Options with your subject: Pharmacology

A degree in pharmacology provides a solid grounding in scientific knowledge. It also gives you valuable transferable skills that can be used in a wide range of jobs...

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Analytical chemist
• Biomedical scientist
• Clinical research associate
• Immunologist
• Pharmacologist
• Research scientist (life sciences)
• Research scientist (medical)
• Toxicologist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Clinical biochemist
• Higher education lecturer
• Medical sales representative
• Science writer
• Secondary school teacher

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. To find out what jobs would suit you, log in to My Prospects.

Work experience

To gain work experience, contact a higher education lecturer and offer to volunteer in his or her laboratory. You can also contact professional organisations, such as the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) , to inquire about placements in research labs.

Some universities offering pharmacology degrees organise programmes of general work experience in the penultimate year of a BSc course or arrange sandwich placements. Pharmaceutical companies may also offer sandwich placements, which can be found by searching their websites.

Some students may also choose to work or volunteer in a pharmacy or chemist.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Britain is a world leader in pharmaceuticals and invests large sums in research and development (R&D). As well as initial drug discovery, expertise in pharmacology can also be used in areas such as clinical trials, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, patenting, sales and marketing, IT, finance and scientific writing.

Common employers of pharmacology graduates include:

• pharmaceutical companies
• Department of Health (DH)  
• Intellectual Property Office (IPO)  
• The National Health Service (NHS)  

Information on pharmacology-related careers can also be found from:

• ABPI Careers
• BPS: Careers in Pharmacology  

Find information on employers in health and social care, science and pharmaceuticals, engineering and manufacturing, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

A pharmacology degree provides an understanding of medications, their sources, chemical properties, biological effects and therapeutic uses. The degree also explores drug interactions in biological systems, the formulation and operation of clinical trials as well as drug regulation and the marketing of pharmaceuticals.

Transferable skills are also developed throughout the course of the degree and include:

• oral and written communication skills;
• an ability to design, retrieve, handle and interpret complex data;
• critical analytical and problem-solving abilities;
• good organisational skills;
• the ability to work without supervision and use your own initiative;
• decision-making skills;
• the ability to manage time;
• knowledge of safety;
• teamwork.

Further study

Students undertaking further study are usually registered for research PhDs, the completion of which demonstrates advanced skills relating to complex scientific problems as well as technical research, laboratory and communication skills.

Some of the most popular areas at postgraduate level include:

• pharmacology;
• biochemistry;
• molecular biology;
• neuroscience.

If you want to pursue graduate study in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, you can use your BSc in Pharmacology to apply to medical schools that offer graduate entry courses.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see postgraduate study in the UK and search courses and research.

What do pharmacology graduates do?

Just under 40% of pharmacology graduates are in employment, and of these, 8% are working in scientific research, analysis and development. Almost a further 8% are in health and associate professions, 9% are working in commercial, industrial and public sector management and around 10% are in other technical or professional roles.

Just over a third of pharmacology graduates are in further study and almost 8% are studying while working. Further study is usually a prerequisite for those wishing to find employment in research and development (R&D) within the pharmaceutical industry. Generally, postgraduate study will enable you to access higher-level graduate jobs.

Find out what other graduates are doing six months after finishing their degrees in What Do Graduates Do?  

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

AGCAS

Written by AGCAS editors

Date: 

February 2013

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