Intro

Our MPharm programme is taught through a series of case studies that apply what you learn to real life scenarios by bringing together the science of pharmacy with the needs of the patient.

Placements in either community or hospital settings in each year of the course prepare you for work as a patient-focussed professional. You’ll benefit from inter-professional learning opportunities through close links with Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and learning informed by research and clinical practice.

You’ll undertake a research project alongside our researchers, who are leading the development of innovative biomedical products and pioneering new approaches to regenerative medicine and the treatment of cancer, asthma, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

This course offers a guaranteed interview scheme with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) for students who want to pursue a degree in medicine. See the careers and employability section for more information about entry and eligibility criteria.

Important information for international students

All international students who graduate with an MPharm from a UK university must apply for a visa in order to work in the UK (ie to undertake their pre-registration training).

For more details, see the Information for international students tab in the Course content section below.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code B230

Full-time 4 years

Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Closed for 2022

This course is closed for applications for 2022 entry. UCAS opens for 2023 applications in May 2022.

Course content

Course structure

Our MPharm course has moved away from a modular approach and been carefully structured to integrate chemistry, pharmaceutics, microbiology, physiology, pharmacology and health psychology with the practice of pharmacy in providing the best care for patients. This is achieved in a case-based manner so you can see the science behind patient care as immediately relevant.

In addition to undertaking placements, you benefit from early involvement with continuing professional development (CPD) via reflective entries in a personal e-portfolio.

The course is delivered through a mixture of lectures, laboratory classes, workshops and tutorials. Assessment involves lab reports, written exams, oral presentations, logbooks, portfolios, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and peer assessment.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, we will inform you of any improvements or innovations to the curriculum through Student View.

Pharmacy students working together

 

Year 1

Your first year consists of 10 cases specifically designed to allow you to gain an understanding of minor ailments and their treatments using medicines that can be purchased from a community pharmacy. Cases cover subjects such as digestive ailments, skin conditions and eye conditions. Your learning will be supported by a placement in a community pharmacy.

Modules

  • Integrated Pharmaceutical Knowledge Attributes and Skills 1

    In this module you will bring together the skills, attributes and knowledge learnt across your year 1 cases. The module focuses on your development of appropriate study skills, professionalism, communication skills, pharmaceutical numeracy and aspects of pharmaceutical practice, including reflective practice.

  • Introductory Pharmacy 1

    This module will introduce you to pharmacy, including the place of pharmacists in the healthcare system. Underpinning this will be an understanding of fundamental chemical and microbiological principles integrating them into the practice of pharmacy.

  • Introductory Pharmacy 2

    In this module you will explore the areas of pharmaceutical sciences: cell biology; pharmacology; and pharmaceutical practice, by studying cases on lung cancer, pain, health during pregnancy and pet medicines.

  • Introductory Pharmacy 3

    In this module you will explore the areas of pharmaceutical sciences, therapeutics and pharmaceutical practice with particular emphasis on drug stability, topical formulations, microbial infections and OTC medicines and other products.

Pharmacy seminar in classroom

Year 2

You will study 12 cases dealing with more complex conditions such as asthma, hypertension, and ischaemic heart disease. You will also learn how to take a drug history and produce a care plan. Learning is supported by three clinical placements.

Modules

  • Integrated Pharmaceutical Knowledge, Attributes and Skills 2
  • Intermediate  Pharmacy 1
  • Intermediate Pharmacy 2
  • Intermediate Pharmacy 3
Female in scrubs talking to female placement student

Year 3

You will continue to build on your learning through a further 13 cases including endocrinology, immunology and oncology in considering the treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes, autoimmune diseases and breast cancer. Learning is supported by a week-long hospital placement where you work alongside healthcare professionals and interact with patients and carers.

Modules

  • Integrated Pharmaceutical Knowledge, Attributes and Skills 3
  • Advanced Pharmacy 1
  • Advanced Pharmacy 2
  • Advanced Pharmacy 3
Male and female standing in front of shelf with medicines

Final year

You will focus on more complex patients, usually involving multiple pathologies and polypharmacy. There will also be small-group, inter-professional education sessions that simulate real-life clinical scenarios.

You will study two special topics and undertake a research project. You also have the option of studying in an industrial environment.

Modules

  • Research Project
  • Preparing for Pharmacy Practice

Options*

  • Regenerative Medicine, Medical Implants and Diagnostics
  • Clinical Microbiology in the Post-Antimicrobial Era
  • Advanced Pharmaceutical Analysis  
  • Industrial Manufacturing Processes
  • Omics for Diseases: Theory, Practice and Applications  
  • Biological Membranes: Drug Targets and Disease
  • Controversies in Science
  • Advanced Diabetes Therapies
  • Oxidative Stress and Human Disease  
  • Pharmaceutical Care of Surgical Patients
  • Global Perspectives on Health and Medicines
  • Quality Issues in Complementary Therapies that Utilise Plants
  • Monitoring Signalling Molecules
  • Ageing: Pathology and Prevention
  • Cancer: Bench to Bedside
  • Understanding Age-Related CNS Disorders
  • Nanotechnology Research: Therapeutics, Diagnostics and Advanced Pharmaceutics
  • Business Studies for Pharmacists
  • Novel Medicinal Products: A Clinical Perspective

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Three students working with simulation dummy

 

Staff profiles

Dr Charley Chatterjee, course leader

I have over 10 years of teaching experience and I am a strong believer in research-informed teaching based on over 20 years of research. My teaching style involves breaking down complex subjects into basic components and then building these back up to help develop an understanding of the material being taught. I try to make my lectures as interesting as possible and relevant by linking the subject matter to current news, events and the most recent research. This means that my lectures are quite visual and involve a lot of images with less text. Teaching with enthusiasm also helps! 

I also believe that practical experience reinforces learning so my teaching is supported by practical classes and opportunities to undertake research. This research style seems to suit the majority of my students and the feedback obtained has often been highly positive. However, I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching and am willing to try out different formats and introduce new concepts.

Dr Charley Chatterjee

Dr Matthew Ingram, principal lecturer and admissions tutor

I teach on a wide variety of courses, both undergraduate and postgraduate, including the four-year pharmacy degree (MPharm). I mainly teach in the areas of pharmaceutical sciences, data analysis and drug delivery.

I aim to engage the students by making my lectures interactive, with lots of questions and answers, quite often with the latest technology but sometime with the best of the traditional methods. I support this with Powerpoint slides and, when applicable, video mini-lectures as an introductory activity.

Dr Matt Ingram

Information for international students

All international students who graduate with an MPharm from a UK university must apply for a visa in order to work in the UK (ie to undertake their pre-registration training).

Information on visa options that may be suitable for the pre-registration training year can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website. You may want to consider whether applying for Tier 2 or Tier 5 sponsorship may be suitable for your particular circumstances.

Please note, however, that the UK Visas and Immigration website provides the most up-to-date information, and it is possible that there may be changes to visa and/or immigration policy by the time you start your pre-registration training – particularly in light of the recent government response to the Migration and Advisory Committee Tier 2 report. (See also: 'Sponsor a Tier 2 or 5 worker: guidance for employers'.)

You should be aware that it may not be possible to obtain a visa for the pre-registration year, so there is no guarantee you will be able to stay in the UK to complete your training.

For further guidance on visas for the pre-registration year, please contact our international student advisers. You can also contact the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), either by telephone on 0845 257 2570 or by email at support@rpharms.com.

Contact our international student advisers

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Careers

Becoming a pharmacist 

This course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the UK’s independent regulator of the pharmacy profession.

The journey towards becoming a qualified pharmacist has several stages. It involves learning, understanding and demonstrating that you can deliver safe and effective patient-centred care that patients and the public expect from pharmacy professionals.

Pre-registration training

After your degree, you’ll complete a year of pre-reg training: paid work in a community or hospital pharmacy where you’ll build a portfolio of evidence and demonstrate your competence whilst being observed at work.

You’ll demonstrate your knowledge by passing the GPhC registration assessment, as well as showing that you have what is required to be a safe effective pharmacist.

Help with your assessment

We stay in touch after you’ve graduated from the MPharm and provide help in the form of mock exam and online support around pharmaceutical calculations. The mock exam is held at the university six weeks before the actual exam so that you can assess your learning, identify gaps in your knowledge and gain confidence. It consists of two papers written in the style of the new GPhC exam.

Finally, you need to meet the fitness to practice requirements for registration as a pharmacist.

The whole process takes at least five years. But after you have completed all of these steps successfully you can apply for registration with the GPhC as a pharmacist.

GPC - General Pharmaceutical Council

Prepare for your career 

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree.

  • You’ll use what you learn in lectures when counselling patients or working on patient cases on placements in various settings: a community pharmacy placement, three clinical placements and a week-long placement in a hospital.
  • Our close links with a local pharmaceutical company give you the option of studying in an industrial environment in your final year 
  • In your final year you will take part in small-group, inter-professional education sessions that simulate real-life clinical scenarios.

Facilities for learning 

You’ll have access to specialist labs where you will be able to explore and develop your practical lab techniques, including:

  • clinical skills lab
  • SimMan 3G – a highly advanced patient simulator that allows you to monitor vital signs, detect numerous signs of disease and assess clinical response to drug treatment in real time
  • medicine dispensary
  • nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry
  • image analysis suite with electron microscopes, a confocal microscope and atomic force microscopes.
University of Brighton Pharmacy Clinical Skills Lab

Click to view a virtual tour of some of our facilities.

Graduate destinations  

Our course will prepare you for all areas of the profession, including community, hospital and industrial pharmacy.

Route to medicine  

Guaranteed interview scheme for medicine  

All of the students on this course who fulfil the eligibility criteria are guaranteed an interview with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) if they want to pursue a degree in medicine.

Entry requirements (after year 1)

  • GCSE grade B or equivalent in maths and English
  • If English is not your first language, an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with at least 7.0 in all sections
  • AAA at A-level, all obtained in one sitting (both chemistry and biology need to be passed at A-level with grade A; General Studies and Critical Thinking are not acceptable)
  • If you took the International Baccalaureate, 36 overall with grade 6 in Higher level chemistry and biology
  • Excellent term 1 class attendance record
  • A 70% average for term 1 modules

Entry requirements (after the final year)

  • GCSE grade B or equivalent in maths and English
  • BBB at A-level, all obtained in one sitting (both chemistry and biology need to be passed at A-level with grade B; General Studies and Critical Thinking are not acceptable)
  • If English is not your first language, an overall IELTS score of 7.5 with at least 7.0 in all sections
  • A 70% average for year 3 modules

You also need to:

  • take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) in your year of application
  • make a UCAS application to BSMS by 15 October in your year of application
  • show evidence of healthcare-related work experience in your UCAS personal statement and
  • have an excellent record of class attendance (80%) and assignment submission by deadline (if applying after final year).

Further study 

After qualification and registration, you’ll be expected to undertake regular continuing professional development ensuring that your knowledge and skills stay up to date and relevant, part of the profession’s commitment to lifelong learning. You may also be able to focus on specialist areas of pharmacy.

Our Clinical Pharmacy MSc is available to pharmacy graduates who want to gain experience of clinical pharmacy practice in the UK as well as a postgraduate qualification.

Supporting your employability 

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Emlployable

Entry criteria

Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Students on a field trip

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level ABB–BBB (128-120 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DDM plus A-level chemistry at grade B.

A-levels should include chemistry and one further science. BTEC should be applied science with chemistry units.

International Baccalaureate
32 points, with three subjects at Higher level. Higher level subjects must include chemistry and biology at grade 5.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Must include 24 credits at distinction in biology and chemistry. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 30 credits at distinction.

GCSE (minimum grade B or grade 5)
At least maths and English language.

If you do not have the required GCSEs find out which equivalent qualifications we accept instead.

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in all four elements.

COVID-19 vaccine requirement

The COVID-19 vaccination requirement has been removed. Find out more about this decision.

After you apply
Admission to this course will include an online maths test and an interview. 

If we make you an offer
Once you've accepted your offer, to fulfil professional requirements, you will be expected to provide evidence of the following:

  • satisfactory DBS disclosure, and an overseas police check for international applicants
  • satisfactory health declaration/clearance.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,892 GBP

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Applied Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Where required:
    • all students are provided with a laboratory coat, safety glasses and log book.
    • a budget to cover laboratory consumables and equipment for your final year project is included in the fees for all students.
    • access to key subject journals and subject specific databases is provided, as well as a site licence for industry-standard chemical drawing software.
    • essential instruction booklets (laboratory handbooks) are provided, as is project poster printing and thesis binding. However, you should budget for books, printing and stationery for personal study.
  • For our ecology and conservation courses there are compulsory field trips for which you should budget up to £200. There are also optional field trips for which you may choose to budget up to £2,700. You may also need to buy appropriate clothing for outdoor use.
  • DBS checks for MPharm students are included in the fee.
  • Costs for MPharm placement travel is reimbursed up to a specified amount depending on location of placement.
  • The independent mapping project is a mandatory part of the Geology BSc(Hons) involving independent fieldwork that is undertaken in the summer between years 2 and 3. The cost of this fieldwork is not included in the fee, and you will need to meet this additional cost yourself.
  • Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
  • Optional placements and day trips may include additional costs. This will vary depending on where and how long the field trip is but you should budget approximately £1,500.
  • Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £100.
  • If you choose to take an optional paid placement you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of Brighton.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2022–23.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Moulsecoomb Place, Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Students eating at the Hub

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Cricket Academy

New for September 2023, our Cricket Academy offers aspiring players the opportunity to continue their cricket development alongside studying for a degree. The programme offers a world-class training environment with the highest quality coaching.

Find out more about the Cricket Academy.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification

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