Options with 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...
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
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.
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.
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:
Information on pharmacology-related careers can also be found from:
Find information on employers in health and social care, science and pharmaceuticals, engineering and manufacturing, and other job sectors.
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:
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:
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.
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.
