School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health

At the School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health our students are taught within an innovative learning environment by expert academics, providing you with a forward-looking, supportive and professionally recognised education.

Our diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are innovative in their approach with a strong emphasis on practice-based learning allowing you to apply your new knowledge to your own area of practice, interest or career ambition.

Learning with us will provide you the opportunity to expand your talent and you will graduate ready to make a positive difference to peoples’ lives, to society and within your chosen profession. We are proud that our graduates go on to lead fulfilling and rewarding careers across a range of health and social care professions.

Future ready graduates

Our courses have a strong emphasis on practice-based learning meaning you will graduate ready to tackle the challenges of your chosen profession. You will have access to a range of state-of-the-art laboratories and learning environments to facilitate the development of skills required for new professional roles and you'll emerge with valuable practical skills in lab techniques, analysis and problem-solving, and the interpersonal skills that are vital for a successful career.

Expert teaching

Our academic team are here to support you throughout your learning journey, helping you to achieve your true potential. Our highly experienced staff are committed to their professions, with many continuing to work in practice, keeping our curriculums relevant and cutting-edge. Our courses follow a student-centred approach and you will learn through keynote lectures, interactive workshops, tutorials and practical activities including simulated learning experiences. You will develop and apply your theoretical knowledge as you undertake problem-solving activities and experiential learning. This will help your development of analytical skills so that you become increasingly self-sufficient and have the reflective and self-evaluative skills to progress into the workplace equipped to meet new challenges and create tomorrow’s opportunities.

Interprofessional learning

Our School is multidisciplinary meaning you will benefit from shared learning experiences across a broad range of subject areas including biomedical sciences, analytical and medicinal chemistry, dietetics, public health, sports and exercise science, forensic science, human health and pharmacy practice. There is a joint interprofessional learning programme between RGU and the University of Aberdeen which engages 11 undergraduate healthcare professions including biomedical science, diagnostic radiography, medicine, midwifery, nursing, nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physiotherapy and social work. Through this programme you will be given the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams drawn from across the breadth of health and social care disciplines. This provides fantastic experiential learning opportunities and enables realistic interprofessional learning opportunities where you can learn about the roles of the other professions and benefit from the experience of partnership working.

Professional Accreditation

We have a proven track record for excellence, all our courses are accredited and approved by professional bodies including: 

• General Pharmaceutical Council
• Institute of Biomedical Science
• Association for Nutrition
• The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences
• The Royal Society of Biology
• The Health and Care Professions Council
• Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)
• The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• British Dietetic Association (BDA)

Awards and Recognition

• 1st in Scotland for overall student satisfaction in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy (National Student Survey 2023, excludes colleges, small, specialist and private providers)
• 1st in Scotland for graduate prospects outcomes in Pharmacology and Pharmacy (Complete University Guide 2025)
• 1st in the UK for graduate prospects in Biological Science (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
• 2nd in Scotland for overall student satisfaction in Sport and Exercise Sciences (National Student Survey 2023, excludes colleges, small specialist and private providers)

Placements

Our courses are designed in response to the needs of industry, and we have developed close links with local and international companies, as well as public sector organisations, to give students real world work experience. This is also a chance for employers to see what our students have to offer.

Our students undertake a variety of placements in locations throughout Scotland and, in some cases, abroad. These placements allow students to put theory into practice and develop essential skills for their future career.

For our undergraduate students in particular, work placements will play an integral part of your learning experience, where you will discover a lot about yourself and your chosen career path as you gain valuable industry exposure.

Professional Links

We are proud to be associated with many different leading organisations, institutions and professional bodies.

NESCOL is Scotland's largest provider of further/higher education. Upon completing an HNC or HND, many students go on to complete a degree at Robert Gordon University.

HCPC is a regulator which was set up to protect the public by keeping a register of health professionals who meet the Council’s standards for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. 

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises in Great Britain. The role of the GPhC is to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public who use pharmaceutical services in England, Scotland and Wales.

Originally founded as the Forensic Science Society in 1959, some 60 years later it now boasts a worldwide membership and is the main Professional Body for individuals working as forensic practitioners, academics, researchers and in related professions in the UK and is considered to be the ‘international voice of forensic science’.

The RSC is the largest organisation in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences. Supported by a worldwide network of members and an international publishing business, its activities span education, conferences, science policy and the promotion of chemistry to the public.

The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) is the professional body for biomedical scientists in the United Kingdom. It aims to promote and develop biomedical science and its practitioners.

The Society of Biology is the professional body for UK biologists. The Society has some 10,000 individual members and through its corporate specialist member societies represents over 80,000 professional and non-professional bioscientists.

The British Dietetic Association is the professional association for dieticians. Its aims are to advance the science and practice of dietetics, promote training and education in the field and regulate the relations between dieticians and their employers through the BDA Trade Union.

The Association for Nutrition (AfN) defines and advances standards of evidence-based practice across the field of nutrition and at all levels within the workforce.

The Nutrition Society was established to advance the scientific study of nutrition and its application to the maintenance of human and animal health. Highly regarded by the scientific community, the Society is the largest learned society for nutrition in Europe.

Sport Scotland is the national agency for sport in Scotland. They see a Scotland where sport is a way of life, where sport is at the heart of society, making a positive impact on people and community.

BASES stands for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. BASES is the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK.

There is an increasing requirement for evidence-based practice in order to meet the demand for clinical effectiveness and good practice.

Research at RGU is built on strong foundations of education and practice-based research. Over the years we have built up a vibrant research community in partnership with the NHS in Scotland and other Universities and institutions.

We host multi-disciplinary research that focuses its activities on addressing major issues around the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, care and welfare of patients, as well as environmental and bioscience areas of special interest.

Our School also draws on the research skills of academic staff in three other our schools as well as NHS and Scottish Government colleagues, and JBI Centre of Excellence.

Research Themes

We welcome applications from students to undertake research in the following broad areas:

• Clinical and Sports Biomechanics
• Biomedical Research
• Environmental Research
• Obesity Management
• Sports Nutrition
• Pharmacy Practice Research 

Ethics

Our documentation that ensures researchers maintain the highest ethical standards that preserve the safety, rights, dignity and well-being of both participants and researchers.

Specialist Research Facilities

If you undertake research as part of the School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health, you will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and receive support from experienced and dedicated staff.

Biomedical Sciences

• Cell culture (primary cultures and cell lines) and microbiological suites
• Molecular biology (PCR, RT-PCR, comet assay)
• Biochemistry (Western and Northern blotting, GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC and capillary zone electrophoresis)
• Physiology and pharmacology (electrophysiology, myography, in vitro and in vivo assessment of cardiac and vascular function; platelet and leukocyte function)
• Tissue structure (histology, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy)

Environmental Sciences

• The University has a wide range of analytical equipment including GS-MS, LC-MS, HPLC systems.

Formulation Sciences

• The University has a wide range of equipment required for the formulation, manufacture and testing of medicines
• Complete range of equipment necessary for the dry and wet granulation of drugs and excipients for manufacturing as powders and tablets
• Production of oral modified release delivery systems supported by a full complement of equipment
• Other formulation types can be investigated with the help of a range of modern analytical instruments that include a Zetasizer (analysis of nanoparticles), texture analyser, dynamic rheometer, DSC, TGA and a hot-stage microscope (HSM).

Pharmaceutical Chemistry

The University has a wide range of equipment suitable for conducting both solution and solid phase synthetic procedures, complimented by analytical equipment including a 400 MHz nmr, GCMS, LCMS, multiple HPLC's (analytical and preparative), GC, FT-IR, UV and Fluorescence spectrometers, scanning EM, Molecular modelling can be done on a Silicon Graphics Octane 1200 workstation.