Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our undergraduate courses will be published from September 2025.
Our Pharmacology BSc will give you a sound understanding of the biological action of drugs and chemicals, the way they work at the molecular, cellular and systemic levels and their use in medicines to treat disease. This course is an ideal foundation for careers in the pharmaceutical industry, biomedical research or graduate entry into medicine and equips students with transferable skills relevant for work in many other sectors. The course also features options to study abroad or extend to a four-year MSci. Studying a Biomedical Science degree with us means that you will be able to enjoy the flexibility to choose your degree after your first year with our Common Year One curriculum. All Biomedical Science disciplines are covered in the first year, making the decision for your future an informed one. You will be able to choose from the following Biomedical Science degrees; Anatomy, Developmental & Human Biology BSc, Biochemistry BSc, Biomedical Science BSc, Medical Physiology BSc, Molecular Genetics BSc, Neuroscience BSc, and Pharmacology BSc.
“The flexibility of the Common Year One structure allowed me to study further into aspects of bioscience that correlate with the discipline of pharmacology whilst still maintaining a strong pharmacology focus. ”
Pharmacology is the science of drugs and how they act, including the search for new drugs, investigations into how they can best be used to treat disease, and their effects on the body. Our wide-ranging Pharmacology BSc course has been designed to give you a sound understanding of the biological action of drugs and chemicals, the way they work at the molecular, cellular and systems level and their use in medicines for the treatment of disease. It is an ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or general biomedical research and for graduate entry to medicine. However, the course will also equip you with a range of transferable skills, including data gathering, analysis and interpretation, presentation and team-work that are recognised and valued by employers in both the public and private sector across a variety of industries. This course forms part of the suite of ‘Common Year One’ courses within the School of Bioscience Education. These comprise: Anatomy, Developmental & Human Biology; Biochemistry; Biomedical Science; Medical Physiology; Molecular Genetics; Neuroscience; Pharmacology. Once you have successfully completed year 1, you can choose to switch to other courses within this suite. In Year 2, Pharmacology becomes the main focus of study. You may also choose to study abroad at one of our partner institutions for a full year between your second and third years or apply to transfer onto a four-year MSci programme which involves a professional placement year supported by distance learning materials whilst gaining real life work experience in an industrial or academic setting. In your third year, as well as deepening your understanding of specialist pharmacological areas, you can also undertake project work, either in one of our state-of-the art research laboratories, or in a non-laboratory setting, investigating a diverse range of exciting topics.
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Must include grade A in Biology and Chemistry. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
AAC Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Must include grade A in Biology and Chemistry. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
36 points overall or an aggregate score of 18 from three Higher Levels
Must include grade 6 in Higher Level Biology and Higher Level Chemistry. Note: The total point score of 36 includes TOK/EE.
33 points overall or an aggregate score of 16 from three Higher Levels. Must include grade 6 in Higher Level Biology and Higher Level Chemistry. Note: The total point score of 33 includes TOK/EE.
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: D
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Contextual consideration
We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
Deferrals
Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military/national service.
Foundation courses
Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.
Graduates
Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.
Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.
Where a programme has subject requirements, these will still need to have been met. If you have not met the subject requirements via A-level (or equivalent) then we may be able to consider the content within your degree. We would be looking for significant study of the subjects across the degree programme with a 2:1 or above grading on those modules.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.
We recognise that many applicants applying to Medicine/Dentistry will apply to a non-clinical programme as their fifth UCAS option. Therefore, applicants are welcome to apply to our Common Year One programmes at King's with a Medicine/Dentistry statement and it will not count against you if your personal statement is geared towards these subject areas.
Resits
We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.
Transfers
Transfers into this programme are not permitted.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
Teaching on this course takes place in lectures, seminars and tutorials and through practical laboratory work. The rest of your time will be spent on self-study, including reading, research and writing assignments.
| Course Stage | Percentage of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities | Percentage of time in guided independent study |
| Year 1 | 25% | 75% |
| Year 2 | 25% | 75% |
| Year 3 | 23% | 77% |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
Location
This course is primarily taught at our King’s College London Guy’s and Waterloo Campuses, both on the south bank of the Thames, putting you at the heart of everything London has to offer in terms of academic resources and close to its social and entertainment attractions.
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include laboratory reports, debates, oral or poster presentations and project work. Coursework contributes approximately 40% and examinations approximately 60% to your final mark.
Regulating Body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.
Study Abroad
You will also have the opportunity to study abroad for a full year between years 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities, which currently include:
This is a competitive process, and you may be required to fulfil additional entry requirements for this option and the availability of partner universities may vary.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 360 credits. There are options to switch to other courses in the Bioscience suite after Year 1, or to a four-year MSci after Year 3, subject to programme regulations. In Year 2 you may also choose to study abroad at one of our partner institutions for a full year between your second and third years.
You are required to take:
Please note that there is no guarantee of transfer on to the MSci programme and it is not an entry point for new UG students. It is entirely dependent on meeting academic requirements AND finding a suitable placement provider.
There are no optional modules for Year 1.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Graduates from the School of Bioscience Education are equipped with a variety of transferable skills including data gathering, analysis and interpretation, presentation skills and teamwork. Our graduates are well-qualified to undertake a wide range of careers or training for a higher degree such as an MSc or PhD - with graduates continuing to study in medicine, dentistry and other related fields including pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology and biomedical research.
Read Pharmacology MSci current student Anmoyul's blog entry to find out more about internships and career opportunities whilst studying at King's - Expanding Horizons: My Journey to Professional Success at King’s College London
Recent graduates have found employment within the following job roles and companies:
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
The International tuition fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is £35,800 per year.
Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.
Additional Costs
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). Please see the Study Abroad webpages for details of the relevant partner universities and information about tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. If you choose to take the MSci, you will be on placement and in industry; this year will be costed at £1850.
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Pharmacology is the science of drugs and how they act, including the search for new drugs, investigations into how they can best be used to treat disease, and their effects on the body. Our wide-ranging Pharmacology BSc course has been designed to give you a sound understanding of the biological action of drugs and chemicals, the way they work at the molecular, cellular and systems level and their use in medicines for the treatment of disease. It is an ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or general biomedical research and for graduate entry to medicine. However, the course will also equip you with a range of transferable skills, including data gathering, analysis and interpretation, presentation and team-work that are recognised and valued by employers in both the public and private sector across a variety of industries. This course forms part of the suite of ‘Common Year One’ courses within the School of Bioscience Education. These comprise: Anatomy, Developmental & Human Biology; Biochemistry; Biomedical Science; Medical Physiology; Molecular Genetics; Neuroscience; Pharmacology. Once you have successfully completed year 1, you can choose to switch to other courses within this suite. In Year 2, Pharmacology becomes the main focus of study. You may also choose to study abroad at one of our partner institutions for a full year between your second and third years or apply to transfer onto a four-year MSci programme which involves a professional placement year supported by distance learning materials whilst gaining real life work experience in an industrial or academic setting. In your third year, as well as deepening your understanding of specialist pharmacological areas, you can also undertake project work, either in one of our state-of-the art research laboratories, or in a non-laboratory setting, investigating a diverse range of exciting topics.
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Must include grade A in Biology and Chemistry. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
AAC Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Must include grade A in Biology and Chemistry. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
36 points overall or an aggregate score of 18 from three Higher Levels
Must include grade 6 in Higher Level Biology and Higher Level Chemistry. Note: The total point score of 36 includes TOK/EE.
33 points overall or an aggregate score of 16 from three Higher Levels. Must include grade 6 in Higher Level Biology and Higher Level Chemistry. Note: The total point score of 33 includes TOK/EE.
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: D
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Contextual consideration
We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
Deferrals
Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military/national service.
Foundation courses
Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.
Graduates
Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.
Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.
Where a programme has subject requirements, these will still need to have been met. If you have not met the subject requirements via A-level (or equivalent) then we may be able to consider the content within your degree. We would be looking for significant study of the subjects across the degree programme with a 2:1 or above grading on those modules.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.
We recognise that many applicants applying to Medicine/Dentistry will apply to a non-clinical programme as their fifth UCAS option. Therefore, applicants are welcome to apply to our Common Year One programmes at King's with a Medicine/Dentistry statement and it will not count against you if your personal statement is geared towards these subject areas.
Resits
We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.
Transfers
Transfers into this programme are not permitted.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
Teaching on this course takes place in lectures, seminars and tutorials and through practical laboratory work. The rest of your time will be spent on self-study, including reading, research and writing assignments.
| Course Stage | Percentage of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities | Percentage of time in guided independent study |
| Year 1 | 25% | 75% |
| Year 2 | 25% | 75% |
| Year 3 | 23% | 77% |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
Location
This course is primarily taught at our King’s College London Guy’s and Waterloo Campuses, both on the south bank of the Thames, putting you at the heart of everything London has to offer in terms of academic resources and close to its social and entertainment attractions.
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include laboratory reports, debates, oral or poster presentations and project work. Coursework contributes approximately 40% and examinations approximately 60% to your final mark.
Regulating Body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.
Study Abroad
You will also have the opportunity to study abroad for a full year between years 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities, which currently include:
This is a competitive process, and you may be required to fulfil additional entry requirements for this option and the availability of partner universities may vary.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 360 credits. There are options to switch to other courses in the Bioscience suite after Year 1, or to a four-year MSci after Year 3, subject to programme regulations. In Year 2 you may also choose to study abroad at one of our partner institutions for a full year between your second and third years.
You are required to take:
Please note that there is no guarantee of transfer on to the MSci programme and it is not an entry point for new UG students. It is entirely dependent on meeting academic requirements AND finding a suitable placement provider.
There are no optional modules for Year 1.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Graduates from the School of Bioscience Education are equipped with a variety of transferable skills including data gathering, analysis and interpretation, presentation skills and teamwork. Our graduates are well-qualified to undertake a wide range of careers or training for a higher degree such as an MSc or PhD - with graduates continuing to study in medicine, dentistry and other related fields including pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology and biomedical research.
Read Pharmacology MSci current student Anmoyul's blog entry to find out more about internships and career opportunities whilst studying at King's - Expanding Horizons: My Journey to Professional Success at King’s College London
Recent graduates have found employment within the following job roles and companies:
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
The International tuition fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is £35,800 per year.
Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.
Additional Costs
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). Please see the Study Abroad webpages for details of the relevant partner universities and information about tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. If you choose to take the MSci, you will be on placement and in industry; this year will be costed at £1850.
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Chat with current students and King's staff to find out about the courses we offer, life at King's and ask any questions you may have.
Take a look at our comfortable, safe residences to suit your budget, located close to King's teaching campuses.
Art, food, music, shopping – you'll never find yourself with nothing to do in the world's most vibrant city.
Information about living in London, including events, budgeting and expenses, travel and safety.
During your time at King's College London, a range of academic and personal support and guidance is available to you.
