Skip navigation
You are viewing our beta course page.

Pharmacology

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 10/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

Develop the knowledge and skills to work as a pharmacologist within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industries with our new BSc Pharmacology.

This course has been designed to align with the British Pharmacological Society's core curricula and was developed with the needs of the pharmaceutical industry in mind.

You will:

  • Study the principles of drug action and molecular targets.

  • Learn the key mathematical principles and skills required in the industry. This includes statistical analysis as well as handling and analysing big data sets.

  • Develop your understanding of systems pharmacology as well as mathematical and computer modelling.

You'll work with academics across our Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, Biological Sciences, and Mathematical, Physical and Computation Sciences schools.

Reading is one of the UK's top 25 universities for pharmacy and pharmacology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024), and we have experts in pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacy practice, as well as biomedical science and mathematics, who are all working on different aspects of drug research.

The first two years of this course are taught – in part – alongside our MPAS Physician Associate Studies, a four-year programme that enables you to train as a fully qualified physician associate. If you achieve certain grades, you can choose to transfer to this course after your first or second year, if this aligns with your career aspirations or interests. Please note: this is not a guaranteed progression route.

For more information, please visit the programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/medical-sciences-ug/bsc-pharmacology

Modules

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Core modules for this course:
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Science
Principles of Drug Action
Anatomy and Physiology
Medicines in Healthcare
Drug Design and Delivery.

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest that you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme. Check our website for more details about the course structure.

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B210
Institution code:
R12
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB

A level Biology and Chemistry at grade B

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD

including relevant science modules.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 24 credits M: 21 credits

including relevant science modules.

Scottish Higher - ABBBB

Higher Biology and Chemistry at grade B.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points

Higher Level Biology and Chemistry at grade 5.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - B

The Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A Level at the grade achieved, when studied alongside Biology and Chemistry.

Extended Project - B

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.  Eligible applicants would receive two offers,  our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Mathematics at grade B (or 6) and GCSE English at grade C (4). International Baccalaureate Standard Level 4 in Mathematics also acceptable.

Contextual offers for this programme are typically two grades beneath our standard entry requirement, e.g. BBD including A level Biology and Chemistry at grade B.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).
TOEFL (iBT)88We require a minimum score of 88 overall with no less than 17 in Listening and Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking.
Cambridge English AdvancedBWe require a grade B or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCWe require a grade C or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162.
PTE Academic69We require a minimum score of 69 overall with at least 59 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).
Institution's Own TestTest of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP). We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).
Trinity ISEMeritWe require a Merit in each element from ISE II. If you take ISE III or ISE IV, we require a Pass in each element.

Full list of acceptable English Language Tests http://www.reading.ac.uk/ad-EnglishTests.aspx

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We issue offers to best fit the different circumstances and experiences of our applicants. We take a tailored and holistic approach, considering extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis. We recognise that some students are more likely than others to face barriers to fulfilling their academic potential at school, through no fault of their own. More information on our supportive offer making approaches can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/what-offer-will-i-get

Learn more on the University of Reading website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1
EU£29950Year 1
International£29950Year 1
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Like this page