Program Overview

Independent Prescribing (Short Course) / Overview

Overview

The Independent Prescribing (Short Course) is designed to support pharmacists and NMC registrants in taking on the role of an independent prescriber in their area of practice. The course is taught by a multi-disciplinary team from a range of backgrounds and focuses on core prescribing skills, including history taking, clinical assessment, and diagnostic reasoning.

Entry Requirements

• A relevant Lower Second honours degree or above is required.
• Evidence of at least 60 credits at level 7 may also be accepted.
• See the professional entry qualification section for further professional requirements.

Application and Selection

• The application will only be considered if it is complete by the cohort application deadline.
• A fully completed and signed Independent Prescribing application form, as well as the University’s online application, must be submitted.
• The application form must be signed by the relevant people, including the applicant, line manager, designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) or Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor, and NMP or Governance Lead.
• Wet signatures are required on the application form; inserted images or electronically signed documents are not accepted.

Course Details

• The course is accredited by the GPhC and the NMC.
• The course is not accredited by the HCPC or GOC, and applications from allied health professionals or optometrists are not accepted.
• The course is modular, with part-time study available.
• The course duration is 4 months.

Careers

• The course supports pharmacists and NMC registrants in taking on the role of an independent prescriber in their area of practice.

Fees

• For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:
  • Modular (part-time):
    • UK students (per annum): £1,800 per 30 credits
    • International, including EU, students (per annum): TBC

Policy on Additional Costs

• All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme.
• Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum will be made clear to students at the point of application.

Scholarships/Sponsorships

• Pharmacy Integration Programme funding for pharmacists is available.
• The University of Manchester is an approved provider of NHS England-funded Independent Prescribing training.
• Eligible students can access a funded place under the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP).
• Students who wish to access a funded place under any other eligibility criteria must demonstrate their eligibility through their personal statement in section 1 of the IP application form.