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Thank you for considering an application
To apply you’ll need to:
- Make note of the Queen Mary institution code: Q50
- Make note of your chosen course UCAS code:
Pharmacology
- B215 — BSc (Hons)
- B22Y — BSc (Hons) with Year Abroad
- B2Y2 — BSc (Hons) with Year in Industry
- Click on the link below:
Have further questions? How to apply | Entry requirements
Pharmacology
3 study options
Pharmacology BSc (Hons)
Key information
- Degree
- BSc (Hons)
- Duration
- 3 years
- Start
- September 2027
- UCAS code
- B215
- Institution code
- Q50
- Entry Requirements
- Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
- Home fees
- £9,790
- Overseas fees
- Fees for 2027 entry will appear here shortly
*These fees are for the 2026-27 academic year and are provided as a guideline. Fees for 2027-28 have not yet been set.
Pharmacology with Year Abroad BSc (Hons)
Key information
- Degree
- BSc (Hons)
- Duration
- 4 years
- Start
- September 2027
- UCAS code
- B22Y
- Institution code
- Q50
- Entry Requirements
- Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
- Home fees
- £9,790
- Overseas fees
- Fees for 2027 entry will appear here shortly
*These fees are for the 2026-27 academic year and are provided as a guideline. Fees for 2027-28 have not yet been set.
Pharmacology with Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Key information
- Degree
- BSc (Hons)
- Duration
- 4 years
- Start
- September 2027
- UCAS code
- B2Y2
- Institution code
- Q50
- Entry Requirements
- Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
- Home fees
- £9,790
- Overseas fees
- Fees for 2027 entry will appear here shortly
*These fees are for the 2026-27 academic year and are provided as a guideline. Fees for 2027-28 have not yet been set.
Overview
The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries need pharmacology experts. Could you be the next pioneer?
Explore basic, molecular and clinical pharmacology. Get practical experience using scientific instruments in modern labs. Understand the clinical trial and regulatory pathways for bringing new drugs from an initial idea through to the patient.
Taught by the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, this course combines their strengths, their academic experts and facilities. As well as the drug development cycles, the team will teach you about the practical aspects of managing a pharmacology business, from research and development costs to marketing and licensing.
And did we mention you can complete a year in industry or a year abroad?
Research that saves lives
The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is home to the William Harvey Research Institute, a world-leading pharmacology centre. All of the research happening here underpins our teaching.
We’re carrying out research on basic sciences aiming to identify novel targets for drug development, such as our research into the control of cell division which will help develop cancer treatments. Other academics are focused on evaluating the efficacy of drugs further down the development pipeline. Feel inspired by everyone you connect with and discover how you’ll make an impact.
Structure
You can complete your Pharmacology degree in three or four years. If you choose to study abroad, this will take place in Year 3, and the Year 3 modules will instead be studied in Year 4.
Year 0
Foundation Programme
Semester 1
Compulsory
- Communication in Science and Technology
Year-long modules
Compulsory
- Science and Engineering Success
- Foundations of Chemical Science
- Foundations of Physical Science
- Foundations of Engineering
- Foundations of Biological Science
- Mathematics A
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 1
- Biomedical Physiology I - Exchange, Movement and Integration
- Biomolecules of Life
- Cells
- Human Anatomy
- Introduction to Pharmacology
- Genetics
- Research Skills for Pharmacologists
- Tissue Biology
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 2
Compulsory
- Basic Immunology
- Biomedical Physiology II - Cardiovascular and Respiratory
- Clinical Pharmacology and the Assessment of Drug Safety
- Drug Target Identification
- Biomolecules of Life II
- The Business of Pharmacology
Choose two from
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Human Genetic Disorders
- Membrane and Cellular Biochemistry
- Research Design and Analysis
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 3
Compulsory
- Classic Papers and Current Topics in Pharmacology
- Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs
- Drug Design
- Translational Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics
Choose from
- Project: Engaging the Public with Science
- Structured Research Project in the Life Sciences
- Research Project in Pharmacology
Choose two from
- Advanced Human Genetic Disorders
- Advanced Immunology
- Cancer Biology
- Endocrine Physiology
- Molecular Basis of Personalised Medicine
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Study options
Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.
Year in industry
To successfully secure a placement before the start of the 3rd year students need to meet the progression hurdle of achieving a Year 2 average module mark of at least 60% with no failed modules across Years 1 and 2.
Students will be responsible for seeking industrial placements with the support of an industrial placement co-ordinator. However, it is highly competitive and placements are not guaranteed.
Successful students will study 120 credits made up of BMD5555. The year in industry is pass/fail and students who don't pass their year will be transferred onto the standard 3 year programme.
Students will apply for industrial placements during their second year. If you do not secure an industrial placement, choose not to undertake a year in industry, or do not pass the year, you will be transferred to the standard three-year BSc degree.
Year abroad
Go global and study abroad as part of your degree – apply for our Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics BSc with a Year Abroad. Queen Mary has links with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia (partnerships vary for each degree programme).
Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Queen Mary and the progression requirements. You can also learn more about financing your year abroad.
"This course stood out for its blend of drug discovery and real-world therapeutic innovation. Learning from researchers at the William Harvey Research Institute was incredibly inspiring. A key highlight was my third-year project at the William Harvey Heart Centre, where I studied aortic aneurysms using histological staining —an experience that strengthened my practical skills and clarified the impact I hope to make in pharmacology. Beyond the lab, being part of the WHRI Society and working as a student ambassador helped me connect with others interested in drug development and share my enthusiasm for pharmacology."
Teaching
Teaching and learning
We use a mixture of teaching styles - lectures, tutorials, classroom activities and laboratory work.
Outside of classes, you’ll need to spend 20 to 25 hours per week preparing, writing up and reading.
Assessment
Each module is assessed by written examinations and/or coursework (practical reports, essays, posters, presentations, problem sheets, online exercises and tests.
Final-year students undertake a research or investigative project, assessed with a detailed written report, poster and presentation.
Resources and facilities
The School offers excellent on-campus resources to aid your studies, including:
- newly refurbished lecture theatres
- up-to-date IT facilities
- modern, well-equipped labs.
You’ll also benefit from the expertise of the William Harvey Research Institute, a world-leading pharmacology centre based within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
Entry requirements
| Contextualised admissions | We consider every application on its individual merits and will take into consideration your individual educational experiences and context. More information on how academic schools and programmes use this information as part of the admissions process, can be found on our contextualised admissions pages. |
Non-UK students
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.
English language
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
Further information
Funding
Loans and grants
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Scholarships and bursaries
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
Support from Queen Mary
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
- additional sources of funding
- planning your budget and cutting costs
- part-time and vacation work
- money for lone parents.
Careers
Medicine or dentistry
Pharmacology provides a strong background for medicine or dentistry, as you will have studied a wide range of biomedical subjects and developed an in-depth knowledge of medicines.
The 19 highest-ranked students from our Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience and Pharmacology programmes are guaranteed an interview for the five-year A100 Medicine MBBS degree at Queen Mary University of London. For the top seven ranked students, there is a guaranteed interview for the five year A200 BDS dentistry programme. Students are selected at the end of the second year on the basis of an aggregate of academic ranking (50%) and UCAT score (50%) and start the programme after they have completed their final year. Of these students, the top five will also be considered for the four-year A101 MBBS Graduate Entry Programme.
Other careers
96 per cent of our graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23).
- Some graduates pursue a career in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, within a regulatory agency or in a wider biomedical area.
- Some opt for postgraduate study. Top graduates may be eligible for fully-funded PhD training within Queen Mary’s William Harvey Research Institute.
- Others transfer their skills to careers in diverse fields, including media, technology and management.
Recent BSc Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics (now BSc Pharmacology) graduates are employed in roles such as:
- Clinical Research Associate
- Clinical Trials Administrator
- Laboratory Analyst
- Medical Writer
- Research Analyst
- Research Assistant
- Science Technician
Our graduates work in a range of organisations including:
- Civica
- Eurofins Laboratories
- Global Data Ltd
- Havas Media
- ICON plc
- JDH Health Care
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22 and 2022/23
Career support
The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences has a careers consultant, who can offer specialist advice and organise subject-specific events. We also have a dedicated internships coordinator.
The Queen Mary careers team can also offer:
- specialist advice on choosing a career path
- support with finding work experience, internships and graduate jobs
- feedback on CVs, cover letters and application forms
- interview coaching.
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
About the Schools
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences is a large and dynamic school with strong links to industry. We offer a stimulating and supportive learning experience.
You’ll experience inspirational teaching from high-calibre staff who are leaders in their field. According to the Research Excellence Framework, 91 per cent of our Biological Sciences is either world-leading or internationally excellent. You’ll stay up to date with weekly departmental seminars on new research findings.
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is one of the oldest medical schools in the UK.
We’re in an unrivalled position to offer you the very best student experience. You’ll be taught by experts who are passionately engaged with their subject, and our degrees have extremely high satisfaction rates – in the most recent National Student Survey, 92 per cent of our students were satisfied overall with the quality of their programme.
