A good knowledge of pharmacology is an important part of the training of pharmacologists, medical doctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, veterinarians, and toxicologists.
Aside from pharmacologists who study drug action for its own sake, other scientists often find pharmacology useful in their own area of specialisation. For example, physiologists, biochemists, zoologists, and psychologists may use drugs in order to define the function of a biological system that they are studying.
In addition, many other people are interested in pharmacology simply because drugs occupy such a prominent place in everyday life: not only does much of modern medicine consist of drug prescription, but a number of recreational drugs (e.g. alcohol) are used and abused in modern society.
There are four ways in which you can study Pharmacology and Toxicology at a undergraduate level:
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Pharmacology
- Minor in Pharmacology
- Minor in Environmental Toxicology
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) majoring in Drug and Human Health
Furthermore, you could also spend their summers doing summer studentships.
Information for new applicants
Pharmacology is the science of the effects of drugs and other chemicals on biological systems, whilst, toxicology is closely related to pharmacology but specialises in the study of the harmful effects of drugs and other chemicals on biological systems.
The Bachelor of Science (BSc) is a three-year undergraduate degree that emphasis both pharmacology and toxicology. The application form should be submitted via eVision.
Course advising at the University of Otago
Contact details
Please email pharmacology@otago.ac.nz for further information.
Programme requirements
