The role of the modern pharmacist has expanded greatly in recent years, making it a hugely varied and rewarding profession.

Pharmacists advise on and deliver the latest in cutting-edge treatments and medicines to millions of patients every day. Whether working on the frontline of the NHS as a community pharmacist or on a hospital ward, in a GP practice, in research or industry, pharmacista are an integral part of the healthcare team. Pharmacy offers a challenging and patient-focused career path.

Our course produces effective practitioners with the knowledge and skills to deliver the very best pharmaceutical care for patients underpinned by sound scientific principles. This is achieved through a student-centred approach, developing you as a life-long learner and reflective practitioner. An emphasis is placed on inter-professional learning where you will learn with and from other professions such as medicine, dentistry, nursing and allied healthcare professions.

You will develop an understanding of how the body works; the effects of disease; how drugs are made, delivered to and affect the body; and importantly, how to achieve shared decision making with patients that ensures the maximum benefit from medicines with the minimum incidence of side effects.

This course is ranked joint 1st in the UK for overall student satisfaction, 99%, according to Unistats - the official website of UK higher education course data.

Facilities

You will benefit from studying in our new purpose-built facilities, particularly our Pharmacy Simulation Centre. The modern, state-of-the–art chemistry, formulation, biomedical and microbiological laboratories will allow you to develop the fundamental scientific skills which underpin modern pharmacy practice.

Our course has three strands: The Pharmacist, The Patient, The Medicine, which are introduced separately and then become increasingly interlinked and developed over four years. The emphasis is on preparing graduates for a profession undergoing change, and to reflect the need for continuing professional development and life-long learning.

Development of generic transferable skills, including numeracy, communication, IT and presentation skills, is an embedded element within all of the taught subjects and reflective practice is undertaken through the use of a personal development e-portfolio.

Year 1

The emphasis is on fundamental science relevant to pharmacy whilst the skills required to complete the course are introduced. An insight into the profession of pharmacy covering the drug journey from discovery to pharmaceutical care and prescribing is offered.

Year 2

The science becomes more applied with the study of biochemistry, therapeutics, pharmaceutical microbiology and the design and manufacture of medicines and their supply within a professional and legal framework.

Year 3

The emphasis shifts from science to professional practice and therapeutics, whilst still ensuring a strong science basis. All students are introduced to the skills necessary to conduct a research project and apply them to a group mini-project and literature review of the area in which they will carry out an individual research project in the final year.

Year 4

Students are trained in the skills necessary for the developing demands of the profession in the years ahead by an integrated approach to pharmaceutical care, public health, professional service development and practice including prescribing, and undertake an individual research project.

SQA Higher: AABB to include Chemistry plus two further sciences from Maths, Physics or Biology (Human Biology) at Grade B or above at first sitting. Higher English should be achieved at a minimum of Grade C plus Standard Grade Maths at Credit Level if not at Higher.

GCE A Level: ABB to include Grade B in Chemistry plus one further science from Maths, Physics or Biology (Human Biology) at Grade B or above at first sitting. English must be achieved at GCSE Grade B or above and Maths at GCSE Grade B or above if not at A level.

Irish Leaving Certificate Higher: AAB1B1B2 to include Chemistry plus two further sciences from Maths, Physics or Biology (Human Biology) at Grade B1 or above at first sitting. English must be achieved at a minimum of B3.

IB Diploma: 32 to include HL Chemistry at Grade 6, one further science (or Maths) at HL Grade 5 and a written subject at HL Grade 5. One further science (or Maths) must also be achieved at SL Grade 6.

English Language Qualification: All applicants whose first language is not English are required to have an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score if 7.0 in all elements or an appropriate equivalent.

Alternative Qualifications: Equivalent overseas qualifications, SQA, BTEC, S/NVQs and some Access programmes will be considered. Graduates with a 2:1 or above in an appropriate discipline will be considered for entry.

Additional Information: Applicants should note that General Pharmaceutical Council Fitness to Practise regulations apply to pharmacy students. Offers of a place on the MPharm course are subject to compliance with these regulations and a satisfactory Good Health and Good Character declaration. Home UK students will be required to complete Standard Disclosure Scotland. EU or overseas students will need to obtain their country’s equivalent (such as police verification of good conduct) prior to commencing the MPharm at Robert Gordon University. More information about Fitness to Practice.

* All entry requirements listed here should be used as a guide and represent the minimum required to be considered for entry. Applicants who are made a conditional offer of a place may be asked to achieve more than is stated.

Placement

Placements take place in a variety of settings, both on and off campus, where you will have the opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge acquired in the course. These interactions with experienced pharmacists, other healthcare professionals and patients will allow you to develop your professional skills including reflective practice through the use of an e-portfolio.

Find out more about Health Professions Placements & Professional Links

Professional Accreditation

The course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council. Therefore on graduation, provided you comply with Fitness to Practise requirements (www.rgu.ac.uk/pharmacy/ftp) you will be eligible to undertake a pre-registration year. At the end of this you will have to demonstrate various competencies and pass a registration assessment to be eligible to register as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

If you are a Scottish resident or EU national you are not liable to pay fees and should apply to SAAS for funding.

Students from other parts of the UK should visit the appropriate website:

• England - http://www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk/
• Wales - http://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/
• Northern Ireland - http://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/

Scholarships

• Information on Laboratory, Biomedical & Sports Sciences Scholarships

All course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change. Published fees apply to the course's mode of delivery.

All full-time undergraduate course applications to Robert Gordon University must be made through UCAS at www.ucas.com/students/apply.

It is important that you keep track of your application process using the UCAS website, as it will update you on whether you have been offered a place from the University. It is also where you should respond to offers and receive confirmation of your place within your chosen course, rather than contacting the institution in the first instance.

Pharmacists have wide and varied career options. You may focus on a clinical career and progress as a hospital clinical pharmacist, or work in a community pharmacy. You may train and register as a non-medical prescriber, follow a management career route either within the NHS, industry or a community pharmacy company, or work in research or academia. Or you could follow a career in a more unusual area such as veterinary pharmacy, regulation, the military or health journalism. Additional postgraduate qualifications could allow you to become an advanced practitioner in an area of specialist practice. Whichever you choose the challenges are enjoyable and the rewards are high.