Pharmacy with a Preparatory (Foundation) Year

Pharmacy at Swansea University is designed to prepare you for your role as medicines expert in the modern interdisciplinary healthcare team. Our 5-year MPharm foundation programme will get you ready for the changing face of pharmacy and the new and advanced roles pharmacists undertake in healthcare and pharmaceutical settings. Following successful completion, achieving an overall average of 60%, in the Foundation Year with at least 60% in the Foundations in Pharmacy and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry modules, you will progress to Year 1 and follow a curriculum designed to reflect the way pharmacists approach patients and how patients present to pharmacists. We integrate the science of drug design and development, with embedded clinical case-study teaching alongside experiential learning. Our approach is designed to develop your academic, practical and personal qualities so you can practise competently, professionally and with confidence. Throughout your course, you will undertake a variety of placements in the hospital, community and primary care settings. Our expanding horizons placements will give some students the opportunity to undertake pharmacy experiences in prisons, care homes and enterprises to explore the role of pharmacists in new, innovative and emerging areas of practice. The breadth, variety and quality of our placements will allow you to experience the diverse roles you could undertake as a pharmacist and decide on the direction you would like your future pharmacist career to take.

Modern healthcare is delivered by an interdisciplinary team and increasingly, pharmacists are delivering enhanced and new clinical services across healthcare settings, including as prescribers. Our Pharmacy degree recognises these new and advanced roles and integrates sciences and practice to prepare students to meet the challenges of the changing face of pharmacy.

Together with a strong focus on clinical and communication skills and digital technology, you will develop the academic, practical, and personal qualities to practice pharmacy competently and with confidence.

Pharmacy at Swansea University builds on the strengths of the Medical School by adopting an interdisciplinary approach to teaching. We recognise that pharmacists work alongside other healthcare professions in a clinical setting, therefore education and training should reflect this. You will benefit from our experience and expertise in clinical and life science, research, training and practice, helping you to develop your pharmaceutical practice, science and knowledge.

It is these strengths and the recognition of the need for scientific rigour and understanding, coupled with a strong focus on patient care and outcomes, that allow the Medical School to develop high-quality healthcare professionals to meet the needs of employers and patients alike.

Throughout your course you will have a high level of structured clinical contact, lecture and lab based teaching. Students will learn across 7 broad themes which have been adapted from the General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC's) Indicative Curriculum:
Pharmaceutics
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Cellular and Molecular Bioscience
Human Biology
Clinical Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice
Students are required to undertake 120 credits per year throughout each year of their study. Students will undertake modules to embed the basic scientific knowledge required of a scientist, patient-centred learning and the role of a Pharmacist as a professional.

In Year 0, you will typically study areas including:
Foundation Biological Chemistry
Metabolism and Homeostasis
The Human Cell
Foundation Applied Medical Sciences Skills Development
Introduction to Molecular Biology
Fundamentals of Microbiology & Disease
Fundamentals of organic chemistry
Foundations in Pharmacy

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including:
Pharmacist as a Professional
Health, Disease and Patient
Drugs & Medicines
Practice of Pharmacy

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including:
Pharmacist as a Professional
Patient-Centred Learning

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including:
Pharmacist as a Professional
Patient Centred Learning
New Knowledge
Pharmacy in Wales
Substance Misuse

In Year 4, you will typically study areas including:
Pharmacist as a Professional
Patients and the population
Preparation for Advanced Practice & Management

Placements -
You will undertake placements in a variety of different settings to give you a taste of the options available to you as a graduate. The settings for placements throughout the rest of the course include, but are not limited to hospitals, community pharmacies and GP practices. Our 'Extending Horizons' placements will be offered in a variety of other healthcare sectors, prison pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry and other allied healthcare professions.

For students entering their 3rd year (not including the preparatory year), there may be a limited number of overseas research projects available in Semester 2.

The teaching and learning methods employed address the knowledge and competencies required for the varied responsibilities of Pharmacists. You will learn through a variety of teaching methods including lectures, case-based learning, workshops, laboratory classes, experiential learning and an independently-led research project. Assessments will include Laboratory practicals, written exams, oral presentations, written assignments, and clinical skills assessments. The range of assessment methods is chosen to develop and demonstrate a range of skills transferable to the modern healthcare environment including reflection, oral and written communication, confidence and competence.