Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the science of how drugs act on living systems and how the body responds to them. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) describes it as covering the sources, chemical properties, biological effects and therapeutic uses of drugs. The British Pharmacological Society puts it more simply: pharmacology is the study of how medicines work and how they affect our bodies.

It is often confused with pharmacy. Pharmacology is a research discipline: pharmacologists study how medicines work and try to find or develop new ones. Pharmacy, in ASPET's words, uses the knowledge derived from pharmacology in the preparation and dispensing of medicines. The two lead to different degrees and different jobs, and this directory lists both under the same subject, so it is worth checking which of the two a school actually teaches.

What students learn

A pharmacology degree starts from chemistry and biology. At the University of Southampton, for example, the first year covers biochemistry, the chemistry of life, the human genome, cell biology and physiology. Later years deal with how drugs are discovered and produced, how they interact with humans and animals, and how existing drugs can be improved. Laboratory practicals run through the course, and students carry out an individual research project in the final year.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree in pharmacology. Common in the United Kingdom. The BSc Pharmacology at the University of Southampton lasts three years, is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology and allows students to spend a year working in the pharmaceutical industry between years 2 and 3. Related degrees have other names: Anglia Ruskin University teaches a three-year BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Science in Chelmsford.
  • Pharmacy degree in Spain. In Spain, pharmacology is usually studied as part of the bachelor's degree in pharmacy (Grado en Farmacia). Pharmacist is a regulated profession that requires an official degree, and the ministerial order sets its length at 300 ECTS credits. At the Universidad de Navarra the degree is official, has 300 credits over five years, is taught in Spanish in Pamplona and has 130 places. At the Universidad de Murcia it also lasts five years and 300 ECTS credits, is taught in Spanish and has 60 places for new students.
  • Pharmacy in the United States. Pharmacists typically need a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.). According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these programmes usually take four years and typically require at least two years of undergraduate courses beforehand. Every state requires pharmacists to be licensed.
  • Master's degree and PhD. Research careers usually need postgraduate study. The BLS states that medical scientists, the group that includes research pharmacologists, typically have a PhD, usually in biology or a related life science, although some qualify for positions with a master's degree and experience.

Medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and nursing degrees also include pharmacology, and some doctors later specialise in clinical pharmacology.

Where to study it

The directory lists 219 active schools for this subject. The United States has 58, Spain 25 and the United Kingdom 22, followed by Argentina (8), Germany (7), Brazil (6), and Canada and France (5 each). Examples include the University of Aberdeen and the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom, The Ohio State University and Purdue University in the United States, Ghent University in Belgium and the Universidade Federal da Paraíba in Brazil.

Degrees are normally taught in the language of the country: Spanish at the Universidad de Navarra and the Universidad de Murcia, English in the United Kingdom and the United States. Because pharmacy is a regulated profession, a pharmacy degree from one country must be recognised by the authorities of another before the graduate can practise there. Ask the school and the regulator before enrolling if the aim is to work abroad.

Careers

Pharmacology graduates work mainly in research and in the pharmaceutical industry. The University of Southampton lists academic researcher, analytical chemist, clinical research associate, clinical scientist, medical science liaison, pharmacologist, research scientist and toxicologist among the careers directly related to its degree. Regulatory affairs, patent work and science writing are wider options. Pharmacy graduates work in community and hospital pharmacies as well as in industry.

In the United States, the BLS projects employment of medical scientists to grow 13 percent from 2025 to 2035, and employment of pharmacists to grow 5 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between pharmacology and pharmacy?

Pharmacology is the science of how drugs act on the body and is mainly a research field. Pharmacy applies that knowledge to preparing and dispensing medicines, and it is a regulated health profession.

Can I become a pharmacist with a pharmacology degree?

Not directly. Pharmacists need the pharmacy qualification of the country where they practise: the 300-credit Grado en Farmacia in Spain or a Pharm.D. and a state licence in the United States.

How long does a pharmacology degree take?

The BSc Pharmacology at the University of Southampton takes three years, or four with a year in industry. The Spanish Grado en Farmacia takes five years. A research career usually adds a master's degree or a PhD.

Which school subjects do I need?

Chemistry and biology are the basis of the degree. Each university sets its own entry requirements, so check the admissions page of the school.