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Huddersfield University Campus

Pharmacy MPharm

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Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

4 years full-time

UCAS Tariff

136


Recent Awards For Excellence

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About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • This course aims to give you a strong foundational knowledge of pharmaceutical science and pharmacy practice.
  • Our Pharmacy MPharm degree can kickstart your educational journey to becoming a pharmacist.
  • Your classroom knowledge will be supplemented with practical pharmaceutical experience.

Accreditation and Professional Links

Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate. Read More

Pharmacy is a rewarding career, especially for those who enjoy helping other people maintain their health and wellness. 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.

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).

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.

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

Career opportunities after the course *

Pharmacists

Hospital Pharmacists

Research Scientists

Community Pharmacists

Resident Pharmacists

*Lightcast

Who can apply?

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.
  • D*D*D* 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.
  • D*D*D* 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.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 level 3 credits at Distinction. This must be in a relevant subject: Access to Science, Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy.
  • 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.

Applicants are permitted only one interview attempt per admissions cycle. If an applicant attends an interview and does not meet the required standard, a second interview cannot be offered within the same cycle (academic year). Applicants who wish to be reconsidered must submit a new UCAS application for entry in the following year.

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 International Entry Requirements page.

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.

​You need satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances prior to registration on the course. We arrange these as part of the application process. The University will pay for the full DBS check, you are not required to pay for this. You'll be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year and at the end of the course. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination of your registration. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.

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.

What will you learn?

Course Details

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

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.

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.

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.

​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.

​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 builds on the pharmaceutics provided in the year one ‘Formulation and Compounding of Medicines’ module. The module teaches the technical aspects important in dosage form design. The students will also be introduced to the pharmaceutical dosage form design of tablets and capsules and gain an understanding of biopharmaceutics together with an appreciation of bioequivalence which supports the choice of medicines for a patient.

​This module develops your knowledge of the practice of pharmacy, the role of the pharmacist in society and their role as a member of the healthcare team and highlights issues related to ‘Health and Illness.’ Pharmacists contribution to public health is a significant theme and you'll have the chance to develop your communication skills with the public and external public health agencies. You'll also have the opportunity to progress in the dispensing of medicines with respect to controlled drugs, varied prescription types and person centered consultation skills, pharmaceutical legislation and ethics. You'll develop 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. Professional and ethical responsibilities around prescribing will be explored including for minor ailments and implications of near patient testing. Pharmacy placement visits will provide you with the opportunity to become familiar with the practice of pharmacy in a variety of workplace environments.

The module will provide an in-depth account of drugs that are used to treat disorders of some of the complex systems not covered in Scientific Basis of Drug Action You'll have the opportunity to study in detail the principles of pharmacology, which underlie the rational use of therapeutic agents in the management of chronic disease of the cardiovascular, endocrine and respiratory systems as well as common antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal agents. The module completes your understanding of basic pharmacokinetics.

​This module will provide a thorough understanding of the relevant basic chemical science that will enable you to use your knowledge base to build your understanding of the synthesis, metabolism and analysis of drugs.

This module provides an understanding of the main groups of disease causing microorganisms, experience with the manipulation and growth of microorganisms, an understanding of the major microbial infections and the pharmaceutical approaches available for their control, which is in line with the theme for this year in understanding how medicines work.

​The aim of this Pharmacology module is to introduce you to the mechanisms of action of drugs used to treat diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and cancer. You will learn about the underlying disease processes involved in the development of CNS disorders and then study their pharmacological management. You will also learn about the biological basis of the mechanisms underpinning the development of cancer and then the drugs used to treat cancer. You will also learn about drug testing, chemosensitivity and pharmacokinetics. CNS topics will include depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, pain, and drug addiction. Cancer topics will include the hallmarks of cancer, the mechanisms of action of cytotoxic and targeted anti-cancer therapeutics, anti-cancer drug discovery and anti-cancer drug resistance. Pharmacokinetics will cover dosing for drugs with non-linear pharmacokinetics, one-compartment and two-compartment model drugs.

This module highlights the concepts, philosophy and ethos of using research to provide evidence of best practice. You'll have the chance to gain an appreciation of the use of literature searching and how your review of this literature generates and consolidates a hypothesis. You'll gain an insight into different research methodologies so you can design research studies and will be provided with methods on how to interpret your data (with a focus on statistical tests). In addition, you will present your research portfolio in an oral presentation. There will be a combination of lectures and workshops that will include data handling and analysis

​This module provides the core of the third year of the Pharmacy MPharm degree and supports this significant stage in your professional development by providing you with the knowledge and skills to deliver pharmaceutical care and to apply your knowledge to patient care. This module provides the basic components of prescribing , clinical evaluation of prescriptions and patients by covering long term conditions in primary care, advanced services in community pharmacy and acutely sick and clinically complex individual prescriptions in hospital practice. You'll be exposed to therapeutic uncertainty and how to make complex decisions. There is a high practical component to equip you for your foundation year and beyond. The preparation of individualised medicine (aseptic dispensing) is an important part of the module and both veterinary and alternative therapies are also featured.

This module will extend your understanding of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics and relevance to an extended range of dosage forms. Formulation approaches to targeting the different routes of delivery (buccal, colon, rectal, nasal, ophthalmic, pulmonary and transdermal) will also be covered. The structure and the nature of the barrier properties of the tissue will be discussed in terms of the advantages afforded by delivery to the site and strategies for maximising absorption. The design, manufacture and performance of modified release drug dosage forms and factors governing release kinetics from reservoir, osmotic and monolithic systems and mathematical calculations will be covered. Pharmaceutical analysis techniques (thermal, and rheological analyses) are also covered along with release testing, UV analysis, aerosol testing and particle sizing.

This module has a strong emphasis on preparing you to make the transition to practice. The module content completes the underpinning knowledge and skills to prepare you for foundation year training. Alongside the knowledge, the learning reflects the necessary skills which will act as pre-cursors for the General Level Framework for Pharmacist Development thus supporting the link between training and practice. The module includes clinical problem solving alongside leadership skills and an update on issues of current debate in the profession of pharmacy, health and social policy and NHS structure and organisation. You are also exposed to ethical issues around prescribing such as: online prescriptions, scope of prescribing, prescribing and dispensing, establishing competence in under age patients. The module is delivered around the three themes of: 1) Legal, ethical and professional decision making; 2) Leading oneself and others and 3) Medicines from the population level.

This module will focus on a life course approach to health and the use of medicines, particularly as they relate to common long-term conditions. It will promote the application of an integrated knowledge base, and an understanding of the way that people view and use medicines, to inform shared decision-making and problem-solving with individual patients and their caregivers. It will consider the '4 Ps' relevant to any holistic examination of a therapeutic situation – the impact and intersection of people, places, policies and pharmaceuticals. You'll have the opportunity to develop and consolidate your clinical pharmacy and critical evaluation skills through work on diverse case studies and commonly encountered scenarios.

The aim of this module is to provide an in-depth appreciation of all the stages from new drug identification to bringing a drug to the market and beyond, with an emphasis on biotechnology-based products. It is divided into two integrated streams, the first being drug design. Students will gain a critical appreciation of drug design and methods of discovery (chemical synthetic, biotechnological, mineral and plant origin and other natural sources). Drug development will include pre-clinical, clinical and post-marketing surveillance aspects. The incorporation of advanced drug delivery strategies into current practice and future directions will be covered in detail.. Material will illustrate the influence the drug development and delivery bears on the armaments available to healthcare practitioners to treat disease. Students will be expected to integrate and apply their knowledge and skills in the development of their own formulation supported by representatives from the pharmaceutical industry.

An introduction to precision medicine including pharmacogenomics, which will be extended to an in-depth appreciation on how genetic variations are inherited and can be applied to pharmacogenomic analysis, i.e. how genetic variations affect human drug response and how this area is important to pharmacists, in particular looking to where future and current systems for medicines prescribing incorporate pharmacogenomics data. The pharmacogenomics of individual drugs will be explored using both virtual case studies and active systems including those currently integrated into the NHS, where multidisciplinary teams/stakeholders are involved. The module will also explore the application of biomarkers, including pharmacogenomic biomarkers, to stratified or personalised medicine. Both pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics influences of drugs will be covered, such as inter-patient variation in the expression of drug metabolising and activating enzymes; as well as differences in the expression of drug targets such as receptors, enzymes and transporters. Bioinformatics will be explored through the understanding of the development of the Human Genome Project (HGP) and its relevance to ‘OMIC’ technologies (genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics) and Next Generation Sequencing technologies. In addition, different model systems that are used to identify and develop biomarkers and drug target identification will be covered.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, you’ll study the award-winning Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* — so you’re ready for the career you want, whatever subject you choose.

Interested in a placement?

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
Pharmacy Mpharm

Where could this lead you?

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.
You can find out more about careers in Pharmacy on the [Royal Pharmaceutical Society] (http://www.rpharms.com/pharmacycareers) website and registration requirements from the [General Pharmaceutical Council] (https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/registration).
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.

80%
Students were employed or in further study within 15 months after graduation.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22, UK Domiciled.

89.6%
Participants from the school of Applied Sciences agreed learning resources were high quality.

* National Student Survey (NSS), 2025.

100%
We’re ranked 1st in Yorkshire and the Humber for Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

* Guardian League Tables, 2026.

I am incredibly passionate about pharmacy and its role in caring for and improving patients' lives. The quality of my Pharmacy MPharm course at the University of Huddersfield was incredible and helped prepare me for the big world that is pharmacy. I fully enjoyed my time at Huddersfield.

- Rachelle Sayers
Graduated Pharmacy MPharm 2020, now a Rotational Band 6 Pharmacist in an NHS Hospital.

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£9,790 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£21,000 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

You need satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances prior to registration on the course. We arrange these as part of the application process. The University will pay for the full DBS check, you are not required to pay for this. You'll be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year and at the end of the course. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination of your registration. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.

As part of the health screening process you will need to provide up to date documentation of your vaccine history, which must include a record of your MMR vaccinations. Prospective students are strongly advised to check their vaccination status in good time. If vaccination is required, the applicant will be required to arrrange this independently for which a cost may be incurred.

All pharmacy students attend work-based placements. We aim to offer these within a reasonable commuting distance of Huddersfield. We do not charge for placements but you may incur some travel costs.

We provide students protective clothing, and access to the electronic resources necessary for study and practice. Most assessed work is submitted electronically at no cost to students.

Scholarships and Bursaries

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Tuition Fee Loans

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What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

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Why Hud

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Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

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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.

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Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Pharmacy may teach you on this course.

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Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

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Further Study

If you want to continue your learning beyond your undergraduate degree, there is a range of financial support available for postgraduate study, including discounts for Huddersfield graduates.

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