Work experience is a great opportunity to explore your career options, find roles that suit you, and improve your prospects.
It also benefits your career by allowing you to:
- Develop practical, hands-on skills
- Build an understanding of the industry in which you may work
- Understand your career options
- Expand your network and contacts
- Apply your academic knowledge
Industry placements
Undergraduate students often complete industrial placements as part of their degree. These are often referred to as "sandwich years".
There are also opportunities to carry out placements over the summer break.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has helpful advice for finding work experience within the pharmaceutical industry. This includes opportunities to work on a project within the industry during the summer, by obtaining a bursary through the British Science Foundation CREST awards or the Nuffield Foundation.
If you start studying for an undergraduate degree you can apply for an undergraduate industrial placement. Many pharmaceutical companies also list their own undergraduate placement schemes, such as these ones by AstraZeneca and GSK.
Academic summer placements
Academic placements can last up to 12 weeks over the summer break. Universities will often advertise these on their websites and social media. Some may be unpaid. Others, such as the Wellcome Trust Summer Internship programme, offer a salary. Some rare placements include financial support for accommodation, travel and food, such as the Amgen Scholarship scheme.
Placements are often advertised through membership bodies, like us, or through careers services. See our internships and placements page for more information on current opportunities.
If there is a lab you are interested in, you can also approach the lab directly. They may be able to offer you an unpaid placement, or find you funding for a short period of time.
In2ScienceUK and its programme In2STEM empower young people and help provide insights into careers in research. They connect students with laboratories for workshops, placements and skills days to help develop skills and experience to help them pursue a career in research.
When applying for summer placements, seek help from your school or science teachers, and be sure to read all the information provided and carefully follow the instructions given as part of the application.
What will I learn during a pharmacology degree?
In the first year, you are likely to learn about the practical skills in biology and biochemistry and expand your knowledge in physiology (how the tissues and organs of the body work) and molecular and cell biology (understanding how the body works at the molecular level). You will be introduced to the fundamental principles of pharmacology and how drugs work.
In year two, you will learn more about the chemistry and mechanisms of action of different drugs. You will also start to develop your practical skills in chemistry and pharmacology.
In the final year of a pharmacology degree, you will learn about pharmacology for different disease areas: cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory, and neuropharmacology. You will also learn much more about drug metabolism and molecular toxicology (the study of how the body alters the drug and how the drug affects the body).
Most pharmacology courses will equip you with other essential tools of a career in the life sciences, with introductions to topics such as bioinformatics and molecular genetics.
In your final year you will also gain hands-on laboratory research experience by conducting your own research project. You will be required to carry out your own piece of original laboratory research to answer a scientific question and write this up as a report (dissertation). This will give you a taster of laboratory research as well as transferable skills (time management, analytical skills, and writing reports) that are useful in any career.
Pharmacology degrees can include additional opportunities like a year studying abroad or placements in industry to help you build your skillset and find out about different areas of pharmacology.
Your next steps
Unclear on what your next step is? Take a look at some of the information below to help.
You may find our Self-reflection Aid useful.
- Looking for graduate job opportunities? Take a look at our graduate jobs and training page.
- View our jobs and opportunities pages for vacancies, studentships or internships.
- Want to find postgraduate training courses in Pharmacology? Visit Postgrad.com.
- Looking for a career outside research? There are plenty of opportunities to use your Pharmacology training and skills in other fields related to science. Take a look at our Where can pharmacology take me? pages to find out about some of them.
- To maximise your chances of success, make sure you tailor your CV to highlight the skills and expertise that are suitable for the job or opportunity you are applying for. These tips on how to write a great non-academic CV might help.
Looking for career inspiration?
Read examples of pharmacology careers from BPS members and find out the different pathways people have taken.
Free BPS membership
Undergraduate membership is completely free for the duration of your studies. It's the perfect companion to your course, giving you the extra support you need to succeed at uni and prepare you for the start of your career.
Volunteering opportunities
Find and apply for the latest volunteering roles and internships from within the Society and from external organisations.
