Pharmacology

The University of Hertfordshire has a longstanding reputation teaching pharmacology and is located within 50 miles of most of the UK pharmaceutical industry. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), 69% of research in pharmacy and pharmacology was rated as world leading or internationally excellent.

The pharmacology course is taught as one pathway in the Biosciences Programme. This starts off with a broad based first year and builds up to a final year that provides a detailed understanding of the actions of medicines on biological systems from mechanisms at a molecular level to effects on the whole body.

Key strengths

• Teaching staff with academic, industry and research expertise provide course material which combines real world relevance and latest research ideas.
• Excellent facilities including the Science Building for teaching and research.
• Accreditation from the Society of Biology for our 4-year placement pathway.
• Flexibility within the Biosciences programme is ideal for students who are not completely sure of their final degree choice within Biosciences.
• The opportunity to do a one year placement in industry.
• A final year laboratory based project teaches not only practical skills but also general project planning skills.
• Location at the heart of the UK Pharmaceutical industry helps to ensure excellent employability, 100% of pharmacology graduates are employed or engaged in further study within 6 months of leaving (HESA 2015-16 stats).

Modern facilities

The new science building will provide state-of-the-art teaching laboratories for Biosciences including a dedicated pharmacology teaching laboratory. Research laboratories will provide facilities for our research work in a range of areas including: Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, and Stem cells.

Explore the facilities in the School of Life and Medical Sciences

Pharmacology staff

See a list of our staff

Career options

Our graduates progress to a wide range of careers including:

• Roles in the Pharmaceutical industry including laboratory-based work, clinical trials organisation, medical writing, drug safety monitoring
• Further study either as PhD student or on Masters courses
• A variety of jobs in the health arena and food industry that require students to have a broad understanding of the science of human health
• Teaching science

For students going on placement, this provides unrivalled work experience, helps many students make a final career choice and for some results in a job offer at the end of the placement year.