BSc Pharmacology (Placement year)
About this course
BSc Hons in Pharmacology (Placement year), a pharmacology degree centered on drug discovery, development, and therapeutic uses within living systems. Core topics include Laboratory Techniques, Research Methods, Clinical Skills, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. The four-year programme includes an integrated professional placement year spent working in a graduate-level role within industry or the biosciences sector. The first year builds foundational knowledge through modules such as Anatomy and Physiology, Foundations of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Science, and Genetics and Biotechnology, alongside practical bioscience training. The second year advances into specialized topics including Biochemistry of Cellular Metabolism, Drug Design and Development, and Pharmacology, with optional choices such as Molecular Genetics. During the third year, students undertake an industry placement. The final year comprises core studies in Advanced Drug Design and Development, Global Health Challenges, and the Biosciences Research Project, complemented by optional modules covering areas like Bioinformatics, Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, and Medical Genetics and Clinical Immunology.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: AAB. This should include Biology and Chemistry. IB: 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects including 6 in HL Biology and 6 in HL Chemistry
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What students say
Based on about 40 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 94%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 79%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 88%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 84%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 105 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 93%
- Left higher education: 7%
What graduates do next
Based on about 33 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 20%
Most common jobs
- Natural and social science professionals: 25%
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionals: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Engineering professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 85%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 60%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 60 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 6%
- North West: 39%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 18%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 6%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 135 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 96%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- Access course: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Foundations of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Science
- Genetics and Biotechnology
- Introduction to Biosciences
- Microbes, Pathogens and Immunity
- Molecules to Cells
- Biochemistry of Cellular Metabolism
- Cell and Developmental Biology
- Drug Design and Development
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Life Cycle of Proteins
- Molecular Genetics
- Placement
- Advanced Drug Design and Development
- Biosciences Research Project
- Global Health Challenges
- Bioinformatics
- Biology of Ageing
- Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
- Cell Signalling in Health and Disease
- Ethics in Biomedicine
- Medical Genetics and Clinical Immunology
- Pathobiology
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Pharmacology (Placement year) at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £25,500 after 3 years, £32,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,500 and £40,500. The £32,500 median after five years is £3,000 less than the UK median for Pharmacology.
What do graduates of BSc Pharmacology (Placement year) at Lancaster University do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Pharmacology (Placement year) at Lancaster University?
94% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Pharmacology (Placement year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 143 UCAS points.
Does BSc Pharmacology (Placement year) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BSc Pharmacology (Placement year) at Lancaster University?
93% of students continued into their second year, and 7% left higher education.