Pharmacy courses are always in demand, just like other popular courses like MBA and MS Chemistry in the UK. Whether you want to be a part of the pharmaceutical industry and help in drug development, work in a pharmacy to assist patients with medications, or study hospital pharmacy to assist doctors with the right kind of medicines, a pharmacy degree is always going to help you with that.
This article will provide you with the list of top colleges in the UK that provide courses on pharmaceutical science, eligibility, tuition fee etc. Continue reading to find out all the details to fulfil your dreams of studying pharmacy courses in the UK.
Where Can You Study Pharmacy in the UK?
There are plentiful courses in pharmaceutics provided by many top universities in the United Kingdom. Here are a few to get you started with:
University of Nottingham
According to the QS World University Rankings 2022, the University of Nottingham ranks 18th in the UK and 103th in the World. The University provides a 4-year course in MPharm. The course begins in September, and the tuition fee is around £26,500 per annum for international students.
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Entry Requirements
- IB score: 34
- A-Levels: AAB – must include chemistry and one more science A level from biology, maths or physics
- IELTS: 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element). Note: Other accepted English language tests include TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB, and O level English.
Admission Process
- The UCAS application and grades will be reviewed, and a set of shortlisted applicants will be selected and notified through email.
- The applicants will then be made to go through an interview through a multi-mini interview (MMI) format.
- A series of 5 minutes interviews will be conducted to test your communication skills, interest in pharmacy, discussion on ethical and professional values and how medicines work.
Other Requirements
- As a registered healthcare professional, you will be required to conduct yourself according to the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals and follow the fitness to practise procedures issued by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). All pharmacy graduates have to follow from the day they join the Nottingham school of pharmacy.
- International students have to submit a Certificate of Good Conduct and Character on registration.
University Of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked 90th in the QS World University Rankings 2022 and 14th amongst UK universities, making it one of the best schools of pharmacy in England. This University also provides a 4-year undergraduate degree in MPharm that begins in September. The tuition fee for international students is around £24,600 per annum, and they also provide scholarships and funding options for students.
Features of the Course
- The University is located in one of the largest health care regions in the UK, allowing you to come in contact with people from diverse communities and conditions.
- Students have the opportunity of studying along with students of other health service disciplines such as Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Biomedical Science.
- The University has exclusive relationships with two community pharmacies that provide placement opportunities and provide work experience to secure the pre-registration training year.
Eligibility Requirements
- A-Levels: AAB – Chemistry and at least one more science at A level from Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
- IB Score: 32
- IELTS Score: 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in any band
Admission Process
- All candidates will be shortlisted based on the above requirements and scores.
- The shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the school of pharmacy to ensure that their values and behaviours align with those of the profession and the National Health Service (NHS) Constitution for England.
- These panel interviews will take place online between November and April, and the whole interview session will be no longer than 45 minutes.
Other Requirements
- Selected candidates need to submit a health declaration form with a full nutrition profile and details of any ailment such as flu, asthma, etc.
- Students need to provide appropriate evidence of immunisation against rubella, measles, tuberculosis, and varicella.
- All students need to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
University of South Wales
The University of South Wales is one of the largest universities in the UK. It is located in the Cardiff region of Wales, the city that is the most affordable place for students. The university also offers generous scholarships of up to £2500 per annum of study.
The University provides an MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry for graduates of BSc Chemistry, BSc Pharmaceutical Science, or any other related subjects. The one year course begins in August each year and has a tuition fee of £14,700 for international students.
Eligibility Requirements
- BSc Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Science
- IELTS Score: 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component or equivalent
University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is located in one of the hottest cities in the UK, London. The university offers a 4-year course on MPharm, which covers the area of biological sciences, chemistry, and drug delivery. The course begins in September each year and has a tuition fee of £21,200 per annum.
Eligibility Requirements
- 128 UCAS points from A levels at ABB or above.
- GCSEs at a minimum of grade B in English and Mathematics
- IELTS Score: 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 7.0 in each component). Other English proficiency tests eligible include PTE, TOEFL, and CAE.
Queen’s University
The Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, is one of the most respected universities around the globe. This 4-year MPharm degree provided by the university is ranked 3rd in the UK according to The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. The tuition fee for international students of Masters in Pharmacy in UK is £22,000 per annum.
Eligibility Requirements
- A-Levels: AAB with A in Chemistry
- IB Score: 34 points
- Shortlisted candidates have to undergo an interview process
- IELTS score: 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each test component
Conclusion
The above requirements are the general qualifications required by most universities that offer pharmacy courses in the UK. If you need help with scholarships and funding for your UK dreams, be sure to check out Leapscholar’s scholarship page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What job opportunities are available after completing pharmacy courses in the UK?
Graduates of pharmacy courses in the UK gain a comprehensive set of skills, including drug discovery, pharmacy research, veterinary pharmacy, regulatory pharmacy, etc. So you can work in a wide range of roles such as pharmacists, assistant pharmacists or pharmacy technicians in community, hospital or clinical pharmacy.
How much is the salary for graduates of pharmacy courses in the UK?
Pharmacy technicians and any other graduates of Pharmacology earn an average salary of £22,000 during their Foundation Training year. This can increase on average to up to £32,000 for a newly registered pharmacist.
Can you start working as soon as you complete pharmacy courses in the UK?
To become a qualified pharmacist in the UK takes a minimum of 5 years:
A. Students need to complete a 4-year MPharm degree.
B. A year of pre-registration training in which a candidate is under observation in paid employment in a community or hospital pharmacy.Â
C. The candidate needs to complete the GPhC’s registration exam.Â
D. The candidate has to meet the fitness to practise requirements for registration as a pharmacist.
