Program Overview

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Advanced Pharmacy Practice

Overview

The NHS is experiencing unprecedented demand for services, with an increasing recognition of the need to provide personalised and seamless care. This programme supports experienced pharmacists to develop the advanced-level knowledge and skills required to undertake key leadership roles to address these challenges and innovate for the future.

The programme modules align with the five domains of practice in the RPS Core Advanced and Consultant curricula (person-centred care and collaboration, professional practice, leadership and management, education and research), enabling you to work towards developing your career via a structured and supportive programme.

The University of Bradford School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences has a proven track record in the design and delivery of high-quality postgraduate clinical pharmacy education over many years.

In 2019, to reflect the changing NHS and Higher Education landscape, the PGT Clinical Pharmacy Programmes were streamlined to two programmes:

• MSc/PGDip Foundation Pharmacy for newly qualified pharmacists
• MSc/PGDip Advanced Pharmacy for more experienced pharmacists (at least two years post-registration)

The programme is part-time and uses a ‘blended learning’ approach.

This approach uses mixed methods of teaching delivery, including face-to-face study days on campus, webinars and self-directed learning.

Module choices on the Advanced Pharmacy Practice programme are tailored to enable the individual to focus on developing in areas most appropriate for them including:

• clinical knowledge
• clinical skills
• advanced communication skills
• clinical education practice research
• healthcare leadership

The independent prescribing qualification can also be undertaken as part of this course.

The programme at the University of Bradford has a strong multidisciplinary focus, with a number of these modules providing the opportunity to work with and share experiences with colleagues from a variety of disciplines, such as nurses, AHPs, physician associates, paramedics, working in different sectors and specialities.

Entry Requirements

You must be:

• currently registered with the GPhC
• working as a pharmacist in the UK (any sector)
• an experienced pharmacist (at least two years post-registration)

Employer support is usually required - the course includes work-based assessments.

English language requirements

• An IELTS score of 7.0 is required in each of the four subsets, in order to align our English language requirements with those of the regulatory body for practising pharmacists, the GPhC.

Your Learning Journey

All module information is for 2023 entry, and is subject to change.

First Year

Postgraduate Certificate

Core

• Advanced Synoptic 1

Plus one patient-facing option from :

• Advanced Communication Skills
• Advanced Therapeutics
• Prescribing for Pharmacists
• Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making

Plus one leadership option from:

• Health and Social Care Leadership
• Managing People in Health and Social Care
• Understanding Health and Social Care through Policy and Strategy
• Leading Change and Service Improvement in Health and Social Care
• Applied Research for Pharmacy Practice
• Clinical Education and Training

Postgraduate Diploma

• Advanced Synoptic 2

Any combination of 60 credits from the modules aboveor Aseptics in Practice

Degree of Master

• Quality and Service Improvement Project (Advanced)

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The programme uses a blended and flexible approach to learning, which allows students to choose the most appropriate route for them. The learning and teaching strategy includes attendance at study days, eLearning, role play, webinars and work-based learning. Students will also produce an eportfolio each year to demonstrate their progression along the Advanced Pharmacy Framework (APF); the professional benchmark at this level.

There is optionality for students throughout the programme, both in their choice of modules and in their choice of assignments. This allows a personalised learning experience to suit each student’s development needs. Most optional modules will include inter-professional learning with other healthcare professionals, giving students the opportunity to learn with, and about others.

The programme is designed to provide students with continuous formative and summative assessment and feedback to enable them to develop and demonstrate their knowledge of the topics as well as their work-based skills.

Students will demonstrate:

• The confidence and ability to communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals, including communicating complex, contentious or sensitive information
• The ability to take a leadership role as a member of the healthcare team to provide safe, high-quality person-centred care
• The ability to work autonomously to solve complex problems and use sound reasoning and judgement in decision making
• The behaviour befitting a role model and the ability to effectively lead and mentor others
• The ability to map progress to the relevant competency framework and plan personal development activities accordingly

Students will work on their (synoptic) eportfolio throughout the programme. This includes evidence of their practice to demonstrate their progress on the Advanced Pharmacy Framework. Students will identify their own development needs (with the support of their personal academic tutor and/or practice tutor) to ensure they cover the entire framework. A pass in the Advanced Synoptic 1 module is a requirement for the award of Postgraduate Certificate. A pass in Advanced Synoptic 1 and Advanced Synoptic 2 is a requirement for the award of Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

In order to develop the communication skills that pharmacist leaders in practice need, there are a variety of summative assessments, including written assignments, objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs), presentations and work-based assessments.

Fees, Finance and Scholarships

Tuition Fee

• Home: £3,397

Additional Course Costs

While there are no compulsory additional costs associated with this course, there may be general additional costs that you may incur as a student. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Funding Your Studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs.
You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career Prospects

Past students have gone on to gain promotion with their current or a different employer and/or sector of pharmacy.

Career Opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Support for Your Studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions.

We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment.

In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

Research

Over 80% of outputs inAllied Health Professions ,Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy, Chemistry and Engineering are rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (REF 2021).

Staff teaching on the programme are active members of the School’s Medicines Optimisation Research Group.