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Studies & Degrees in Clinical Pharmacology

Clinical pharmacology is the study of drugs in humans. The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT) describes a field with a broad scope, from the discovery of new target molecules to the effects of drug use in whole populations. It builds on basic pharmacology and applies it to patients: which dose is right for whom, how the body absorbs and eliminates a medicine, which side effects and interactions occur, and whether a new treatment works better than the existing one.

Students learn pharmacokinetics (what the body does to a drug) and pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body), the design and ethics of clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacogenetics, toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring and the regulation of medicines. Statistics is part of almost every course.

Qualifications and levels

Clinical pharmacologists are physicians, pharmacists and scientists, so there is more than one way into the field.

  • Medical specialty. In several countries clinical pharmacology is a specialty for doctors. In Spain, Farmacología Clínica is entered through the MIR system for resident doctors: it requires a prior degree in medicine and lasts four years, according to the Sociedad Española de Farmacología Clínica. In the United Kingdom, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics is a medical specialty in the NHS; after medical school and the two-year foundation programme, specialty training takes a minimum of seven years, according to NHS Health Careers.
  • Bachelor's degree. There are few bachelor's degrees in clinical pharmacology as such. The usual first degree is pharmacology, pharmacy, biomedical science or medicine; the British Pharmacological Society notes that many careers in pharmacology require at least a BSc.
  • Master's degree. A taught MSc usually takes one year in the United Kingdom, and some specialty trainees add an MSc, MD or PhD to their clinical training.
  • Doctorate. A PhD is essential for a career in academic research and desirable for many research roles in industry, according to the British Pharmacological Society.
  • Short professional courses. Clinical research staff take shorter courses in good clinical practice (GCP), clinical trial monitoring and drug safety. These lead to a provider's certificate, not a degree.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 8 active schools for clinical pharmacology. Two are in the United States, and Denmark, France, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine and Uruguay have one each. The subject is normally taught in medical and health faculties with a teaching hospital nearby. The list includes the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), which is devoted entirely to the health sciences, the University of Copenhagen, Sorbonne Université in Paris and the University of Bern, whose Institute of Pharmacology is based at the Inselspital. It also includes two state medical universities, Rostov State Medical University in Russia and Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, and the Universidad de Montevideo in Uruguay.

For short courses, the Biopharma Institute in Paramus, New Jersey, is a provider of regulatory and GxP compliance training with more than 300 courses and certification programmes, among them clinical research associate (CRA), clinical research coordinator (CRC) and GCP training.

The language of instruction follows the country and the level. Medical degrees and specialty training are normally in the national language because they involve work with patients; research master's degrees and doctorates are more often available in English. Check the language of each programme with the school.

Careers

ASCPT describes three settings. In the laboratory, clinical pharmacologists study biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism and genetics. In the office, they design and evaluate clinical trials and write guidelines for the use of medicines. In the clinic, they work with patients, take part in experimental studies and investigate adverse reactions and interactions. Employers are hospitals, universities, the pharmaceutical industry and medicines regulators.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counts clinical pharmacologists among medical scientists, who typically have a PhD, and projects employment of medical scientists to grow 13 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a doctor to work in clinical pharmacology?

Not for every role. Clinical pharmacologists are physicians, pharmacists and scientists. The medical specialty, which involves treating patients, is open only to qualified doctors; research, clinical trial and drug safety roles are also open to pharmacists and life science graduates.

How long does it take to become a clinical pharmacologist in Spain?

The specialty of Farmacología Clínica lasts four years and is entered through the MIR system after a degree in medicine, according to the Sociedad Española de Farmacología Clínica.

What is the difference between pharmacology, clinical pharmacology and pharmacy?

Pharmacology studies how drugs act, mostly in the laboratory. Clinical pharmacology studies drugs in humans, from trials to prescribing. Pharmacy is the health profession that prepares and dispenses medicines and advises patients on their use.

Is a GCP certificate enough to work in clinical trials?

A GCP course is job training for people who work on trials, not a degree. Employers normally ask for a university degree in a health or life science as well.