Top Marks for Pharmacology in QAA Teaching Review

Image from a three-dimensional animation of an interaction between a drug (yellow molecule) and a receptor.

The Department of Pharmacology is the latest Cambridge department to achieve full marks in all six different aspects of teaching provision assessed in its recent teaching quality assurance subject review, achieving the maximum possible score of 24 marks out of 24.

Pharmacology is taught each year to a total of over 400 students, in Part IB or Part II of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos, or in the Natural Sciences Tripos.

The reviewers spent several days in the Department, assessing documentary information, meeting students and staff for detailed discussions, and making extensive observations of lectures, practicals, seminars and supervisions.

In their report to the university's Vice-Chancellor, the review team were impressed not only with the breadth, depth and coherence of the department's curriculum, but also with the stimulating content of the teaching sessions and the way that supervisions helped to promote understanding and learning.

They also praised the clear and comprehensive academic and pastoral care, support and guidance given to Cambridge undergraduates.

The Head of the Department of Pharmacology, Professor Peter McNaughton, commented "We are all delighted with this result. We are pleased too that the review team recognised the strong combination of our research-led teaching and links with top-drawer research in industry."

Further Information:
Department of Pharmacology
View a three-dimensional animated version of the drug-receptor interaction.