Our range of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units are open to eligible healthcare professionals and will help you improve your professional status and develop your career prospects.

CPD study features

• Each CPD unit lasts 11 weeks and you can study at your own pace with minimal time away from work.
• You will study units part-time by distance learning and will be supported by virtual learning environment resources and activities, including webinar and workshop sessions to support clinical skills.
• You will benefit from excellent support and learner networks with a user-friendly virtual learning environment.
• You will improve your clinical skills, broaden your knowledge and apply these effectively in your professional setting to deliver safer, patient-focused care.
• All of our units are created to meet workforce development needs and are closely linked to relevant professional frameworks.
• Academic credit is awarded on successful completion of assessment (full details of assessment method provided in unit descriptions below). Credits gained for units can be combined to contribute to a Certificate, Diploma or MSc award (pharmacists only – please see courses available and their entry requirements).

Please check our entry requirements for eligibility.

March 2025:

• Leadership in Health
• Mental Health
• Management of Minor Illnesses
• Cardiovascular Therapeutics
• Gastrointestinal Therapeutics

June 2025:

• Supporting Education & Training in Healthcare Contexts
• Palliative Care
• Care of the Elderly
• Neurology
• Surgery

For units focused on a specific clinical topic please ensure that you have access to a suitable clinical attachment. This does not have to be in a specialist setting but you will need to have appropriate patient contact for the 11-week duration of the unit. Attachments can be taken on a voluntary placement basis, for example, at weekends if necessary.

Please email ap3t@bath.ac.uk if you have any queries about attachments.

Candidates wishing to study CPD units on a stand-alone basis should have the following:

• First degree in a health-related or science subject. At the discretion of the Director of Studies, this can be waived if a candidate can demonstrate at least 3 years of work experience in a healthcare or industrial setting, or if you do not intend to undertake the assessment associated with the unit (i.e. no credits will be awarded).

• Be working in a UK-registered practice, with access to patient notes, if applicable. All non-pharmacist candidates must be registered with the appropriate regulatory body (e.g. RCN, GMC, etc.).

Please email ap3t@bath.ac.uk if you have any queries about your eligibility.

English Language requirements

If your first language is not English and you did not study your undergraduate degree at an approved English-speaking university, you will need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least 6.5 overall, with no less than 6 in all components.

Our next units will open in March. Please complete the additional sponsorship form when you submit your online application to be considered for a place.

March 2025 start

• Application deadline: midnight 23 February 2025.
• Self-directed online induction: 24 March – 4 April 2025.
• Unit start date: 7 April 2025.

June 2025

Applications will open in April, with units opening on 23 June 2025. Please check back shortly for the link to the application form.

• Short courses for pharmacy professionals

Low-cost short courses are ideal for qualified pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals with an interest in prescribing and therapeutics, looking for an introduction into further study at the University of Bath.

• Clinical Pharmacy Practice (Primary Care and Community)

Courses designed for pharmacists working in community pharmacy, primary care networks, general practice, community hospital and health and justice.

• Clinical Pharmacy Practice (Secondary Care)

Courses designed for pharmacists working in hospital settings.

• Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice MSc

An MSc course designed to equip pharmacists in patient-facing roles with the skills needed to become advanced practitioners in either primary or secondary care.