Life sciences and pharmacy Jobs in the UK with a Sponsor Licence: 46 Open (Oct 2026)
- Open roles at licensed employers
- 46
- Graduate, internship & apprenticeship
- 4
- Employers hiring
- 27
- Cities
- 5
Roles first seen in the last 30 days and still open. Updated weekly.
Life sciences and pharmacy graduate jobs, internships and apprenticeships open now
- Pharmaceutical Business and Supply Chain (Multiple Roles and Locations) Industrial Placement, 2027
This industrial placement brings together pharmaceutical business and supply chain opportunities in several locations. It suits an undergraduate who has completed at least two years, remains enrolled at a UK or Republic of Ireland university throughout the placement and has checked the degree requirements for the individual role.
Ask about this role - Pharmaceutical Science (Multiple Roles and Locations) Industrial Placement, 2027
These industrial placements cover pharmaceutical science opportunities in Ware, Worthing and Barnard Castle. They suit undergraduates who have completed at least two years, will not have graduated when the placement begins, remain enrolled at a UK or Republic of Ireland university and meet the particular degree requirements.
Ask about this role - Quality Control Analyst I
You would carry out routine quality control testing using standard operating procedures and established methods, alongside reagent preparation, tissue culture, equipment maintenance, and sample receipt and disposal. It suits someone seeking practical laboratory quality experience who can work carefully and consistently.
Ask about this role - Junior Lab Technician
This entry level laboratory role involves operating deposition, vacuum, metallurgy, XRD, SEM and optical equipment, running synthesis and characterisation experiments, maintaining instruments, diagnosing faults and capturing reproducible data. It suits a recent graduate who is careful, curious, diligent and keen to learn hands on research practice.
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What kinds of life sciences and pharmacy roles are open
- Laboratory and research science: 28 roles
- Clinical research and trials: 7 roles
- Quality and regulatory: 6 roles
- Pharmacy and pharmaceuticals: 5 roles
What life sciences and pharmacy graduates do in the UK
The largest group is laboratory and research science, with 28 roles. Day to day work can include running experiments, preparing reagents, maintaining equipment, handling samples, recording reliable data and supporting research or analytical development. Some roles focus on DNA design, molecular biology, protein expression, purification and characterisation, while others involve materials synthesis and laboratory instrumentation.
Clinical research and trials accounts for seven roles, including work supporting research activity and trial operations. Quality and regulatory roles, with six openings, involve routine testing, standard operating procedures, inspection and product conformity. Pharmacy and pharmaceuticals has five roles, covering pharmaceutical production, supply chain, pharmacy logistics and the safe handling or distribution of medicines.
What employers ask for
Descriptions commonly ask for careful laboratory practice, curiosity, diligence, organisation, accurate data capture and the ability to follow standard operating procedures. Specific technical requirements include tissue culture, reagent preparation, sample receipt and disposal, DNA design, molecular biology, protein expression, purification and analytical characterisation. Some roles also involve writing or maintaining SOPs, equipment maintenance, troubleshooting and method development or validation.
Software and equipment vary by role rather than appearing in every advert. Named examples include thin film deposition systems, high vacuum and high temperature metallurgy equipment, XRD, SEM, optical characterisation systems, laser and optical systems, and liquid handling products. Qualifications may be degree specific, and some placements require at least two completed years of undergraduate study, current enrolment at a UK or Republic of Ireland university and no graduation before the placement starts.
Which employers and sectors are hiring
Replimune has the most listed roles among the named employers, with five. AstraZeneca and Substrate Bio have four each, while GSK, Orchard Therapeutics and FluoRok Limited have three each. Diffractive Labs, Genomics and Basecamp Research have two each, and OrganOx has one. The roles are spread across 27 employers overall.
Engineering, research and design is the largest sector, with 13 roles, followed by technology and software with 11, health and care with eight, manufacturing with seven, and wholesale and retail with two. London has 21 roles, with Oxford and Milton Park each having five. Macclesfield and Cambridge each have two, although the listings also include other locations.
Applying as an international student
Graduate, internship and apprenticeship roles are few, so placements and other early career routes matter. A role asking for some experience can still suit a strong graduate if you can show relevant laboratory work, university projects, accurate record keeping and a willingness to learn. Read the education, enrolment and right to work wording carefully, especially for placements that require you to remain enrolled.
An employer holding a sponsor licence does not mean that every vacancy offers sponsorship. Check the advert and ask the employer whether the specific role can support your situation before relying on it. Review the Graduate visa route and the Skilled Worker rules on GOV.UK, including the current eligibility requirements, and use official guidance when deciding your next step.
Employers with a sponsor licence hiring for life sciences and pharmacy
| Employer | Sector | Open roles |
|---|---|---|
| Replimune | Engineering, research & design | 5 |
| AstraZeneca | Health & care | 4 |
| Substrate Bio | Technology & software | 4 |
| GSK | Health & care | 3 |
| Orchard Therapeutics | 3 | |
| FluoRok Limited | Manufacturing | 3 |
| Diffractive Labs | Engineering, research & design | 2 |
| Genomics | Engineering, research & design | 2 |
| Basecamp Research | Engineering, research & design | 2 |
| OrganOx | Engineering, research & design | 1 |
| Universal Quantum | Manufacturing | 1 |
| Rightangled | Engineering, research & design | 1 |
| Pharmacierge | Wholesale & retail | 1 |
| SPT Labtech | Manufacturing | 1 |
| ZeroAvia | Manufacturing | 1 |
Where the roles are
- London: 21 roles
- Oxford: 5 roles
- Milton Park: 5 roles
- Macclesfield: 2 roles
- Cambridge: 2 roles
Other open life sciences and pharmacy roles worth a look
Not senior, at employers on the sponsor register; some ask for a few years' experience.
- Lab Technician
The work supports assembly, integration, testing, calibration and maintenance of quantum machines, including laser and optical systems. You would also organise test setups, collect data and keep the laboratory supplied and tidy, suiting someone interested in practical, multidisciplinary laboratory and technical work.
Ask about this role - Protein Production Scientist, Biologics
You would build a protein production process covering DNA design, molecular biology, protein expression, purification and quality control through analytical characterisation. The role suits a scientist interested in developing laboratory methods by hand before they are transferred to an automation platform, with strong attention to quality and traceability.
Ask about this role - Pharmacy Support - Logistics
This pharmacy logistics work involves supporting inventory management, handling pharmaceutical products safely, coordinating prescription deliveries and helping pharmacy operations run smoothly. It suits someone organised and service focused, but the advert states that applicants must already have the right to work in the UK because the role does not satisfy sponsorship requirements.
Ask about this role - Field Application Scientist
You would provide expert support for liquid handling products and act as an interface between sales, marketing and customers across the UK and Europe. It suits a personable, well organised scientist with a strong background in at least one relevant laboratory application and an interest in customer facing technical work.
Ask about this role - Quality Control Inspector
This quality role checks that hydrogen electric powertrain products meet regulatory, customer and aerospace quality requirements. It suits an experienced inspector with aerospace inspection experience, strong attention to detail and the ability to interpret approved design data while working with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and suppliers.
Ask about this role - Clinical Research Nurse
This clinical research role supports research activity at research clinics and involves working with research teams, clinicians, participants, primary care practices, research networks, sponsors and contract research organisations. It suits a qualified professional with relevant clinical research experience and the ability to work across site based research services.
Ask about this role - Clinical Pharmacist (Independent Prescriber) at AIOS Medical- Remote, £45/hr inc equity
This pharmacy role is for an independent prescriber working remotely during UK hours. It suits a pharmacist who meets the professional requirements for independent prescribing and is interested in applying pharmacy expertise within a technology led service, subject to the advert's detailed eligibility and working arrangements.
Ask about this role - Scientist I, Analytical Development
You would perform routine analytical testing for analytical development, process development, research and quality control projects. The role also supports analytical method development, optimisation, qualification and validation, suiting a scientist who wants to build experience in pharmaceutical analytical development and characterisation.
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Frequently asked questions
How many life sciences and pharmacy jobs are open in the UK?
The page lists 46 roles at UK employers that hold a sponsor licence. Of these, 24 are not senior roles, and four are graduate, internship or apprenticeship opportunities. The listings are rebuilt weekly, so check the current advert before applying.
Are internships and placements useful for international students?
Yes. Graduate, internship and apprenticeship roles are limited in this set of listings, so placements can be an important way to gain relevant experience. Check requirements carefully because some placements require you to remain enrolled at a UK or Republic of Ireland university and not have graduated before starting.
Can I apply for a role that asks for experience?
You may still be a strong candidate if your university work, laboratory projects or placement experience match the duties. Look for evidence of relevant techniques, accurate data recording, equipment use, quality procedures and willingness to learn. Always check the advert for essential qualifications, professional requirements and right to work conditions.
Related
- Graduate schemes at sponsor-licensed employers
- How to Write a Cover Letter for UK Jobs: Structure, Example and Tips
- UK CV Format: How to Write a CV for UK Jobs, with a Template
- Graduate Cover Letter for UK Jobs: Example and How to Write One
- Internship Cover Letter for UK Placements: Example and Tips
How to read this page
A sponsor licence means the employer is allowed to sponsor visas. It does not mean every role it advertises will be sponsored. Check the advert, and the salary rules for the Skilled Worker visa on GOV.UK, before you apply.
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