Pharmacy

Overview
Play a part in the pharmaceutical advances of the future and learn how to use modern drug tech to make a difference to society with this MPharm (Hons) Pharmacy degree, accredited by the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council).

You'll practise using the skills and knowledge you learn under supervision from GPhC-registered Pharmacists and get valuable on-the-job experience with patients and the public on placements.

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.

• 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

• Check and dispense real prescriptions, counsel patients on medicine use, respond to symptoms and undertake medical histories

• Study alongside students from other healthcare disciplines to get an understanding of all stages of the patient experience

• 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

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

Careers and opportunities
Demand for qualified pharmacists is increasing. After the course, you can become a fully qualified pharmacist within a year by doing a foundation training and passing the GPhC registration examination.

Foundation training can be undertaken in one pharmacy setting or split across a variety of different settings – including communities, hospitals, and general practice. You can also secure foundation training in the pharmaceutical industry.

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.

Possible placement locations include:

• Community pharmacies in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas

• Local hospitals such as Queen Alexandra in Portsmouth, St. Richard's in Chichester, Southampton General Hospital, and Royal County Hospital in Winchester

• GP surgeries in Portsmouth and surrounding areas

• Solent NHS Trust’s mental health in-patient services

You'll also have the chance to volunteer in the local community, providing health checks to groups such as homeless people. Our Careers and Employability Service can help you find further work experience opportunities during your course.

Course Modules

The University of Portsmouth is passionate about creating career-focused modules that do more than support your studies, they empower your academic journey and prepare you for what comes next.

We design modules that have:

• Clear themes and skills development as you progress through each year

• Assessments that feel meaningful, often based on real-world tasks rather than isolated exams

• Career-enhancing opportunities such as placements, live projects, enterprise and volunteering

For a full list of the modules you will study on this course, please visit the link to the course page.

https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/mpharm-hons-pharmacy#modules

You’ll be assessed through diagnostic tests, written assignments, simulated patient-focused case studies, oral and poster presentations, online tests, clinical skills assessment.
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• General Pharmaceutical Council