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The BSc Pharmacology at Southampton is a three-year honours degree based at the Highfield campus that gives you deep understanding of how drugs work, how they’re discovered, improved, and how their side effects and toxicities can be managed. It suits students fascinated by biology and chemistry, keen on lab-work and experimentation, and aiming for careers in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, research, or further academic study.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
You’ll begin with core modules like Chemistry of Life, Fundamentals of Biochemistry, Fundamentals of Cell Biology & Physiology, How to Think Like a Scientist, and Human Genome & Disease. These units lay the scientific foundations—biochemistry, cell biology, genetics—and introduce you to laboratory and analytical skills, as well as scientific reasoning.
Year 2
In the second year you move into more applied and specialised topics. Modules include Exploring Proteins: Structure & Function, Flow of Genetic Information, Medical Microbiology. You’ll get more lab practicals, dive deeper into mechanisms of disease, learn about microbial threats, and sharpen experimental design and data interpretation.
Year 3
The final year focuses on advanced pharmacological topics plus an independent research project. Sample modules include Molecular Pharmacology, Cell Signalling in Health & Disease, Cancer & Chromosome Biology, Biomedical Parasitology. You’ll apply everything you’ve learned: you’ll do your own project, engage with cutting-edge research, and prepare for roles in industry or postgraduate training.
Focus areas: Drug discovery, interactions of drugs with cells/tissues, toxicity & safety, microbial infection & antibiotics, disease mechanisms.
Learning outcomes: Deep understanding of pharmacological principles; ability to conduct lab-based experiments; data analysis and scientific reasoning; ability to carry out independent research; skills in communicating scientific results.
Professional alignment (accreditation): Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.
Reputation (employability rankings): About 97% of Biological Sciences (including Pharmacology) graduates at Southampton are in employment or further study 15 months after graduation. Average early salary (15 months after) is about £22,000. Course is well rated within “The Uni Guide” and “The Uni Guide / UCAS” for biology/science subjects.
You’ll gain practical lab experience from early in the degree: using state-of-the-art teaching labs in the Biological Sciences building, you’ll do experiments involving drug interaction, animal tissues (or alternatives), physiology, and more. As you move toward year 3, you’ll carry out an individual research project and have chances to go abroad or into industry, so you graduate not just with knowledge, but hands-on, real-world skills.
Here’s what you’ll get specifically:
Lab practicals throughout the course (Years 1-3), including Principles of Pharmacology (BIOL2048) where practicals use animal tissue (with alternatives provided) so you learn lab handling, dissection or tissue-based techniques and ethical considerations.
Applied pharmacology module (Pharmacology, BIOL2058) accompanied by practicals to see how drug principles are used to treat disease.
State-of-the-art teaching laboratories that refine your experimental technique and prepare you for independent research in the final year.
Option to spend a year in industry between Years 2 and 3, gaining workplace experience in pharmaceutical or biotech environments.
Semester abroad option in Year 2 at a partner university to broaden your scientific and cultural perspective.
Future Progression & Opportunities
Graduates of the BSc Pharmacology program at the University of Southampton are well-equipped to pursue diverse career paths in pharmacology, biomedical research, and the pharmaceutical industry. Typical roles include:
Pharmacologist
Clinical Research Associate
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Laboratory Technician
These positions leverage the comprehensive training and practical experience gained throughout the program.
Career Support and Industry Connections:
Careers and Employability Service: Offers personalized career advice, CV workshops, interview preparation, and job search support to help students transition from academia to the workforce.
Industry Partnerships: The university collaborates with leading pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer, providing students with opportunities for internships, placements, and collaborative research projects.
Research Collaborations: Engagement with institutions like the Medical Research Council and the Singapore Institute of Clinical Sciences enhances students' exposure to cutting-edge research and development in pharmacology.
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, ensuring that the curriculum meets professional standards and enhances employability.
Graduate Outcomes:
Employment Rate: Approximately 87.3% of Biological Sciences graduates from Southampton are employed or in further study within six months of graduation.
Salary Expectations: Graduates typically earn between £15,000 and £19,999 annually in their initial roles.
Further Academic Progression:
Upon completing the BSc Pharmacology degree, graduates have several options for further academic advancement:
Master's Degrees: Pursue specialized postgraduate programs in pharmacology, drug discovery, or related fields to deepen expertise.
PhD Programs: Engage in doctoral research to contribute to innovative developments in pharmacology and related disciplines.
Professional Certifications: Obtain certifications in regulatory affairs or clinical research to enhance career prospects in the pharmaceutical industry.
ABB including Chemistry and one further science subject.International Baccalaureate Diploma Pass with overall score of 34 points, with 16 points required at Higher Level, including 5 and 6 points at Higher Level in Chemistry and one further science subjectRQF BTEC D in the BTEC Extended Certificate plus AA in A Level Chemistry and one further science subjectQCF BTEC D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AB in A Level Chemistry and one further science subject.Access to HE Diploma 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at MeritPharmaceutical & Biotechnology IndustryInternational Healthcare Policy & NGOMédecins Sans FrontièresEU/UN Health AgenciesAcademic & Clinical ResearchRegulatory BodiesMedical Communications & Health JournalismScience Diplomacy & International RelationsTeaching & Educationand Corporate Roles
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University of Southampton
