Program Overview

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Pharmacy MPharm (Hons)

Overview

Gain insight into the pharmaceutical advances of the future and learn how to use modern drug technology with this accredited MPharm (Hons) Pharmacy degree.

Practise using the skills and knowledge you learn under supervision from GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council) registered pharmacists and out in the field. Achieve valuable on-the-job experience with patients and the public on placements as you prepare for practice and independent prescribing.

Once you graduate, you'll need to complete a foundation training year in a pharmacy setting, and pass the registration assessment, to register as a Pharmacist with the GPhC. You could also go onto a career in areas such as drug development and formulation, and clinical trials.

Key Information

• UCAS code: B230
• Accreditation: This course is Accredited
• Typical offer: 120-128 from 3 A levels, or equivalent, to include 80 UCAS points in specific subjects

Course Information

Overview

Gain insight into the pharmaceutical advances of the future and learn how to use modern drug technology with this accredited MPharm (Hons) Pharmacy degree.

Practise using the skills and knowledge you learn under supervision from GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council) registered pharmacists and out in the field. Achieve valuable on-the-job experience with patients and the public on placements as you prepare for practice and independent prescribing.

Once you graduate, you'll need to complete a foundation training year in a pharmacy setting, and pass the registration assessment, to register as a Pharmacist with the GPhC. You could also go onto a career in areas such as drug development and formulation, and clinical trials.

Course Highlights

• Learn from qualified pharmacists who have backgrounds in community and hospital pharmacy settings
• Practise applying your skills and scientific knowledge in a fully-stocked model pharmacy and in simulated consultation rooms, a care home, surgery and hospital wards
• Study alongside students from other healthcare disciplines to get an understanding of all stages of the patient experience
• Check and dispense real prescriptions, counsel patients on medicine use, respond to symptoms and undertake medical histories
• Take opportunities to get further pharmaceutical experience in settings such as GP surgeries and mental health hospitals
• Get support arranging your foundation training year after the course

GPhC Accreditation

This course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Entry Requirements

MPharm (Hons) Pharmacy Entry Requirements

• Typical offer (September 2025 start):
  • A levels - ABB-BBB
  • UCAS points - 120-128 from 3 A levels, or equivalent, to include 40 points from A level Chemistry, and 40 points from an A level in a second Science subject or Mathematics. Other qualifications are considered including BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science at DDM plus A level Chemistry. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application.
  • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM
  • International Baccalaureate - 29-30

Selection Process

• All shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online values based interview, which includes a situational judgement test. This will be used alongside your application to determine your suitability for this course.
• Applicants should be aware that any offer on the course is subject to passing an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and occupational health assessment of fitness to study, which will be conducted after enrolment on the course.

English Language Requirements

• English Language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Your Facilities

Centre for Simulation in Health and Care

This modern facility helps you develop the practical skills you need to work in the health and care-related sciences, in a safe, contextual and realistic environment.

Model Pharmacy

Part of the Pharmacy and Biomedical Science Teaching Centre, the model pharmacy allows you to practise each step of the dispensing process.

Pharmaceutics Laboratories

Develop a better understanding of the causes and consequences of diseases in these labs, as well as the skills and expertise needed to develop and test new drugs.

Careers and Opportunities

Demand for qualified pharmacists is increasing. After completing the MPharm course, you can become a fully qualified pharmacist within a year if you successfully complete the foundation training and pass the GPhC registration examination (maximum three attempts).

Foundation Training Support

Our Careers and Employability Service can support you in applying for your foundation year training, helping with interview techniques and the application process. You'll get help, advice and support for up to 5 years after you leave the University.

Potential Salary

As a fully qualified Pharmacist in the NHS, you'll usually start at the bottom of band 6 of the Agenda for Change pay scale (£32,306 in 2021/22). As your NHS career progresses, you could reach band 9 as a chief pharmacist (£93,735–£108,075 in 2021/22).

What Other Roles Can You Do with a Pharmacy Degree?

The expanding responsibilities of pharmacists means you'll have many other job options at the end of the course. Areas you could work in include:

• drug development and formulation
• involvement with toxicity studies
• clinical trials
• marketing
• regulatory affairs
• medical writing

Graduate Destinations

Recent graduates have gone on to work for organisations including:

• Novartis
• Reckitt Benckiser
• Boots
• Superdrug
• Goldchem
• Virgin Care
• Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Placements and Work Experience

You'll get plenty of experience dealing with patients and the public on this course, including a total of 16 weeks of placement across all 4 years of the MPharm course.

Possible placement locations include:

• Community pharmacies in Portsmouth, the surrounding areas and nationwide (where possible)
• Local hospital pharmacies such as Queen Alexandra in Portsmouth, St. Richard's in Chichester, Worthing Hospital, Southampton General Hospital, Royal County Hospital in Winchester, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and St. Mary's on the Isle of Wight
• GP surgeries in Portsmouth and surrounding areas
• Solent NHS Trust’s mental health in-patient services
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board
• Health in Justice – prison pharmacies

Modules

What You'll Study

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Core Modules

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Pharmacy Year 1 - 120 credits Build the foundational knowledge and skills you need on your course.

You’ll discuss the safe and effective use and administration of medicines, and be introduced to topics like anatomy, physiology, aetiology and pathology, microbiology, chemical concepts, pharmaceutics, neuroscience and pharmacology. You’ll research key features of particular medicines and conditions as you build confidence in your skills and understanding.

Pharmacy Year 2 - 120 credits Develop the skills, knowledge and approach you need to be a professional pharmacist.

Prepare for your role by building your clinical understanding, and learn to optimise drug therapy in individual patients. You’ll demonstrate the knowledge and skills you need to ensure safe and effective use and administration of medicines. As you do so, you’ll consider the complexities of conditions, drug interactions, and how body systems interact. You’ll research key features of medicines, conditions and clinical guidelines — combining your learning across anatomy, physiology, aetiology and pathology, microbiology and more.

Pharmacy Year 3 - 120 credits Grow your knowledge and understanding of various therapeutic and prescribing options.

You’ll build on your skills and knowledge from previous years as you focus on infectious diseases, cancer and personalised medicine. Develop your clinical reasoning skills and give consideration to the 'right drug for the right patient' approach, considering ethical aspects of the provision of pharmaceutical services. You’ll consider options for the management or treatment of various diagnoses, and develop your understanding of how to select the best next steps for your patient. By attending sessions with clinical practitioners, consultants, support groups and cancer survivors, you’ll put a human face to the conditions you’re treating therapeutically, and have a clearer understanding of the impacts of possible side effects from treatments.

Pharmacy Year 4 - 120 credits Prepare for a career in pharmacy by refining your clinical skills and therapeutic knowledge.

Learn to evaluate evidence to make the best prescribing decisions. Use what you've learned about medicines, formulations, patient care and more through simulations of real-world scenarios. You'll use patient histories and accounts to produce integrated treatment plans that involve appropriate medicines, tests and referrals. You'll finish this module with the foundations you need to be a reflective, adaptable practitioner who is able to lead projects to improve patient outcomes.

How You'll Spend Your Time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A Typical Week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your Pharmacy degree. In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as tutorials, lectures, practical classes and workshops and external visits for about 16 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course. You'll be expected to engage with more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2, 3 and 4.

Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends.

Supporting You

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Personal Tutor

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

Learning Support Tutors

You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

• improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
• understanding and using assignment feedback
• managing your time and workload
• revision and exam techniques

Academic Skills Support

During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.

Support is available for skills including:

• University study
• Getting into the right study mindset
• Note-taking and note-making skills
• Referencing
• Presentation skills
• Time management, planning, and goal setting
• Critical thinking
• Avoiding plagiarism

Disability Advice and Additional Support

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to:

• discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
• liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
• access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
• liaise with external services

Library Support

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from the faculty librarian for science.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,535 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,535 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
• International students – £19,200 per year (subject to annual increase)

Funding Your Studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional Course Costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

• Accommodation and living costs
• Recommended reading
• General costs
• Final year project
• Safety equipment
• Placement travel
• Placement year and study abroad tuition fees
• Occupational health costs