Program Overview

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Pharmacy (MPharm) with Preparatory Year

Our pharmacy degree will prepare you for a career as a pharmacist. You’ll learn about patient care by studying basic and applied science, and clinical and professional practice.

If you are interested in studying the MPharm programme but do not meet the entry criteria to enter directly, this course is for you.

The MPharm with Preparatory Year is a 5-year course, specifically designed for students who have not taken the necessary A level subjects or for students who have been disadvantaged during their secondary education. The MPharm with Preparatory Year includes a year of foundational study and prepares you for the MPharm course. Successful completion will allow you to undertake the General Pharmaceutical Council foundation training year that leads to registration as a pharmacist in Great Britain.

UCAS points

96 (view full requirements)

Course/institution codes

B231 MPharm/PY

School

Medway School of Pharmacy

Location

Medway Campus

Duration

5 years full-time

Start month

September

Home* fees 2025/26

£9,535

What you should know about this course

• Our MPharm Foundation Year prepares you for the Master of Pharmacy programme, if you don’t have the right qualifications for direct entry to the four-year degree course
• This course offers dedicated support for students to develop as both scientists and practitioners
• Develop your academic and clinical skills to enhance your employability after graduation.

What you will study

Year 0

• Essentials in Chemical Sciences (15 credits)
• Numeracy for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (15 credits)
• Essentials in Human Biology (30 credits)
• Essentials of Academic Research (30 credits)
• Introduction to Pharmacy Skills (30 credits)
• Progress to MPharm Stage 1

Year 1

• Biomedical Science & Therapeutics 1 (40 credits)
• Patient Safety & Quality Competencies 1
• Professional Practice & Prescribing 1 (40 credits)
• The Science of Medicines 1 (40 credits)

Year 2

• Biomedical Sciences & Therapeutics 2 (40 credits)
• Patient Safety & Quality Competencies 2
• Professional Practice & Prescribing 2 (40 credits)
• The Science of Medicines 2 (40 credits)

Year 3

• Biomedical Sciences & Therapeutics 3 (40 credits)
• Patient Safety & Quality Competencies 3
• Professional Practice & Prescribing 3 (40 credits)
• The Science of Medicines 3 (40 credits)

Year 4

• Patient Safety & Quality Competencies 4
• Quality Use of Medicines (40 credits)
• Research Project (40 credits)
• Prescribing Scope of Practice (40 credits)

About the course team

We are an experienced team of academic and pharmacy professionals. Many of our staff work in pharmacy clinical practice and so bring real-life examples to the programme. Our staff are also involved in research and publish in world leading journals. Trained postgraduate researchers also contribute to seminar teaching with their latest research-led insight. Our teaching is also informed by research and consultancy work.

Entry requirements

UK citizens and permanent residents

• 96 UCAS Tariff points which must include one of the following:
  • A Level: CCC including a relevant Science subject.
  • BTEC National: Extended Diploma in Applied Science at grade MMM.
  • A Level and BTEC National : 96 UCAS Tariff points including a relevant Science a level subject
  • International Baccalaureate: 26 points overall including Higher Level in a relevant Science subject at grade 3.
  • T Level: Science (Laboratory Sciences) at grade Merit.
  • Access to HE Diploma: 96 UCAS points from a relevant Science Access to HE Diploma
  • Equivalent qualifications may be considered.
• In addition, you will need: GCSE Mathematics at grade 4/C and GCSE English Language at grade 4/C. Equivalent qualifications may be considered.

We make Contextual offers to this programme. Applicants that meet specific eligibility criteria will be made a contextual offer with a reduced tariff of up to 16 UCAS Tariff points. Other entry requirements such as GCSEs, Interview, etc., will still need to be met. For further information, please see our Contextual Admissions policy.

How you will learn

Teaching

Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.

You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.

Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your courses and tutorials.

Class sizes

There will be up to 150 students in lectures. Workshops, seminars, and laboratories have a smaller cohort with a maximum of 40 students in each session.

Independent learning

Independent learning varies depending on different modules. For a 30-credit module Independent learning ranges from 100-200 hours and a 15 credit module ranges from 60-100 hours.

Overall workload

If you are studying full-time, you should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job.

Each module you study towards this degree is worth 15 or 30 credits. These represent around 150 or 300 study hours respectively. If you receive 100 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 200 hours to independent study to complete it successfully.

Assessment

You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.

Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.

Feedback summary

University policy is to give feedback on assignments within 15 working days of the coursework submission date. Examination results will be available within 28 days.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning
---|---|---|---
Home* | £9,535 | N/A | N/A

University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.

(Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2023/DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).

Fees information

• The Department for Education has indicated that it intends to raise the Home tuition fee limit from £9,250 to £9,535 for 2025/26.

Home tuition fee limits: Find out more

Other costs

New students will be subject to a number of small mandatory costs at the start of their course of around £100 in total.

• Students on the MPharm programme must complete the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of the fitness to practise and admission process. This is currently charged at £38.
• We ask that all students purchase lab coats, safety glasses and a notebook at a cost price of £18.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.

The Greenwich Bursary

This bursary is worth £700 for new undergraduate students with a low household income, entering Year 0 or 1 who meet the eligibility criteria.

The Greenwich Bursary

Careers and placements

Will I have a work placement?

Practice placements are an integral part of the MPharm programme, they are undertaken in both community and hospital pharmacy settings.

How long is my placement?

Students in Year 1 go out for a day and a half to community pharmacy, Year 2 students have three days hospital experience and 1 week in community pharmacy. Year 3 students go out for one week in hospital and one week to community and Year 4 go out for a self-arranged two week placement in community, hospital, GP surgery or industry.

What sort of careers do graduates pursue?

After successful completion of the programme, you will receive an MPharm degree.

In order to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council and practise as a qualified pharmacist in the UK, you will be required to undertake a period of additional training and study. This is called the Foundation Training Year, where you will further develop the skills from your degree as a paid employee in a professional environment.

Do you provide employability services?

Undergraduate students have access University of Greenwich employability services and post graduate students have access to employability services from the University of Kent.

Accommodation

Medway campus in Kent

Our Medway halls of residence are all located on-campus, with facilities include an on-site café, launderette and bar. And the halls are located within minutes of the historic Chatham dockyard and Chatham and Gillingham town centres.

With student-run social events, modern ensuite rooms and communal shared spaces, you’ll find that living in halls of residence will be a highlight of your University of Greenwich experience.

Rooms start at £172.06/wk and include Wi-Fi, utility bills and 24-hour residential support. Our Medway accommodation boasts 350 rooms with 24/7 security, and resident car parking permits are available.

Support and advice

Academic skills and study support

We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.

Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.

You can also participate in the Erasmus+ student exchange course to spend a year abroad. Benefit from international experience and develop proficiency in a European language.

Do you provide employability services?

Undergraduate students have access University of Greenwich employability services and post graduate students have access to employability services from the University of Kent.