The Independent Prescribing unit takes place over six months and includes a series of compulsory workshops, please note that attendance at these workshops is mandatory (GPhC accreditation requirement) and non-attendance/partial attendance will result in failure of the course. Applicants are expected to ensure they are available for all days before submitting their application. Workshop dates for each cohort are given below.

Applications for the 2024/25 year will open shortly.

If you are considering applying for an Independent Prescribing place in October 2024 We are anticipating funding to be available to support learners in Independent Prescribing in England. We are not planning to open applications until we have received clarity on any funding arrangements. However, in order to help you prepare for an application to Independent Prescribing, please note the following requirements at the point of application:

• You must provide the details of a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to this role, and that DPP should be aware that they will need to provide details themselves to the University
• You must have two references (If you have a CPPE confirmation of funding this will count as an academic reference)
• Copy of Undergraduate Degree Certificate, Essential Information Form, proof of English language competence (if applicable) and visa documentation (if applicable)

Hybrid cohorts will be delivered using blended learning including some face-to-face workshops on the Bath campus, and the virtual cohorts will be delivered online.

Your university registration will commence prior to the first workshops, to allow you to orientate yourself to our online resources.

Course features

• Blended delivery: you will attend workshops with your fellow learners as well as having your learning in practice supported by our multi-professional team and the resources available via our online learning environment.

• Excellent academic and pastoral support from our dedicated teaching team.

• General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) accredited: successful completion will allow you to apply for annotation as Independent Prescriber on the General Pharmaceutical Council register.

• Award of 30 academic credits (CATS credits), which can be used to contribute to a range of academic awards with us including Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

• Nominate your own clinical area of focus for the unit (you should have some existing expertise relevant to your selected topic).

• After completing the prescribing unit you can further develop your skills by taking our follow-on Advanced Clinical Assessment unit.

The workshop dates are planned as below, but in exceptional circumstances may need to change. We would always aim to give you as much notice as possible for any changes.

Workshop dates: October 2024 start (Remote)

• Workshop days 1 & 2 (Induction): 7 & 8 November 2024 (Remote)
• Workshop day 3: 5 December 2024 (Remote)
• Workshop day 4: 9 January 2025 (Remote)
• Workshop day 5: 30 January 2025 (Remote)
• Workshop day 6: 26 February 2025 (Remote)
• Workshop day 7: 20 March 2025 (Remote)
• Workshop day 8 (Assessment): 8 May 2025 (Remote)

Deadline for applications: Opening shortly.

Workshop dates: October 2024 start (Hybrid)

• Workshop days 1 & 2 (Induction): 4 & 6 November 2024 (Remote)
• Workshop day 3: 2 December 2024 (Remote)
• Workshop day 4: 6 January 2025 (face to face)
• Workshop day 5: 27 January 2025 (Remote)
• Workshop day 6: 24 February 2025 (face to face)
• Workshop day 7: 17 March 2025 (face to face)
• Workshop day 8 (Assessment): 7 May 2025 (face to face)

Deadline for applications: Opening shortly.

Applications for the October 2024 intake for Independent Prescribing are opening shortly. At present, there is no information on NHSE funding for 2024/25. Details of future intakes will be published here as soon as further information is available.

• Applicants for the October 2024 cohorts will be notified of the decision of the University as soon as possible before the start of the course. No application decisions will be made until after the application portal has closed. We are currently accredited for up to 40 students per cohort.

• Applicants are responsible for finding their own Designated Prescribing Practitioner.

Application process

There is an additional essential information form that is required, as well as the online application. The form must be submitted for you to be considered for a place.

We will review all applications in line with the selection criteria detailed below. We reserve the right to close applications early without notice based on demand. In the case of places being over-subscribed we may need to interview applicants and would let you know about arrangements for this as soon as possible.

We will prioritise as follows:

• In order of date and time the application is made
• Existing award students (see below)
• In order of the application being completed in full with the DPP form completed by the DPP, and all required forms and references uploaded to the application portal
• NHSE funded applicants if available
• Training environment (DPP commitment to support in practice, description of specialism, plan for completion of mandatory clinical practice hours and identified clinical need/future role
• Previous experience of postgraduate study

Fees and funding

Go to our fees pages for more information on fees and how to pay them.

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) requirements

• Have current registration with the GPhC Pharmacy Regulator or PSNI as a pharmacist
• Disclose any current or pending formal investigations into your practice or any pending issues that may affect your future ability to practice. The application form provides space to notify the Director of Studies that you have an issue to discuss.
• Have an identified area of prescribing practice and a clinical setting in which to develop these skills.
• Have identified an appropriate clinician to act as your Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP). Download our guide with more information about the role of a DPP.

English language requirements

Those applicants whose first language is not English, they must be able to demonstrate a satisfactory level of both spoken and written English. This will take the form of scores of at least 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each component of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), a score of at least 79 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT, or a formal waiver of English language requirements by the Admissions tutor after demonstration of long-standing English language competence in a professional environment.

Values Based Recruitment

If you are working in or plan to work in the NHS, we follow the NHS Values Based Recruitment Guidance. We strongly believe in the NHS values and will be looking for them in our applicants.