BSc Pharmacology

If you’ve ever wondered how medicines work — not just in theory, but in real, living bodies — pharmacology is where that journey begins. This degree is perfect for curious minds who want to make a difference in health and science, whether that’s through drug discovery, medical research, or understanding how treatments affect people at every level — from cells to society.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building your scientific foundation

You’ll start by getting the big picture of life sciences, with courses like Biomedical Sciences, Medical Biology, and Molecular and Cellular Biology. These give you the scientific toolkit you’ll need — learning how cells function, how genes are expressed, and how the body’s systems connect. There’s also room to explore beyond science, with elective courses that let you shape your degree your way.

Year 2 – Diving deeper into how the body works

This is where you start seeing how biology connects with medicine. You’ll study Microorganisms, Infection & Immunity, Cells to Organisms, and a more advanced Biomedical Sciences course. These help you understand how the body defends itself, how systems are built, and how things go wrong — and this knowledge sets the stage for pharmacology to make sense.

Year 3 – Entering the world of drug science

Now you’re getting into the heart of the subject. Courses like Pharmacology 3 and Biomedical Sciences 3 bring together everything you’ve learned so far, and apply it to how drugs work, how they’re tested, and how researchers analyse data. You’ll also begin choosing optional modules that reflect your interests — from neuroscience to immunology — and develop skills like scientific writing and critical thinking.

Year 4 – Specialising and doing real research

In your final year, you’ll go deep. The core course, Drugs, Receptors and Therapeutics, explores how drugs affect the body and how that knowledge shapes modern medicine. You’ll choose two advanced topic modules that excite you most, and then carry out an independent research project — often working alongside researchers on real-world problems, in labs or through data analysis. This is your chance to apply everything, ask questions that matter, and see where your interests could take you next.

Focus areas

Drug action · Pharmacokinetics & pharmacodynamics · Molecular mechanisms · Therapeutic development · Side effects & toxicology · Experimental & analytical techniques

Learning outcomes

Understand how drugs affect the body at every level · Explore how drugs are absorbed, processed, and cleared · Learn real-world lab and data skills · Communicate science clearly · Build confidence for careers in science, healthcare, or industry

Professional alignment (accreditation)

While there’s no single external accrediting body mentioned, the programme is delivered by the Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, part of a world-renowned research community. It’s grounded in professional scientific standards and prepares you for careers across biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Reputation (employability rankings)

• Ranked among the top 50 universities in the world (QS World Rankings)

• In the UK’s top 10 for graduate employability (Times Higher Education)

• Edinburgh graduates are highly sought-after, and many go into roles in research, healthcare, biotech, public health, and beyond