Pharmacology

Study pharmacology at the University of Reading and develop key skills sought by the pharmaceutical industry.

We've aligned our programmes with the British Pharmacological Society's core curricula, providing you with knowledge and skills that are recognised by employers. Your learning will also focus on bioinformatics and how to analyse large biological data sets – a key requirement for pharmacologists.

Our pharmacology courses will not result in qualification to work as a pharmacist. Please refer to our MPharm Pharmacy or MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year courses if this is the route you wish to follow.

These programmes teach you the essentials of pharmacology, including:

• principles of drug action and molecular targets
• key mathematical principles and skills
• statistical analysis
• systems pharmacology
• mathematical and computer modelling.

We have recently invested £60m in our new Health and Life Sciences Building, which provides:

• dedicated research and teaching laboratories
• seminar rooms
• study and social space.

Reading is one of the UK's top 10 universities for pharmacy and pharmacology (the Daily Mail University Guide, 2024). We are located near the headquarters of several pharmaceutical companies, offering you great opportunities for networking. You will also have the option to spend a year in industry with our four-year BSc Pharmacology with a Year in Industry.

On average, our students earn an annual salary of £46,000 five years after graduating, and the University of Reading ranks 4th in the UK for graduate salary for Pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy.*

*Based on The Telegraph, August 2024, analysis of DfE data on the earnings of first degree graduates after five years from English Higher Education Institutions.