytical training that will open up potential careers in other fields such as management, teaching, marketing and finance.

And, by studying abroad in your third year, you will have an opportunity to explore new perspectives on your course, while gaining experience of what it is like to live and study in a different country.

Your journey through pharmacology
The course content is very structured as it is aligned with the British Pharmacological Society’s core curriculum. The majority of modules are therefore compulsory.

• In Year 1 you will gain a thorough grounding in the biomedical basis of pharmacology by studying core topics including an introduction to pharmacology, the molecules of life, genetics and molecular biology.

• In Year 2, you will study more advanced topics within the field of pharmacology, including molecular genetics, microbiology and immunology, and drug design and development. This will enable you to grow your practical skills that provide you with an understanding of the experimental techniques used in modern pharmacological research.

• You will spend Year 3 studying at one of our overseas partner universities, immersing yourself in a different culture, meeting new people with diverse perspectives and developing a confident and well-rounded outlook for your final year back in Lancaster. By studying abroad you will be able to experience living in another country and exploring different and diverse sides of your degree subject.

• In Year 4, you will focus on themes such as neuropharmacology and advanced drug design and development and you will put your learning into practice with an independent research project. This is an exciting opportunity for you to address a significant contemporary research problem in an area of pharmacology that fascinates you. You will be supported by our research-active academics whose research includes neglected tropical diseases like leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis and snakebite as well as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory conditions like asthma and psoriasis.

A hands-on course
Our state-of-the-art life science teaching laboratories will be at the centre of your degree and are where you will put the knowledge you have acquired from lectures and tutorials into practice.

In addition to laboratory practical classes and workshops, you will learn through lectures, workshops, tutorials, laboratory reports, essays and case studies, presentations, tests and exams. You will also benefit from digital resources through our online learning environment which will support your independent learning.