Pharmacology (Hons) Bangor University

Overview

Unique to this  Pharmacology (Hons) degree delivered by Bangor University is the study of how medicines are approved by healthcare providers, such as the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).

At Bangor University will study how drugs are discovered and developed, how they are trialled in humans, and licensed for clinical use by regulatory agencies.

Key Facts:

Learning is very much hands-on, grounded in the real-world experiences of lecturers and driven by the latest scientific research. The own expertise includes, among other things, the use of computer modelling and simulation of drug dosing, exposure and action, investigation into the actions and toxicities of anticancer drugs, use of pharmacogenomics, and determination of the clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness of medicines.

We work closely with national and international organisations involved in pharmaceutical policy relating to pharmacogenomics, treatment of rare diseases and health service reimbursement. We offer a rich experience to develop skills that are relevant across the spectrum of pharmacology – from the basic sciences through to clinical use and policy, and which are transferable to maximise students’ employment potential.

If you study pharmacology at Bangor, you will be provided with opportunities to undertake projects exploring various cancer treatments, including cancer immunotherapy, clinical evaluation, toxicology, pharmacometrics and pharmacoeconomic evaluation.

Career opportunities:

If you are interested in science and want to discover new knowledge to help people live healthier, longer lives, pharmacology offers an exciting career with lots of different job opportunities.

You will potentially follow some famous footsteps. Frances Kelsey, for instance, who prevented thalidomide from being allowed into the US drug market, thereby preventing hundreds or indeed thousands of birth defects. Or Nobel Prize recipient Sir James Black who discovered two major groups of drugs – beta-blockers for heart disease and antihistamines for stomach ulcers.

Why not take inspiration from local heroes, such as the late David Price Evans, whose family hailed from Anglesey and who was a pioneer in pharmacogenetics. Or Dafydd Owen, an honorary graduate of Bangor University who led the team that discovered the first oral antiviral drug for COVID-19.

You could pursue research or laboratory-based careers working, for example, in academic settings, research institutions, clinical laboratories, scientific distributors and manufacturers, and pharmaceutical and bioscience companies.

Alternatively, you could opt for non-technical roles, moving into science policy, drug registration, regulation, health technology assessment, patent work, medical sales or medical writing.

For those wishing to continue their studies, you could go onto further study within the wider life science disciplines, including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Veterinary Science. Pharmacology graduates who attain upper second class Honours are eligible to apply for Graduate Entry Medicine at almost all UK medical schools who offer this. You could also apply for a higher research degree to specialise in a particular area of pharmacology.

Typical roles may include:

• Analytical chemist

• Business analyst

• Pharmaceutical marketing manager

• Pharmacologist

• Research scientist (life sciences/medical)

• Scientific copywriter

• Scientific laboratory technician

• Toxicologist