Pharmacology
Glasgow Caledonian University
UCAS Code: B210 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Glasgow Caledonian University
UCAS Code: B210 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
to include two science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Health and Food Technology, Physics, Maths, Psychology to Life & Health Science
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6)
Accepted as equivalent to one Higher at grade B as part of the overall grade profile of Highers required for entry. Any essential subjects at Higher should still be achieved in addition to the Foundation Apprenticeship.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Including two sciences at HL 4
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
to include two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Physics to Maths. Please note that combined Physics/Chemistry are accepted as One Science subject
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Applied Science or Science
Scottish HNC
Applied Biological Science/Applied Science Year 1 entry: HNC in related subject at least 12 credits (C in Graded unit) Year 2 entry: HNC in related area must be minimum 15 credits (B in Graded unit required) and HNC must include the following units: DNA and Genetics, and Human Body Structure and Function
Scottish HND
Year 3 entry: HND in related subject (e.g., Applied Sciences/Applied Biological Sciences) with Graded Units BB must include the following units: DNA and Genetics, Human Body Structure and Function, and Human Metabolism
Scottish Higher
to include two science subjects from Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Health and Food Technology, Physics, Maths, Psychology to Environmental Science
T Level
Health and Science: Science
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
This programme involves a high proportion of practical work, including a five-day practical molecular biology workshop that brings together theory and practice, to equip you with the laboratory skills employers need. You will gain an understanding of how the body works, what goes wrong in disease and how drugs can be used to manage these diseased states.
In Scotland the expansion of health-related industries and the biotechnology sector means that demand for graduates in this area currently outstrips supply.
NSS results
Our students rate us highly. We achieved 100% student satisfaction in the National Student Survey in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and 91% for academic support in 2023.
Professional accreditation
The Pharmacology programme at GCU is fully accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. In addition, the Pharmacology programme follows the British Pharmacological Society core curricula which is regularly updated to include the latest advances in the field.
Teaching methods
The learning and teaching methods we use ensure that our programme is both vocationally relevant and academically challenging. Our approach is student-centred, practical, participative and relevant to the needs of employers. We've moved away from the traditional teacher-centric learning to a more independent learning approach, where you are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills.
Student prizes
BSc (Hons) Pharmacology graduates were awarded the British Pharmacological Society Undergraduate Pharmacology Prize in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Extracurricular activities
The Glasgow Pharmacological Society was founded here at GCU and comprises of staff and students from GCU, the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde. The Society hosts an annual seminar as well as hosting prestigious British Pharmacological Society events. This allows students at GCU to get involved in extracurricular activities, which develop transferable skills and enhance employment prospects.
Modules
YEAR 1: HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY AND CORE SKILLS IN BIOSCIENCE1
YEAR 2: CORE SKILLS IN BIOSCIENCE 2, INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY, MECHANISMS OF CELLULAR REGULATION, PRACTICAL SKILLS IN BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCES, FUNDAMENTAL CELL BIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: FROM HEALTH TO DISEASE
YEAR 3: CORE MODULES FUNDAMENTALS OF DRUG ACTION, MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS, SYSTEMATIC & CELLULAR PATHOLOGY
OPTIONAL: EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN & ANALYSIS , CELL SIGNALLING & TRAFFICKING THERAPIES, PAHRMACOLOGY OF CHEMICAL MEDIATORS, OR BIOSCIENCE PLACEMENT
YEAR 4: PROJECT & WORKSHOP, BIOLOGY OF DISEASE, TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, NEUROPHARMACOLOGY, TISSUE NETWORKS AND DISEASE
Assessment methods
Assessment methods are designed to produce graduates with a balanced knowledge and understanding of all branches of the subject and to allow our students to become enquiring, independent learners exhibiting high levels of professionalism.
A significant proportion of our assessment is practically based, providing hands-on laboratory skills and experience of data handling and presentation which not only makes our programme distinctive but also attractive to employers seeking to find graduates with the necessary skills and competencies in the global marketplace.
Tuition fees
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Extra funding
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The Uni
Glasgow Caledonian University
Department of Life Sciences
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Pharmacology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Pharmacology
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
As only a relatively small number of students study pharmacology or toxicology, these statistics refer most closely to the graduate prospects of pharmacy graduates, so bear that in mind when you review them. Only a handful of students take first degrees in pure toxicology every year — the subject is more popular at Masters level. Pharmacology is a degree that tends to lead to jobs in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, and outcomes are improving again after a difficult time in the last few years. Jobs in pharmacology are often very specialist and so it’s no surprise that pharmacologists are amongst the most likely of all students to go on to a doctorate — if you want a job in research, start thinking about a PhD. As for pharmacy, unemployment rates are below 1% and 95% of pharmacy graduates had jobs as pharmacists (mostly in retail pharmacists) six months after they left their courses - employment rates have gone up significantly in the last couple of years.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Pharmacology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£26k
£32k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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