Study our highly-ranked pharmacy course, with a preparatory year, at the University of Plymouth in preparation for a role at the forefront of modern healthcare.
Benefit from a one-year, full-time, face-to-face, preparatory course before undertaking our four-year MPharm pharmacy course at the University of Plymouth.
The preparatory year provides you with underpinning knowledge and experience so that you are ready to enter into Year 1 of our MPharm. You'll develop skills and knowledge in subjects relevant to pharmacy, including chemistry, biology, and mathematics, as well as professional orientation and inter-professional learning. On passing this preparatory year at an appropriate level, you'll be able to progress on to our four-year MPharm Pharmacy course.
Our MPharm pharmacy course, delivered at the University of Plymouth, combines classroom learning, campus-based simulations and placements in real healthcare settings across the South West. The combination gives you a full understanding of pharmacy within community, General Practice (GP) and hospital settings, and will help prepare you for a career in your preferred area.
By studying human physiology, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and medicinal chemistry alongside clinical topics, you’ll learn about the causes and progression of medical conditions and how drugs exert their effects. You'll also learn about the appropriate prescribing, supply and administration of medications and the principles of disease progression and medicine optimisation.
Our partnership with the University of Plymouth
If you progress from the preparatory year onto the MPharm, as a student at Plymouth, you will study the same course content as those studying the MPharm Pharmacy in Bath, gaining a unique knowledge of the scientific development and clinical use of medicines, and preparing you for a career as a pharmacist.
Graduating with a University of Bath degree, you’ll be taught by Plymouth-based University of Bath academic and practice staff while living and learning in Plymouth. This course provides the opportunity to live and study in the vibrant and unique surroundings of Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City. The University of Plymouth is conveniently located near Derriford Hospital, the largest teaching hospital in Devon and Cornwall, and a wealth of healthcare providers across the South West. There are plenty of opportunities for placements nearby.
Find out more about studying our MPharm at the University of Plymouth.
Benefit from specialist facilities
Studying the MPharm at the University of Plymouth, you will be based in purpose-built facilities at the heart of campus. Plymouth is home to over 4,500 health and social care students in the Faculty of Health. The new pharmacy facilities are on the ground floor of the Nancy Astor Building, including practice-based and clinical teaching spaces, such as consultation rooms and simulation equipment.
Explore the campus on an open day at the University of Plymouth.
Put your learning into practice
As a highly patient focussed profession, we put great emphasis on regular patient contact and clinical placements. Starting from year one of our MPharm, you’ll benefit from our excellent connections on placements with major teaching hospitals, community pharmacies and GP practices. You will undertake Clinical Learning in Practice (CLIP) and clinical placements and these increase in volume as you progress through the course.
You'll also have inter-professional sessions with medical, nursing and dental students to build confidence in your professional practice role.
Undertake a research project in the UK or abroad
As part of the MPharm Pharmacy, you’ll undertake an extensive research project to develop your research skills, ensuring you graduate a well-rounded and highly employable graduate.
You’ll either work alongside researchers in the Department or internationally, on a 12-week placement with one of our partner organisations in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, or the USA. International placement opportunities are subject to availability.
Get ready for your future career
As a graduate of one of the top schools of pharmacy in the UK, you’ll be well-equipped for a rewarding career in pharmacy or pharmaceutical research. Our students are well prepared for and consistently perform well in the national NHS Oriel recruitment process for their Foundation Year place. Our graduates also consistently achieve high pass rates in the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Foundation Training assessment. In 2023, our students had a 96% pass rate in the GPhC pre-registration assessment, the highest pass rate in the UK.
Connect with future employers
We have excellent links with employers both locally in the South West of England and nationally.
Whether you want to go into a patient-facing clinical role or prefer the idea of research or drug development, you’ll benefit from our strong links with employers including many NHS providers and community pharmacy employers such as Day Lewis and Boots.
To become a practising pharmacist you will need to undertake a foundation year in practice and we will support you in finding the right training place for you.
