Microbiology and Pharmacology

About this programme

Graduate outcomes: Strathclyde ranked joint 1st in Scotland HESA Graduate Outcomes results 2026 Flexible degree: apply once and choose from 11 named degree routes at the end of Year 2 Discover how microorganisms can cause disease and how medicines can stop them, combining microbiology and pharmacology to understand infection, treatment and drug resistance. You'll also explore how beneficial microorganisms can be used to develop medicines, support food security and help tackle global challenges such as climate change. Microbiology and pharmacology help us understand how microorganisms cause disease and how medicines can be used to prevent and treat it. Studying the subjects together allows you to explore infection and treatment from different perspectives , examining both the biology of microorganisms and the mechanisms through which drugs act. For example, you might investigate how bacteria, viruses and fungi cause disease alongside how antimicrobial drugs work against them. You'll also explore how drug resistance develops, how new therapies can be developed and how biotechnology is essential for human and planetary health. Beyond infectious disease, you'll study conditions including cardiovascular disease, asthma, cancer and neurological disorders. In Years 1 and 2, you'll study microbiology and pharmacology alongside biochemistry and immunology before confirming your degree route at the end of Year 2. This flexible structure allows you to explore all four disciplines before choosing the path that's right for you.