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Pharmacy with a Foundation Year

Entry requirements


We require grades DDC - BBC including Chemistry and Maths and/or Biology plus one further rigorous academic subject (excluding General Studies or Critical Thinking). You will also need to meet the widening participation selection criteria detailed on our application process page. Typical Contextual Offer: CDD-BBC

We do not accept AS grades in place of A2-level grades.

We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A Level subjects provided you have achieved grades DDC-BCC including Chemistry and either Maths or Biology and one further rigorous academic subject (not General Studies or Critical Thinking). Applicants must also meet the University’s contextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

A requirement of this programme is that applicants meet the University of Manchester’s contextual admissions requirements. We therefore would not accept this qualification.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require at least five GCSEs at minimum grade 5 (B) including English Language and Mathematics. We will accept C+ in the Northern Ireland reformed GCSE. For applicants whose status has been confirmed as WP+ using the University's Contextual Data Eligibility tool, we will allow an overall reduction of 2 grades on the full GCSE requirements. Please note, however, that no individual subject should be lower than C/4. For applicants whose status has been confirmed as WP++ using the University's Contextual Data Eligibility tool, we will allow an overall reduction of 4 grades on the full GCSE requirements. Please note, however, that no individual subject should be lower than C/4.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

28-30

For UK students who have taken the International Baccalaureate we require 28-30 with Grades 5, 4, 4 in higher level Chemistry, alongside higher level Biology and standard level Mathematics or Higher level Mathematics and standard level Biology. For this programme of study we will accept: Higher Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation. Applicants must also meet the University’s contextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page.

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma

DD

We will consider the Cambridge Technical Diploma (science-based only, please note we will not accept Health and Social Care) at grade DD alongside either Chemistry or Biology A-level at grade C. You will also need to meet the GCSE requirements. Applicants must also meet the University’s contextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

D

We accept the Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at grade D in lieu of the third A-level only. It must be offered alongside A-level Chemistry and either A-level Biology or Mathematics at grades BC. You will also need to meet the University's contextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

DDD

We require successful completion of a Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma (science-based only, please note we will not accept Health and Social Care) at grades DDD along with GCSE-level English Language and Mathematics at grade 5. Applicants must also meet the University’s contextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

We will consider the Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma (science-based only, please note we will not accept Health and Social Care) at Grade D alongside A-level Chemistry and either Biology or Mathematics at grades BC. You will need to meet the GCSE requirement and also meet the University's contextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DD

We will consider the BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (science-based only, please note we will not accept Health and Social Care) at grade DD alongside either Chemistry or Biology A-level at grade C. You will also need to meet the GCSE requirements. Applicants must also meet the University’s contextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

D

We accept the BTEC National Extended Certificate at grade D in lieu of the third A-level only. It must be offered alongside A-level Chemistry and either A-level Biology or Mathematics at grades BC. You will also need to meet the GCSE requirements. Applicants must also meet the University’s c ontextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

We require successful completion of a BTEC National Extended Diploma (science-based only, please note we will not accept Health and Social Care) at grades DDD along with GCSE-level English Language and Mathematics at grade 5. Applicants must also meet the University’s contextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

We will consider the BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (science-based only, please note we will not accept Health and Social Care) at Grade D alongside A-level Chemistry and either Biology or Mathematics at grades BC. You will also need to meet the GCSE requirements. Applicants must also meet the University’s c ontextual admissions requirements (widening participation). Further information about the selection criteria is detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered).

For those applicants who meet the widening participation selection criteria detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered) we will consider grades BBBCC to include Chemistry and either Biology or Maths, alongside grade C in Advanced Higher Chemistry

For those applicants who meet the widening participation selection criteria detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered) we will consider grades BBBCC to include Chemistry and either Biology or Maths, alongside grade C in Advanced Higher Chemistry

We will only consider the Science T-level pathway for the Pharmacy Foundation Year. We would require a distinction grade overall.

The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and usually requires two A Levels or equivalent to be included within this. We consider applicants who meet the widening participation selection criteria detailed on our application process page (How your application is considered) and require grades DC-BC in Chemistry and either Biology or Maths, alongside the Welsh Baccalaureate at grade B. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact [email protected]

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About this course


Course option

5years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Pharmacy

Our five-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) with a Foundation Year prepares you for degree-level study if you do not have the right qualifications for direct entry to the four-year course .

The foundation year will help you adapt to the higher education system and is taught at Xaverian College , which is a short walk from the main campus.

You will still be registered with The University of Manchester, with access to all of our facilities and support systems.

Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and each application will be considered individually.

Entry to the four-year MPharm course is automatic on satisfactory completion of the foundation year.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Manchester

Department:

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

70%
Pharmacy

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Pharmacy

Teaching and learning

65%
Staff make the subject interesting
76%
Staff are good at explaining things
73%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
84%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

77%
Library resources
79%
IT resources
82%
Course specific equipment and facilities
37%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

80%
UK students
20%
International students
30%
Male students
70%
Female students
89%
2:1 or above
14%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
B
A

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Pharmacy

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£18,500
med
Average annual salary
98%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

88%
Health professionals
5%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
1%
Artistic, literary and media occupations

As only a relatively small number of students study pharmacology or toxicology, these statistics refer most closely to the graduate prospects of pharmacy graduates, so bear that in mind when you review them. Only a handful of students take first degrees in pure toxicology every year — the subject is more popular at Masters level. Pharmacology is a degree that tends to lead to jobs in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, and outcomes are improving again after a difficult time in the last few years. Jobs in pharmacology are often very specialist and so it’s no surprise that pharmacologists are amongst the most likely of all students to go on to a doctorate — if you want a job in research, start thinking about a PhD. As for pharmacy, unemployment rates are below 1% and 95% of pharmacy graduates had jobs as pharmacists (mostly in retail pharmacists) six months after they left their courses - employment rates have gone up significantly in the last couple of years.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Pharmacy

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£27k

£27k

£37k

£37k

£39k

£39k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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UCAS Points: 120-128
Nearby University
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Same University
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UCAS Points: 136

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here