Medical Pharmacology (BSc)

Why study this course

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs and medicines work at cellular and sub-cellular levels to produce useful and sometimes harmful effects. This degree aims to impart a sound mechanistic understanding of bioactive substances, particularly those used for the treatment of human diseases. Such extensive study will provide you with skills attractive to academia and wider industries for posts in biomedical research and product development.

You will have the option of applying to join the extended four-year programme where Year 3 is a Professional Placement Year (PPY).

Our graduates have a range of opportunities on completion of the course. Many undertake further postgraduate training for biomedical research in academia or the private sector, while others pursue careers in the pharmaceutical industry or other biomedical fields.

Our main aim is to support the development of research-trained scientists. However, appropriately qualified students may also be eligible to enter the Cardiff University four year Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programme after completing this BSc degree. It is not possible to transfer to Medicine without finishing this BSc course.

Distinctive features

• This course is taught by experts in medicine and biomedical sciences. As such it provides an in-depth and varied pharmacological education encompassing both basic science principles and clinically relevant applications of knowledge
• You will gain practical research experience learning from world leading scientists
• You will lead a laboratory based, library-based or data analysis project
• You will achieve a detailed understanding of current scientific issues and concepts relating to the science of pharmacology
• You will be able to design research and present and illustrate the results of your work both orally and in writing
• This is a degree course that will enhance your scientific career.

Professional Placement Year (PPY)

• Having the choice of a PPY will give you significant insight into career opportunities available to you by pursuing this degree programme. Such placements will be undertaken in industry (pharmaceutical or related), government/university research laboratories or some similarly suitable organisations.
• The PPY will provide you with invaluable “employability skills” that will bolster future career prospects and make you very competitive in the toughest of work markets. Spending 9-12 months in an academic or industrial environment will provide you with an understanding of how data is analysed, new information acquired in a research setting and, depending on location, how a business organisation is run.

Careers and placements

Career prospects

This course can lead to careers in medical and scientific research, pharmaceutical and biological industries.

A large proportion of BSc Medical Pharmacology students continue their study by pursuing a PhD or master’s degree programme. Many go on to study for a degree in Medicine.

Alternatively, some students use the BSc degree as a well-recognised vehicle to enter careers in dentistry, veterinary science, NHS laboratories, scientific information, medical writing, patent law, graduate entry managerial programmes, teaching and various non-science disciplines

Graduate careers

• Pharmaceutical Researcher
• Pharmaceutical Development

Placements

Once on the B210 Medical Pharmacology course, you will have the option of applying to join the extended four-year programme where Year 3 is a Professional Placement Year (PPY).

Students undertaking a PPY will be taught jointly with those on the three-year course, and the content of the two programmes will be identical, apart from the year spent in employment. You will begin selecting and arranging your placement at the start of Year 2, with the full support of the Medical Pharmacology PPY Coordinator. It should be emphasised that the onus is on each individual student to identify their own placement position.  The Medical School will not normally supply such opportunities. 

Support will involve providing information on the opportunities available, help with CV writing, filling in application forms, preparation for interviews and anything else as appropriate.  Placements can be sourced from competitive schemes advertised on the internet, industrial and/or academic contacts of the pharmacology staff or by direct contact between yourself and appropriate providers. Payments (as stipend or wages) while on placement will be at the total discretion of the provider and may vary considerably depending on the type of project undertaken.

The year will be spent with a single organisation that gives greater scope for the project work that is an essential part of every placement. Such placements will be undertaken in industry (pharmaceutical or related), government/University research laboratories, or some similarly suitable organisations. While on placement, you will be assigned a PPY Tutor (member of Medical Pharmacology teaching staff, usually your Personal Tutor), who will keep in close contact to monitor your progress. At the end of the placement year you will be assessed via reports on the scientific work undertaken (written – in the form of a scientific paper (70%), a critical incident reflective portfolio (15%) and a report from the placement provider (on a predesigned form, 15%).

Those students unsuccessful in securing a PPY position will be switched back to the standard three-year programme.

The PPY FAQ and Handbook documents provide detailed information as to how you will be supported before, during and after your placement.