Intro

As a student on this course you will study new developments in the areas of pharmaceutics, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice and have the opportunity to develop a programme of work that meets your individual needs.

When you have completed the course, you will be able to undertake pre-registration training and apply for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration exam with the aim of becoming a UK registered pharmacist.

For the MSc award, research projects run from June to September following completion of the PGDip modules. For more information about our PGDip only qualification, visit the course page.

The PGDip is accredited by the GPhC as an Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP).

The course includes experiential visits to community and hospital pharmacies to help you build practical experience in healthcare.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The OSPAP courses will open for applications from 09:00 BST on Monday 16 October 2023 and close on Wednesday 18 October 2023 at 23:59 BST.

Approximately 24–48 hours after you apply you will be invited to activate a University of Brighton Student View account. Please make sure you activate the account as you will need to access Student View to complete the test described below.

Degree and experience

For your application to be considered you will need:

an accreditation letter from GPhC uploaded to your application
a pharmacy degree equivalent to a UK honours 2:1 or above
references and personal statement.

All incomplete applications will be rejected.

If your application meets the criteria, you will be sent a time-limited calculations test to complete.

You must make sure that you follow all the instructions sent with the test as you will only have one opportunity to complete it within the allocated timeframe. Additional or late test submissions will be discounted. You may use Pharmaceutical Calculations Workbook by Pharmaceutical Press as a reference to prepare for the calculations test.

Once all the test results are received, they will be ranked from the highest scores to the pass mark of 60% and offers of a place on this course will be made to the strongest candidates first. We expect to have made offers for the course by mid-January 2024. If more candidates achieve a pass on the test than we have places available, the admissions tutor will conduct a further review of applications to complete the selection.

English language requirements
IELTS (Academic) Level 7.0 or above in each parameter at one sitting. If you have been exempted by the General Pharmaceutical Council from an IELTS qualification you will not be required to have IELTS for an application to this course. Check this link for possible General Pharmaceutical Council exemptions. For exemptions under evidence types 1 and 2 in this guide, IELTS may still be needed if you need a student visa for study.

To fulfil the professional requirements of the course you will also need to:

provide a satisfactory overseas police check
undergo a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
complete satisfactory Occupational Health checks.

If we make you an offer
You will be required to reserve a place and will be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit of £3,000 within a month of receiving your offer. This will be deducted from your course fees or your international deposit if you require a visa to study.

Waiting list
We will also keep a waiting list of candidates as places may become available if applicants withdraw from the course at a later date. The waiting list will only be open to candidates who applied by the deadline and have completed the assessment process. You will be advised if you are on the waiting list. Please be aware that if you are offered a place from the waiting list there may be relatively short notice for you to make the necessary arrangements to take up your offer.

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.

Course content

Course structure

There are seven diploma modules run over two semesters: one independent study and six university-based modules. The independent study module is supported by specifically written module materials and staff-led tutorial sessions. The remaining six modules involve a mixture of lectures and skills-based workshops and are run over two days per week at the university.

Although attendance for the diploma modules is only required at the university for two days a week, attendance for the MSc project from June to August requires attendance five days a week.

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Areas of study

Studies focus on new developments in the areas of pharmaceutics, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice. In addition, you explore pharmacy law and ethics, contemporary pharmacy issues and UK healthcare provision. There is also an opportunity for you to develop a programme of work that suits your individual requirements.

You choose your topic for the research project from the range of research interests in the School of Applied Sciences. Current research areas in the school include work with paediatric medicine, patient mood and health outcomes, the role of empathy in consultation skills, and patients’ and pharmacists’ knowledge of and attitudes towards counterfeit drugs.

Modules

Scientific Basis of Pharmacy Practice
Applied Therapeutics
Clinical Drug Delivery
Advanced Professional Studies
Health Promotion for Pharmacists
Novel Medicinal Products: A Clinical Perspective
Pharmaceutical Skills
Research Project

Careers

On completion of the course you will be able to undertake pre-registration training and apply for the General Pharmaceutical Council registration examination, which will allow you to become a UK-registered pharmacist.

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 16,700 GBP

International (full-time)16,700 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2023–24.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
Student finance and budgeting while studying
About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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.

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. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

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

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

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

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

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

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.

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.

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.