Biochemistry vs Pharmacy vs Pharmacology
So I'm currently in year 12 and trying to decide on which degree to take. For a while, I've loved the idea of biochemistry but have heard there isn't much money to be made in the field without further qualifications. As a result, I've been considering pharmacy.
I wanted to know, how similar are biochemistry and pharmacy courses? Would the content be relatively similar? My understanding is biochemistry is more broad, with pharmacy considering biochemistry in relation to drugs. That plus pharmacy would have a larger focus on patient care.
On that note, is pharmacy more medicine or life science? Should I get some work experience? Is pharmacy chemistry-heavy? Because I really enjoy chemistry and that was one of the draws for biochemistry. What universities are good for pharmacy? Because I noticed neither Oxford nor Cambridge offer it.
I'm also aware of pharmacology, which I've been told is more research related. What would be the difference between a pharmacy and pharmacology course? Is the content similar? And what job prospects are there? Can you be become a pharmacist with a pharmacology degree?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
I wanted to know, how similar are biochemistry and pharmacy courses? Would the content be relatively similar? My understanding is biochemistry is more broad, with pharmacy considering biochemistry in relation to drugs. That plus pharmacy would have a larger focus on patient care.
On that note, is pharmacy more medicine or life science? Should I get some work experience? Is pharmacy chemistry-heavy? Because I really enjoy chemistry and that was one of the draws for biochemistry. What universities are good for pharmacy? Because I noticed neither Oxford nor Cambridge offer it.
I'm also aware of pharmacology, which I've been told is more research related. What would be the difference between a pharmacy and pharmacology course? Is the content similar? And what job prospects are there? Can you be become a pharmacist with a pharmacology degree?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Reply 1
20
The difference between Pharmacy and Pharmacology - and Bath is an excellent Uni for both subjects - Choosing between Pharmacy and Pharmacology (bath.ac.uk)
Reply 2
8
Original post by McGinger
The difference between Pharmacy and Pharmacology - and Bath is an excellent Uni for both subjects - Choosing between Pharmacy and Pharmacology (bath.ac.uk)
Thank you! I was interested in Bath but saw it wasn't ranking too highly for pharmacy/pharmacology, but this is reassuring.
Reply 3
20
Original post by LightHades
Thank you! I was interested in Bath but saw it wasn't ranking too highly for pharmacy/pharmacology, but this is reassuring.
Ranking is essentially a nonsense and no way to choose a Uni.
It can't tell you if you will like being at that Uni, or enjoy that subject.
Bath is a specialist STEM Uni and has a big Pharmacy/Pharma/Drug Discovery focus.
Summary of MPharm - Studying Pharmacy at Bath (youtube.com)
Go to a Uni Open Day, look around, and ask questions - Undergraduate Open Days (bath.ac.uk)
Reply 4
Original post by LightHades
So I'm currently in year 12 and trying to decide on which degree to take. For a while, I've loved the idea of biochemistry but have heard there isn't much money to be made in the field without further qualifications. As a result, I've been considering pharmacy.
I wanted to know, how similar are biochemistry and pharmacy courses? Would the content be relatively similar? My understanding is biochemistry is more broad, with pharmacy considering biochemistry in relation to drugs. That plus pharmacy would have a larger focus on patient care.
On that note, is pharmacy more medicine or life science? Should I get some work experience? Is pharmacy chemistry-heavy? Because I really enjoy chemistry and that was one of the draws for biochemistry. What universities are good for pharmacy? Because I noticed neither Oxford nor Cambridge offer it.
I'm also aware of pharmacology, which I've been told is more research related. What would be the difference between a pharmacy and pharmacology course? Is the content similar? And what job prospects are there? Can you be become a pharmacist with a pharmacology degree?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
I wanted to know, how similar are biochemistry and pharmacy courses? Would the content be relatively similar? My understanding is biochemistry is more broad, with pharmacy considering biochemistry in relation to drugs. That plus pharmacy would have a larger focus on patient care.
On that note, is pharmacy more medicine or life science? Should I get some work experience? Is pharmacy chemistry-heavy? Because I really enjoy chemistry and that was one of the draws for biochemistry. What universities are good for pharmacy? Because I noticed neither Oxford nor Cambridge offer it.
I'm also aware of pharmacology, which I've been told is more research related. What would be the difference between a pharmacy and pharmacology course? Is the content similar? And what job prospects are there? Can you be become a pharmacist with a pharmacology degree?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Hello @LightHades!
I'm currently in my third year of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham and I honestly could not recommend it enough.
Biochemistry and pharmacy do have some cross over in terms of content covered, albeit delivered by different lecturers for each course. Biochemistry would likely lead you down a broader path of research and chemistry, while pharmacy is very much a vocational course, meaning finding a job afterwards is pretty simple.
At the university of Nottingham, our pharmacy course is mainly taught at the Medical school based in Queens Medical centre, so there is a lot of overlap between all the health courses, especially medicine and pharmacy (I did the same lectures as my medic friends!) especially in the earlier years, however the courses become more focused as the years go on.
Work experience is helpful if you can get it but no offers to the course depend on having done work experience. It also offers the opportunity to see what the profession is like before applying!
Here at Nottingham, the pharmacy course is split into multiple themes that run throughout all 4 years of the course, covering topics like, Pharmacology, chemistry, biology, pharmaceutics, professionalism and law, and a few others, with some modules focusing more on each aspect as is fit for that condition we are studying, for example the gastrointestinal tract is quite chemistry heavy!
Pharmacology focuses on the science behind the creation of the drugs, similar to pharmaceutical science which again is very chemistry heavy. To become a pharmacist you'll have to do a Pharmacy degree as there are learning objectives that we must reach to become accredited and fully licensed pharmacists which pharmacology does not cover.
If you want any more information about pharmacy at the University of Nottingham have a look at our website, or come and visit us for an open day sometime
UoN Pharmacy
UoN open days 2024
Any other questions please ask!
Dom
Reply 5
Original post by UoN Students
Hello @LightHades!
I'm currently in my third year of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham and I honestly could not recommend it enough.
Biochemistry and pharmacy do have some cross over in terms of content covered, albeit delivered by different lecturers for each course. Biochemistry would likely lead you down a broader path of research and chemistry, while pharmacy is very much a vocational course, meaning finding a job afterwards is pretty simple.
At the university of Nottingham, our pharmacy course is mainly taught at the Medical school based in Queens Medical centre, so there is a lot of overlap between all the health courses, especially medicine and pharmacy (I did the same lectures as my medic friends!) especially in the earlier years, however the courses become more focused as the years go on.
Work experience is helpful if you can get it but no offers to the course depend on having done work experience. It also offers the opportunity to see what the profession is like before applying!
Here at Nottingham, the pharmacy course is split into multiple themes that run throughout all 4 years of the course, covering topics like, Pharmacology, chemistry, biology, pharmaceutics, professionalism and law, and a few others, with some modules focusing more on each aspect as is fit for that condition we are studying, for example the gastrointestinal tract is quite chemistry heavy!
Pharmacology focuses on the science behind the creation of the drugs, similar to pharmaceutical science which again is very chemistry heavy. To become a pharmacist you'll have to do a Pharmacy degree as there are learning objectives that we must reach to become accredited and fully licensed pharmacists which pharmacology does not cover.
If you want any more information about pharmacy at the University of Nottingham have a look at our website, or come and visit us for an open day sometime
UoN Pharmacy
UoN open days 2024
Any other questions please ask!
Dom
I'm currently in my third year of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham and I honestly could not recommend it enough.
Biochemistry and pharmacy do have some cross over in terms of content covered, albeit delivered by different lecturers for each course. Biochemistry would likely lead you down a broader path of research and chemistry, while pharmacy is very much a vocational course, meaning finding a job afterwards is pretty simple.
At the university of Nottingham, our pharmacy course is mainly taught at the Medical school based in Queens Medical centre, so there is a lot of overlap between all the health courses, especially medicine and pharmacy (I did the same lectures as my medic friends!) especially in the earlier years, however the courses become more focused as the years go on.
Work experience is helpful if you can get it but no offers to the course depend on having done work experience. It also offers the opportunity to see what the profession is like before applying!
Here at Nottingham, the pharmacy course is split into multiple themes that run throughout all 4 years of the course, covering topics like, Pharmacology, chemistry, biology, pharmaceutics, professionalism and law, and a few others, with some modules focusing more on each aspect as is fit for that condition we are studying, for example the gastrointestinal tract is quite chemistry heavy!
Pharmacology focuses on the science behind the creation of the drugs, similar to pharmaceutical science which again is very chemistry heavy. To become a pharmacist you'll have to do a Pharmacy degree as there are learning objectives that we must reach to become accredited and fully licensed pharmacists which pharmacology does not cover.
If you want any more information about pharmacy at the University of Nottingham have a look at our website, or come and visit us for an open day sometime
UoN Pharmacy
UoN open days 2024
Any other questions please ask!
Dom
Hi @UoN Students, thank you for posting here. I have been considering doing pharmacy at Nottingham. However I’m more interested in the industrial side so I wasn’t sure if pharmacy is for me. Do you know how many pharmacy graduates from Nottingham end up going into industry? I’m sure most end up in community or hospital but I heard it is possible to get a job in pharma with a pharmacy degree.
I probably won’t be able to attend the open day, so is it ok if I ask a few questions here?
Reply 6
20
Original post by sincere.emm
Hi @UoN Students, thank you for posting here. I have been considering doing pharmacy at Nottingham. However I’m more interested in the industrial side so I wasn’t sure if pharmacy is for me. Do you know how many pharmacy graduates from Nottingham end up going into industry? I’m sure most end up in community or hospital but I heard it is possible to get a job in pharma with a pharmacy degree.
I probably won’t be able to attend the open day, so is it ok if I ask a few questions here?
I probably won’t be able to attend the open day, so is it ok if I ask a few questions here?
If you want to work in drug making/research/development then do Pharmacology or Chemistry for Drug Discovery - not Pharmacy.
Reply 7
Original post by sincere.emm
Hi @UoN Students, thank you for posting here. I have been considering doing pharmacy at Nottingham. However I’m more interested in the industrial side so I wasn’t sure if pharmacy is for me. Do you know how many pharmacy graduates from Nottingham end up going into industry? I’m sure most end up in community or hospital but I heard it is possible to get a job in pharma with a pharmacy degree.
I probably won’t be able to attend the open day, so is it ok if I ask a few questions here?
I probably won’t be able to attend the open day, so is it ok if I ask a few questions here?
Hello @sincere.emm!
With the MPharm here at Nottingham you do get some exposure to industry, in regards to the actual formulation of the medication (some of which you get to do yourself) and in some modules there is a higher emphasis on the formulation aspects of the medication, for example in the pain module, we investigate how medicines cross the Blood Brain Barrier. When it comes to the foundation year which happens after the 4 years at university, there is opportunity to go into industry from here, however these places are very hard to come by.
My suggestion is to have a look at PharmSci which has the opportunity to have a placement year in industry as part of the course, I'm not 100% sure on the details but I can ask someone if you want more information on the PharmSci course.
If you've got anymore questions please ask!
Dom 🙂
Reply 8
Original post by sincere.emm
Hi @UoN Students, thank you for posting here. I have been considering doing pharmacy at Nottingham. However I’m more interested in the industrial side so I wasn’t sure if pharmacy is for me. Do you know how many pharmacy graduates from Nottingham end up going into industry? I’m sure most end up in community or hospital but I heard it is possible to get a job in pharma with a pharmacy degree.
I probably won’t be able to attend the open day, so is it ok if I ask a few questions here?
I probably won’t be able to attend the open day, so is it ok if I ask a few questions here?
On the pharmacy course itself, I think there is only about two positions in the whole country to do industrial foundation training (used to be called pre-reg). If industry really is your passion then a course like pharmaceutical sciences would be your best bet as that has the option of a year in industry as part of the course and the course is more adapted for industry compared to pharmacy which solely focuses on hospital/community and GP pharmacy.
Any other question feel free to ask
Dom
Reply 9
Original post by LightHades
So I'm currently in year 12 and trying to decide on which degree to take. For a while, I've loved the idea of biochemistry but have heard there isn't much money to be made in the field without further qualifications. As a result, I've been considering pharmacy.
I wanted to know, how similar are biochemistry and pharmacy courses? Would the content be relatively similar? My understanding is biochemistry is more broad, with pharmacy considering biochemistry in relation to drugs. That plus pharmacy would have a larger focus on patient care.
On that note, is pharmacy more medicine or life science? Should I get some work experience? Is pharmacy chemistry-heavy? Because I really enjoy chemistry and that was one of the draws for biochemistry. What universities are good for pharmacy? Because I noticed neither Oxford nor Cambridge offer it.
I'm also aware of pharmacology, which I've been told is more research related. What would be the difference between a pharmacy and pharmacology course? Is the content similar? And what job prospects are there? Can you be become a pharmacist with a pharmacology degree?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
I wanted to know, how similar are biochemistry and pharmacy courses? Would the content be relatively similar? My understanding is biochemistry is more broad, with pharmacy considering biochemistry in relation to drugs. That plus pharmacy would have a larger focus on patient care.
On that note, is pharmacy more medicine or life science? Should I get some work experience? Is pharmacy chemistry-heavy? Because I really enjoy chemistry and that was one of the draws for biochemistry. What universities are good for pharmacy? Because I noticed neither Oxford nor Cambridge offer it.
I'm also aware of pharmacology, which I've been told is more research related. What would be the difference between a pharmacy and pharmacology course? Is the content similar? And what job prospects are there? Can you be become a pharmacist with a pharmacology degree?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
hii what did u end up choosing !!
Reply 10
Original post by UoN Students
On the pharmacy course itself, I think there is only about two positions in the whole country to do industrial foundation training (used to be called pre-reg). If industry really is your passion then a course like pharmaceutical sciences would be your best bet as that has the option of a year in industry as part of the course and the course is more adapted for industry compared to pharmacy which solely focuses on hospital/community and GP pharmacy.
Any other question feel free to ask
Dom
Any other question feel free to ask
Dom
Hi Dom, I have a place to start pharmacy at Nottingham in September. I’m getting second thoughts as I’m interested in working in industry rather than as a community pharmacist. What would you suggest? Thanks in advance
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