The School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences is now approved to deliver a 12 month MSc OSPAP degree. This full time post-graduate degree builds upon the accredited PgDip OSPAP and additionally enables students to acquire Masters level attributes including the skills and knowledge base required to complete a research dissertation in an area of pharmacy.
In 2006, Robert Gordon University was the first Scottish Institution to be accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain for the provision of a PgDip for Overseas Pharmacists Assessment Programme (PgDip OSPAP). In September 2010 the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was replaced by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and it is this professional body which now accredits the PgDip OSPAP.
Graduates from the PgDip OSPAP programme complete their pharmacy pre-registration training year in either community pharmacy or NHS hospital pharmacy sectors and experience excellent UK pharmacy career opportunities.
Graduates of the MSc OSPAP degree are eligible to apply for entry to the pharmacy pre-registration training scheme.
This course aims to ensure that you learn to think in a critical and reflective manner, providing teaching and assessment methods which enhance awareness of the practical relevance of the subject.
This course will provide a sound education and training, both theoretical and practical enabling students to appreciate and apply new knowledge and technology to the benefit of patients and the future development of pharmacy.
The MSc OSPAP programme comprises six modules of study and a wide range of study methods are used, including lectures, group tutorials, practicals, experiential placements, web-based learning and clinical teaching sessions. The module content of the degree is summarised below.
The MSc award requires completion of a total of 180 credits, Scottish Credit Qualification Framework level 11 studied over 1 year.
There is the option to leave after 9 months with the intermediate qualification of PgDip which requires completion of 120 credits at SCQF level 11.
Graduates of either programme are eligible to apply for entry to a GPhC approved pharmacy pre-registration traineeship.
This dissertation activity is underpinned by training in research methods and requires the completion of a research project in an area of pharmacy. It requires a programme of full time study across semester 3.
More detailed information on the modules studied can be found on the Course Information Database.
We pride ourselves on providing an integrated and supportive learning experience. Through our virtual learning environment CampusMoodle you will receive support materials and find directed study for each of the OSPAP modules.
You will be supported by subject specialist e-tutors whose role is to enhance the programme delivery. You will also be assigned a personal tutor who is there to provide pastoral support. Our OSPAP students also have access to online e-mentors who themselves have successfully completed the OSPAP programme.
An undergraduate degree in Pharmacy comparable to those in the UK is required and you must also be registered or eligible to register as a pharmacist overseas. Entrants to the programme must have been approved by the Adjudicating Committee of the RPSGB or GPhC for entry to an overseas pharmacists assessment programme.
Overseas students are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language and must attain a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 in the academic test (with a minimum score of 7 in each category being achieved at the same sitting).
Placements
The course contains a range of organised experiential placements in a variety of settings including primary care, NHS hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry.
Accreditations
The Postgraduate Diploma Overseas Pharmacists Assessment Programme (OSPAP) will meet part of the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council of Great Britain for registration of overseas pharmacists. Candidates who successfully complete an accredited OSPAP are then required to undertake 12 months pharmacy pre-registration training. Following this training period OSPAP graduates are required to sit and pass the professional body registration examination in order to practise pharmacy in the UK.
OSPAP Merit Scholarships
For Academic Year 2012/2013
UK/EU Students
International Students
For Academic Year 2011/2012
UK/EU Students
International Students
All course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.
For further information see Student Finance pages
The MSc /Pg Dip OSPAP course is only open to applicants who have:
Further details of that stage of the process can be found at their website:
Candidates deemed eligible by the GPhC Adjudicating Committee for entry to an OSPAP should contact the OSPAP Administrator for an application pack.
For further information regarding UK pharmacy and GPhC regulations of traineeship and professional registration please visit the website
Induction information and further details of this course can be found on the OSPAP web pages.
