University of East London Homepage

Programme summary for BSc (Hons) Pharmacology

This programme contains a mixture of lectures, small group tutorial work and practical laboratory training. In the latter part of the programme you will also have an opportunity to conduct an independent, self-directed research project.

See what one of our Pharmacology graduates thought of her study in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience.

About the programme

Pharmacology is the study of drugs, their biological effects on physiological systems and application to the prevention and treatment of disease. Pharmacology is at the interface of biochemistry, human physiology, molecular biology, and toxicology, all of which are components of this single-honours degree. The aim of this programme is to introduce you to all aspects of pharmacology, including biochemical and molecular pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, immunopharmacology, psychopharmacology, drug discovery processes and toxicology.

2-subject degrees

You can combine this programme with a range of other subjects as part of a 2-subject degree. Popular combinations include Pharmacology with Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology and Anthropology.

Programme structure

  • Most students follow a 3-year full-time BSc(Hons) programme, however the 4-year sandwich, 4- or 5-year extended and part-time (minimum of 41/2 years) routes are also available.
  • Pharmacology is also available as part of a combined honours programme
  • Level 1 is designed to bring students from a diversity of backgrounds to a common understanding of a number of generic and specific skills required for progress to Level 2 of any of the Bioscience degrees at UEL. These include HE study and ICT skills, biology, chemistry, cell biology, genetics, human physiology, microbiology, statistics and experimental design. At Level 2 you will study modules (modules) in advanced human physiology, pharmacology, and biochemistry and molecular biology. At Level 3 (the third year for full-time or fourth year for sandwich students), areas of pharmacology introduced at Level 2 are studied in depth, together with toxicology and a laboratory or non-laboratory based research project.

Career opportunities

This degree prepares you for a career in pharmacological research and development with global pharmaceutical companies and small-medium biotechnological enterprises, government-funded research institutes and laboratories. Non-laboratory-based careers include working as a clinical research associate, in medical sales, with the Government’s (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), or in private industry.

Support

The School of Health and Bioscience provides immediate contact with University support systems.

  • In your first year, you are allocated a Personal Tutor (a member of staff familiar with your degree). You will see your Tutor at regular intervals to discuss progress and life in general.
  • Module leaders and Programme leaders also give support on academic matters, and advice about other specialist help available through the University.
  • The School also has a Help Desk to provide administrative assistance and advise how to get the right help.
  • Internet homepages are used by many staff to support their teaching and your learning.
  • Lecture and practical files, quizzes, mark summaries and much more is now available for several modules via UELPlus Online Programme links.

Throughout the programme you will find a number of scheduled support activities devoted to specific aspects e.g. how to write your project report, or more general aspects such as careers.

Support for students on a University level includes:

Admission

For students entering with AS/A2 qualifications, the minimum requirement is 240 points at A2 level with a preferred minimum of 100 A2 points in Biology or Chemistry. We also accept Access to Science, AGNVQ or AVCE in Science at Merit grade and BTEC National Diploma in Science with a minimum of 6 modules at Merit grade. All students should also have a minimum of grade C at GCSE, or equivalent, in English language, mathematics and double science.

Applicants with overseas or other relevant qualifications are considered on an individual basis. For mature students, credit may be given for previous relevant experience (APEL).
Direct entry to the second year of the programme is available for students with a Higher National Certificate or Diploma in a biological or chemical science, or for those who have successfully completed study equivalent to Level 1 at another university.

If you want to study Pharmacology but do not have the necessary entry qualifications, why not start with our extended degree programme I  pharmacology which feeds in to level 1.

Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required.  International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.

Information for screenreader users:

For a general description of these pages and an explanation of how they should work with screenreading equipment please follow this link: Link to general description

For further information on this web site’s accessibility features please follow this link: Link to accessibility information