Pharmacology

The development of safe and effective new drugs is a challenging and rewarding field. Our forward-thinking Pharmacology MSc equips you with a broad understanding of drug discovery and development, focusing on the mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level; the treatment of human disease; and the latest cell, molecular and genomic technologies used in pharmacology. You gain an in-depth understanding of individual examples of modern drug research and development before specialising in one research area of interest through your laboratory research project.

Facilities and specialist equipment

• Modern STEM building with purpose-built facilities and bespoke study spaces
• State-of-the-art cell culture lab and analytical science suite
• Industry-standard technology to emulate the professional workplace
• Specialised equipment for high-end pharma and biotech experiments, including HPLC, FTIR and GC-MS machines and facilities for qPCR and protein analysis

Industry links

The University’s Life Sciences Liaison Board draws in industry-wide professionals such as GSK, Pharmaron and the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

The Board’s close collaboration with real-world organisations ensures our course aligns with the needs of both industry and society as well as providing you with invaluable opportunities for networking and work experience.

Student experience

Benefit from our student-centred, employment-based approach to learning to ensure you get the most from your degree, combining traditional lectures, workshops and tutorials with hands-on lab work and small-group teaching.

Boost your career prospects thanks to employability-based skill development and real-world experience.

Learn from academics whose research and professional expertise feeds directly back into their teaching, creating a vibrant, practical-oriented learning environment.

Our staff use their active involvement in progressive areas such as cancer pathways and medicine development to keep you up-to-date with the latest industry advancements.

Gain specialist knowledge thanks to subject-relevant field trips and talks from external experts, including a visit to MSD-Merck and a workshop run by the UK Health Security Agency.

Connect with leading employers through our annual STEM Careers Expo.

Achieve your potential with support and guidance from your own personal academic tutor.

Our MSc Pharmacology graduates are employed in pharmaceutical and biotech industries as well as in medicines regulatory agencies.

What will you study?

Studying our Pharmacology MSc course will equip you with the knowledge and expertise in the field of drug research and development, the treatment of human diseases, and new technologies within pharmacology. In core areas of study, you will examine cellular processes and current techniques in molecular biology in our Cell and Molecular Biology unit while considering their application in areas like genomics and proteomics. Moreover, you will develop the skills for molecular biology techniques including PCR analysis, restriction digestion, and gene cloning.

Furthermore, you will gain an in-depth understanding of Molecular Pharmacology that concerns drug and receptor interaction while also learning to apply systems biology techniques in drug development. In practical areas of study, you will be exposed to the Drug Discovery and Development process with a specialised focus on the role of toxicology in drug development. You will gain insight into clinical trials, the high throughput screening process, and how drugs are prepared to enter the market.

You will also examine therapeutic concepts and principles relating to the causes of diseases and disorders that affect the central nervous, circulatory, endocrine and metabolic system as well as infections and cancer in our Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics unit. More importantly, you will learn how these major diseases are managed and treated in current clinical practice. Finally, you will have the opportunity to complete a Pharmacology Research Project where you will apply theory and practical knowledge acquired from this course to a specialised topic of your choice that is relevant to your field of study and potentially your future career path.

Careers

Graduates progress to careers in pre-clinical research; clinical research; drug licensing and regulatory affairs; medical information; medical writing; and medical sales.

You can also continue in higher education at Doctorate level (MPhil and PhD).