Overview

Understanding how medicinal drugs treat and prevent disease sits at the heart of pharmacology, a discovery-driven, research-heavy field distinct from the patient-facing work of pharmacy itself. The BSc (Hons) Pharmacology at Kingston University aligns with the core curriculum set out by the British Pharmacological Society and carries accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology, giving students a biologically and physiologically grounded understanding of how drugs act on major organs and systems throughout the body. The course is taught by award-winning experts within state-of-the-art laboratories at the Penrhyn Road campus, including the £9.8 million Eadweard Muybridge building, home to specialist equipment such as electron and confocal microscopes. Students explore the treatment of both infectious and non-infectious diseases, including cancer, diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease, alongside newer drugs affecting the brain and treating conditions such as epilepsy, depression and addiction. Modules are regularly updated to reflect industry needs, embedding a Future Skills programme that builds problem-solving, digital competency and career-readiness alongside scientific knowledge. The course suits students genuinely curious about how drugs work at a molecular and cellular level, offering broad career flexibility across drug discovery, clinical research and patient-facing science. It particularly suits those who want the option of a placement year in the pharmaceutical industry to build real-world experience before graduating.

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What You'll Learn

• Cell biology, genetics and tissue types, alongside foundational laboratory skills in microscopy and histology

• Human physiology and the fundamental effects of drugs on the body

• Biochemistry, including the structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids

• Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, exploring how drugs are administered and how the body responds

• Clinical pharmacology across major systems, including cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal and endocrine systems

• Toxicology, drug discovery and the regulatory processes behind bringing new drugs to market

• Neuropharmacology and psychopharmacology, covering neurological and psychiatric disorders and their treatment

• An independent research project addressing a real hypothesis or research question in an area of personal interest

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to explain how drugs act on their target sites and major organ systems, drawing on strong physiological and biochemical foundations built from cellular through to whole-body level. They will be equipped to critically evaluate drug therapies for a wide range of conditions, from infectious disease and cancer to neurological and psychiatric disorders, while understanding the regulatory and ethical context of drug development. Through laboratory practicals and an independent research project, students will develop strong experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication skills. Graduates will leave with an RSB-accredited, research-informed understanding of pharmacology, well prepared for careers spanning clinical trials, drug research, medical writing, pharmaceutical marketing and science communication, or further graduate study in clinical or academic research.