BSc in Pharmacology
Kingston University
Key Information
Campus location
Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 6 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* UK students: £9,250 per year | international: £15,800 for the first year
Introduction
Why choose this course?
How exactly do medicinal drugs treat and prevent disease? How are they are discovered and tested? How do they affect society? If you want to delve deeper into these questions, this could be the course for you.
This course is taught by award-winning experts with a focus on biological and physiological processes, rather than chemical ones. We'll examine how drugs act on their targets in major organs and systems, and how the body reacts.
You'll study the treatment of infectious and non-infectious diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. You'll also have opportunities to learn about new drugs affecting the brain, treating epilepsy and depression, and how drugs influence addiction.
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- This course meets the core curriculum requirements set out by the British Pharmacology Society (BPS), the professional association for pharmacologists. This course is also accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.
- Our Pharmacology degree scored 97% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey (NSS 2020/21).
- Kingston is ranked No.2 in London for pharmacy and pharmacology (Guardian University League table 2022).
Accreditation
This course meets the core curriculum requirements set out by the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) - the professional association for pharmacologists and one of the leading pharmacological societies in the world.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
What you will study
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.
Year 1
Year 1 offers an essential understanding of how the human body works, providing knowledge to underpin the study of pharmacology. You will gain a comprehensive overview of physiology from the cellular to organ-system level, as well as chemistry, genetics and molecular biology. The Scientific and Laboratory Skills module trains you in a number of practical laboratory techniques.
Core modules
- Genes, Cells and Tissues
- The Biochemical Foundations of Life
- Scientific and Laboratory Skills
- Human Physiology
Year 2
Year 2 introduces pharmacology as a distinct subject, including the action of drugs at their target sites and the actions of the body on drugs once they have been administered. The Systems Pharmacology module covers drugs acting on the major organ systems of the body, including the cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal, renal, respiratory and endocrine systems. Further coverage of immunology, microbiology and molecular biology enables you to study relevant diseases and their treatment. A module in Principles of Pharmacology with Research Methods prepares you to undertake an independent research project in year 3.
Core modules
- Molecular Biology of the Cell
- Principles of Pharmacology with Research Methods
- Infection and Immunity
- System Pharmacology LS5010
Final year
Year 3 provides a further in-depth study of pharmacology - drugs used to treat cancer and infectious diseases; drugs acting on the brain and peripheral nervous systems, such as antidepressants and analgesics; novel drugs used to treat degenerative brain diseases; and the mechanisms of action of drug abuse. You will be able to investigate emerging new techniques in pharmacology, as well as have the option to study bioinformatics and molecular genetics. The wider impact of pharmacology on society is considered, and key skills needed to communicate with both specialists and the public are developed. Your independent project enables you to gain experience in conducting research in a particular area of interest. This may take the form of an experimental laboratory investigation, or the use of surveys or questionnaires to assess individuals' understanding of, or attitudes towards an aspect of pharmacology. It may involve reviewing a particular topic with the aim of producing a literature review of current research in that area.
Core modules
- Current Concepts in Biomolecular Science
- Project (Bioscience)
Optional modules
- Chemotherapy of Infectious and Neoplastic Diseases
- Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics
- Brain and Behaviour
Please note
Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Careers and progression
Graduates work in drug discovery and development, clinical trials, medical writing, and medical sales and marketing. The course can also provide a gateway into medicine or pharmacy.
Employability preparation at Kingston University
In addition to building expertise in your own discipline, our courses will also help you to develop key transferable skills that you'll need for professional life or further study once you graduate.
As well as a range of careers and employability activities at Kingston, we also offer you the chance to apply and develop your skills in live contexts as an integral part of your course. Opportunities include:
- placements
- working or studying abroad
- volunteering
- peer mentoring roles
- internship opportunities within and outside the University.
In your final year, you'll get the opportunity to complete a major 'capstone' project where you can apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired to a range of real issues in different contexts. This is a great way to learn and is a valuable bridge to employment or further research at the master's level.