Program Overview

Pharmacy (MPharm)

The Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) programme is a four-year full-time degree that leads to registration as a pharmacist. The programme is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to embark on a career as a pharmacist.

Why Study This Course

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is a long-established school with over 100 years of excellence in teaching and research. The school is ranked Joint First in the UK for the quality of its teaching and research, according to the Research Excellence Framework. The programme has a strong focus on patient care and pharmaceutical sciences, and students will learn about the discovery and development of new drugs, the clinical uses of medicines, and the role of the pharmacist in improving patient outcomes.

Entry Requirements

The typical offer for the MPharm programme is AAB-ABB in two sciences, including one from Biology or Chemistry, and one from either Biology, Chemistry, Maths, or Physics. Students will also need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of their programme of study. International students will need to meet the equivalent entry requirements, which can be found on the university's website.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for the MPharm programme are ｣9,535 per year for home students and ｣30,700 per year for overseas students. Financial support may be available to students who meet certain criteria, and more information can be found on the university's website.

Course Structure

The MPharm programme is a four-year full-time degree, consisting of 120 credits per year. The programme is modular in its organisation, and each module is supported by electronic teaching materials shared via the university's virtual learning environment. The modules are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice, and the role of the pharmacist in healthcare.

Year One

In year one, students will learn about the role of the pharmacist in the UK, the healthy human and patient-self-care, the fundamentals of pharmaceutical science, and medicines in healthcare. The core modules for year one include:

• Professional Development (PH1000)
• Molecule to Patient (PH1121)
• The Role of the Pharmacist in Professional Practice (PH1122)
• Structure and Function of Cells and Microbes (PH1123)
• Human Body Systems (PH1124)
• Chemical and Biological Properties of Drug Molecules (PH1125)

Year Two

In year two, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate attitudes, behaviours, and skills-development of a future health professional preparing for safe and evidence-based practice focused on the needs of the patient and society. The core modules for year two include:

• Professional Development (PH2000)
• Formulation Science 1 (PH2107)
• Clinical and Professional Pharmacy (PH2110)
• Diseases and Drugs 1 (PH2113)
• Principles of Drug Design and Drug Disposition (PH2114)

Year Three

In year three, students will focus on the use of medicines in more complex clinical areas, such as the optimisation of pharmaceutical care for patients with cancer, neurological diseases, and infection with multiply-antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The core modules for year three include:

• Professional Development (PH3000)
• Optimisation of Pharmaceutical Care (PH3110)
• Diseases and Drugs 2 (PH3113)
• Design, Formulation and Quality Assurance of Medicinal Products (PH3114)
• Evidence-based Approaches to New Therapies (PH3115)

Year Four

In year four, students will undertake a research or development project and develop their skills in preparation for holistic healthcare. The core modules for year four include:

• Professional Development (PH4000)
• Pharmacy Research or Scholarship Project (PH4116)
• Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Practice and the Population (PH4117)
• Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Practice and the Patient (PH4118)

Learning and Assessment

The degree is modular in its organisation, and each module is supported by electronic teaching materials shared via the university's virtual learning environment. Teaching on site in the school mainly comprises lectures, practical classes, and workshops, and computer-aided learning (CAL) is a feature of some practical classes and workshops. Off-site, there are placements in health and social care practices and settings.

Careers and Placements

The career options for pharmacists are exciting, varied, and plentiful, ranging from hospital, primary care, or community settings to the pharmaceutical industry or research labs. Students will participate in work-based clinical placements in each year of their degree, which are integral to the development of their knowledge and skills as a student pharmacist.

Studying in Welsh

Up to 28% of the course is available through the medium of Welsh, and students can contact the Admissions tutor for more information.

Accreditations

The MPharm programme is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Additional Costs

Applicants are required to meet the costs of obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate and are encouraged to join the DBS Update Service for the duration of the programme. Applicants are advised that, while they will be reimbursed for some of the costs they incur whilst attending practice placements, they will be required to cover the initial costs for later reimbursement.