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Pharmacy MPharm

2024-25 (also available for 2025-26)

It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

4 years full-time

Places available (subject to change)

80

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. This course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), meaning you're taking the first steps toward becoming a legally qualified pharmacist.
  2. Your learning will take place in facilities and labs such as our formulation lab and purpose-built pharmacy practice suite.
  3.  Apply the practical and professional skills you'll need to launch your career with work based placements in a range of healthcare settings.

Pharmacy is a rewarding career, especially for those who enjoy helping other people maintain their health and wellness. A Pharmacy MPharm degree can kickstart your educational journey to becoming a pharmacist. Throughout your studies you’ll gain a solid understanding of chemistry and other organic sciences, medicines and drug development, medical pharmacology, and human physiology and pathology. Your classroom knowledge will also be supplemented with practical pharmaceutical experience.

As a graduate of this advanced course, you'll be well prepared to enter foundation year training, leading to registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which will aid you in your journey to becoming a qualified pharmacist in the UK.

Additionally, this course prepares you for other pharmacy-related careers in drug discovery, clinical trials, research and teaching, and medical sales and marketing.

Why study Pharmacy MPharm

Accredited by the GPhC, this course aims to give you a strong foundational knowledge of the pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice. Your studies will take place in our purpose-built formulation laboratory and pharmacy practice suite, where you can put theory to practice and build up your practical pharmacy skills. You’ll have the chance to hone and develop your research skills in the third year of the course. By your final year, you’ll take modules to help prepare you to make the transition into becoming a registered pharmacist following your foundation year training.

You’ll be taught by subject experts and practising pharmacists. The University’s excellent local links with the health service mean you will be up to date on the latest pharmacy developments, and you’ll also be able to work with many other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team.

Mandatory work placements throughout the course will also enhance your pharmacy education, provide relevant real-world experience, and build your confidence as a budding pharmacist. Placements are offered in a range of different healthcare settings off campus, including community, general practice, and hospital roles.

Not quite ready to start on the Pharmacy MPharm degree? Successful completion of our Science Extended Degree will equip you with the foundational knowledge to prepare you for the Pharmacy MPharm course, with modules in biology, chemistry, maths and physics, scientific investigations and science skills.

Course detail

Core modules:

Pharmacy Practice 1

This module introduces you to the practice of pharmacy, the role of the pharmacist in society and as a member of the healthcare team, and highlights issues related to ‘Health and Illness.’ In accordance with the annual theme “Foundations of Pharmacy,” you'll be introduced to the dispensing of medicines with respect to the underpinning skills, pharmaceutical legislation and ethics. You will also be introduced to the concept of self-care and the process of differential diagnosis with emphasis on the treatment of minor self-limiting illnesses such as coughs and colds. As well as this, you'll be introduced to the concept of prescribing and, at this stage, learning what this is and how this will impact your roles as future prescribers. You will also learn the basics around writing a prescription as well as learning the legal, clinical and terms of services requirements of NHS prescriptions. Pharmacy placement visits will provide you with the opportunity to become familiar with the practice of pharmacy in both hospital and community pharmacy environments.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry 1

This module will lay the foundations for the study of those aspects of chemistry that are necessary in order to understand the science behind the discovery and use of medicines of chemical synthetic and natural origin. The importance of physicochemical principles and the use of physical and chemical tests and analytical methods (principles, design, development and application) will include an introduction to infra-red, ultra-violet and mass spectrometry and also NMR. In the second half of the module, the chemistry and properties of the principal functional groups will be considered to highlight how physical, chemical and drug properties can be predicted. Science will be clearly linked to practice examples.

Human Physiology and Pathology

All the major organs of the body will be covered together with models of normal and abnormal bodily function. Emphasis will be directed to the concept of homeostasis and the integration of dynamic processes involved in the maintenance of health. Laboratory practical classes will allow the development of clinical skills from the use of human participants.

Formulation and Compounding of Medicines

​This module introduces you to the underpinning physical pharmaceutics and the skills appropriate for the formulation and compounding of medicines prepared extemporaneously. You'll be introduced to a range of dosage forms and will have the opportunity to demonstrate how the science behind pharmacy is applied in the discovery, design and development of formulations. You'll also have the chance to adopt best practice in the preparation of a range of extemporaneous preparations including sourcing formulae, performing calculations and record keeping.

Scientific Basis of Drug Action

​This module will provide an introduction to drug action in the body including their molecular and cellular targets, it will also provide an introduction to basic pharmacokinetics. The structure and function of biological macromolecules that interact with drugs, for example enzymes, receptors and membrane transporters will be outlined. DNA replication, transcription and translation will be covered. A basic introduction to innate and adaptive immunity will also be given. Drugs used for treating inherited diseases and disorders of the gastrointestinal system, skin, musculoskeletal system as well as for the eye, ear, nose and throat will be considered as these are referred to in dealing with minor ailments in the modules Pharmacy Practice 1 and Formulation and Compounding of Medicine.

This module structure will change as the new GPhC standards for initial education and training of pharmacists are implemented nationally.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for the course are normally one of the following:

  • ABB-BBB which must include A Levels in Chemistry and at least one further science subject from Biology, Maths or Physics. The endorsement for practical work is an essential part of Science A Level study, and is a requirement for entry to our degree course.
  • DDD in RQF BTEC National Extended Diploma in Applied Science (assessed by written examinations and coursework) with a minimum of four Chemistry or Biology units at Distinction.
  • DDD in QCF BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science (assessed by coursework) with a minimum of four Chemistry or Biology units at Distinction. Applicants taking this BTEC Qualification must also achieve a grade B in A level Chemistry or Biology.
  • If you are studying an Access to Higher Education Diploma please contact the Admissions Tutor who will give you advice about your application.
  • 136 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications, including Higher Level Chemistry at grade 6 and Higher Level Mathematics and Biology at grade 6 and 5 (in any order).
  • In addition, you must have 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C including Maths and English. For applicants not taking A levels, this must also include GCSE Chemistry and Biology or GCSE Double Award Science/Double Science/Combined Science.

Applicants are invited to participate in either a face to face interview or an online interview. Read our guidance for more information.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Science Extended Degree (BCF0).

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 7.0 overall with no element lower than 6.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

If you are reapplying to Pharmacy then please contact the Admissions Tutor to discuss.

If you have any health concerns that may affect your ability to be a pharmacist then you should read the national minimum standards. Please contact the Admissions Tutor for any further advice.

​A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check takes place as part of enrolment, this is a compulsory requirement for entry onto this course. As part of this check you are required to have your identification documents verified by the Post Office. There is a charge for this, payable at the point of verification at the Post Office, which you are required to pay (usually around £10). The University will pay for the full DBS check, you are not required to pay for this. Relevant offences disclosed by the DBS will be taken into account regarding your suitability to undertake this course. Once your place is confirmed, you will be required to complete a health check questionnaire. If you have not completed courses of all relevant vaccinations you will be advised to do so. Occasionally these may be chargeable by your doctor. If there are any further medical reports required you may incur additional costs.

Please note that placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course.

Meet our students


Jamie is studying Pharmacy MPharm at the University of Huddersfield. Watch Jamie's film to get an overview of the facilities available to Jamie on his course. Jamie also describes the opportunities his course provides for work placements and believes placements are one of the best ways to learn. 

Placements


As a pharmacy student you are required to take part in work based placements throughout the course. Placements are organised to offer a wide range of opportunities in different healthcare settings.

Whilst some of the placements are in Huddersfield you will also be expected to travel to the surrounding towns and cities to experience different settings.

Most students travel by public transport but some also take part in car sharing.

Whilst on placement and during professional activities you will be expected to wear business dress, so you will need to have at least one professional outfit.

I’ve gained experience in both community and hospital settings, as well as other healthcare professionals such as the University’s podiatry clinic. This gave me insight into multidisciplinary team work and helped me to decide which setting I prefer.

Farwah-Bukhari-(2)

Farwah Bukhari, Pharmacy MPharm

Your career


In order to become a legally qualified pharmacist in the UK, you must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Membership is granted to graduates with a degree in pharmacy from an approved UK university. This is conditional upon successfully completing a foundation training year at an approved establishment and passing the GPhC Registration Exam.

The foundation training year can involve hospital, community, general practice and industry settings. If you're considering hospital or community pharmacy the training is usually 12 months. If you're considering the pharmaceutical industry, the training is 6 months combined with 6 months in either hospital or community pharmacy.

You can find out more about careers in Pharmacy on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society website and registration requirements from the General Pharmaceutical Council.

In addition to working as a practising pharmacist, as a graduate of this course you may consider a career in drug discovery, formulation, analysis and quality control, clinical trials, patents, medical journalism, regulatory affairs, medical sales and marketing, research and teaching.

*90% of graduates from this course were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes 20/21, UK Domiciled).

90% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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