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Pharmacology - MSc

Our career-focused Pharmacology MSc aims to provide you with the advanced theoretical knowledge, practical and analytical skills required for career advancement within drug research and related industries.

Month of entry

  • September

Mode of study

  • Full time

Location

Subject area

  • Life Sciences

Fees for 2025/26 academic year

  • UK - Full time £11,400 per year.
    International - £17,700 per year.

Duration of study

  • Full time - 1 year
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Why study Pharmacology at Keele University?

Develop knowledge of advanced theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches and current research topics in drug discovery and pharmacology
Gain advanced skills in the practical study of pharmacology including quantitative analysis of ligand-receptor binding and use of in vitro models to study drug action
Undertake an extensive research project including significant lab-based and/or advanced computational studies in an area of pharmacology and drug design
Enrich your learning by listening to our guest speakers from across the University and the NHS

Course summary

The Keele MSc Pharmacology programme aims to provide you with advanced-level study into the theoretical and practical aspects of molecular and cellular pharmacology, and modern drug discovery.

Building from core concepts in biochemistry, cell biology, physiology and drug design you will explore approaches to drug development and the molecular mechanisms of drug action relevant to the treatment of a range of conditions.

Throughout the programme you will develop your practical and analytical skills in the execution of a range of core and advanced procedures common in pharmacology research laboratories.
You will integrate and apply concepts from an advanced understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to the mode of action of select drugs and their therapeutic application to individual patients and diverse populations. You will also strengthen your understanding of modern approaches in drug development and learn about the principles of project management and business planning.

In semester three you will complete a research project. This will provide you with the opportunity to utilise a number of key learning outcomes from across the programme and to take responsibility for the formulation, management, execution, and final interpretation and presentation of a new piece of scientific research in an area of pharmacology.

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Course structure

The MSc in Pharmacology is studied full-time over one year, starting in September, split into three equal-credit semesters.

 

Modules

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

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Entry requirements

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Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.

Typical offer

Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.

Typical offer: 2:2 degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject Additional criteria apply

Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information

UK

2:2 degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Bangladesh

60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject from a public university 
or 
CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject from a private university
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Canada

70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in a biomedical, pharmacology or bioscience related subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

China

70% in a degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject 
or 
65% in a degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject from a '211' university
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Ghana

Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

India

55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject 
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Kenya

Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Nepal

60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Nigeria

Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Pakistan

We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information

or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need an English language qualification (see below)

South Africa

Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Sri Lanka

55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Uganda

Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Zimbabwe

Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

English language requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group C.

References

Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.

Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose

Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.

RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.

Professional qualifications and work experience

The majority of our courses will consider relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications at the appropriate level, as an alternative to an undergraduate degree for entry. The work experience should be for a sustained period and at a suitable level, based within a relevant sector to your chosen course.

Admissions staff will review your work experience and/or professional qualifications during the assessment of your application to ensure suitability in terms of relevancy, level and appropriate learning outcomes.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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Funding

Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2025 start date falls in the 2024/25 academic year. Please see the January 2025 fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2025

Planning your funding

It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

Scholarships

We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage for more information.

For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.

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Your career

A pharmacology degree offers you a wealth of career opportunities as you will graduate with specialist research skills and a diverse set of transferable skills including data preparation, processing, interpreting and presentation, critical thinking, innovation, problem solving and teamwork.

The course will also develop advanced skills in the practical study of pharmacology including quantitative analysis of ligand-receptor binding and use of in vitro models to study drug action. This will be supported through the development of enhanced skills in the use of computational tools to support rational drug design and their wider application in basic and clinical pharmacology research and drug discovery.

After graduation you may choose to progress your research skills by completing further study at PhD level, gain graduate entry into a related area such as Medicine or pursue roles in industry or hospitals.

Career paths related to your degree include:

  • Academic Research
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industry
  • Science Communication and Public Engagement
  • Teaching
  • Research Management and Funding
  • Finance and Business

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Teaching, learning and assessment

How you'll be taught

Diversity, flexibility and inclusivity is at the heart of our Education Strategy. Your Student Voice helps us to shape what we do and we include students, local employers and professional bodies in our decision-making process.
Types of teaching methods used on the programme include:

  • Digital learning resources
  • Campus-based tutorials and workshops
  • Laboratory practicals
  • Case-based learning (CBL) tutorials
  • Live, online tutorials, workshops and drop-in sessions
  • Independent study
  • Extended research project

How you'll be assessed

This programme has a rich and varied assessment strategy to ensure development of key employability and academic skills. This will provide you the opportunity to demonstrate both professional and academic attainment.
Assessment design is largely driven by a number of key principles which include promotion of independent learning, student autonomy, responsibility for personal learning, and development of innovation and originality through a range of authentic and applied assessment types.
Types of assessment methods used on the programme include:

  • Literature review
  • Oral presentation
  • Online tests
  • Essays
  • Laboratory reports
  • Extended research project
  • Research poster

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Keele Postgraduate Association

Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

KPA interior

Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

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Facilities

The David Attenborough Laboratories have significantly expanded the School of Life Sciences’ teaching and research areas, and provide two additional state-of-the-art teaching laboratories with space for 120 students between them and two additional research laboratories.

David Attenborough with students

Equipment and methods you will become familiar with during practical laboratory work include:

  • Preparative and analytical methods in biochemistry and pharmacology, including enzyme kinetics and metabolite quantification
  • Analysis of receptor-ligand binding interactions through a combination of practical and computational methods
  • In vitro methods for the study of drug action in cells and tissues, including core cell culture techniques.

The research laboratories will make a significant contribution to the Global Health Initiative at Keele, and will be home to researchers working on neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease, spinal injury, oncology, viral infections and carbohydrate biochemistry. You may also carry out some of your practical laboratory work in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratory (CSL) building - which is part of the biggest single investment in learning and teaching in the University’s history.

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