Pharmacy
Entry requirements
A level
120-128 from 3 A levels, to include A level Chemistry, plus an A level in a second Science subject or Mathematics. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application. *Please note: A levels in Applied Science, General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies are not normally accepted.
122-128 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma (Science), with a minimum of 18 level 3 credits in Chemistry at Distinction, and 18 level 3 credits in Biology; 12 at Distinction and 6 at Merit.
Cambridge Pre-U score of 56-60. To include a Principal Subject in Chemistry at M2, plus a Principal Subject in a second Science or Mathematics at M2.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English, Mathematics and Biology (or Double Science) at grade C or above, if not studied at a higher level/GCSE English, Mathematics and Biology (or Double Science) at grade 4 or above, if not studied at a higher level.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
29 points from the IB Diploma. 664 at Higher Level to include 6 points in Higher Level Chemistry, plus 6 points in a Higher Level second Science subject or Mathematics. - 30 points from the IB Diploma. 665 at Higher Level to include 6 points in Higher Level Chemistry, plus 6 points in a Higher Level second Science subject or Mathematics. Mathematics and English must be passed with at least 4 points at Standard Level (if not passed at GCSE grade C or above).
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3,H3,H3,H3,H3-H2,H2,H3,H3,H3
To include Higher Level Chemistry at H3, plus a second Higher Level Science subject or Mathematics at H3.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Must be in Applied Science, plus A level Chemistry.
120-128 from Advanced Highers, to include Chemistry at grade C and a second Science subject or Mathematics at grade C. *Please note: Applied Science, General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies are not normally accepted.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
UCAS Tariff
120-128 from 3 A levels, or equivalent, to include 40 points from A level Chemistry, and 40 points from an A level in a second Science subject or Mathematics. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application.
120-128 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels, with 40 points in A level Chemistry plus 40 points in a second Science subject or Mathematics, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate. *Please note: A levels in Applied Science, General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies are not normally accepted.
You may also need to…
Attend an interview
About this course
**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.
Modules
Year 1
Core
Pharmacy Year 1 - 120 credits
Year 2
Core
Pharmacy Year 2 - 120 credits
Year 3
Core
Pharmacy Year 3 - 120 credits
Year 4
Core
Integrated Studies In Mental Health - 20 credits
MPharm Research Project - 40 credits
Personalised Medicine And Cancer - 20 credits
Preparation for Clinical Practice - 40 credits
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Assessment methods
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.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Science and Health
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.
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
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Top job areas of graduates
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.
£26k
£34k
£38k
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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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?
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