MSc in Pharmacology
Luton, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
31 Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 16,900
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
The development of safe and effective new drugs is a challenging and rewarding field. Our forward-thinking Pharmacology MSc equips you with a broad understanding of drug discovery and development, focusing on the mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level; the treatment of human disease; and the latest cell, molecular and genomic technologies used in pharmacology. You gain an in-depth understanding of individual examples of modern drug research and development before specialising in one research area of interest through your laboratory research project.
Student experience
- Benefit from our student-centred, employment-based approach to learning to ensure you get the most from your degree, combining traditional lectures, workshops and tutorials with hands-on lab work and small-group teaching.
- Boost your career prospects thanks to employability-based skill development and real-world experience.
- Learn from academics whose research and professional expertise feed directly back into their teaching, creating a vibrant, practical-oriented learning environment.
- Our staff use their active involvement in progressive areas such as cancer pathways and medicine development to keep you up-to-date with the latest industry advancements.
- Gain specialist knowledge thanks to subject-relevant field trips and talks from external experts, including a visit to MSD-Merck and a workshop run by the UK Health Security Agency.
- Connect with leading employers through our annual STEM Careers Expo.
- Achieve your potential with support and guidance from your own personal academic tutor.
- Our MSc Pharmacology graduates are employed in pharmaceutical and biotech industries as well as in medicines regulatory agencies.
Industry links
The University’s Life Sciences Liaison Board draws in industry-wide professionals such as GSK, Pharmaron and the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
The Board’s close collaboration with real-world organisations ensures our course aligns with the needs of both industry and society as well as providing you with invaluable opportunities for networking and work experience.
Why choose the School of Life Sciences
| Our academics are involved in real-world research, leading the way in COVID-19 testing technology, autoimmune diseases, obesity, cancer pathways, gene editing and global food security. | Our Life Sciences Liaison Board features representatives from organisations such as Glaxo Smith Kline, the NHS and the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. | Tailor your studies to fit your needs with intermediate qualifications and the option for part-time learning. |
|---|
Postgraduate Scholarships
You can find all of our Postgraduate scholarships listed below.
- Postgraduate Global Subject-Specific Merit Scholarship
- Postgraduate Global Merit Scholarship
- Vice Chancellor's Scholarship for Postgraduate Students
- Chevening Scholarships
- Alumni Scholarship
Prompt Payment Discount
A discount of £500 is available for prompt payment of each year’s fees in full, before or at the point of registration, for both undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes.
Postgraduate research students who pay their full tuition fee before or at registration will receive a £1,000 discount on that year’s fees.
The tuition fee pre-payment of 65% will be calculated on the full, published tuition fees and will not take into account any scholarships, bursaries or awards. These will be applied to the remaining balance of your fees.
Sport Scholarships
Our sports scholarships are designed to develop and support talented students at the University of Bedfordshire.
Our sports scholarships on offer provide financial and performance support services that utilise the University’s outstanding facilities.
Please contact us for more information.
What will you study?
Studying our Pharmacology MSc course will equip you with the knowledge and expertise in the field of drug research and development, the treatment of human diseases, and new technologies within pharmacology. In core areas of study, you will examine cellular processes and current techniques in molecular biology in our Cell and Molecular Biology unit while considering their application in areas like genomics and proteomics. Moreover, you will develop the skills for molecular biology techniques including PCR analysis, restriction digestion, and gene cloning.
Furthermore, you will gain an in-depth understanding of Molecular Pharmacology that concerns drug and receptor interaction while also learning to apply systems biology techniques in drug development. In practical areas of study, you will be exposed to the Drug Discovery and Development process with a specialised focus on the role of toxicology in drug development. You will gain insight into clinical trials, the high throughput screening process, and how drugs are prepared to enter the market.
You will also examine therapeutic concepts and principles relating to the causes of diseases and disorders that affect the central nervous, circulatory, endocrine and metabolic systems as well as infections and cancer in our Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics unit. More importantly, you will learn how these major diseases are managed and treated in current clinical practice. Finally, you will have the opportunity to complete a Pharmacology Research Project where you will apply theory and practical knowledge acquired from this course to a specialised topic of your choice that is relevant to your field of study and potentially your future career path.
How will you be assessed?
The assessment philosophy of the MSc Pharmacology Award conforms to the recommendations of the aspects of relevant QAA Benchmarks and Masters level descriptors. The methods used for the assessment of students' achievements will correspond with the knowledge abilities and skills that are to be developed through the degree programme. Both formative and summative modes of assessment will be used. Evidence on which assessment of students' achievement is based will include: formal written examinations; summative practical assessments; laboratory and other written reports; problem-solving exercises; oral presentations; individual planning conduct and reporting of project work; and essay assignments. Evidence on which assessment of students' achievement is based may include: literature surveys and evaluations; collaborative project work; preparation and displays of 'posters' reporting project work; personal portfolios of learning achieved; computer-based assessments; and self and peer assessment.
The course assessment strategy is compliant with the University of Bedfordshire Quality Assurance Regulations. The commitment to practical skills and the ability to communicate and interpret data through scientific report writing is emphasised at all units of the programme. As such practical (laboratory) activities form a significant proportion of students' assessments. Practical work will be assessed through written practical reports portfolio of varied lab experiments poster presentations and reflective laboratory diaries. Assessment throughout the units most notably in the research project will call upon abstract writing and journal review skills to promote critical thinking and integration of knowledge across the course units. The importance of oral communication skills is also acknowledged as some of the units require students to undertake oral presentations as part of the unit assessments. Throughout the course formative feedback will be provided in support of various tasks that include practical work in all four units mini-projects literature reviews case studies and presentations prior to final summative assessments. Students' capability in carrying out research will be assessed through research proposals research project activities and presentations. Group work including laboratory practical sessions will help students to develop transferable skills such as taking initiative communication teamwork and decision-making. Ability in oral communication will be assessed through presentations including a poster presentation.
All assessed work will be marked using the University's percentage-based marking scheme. The pass mark for all units will be 40% or above. Students who fail to successfully complete the initial taught units may not be eligible to progress to the laboratory-based research project stage of the course; this is determined by the University's regulations. Students who do not initially progress will be expected to undertake either referral assessments or if necessary retake failed units (no student can retake a unit more than once). When students pass the number of other units prescribed by the regulations they will be able to undertake their research project.
Graduates progress to careers in pre-clinical research; clinical research; drug licensing and regulatory affairs; medical information; medical writing; and medical sales.
You can also continue in higher education at Doctorate level (MPhil and PhD).