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Embark on a transformative journey with our fully online BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery programme
You will engage with a fully online degree designed by expert academics for those aspiring to excel in careers in science and research. This rigorous programme offers a premium digital and flexible learning experience that fits your commitments and needs, utilising innovative teaching practices and digital learning technologies to create a vibrant online community and practical learning through advanced lab simulations.
Connect with peers, educators, and industry experts while engaging in a curriculum that provides a comprehensive understanding of drug action and the development of new medicines helping you to develop the skills to critically read and understand research literature, undertake data analysis and communicate to a range of audiences.
Taught by the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, this course combines both faculties’ strengths, their world leading academic experts and resources.
The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is home to the William Harvey Research Institute, a world-leading pharmacology centre. All the high-quality research here underpins our teaching.
We’re carrying out research on basic sciences aiming to identify novel targets for drug development, such as our research into the control of cell division which will help develop cancer treatments. Other academics are focused on evaluating the efficacy of drugs further down the development pipeline.
Feel inspired by everyone you connect with and discover how you’ll make an impact.
You can complete your degree in 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time online.
Year 1 modules
Year 2 modules
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Compulsory
Choose from
Year 3 modules
Year 4 modules
Year 5 modules
Knowledge and skills are progressively developed throughout the programme and you can study at your pace, from anywhere in the world, in addition to attending optional online seminars.
Practical skills will be taught through laboratory simulations and video demonstration practicals, using the latest in cutting-edge laboratory simulation software.
Active, interactive and social learning activities throughout the programme will provide opportunities for you to apply your learning to the solution of real problems. The learning activities are designed to support students to connect with peers and teachers, discuss and exchange ideas, share knowledge and collaborate, building an online community of learners.
Every week, you are expected to engage in at least six hours of feedback-rich activities per module. There are also optional short seminars every week, or every two weeks, depending on the module.
Each student is provided with a personal academic guidance tutor. Module-specific academic support, facilitation and feedback is available through the module organisers and associated teaching team and wider support is provided through the Library, Queen Mary's online learning environment and academic skill development teams.
A comprehensive onboarding programme of activities will help you feel welcome at the degree and at Queen Mary University of London, know how to seek support, help you develop academic and digital capabilities, and facilitate your transition to studying online at Higher Education.
Deadlines are shared ahead of time so that you will have plenty of time to work through assessment tasks and all assessment is asynchronous.
Assessment varies across modules and covers coursework, mini-tests, essays, posters, problem sheets, online oral presentations, and extended reports/dissertations. Prompt feedback is provided on elements of coursework to help you progress.
Assessment tasks will be linked across modules so that by the end of the programme you will have a portfolio of work that demonstrates your achievements and reflects your professional identity.
This fully online degree offers a premium digital learning experience where you study at your own pace, anywhere and anytime, with optional online seminars with peers and tutors.
You'll join a community of learners, engaging with videos, readings, and activities including lab simulations and interactive scenarios. You'll also have access to the Queen Mary online library and other resources.
Weekly guidance is provided by module teams as you work through materials and assessments.
You’ll benefit from the expertise of the William Harvey Research Institute, a world-leading pharmacology centre in Queen Mary University of Londons Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
Our standard contextual offer: Grades BBC including BB in Biology or Chemistry and one further science subject from Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths or Physics at A-Level.
Our enhanced contextual offer: Grades BCC including B in Biology or Chemistry and one further science subject from Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths or Physics at A-Level.
More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page.
Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered.
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
See our general undergraduate entry requirements.
UK students accepted onto this course may be eligible to apply for tuition fee loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our online guidance which covers ways to finance your degree, including:
The Pharmacology and Drug Discovery programme offers a premium digital learning experience for students who wish to go on to pursue careers in science and research outside of the laboratory including science communication, medical sales, the pharmaceutical industry, a wide range of medically-related fields, within academia, and in both the public and private sectors. Students interested in laboratory-based careers may wish to consider the on-campus BSc Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics.
The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences has a careers consultant, who can offer specialist advice and organise subject-specific events. We also have a dedicated internships coordinator.
The Queen Mary careers team can also offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
Pharmacology and Drug Discovery - BSc (Hons)
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)
The William Harvey Research Institute was founded in 1986 by the Nobel Laureate Sir John Vane, discoverer of the action of aspirin and prostacyclin. Since 2000, as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Queen Mary University of London, the Institute has gone from strength to strength. We are currently the largest pharmacological research institute in the UK university sector and one of the largest in Europe.
Along with our commitment to high-quality research, we also offer education programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate and research level, which are taught by world-leading experts in the fields of cardiovascular, endocrine and inflammation research.
We are proud to have been awarded the Athena SWAN silver award for our ongoing commitment to advancing women’s careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.