Pharmacology BSc Hons

You’ll do more than just lectures. From early years, you’ll get hands‐on with lab practicals, designing and running experiments, analysing data, using real biological materials and model organisms. Later, you’ll pick a research project, interact with industry or placements (if you choose “with a year in industry”), and use high-end equipment in Dundee’s research facilities. What this really means is you don’t just learn pharmacology — you do it, in real labs, with real problems.

Some specific experiential learning opportunities and facilities include:

• A semester‐long independent research project in Years 3-4 built around current Life Sciences research strengths. 

• The “Pharmacology (with a year in industry)” option gives a 12-month placement in an industry or commercial laboratory setting, helping you make connections and apply what you’ve learned in a professional environment. 

• Modules such as Behavioural Neuroscience and Pharmacology (BS32024) where you’ll work with data from rodent experiments, observe and analyse neuropharmacology, interpret results, link to literature and learn about challenges in drug discovery. 

• A variety of core modules using computer-based learning, data processing, workshops and practical reports. 

Facilities, tools, software and support

Dundee gives you access to several advanced facilities that you’ll use during your study:

• wet laboratories for chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology; tissue culture suites (categories 1-3); labs for radioactivity work. 

• rooms for using model organisms (yeast, Drosophila, Xenopus, C. elegans) to study biology and pharmacology in vivo/in vitro.

• high-quality dry labs for computational biology / bioinformatics, including software tools for data analysis. 

• Imaging resources: light and electron microscopy; cryo-electron microscopy facility; flow cytometry and cell sorting; proteomics and mass spectrometry via the FingerPrints facility. 

• Drug analysis / biomarker lab (BMDA), Clinical Research Imaging Facility, and others connected with clinical or translational work. 

Most graduates of this programme move into roles that draw directly on what they’ve learned: lab work, research, pharma, health sciences, etc. Some of the typical job roles include:

• Research scientist (in universities, biotech or pharma)

• Clinical trials / regulatory affairs officer

• Medical / scientific writer or communicator

• Quality control / drug safety / pharmacovigilance roles

Key supports and stats:

Here’s what Dundee gives you, and what students are getting after graduating:

• The Careers & Employability Service at Dundee gives subject-specialist careers advisers, workshops, mock interviews, CV/application reviews, and runs a good number of job fairs, seminars, etc., to help prepare you for work. 

• On-campus JobShop: hundreds of vacancies each year for internships, part-time jobs, voluntary or graduate roles. 

• Graduate Outcomes (for Dundee pharmacology grads): ~£26,000 average salary 15 months after graduation. Employment +/or study rates essentially 100% for “subjects allied to medicine” including pharmacology. 

• University-industry collaborations: through Dundee’s School of Life Sciences, there are strong ties with companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim (e.g. via the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy), and specific partnerships like the one with Bukwang Pharm to develop treatments for Parkinson’s disease. This helps with exposure to “real world” aspects of drug discovery, translation, and partnership opportunities. 

• Accreditation adds long-term value: the degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, which boosts credibility in both UK and global job markets. 

Further Academic Progression:

If you want to go deeper, there are paths beyond the BSc:

• Master’s degrees in pharmacology, molecular biology, drug discovery, computational biology or related disciplines.

• PhD research which allows you to specialise in a niche topic, working closely with Dundee’s research groups.

• Postgraduate professional qualifications or certifications, especially in regulatory affairs, clinical trials management, medical writing, or biotechnology.