MSc Clinical Pharmacy / Course details

Our MSc/PGDip Clinical Pharmacy course and offers a mix of clinical, applied practice, public health and research units, giving you the knowledge and skills to be an excellent clinical pharmacist.

Our first year (PGCert) offers a strong foundation of clinical skills that you will continue to use throughout your career.

Having complete these core units, you can choose from 12 options in Year 2 (PGDip) to tailor the course to your own interests. This includes clinical topics, public health, health economics, medicines management, education, leadership and research topics.

Eligible pharmacists can also opt for independent prescribing.

If you want to undertake research, you will be supported by one of our leading academic researchers to undertake a small-scale clinical research project to complete the MSc award.

This is a completely online route and allows you to study from home at times convenient to you, which is ideal for international students, shift workers and those based outside the Manchester area. Interactive online learning is supplemented by webinars to enhance your skills in optimising drug therapy and clinical problem-solving.

This course aims to help you develop:

• advanced knowledge and understanding of the management of a range of acute and chronic conditions;
• skills in medicines optimisation and the ability to communicate with a range of healthcare professionals to promote the appropriate use of medicines;
• skills in the critical evaluation of a range of health services literature;
• non-clinical skills to support wider advanced practice and research objectives.

Apply your knowledge to work

The content of this course has been written by clinical experts with a focus on workplace application.

Varied unit options

This course can be tailored to meet the needs of your career goals through a range of options in the second year and your choice of research topic for the dissertation in the final year. We offer 12 options in the second year, including paediatrics, mental health, surgery, medicines management and public health.

Develop research skills

You will have the opportunity to conduct master's level research in a top three university for research power in pharmacy within the UK in the national Research Excellence Framework (UoA3 REF 2021).

The course uses a range of teaching and learning approaches, including:

• the Blackboard learning management system;
• e-lectures, podcasts and webinars;
• online discussion forums and wikis;
• e-journals.

All students will benefit from:

• shared learning content online, including evening webinars;
• content mapped against the RPS Post-registration Foundation and Core Advanced Pharmacist curricula;
• access to materials to pursue RPS recognition;
• access to academic staff and clinical teachers;
• an educational supervisor.

We use a range of assessments that allow you to demonstrate your clinical knowledge and skills in medicines optimisation and critical analysis.

Formative and summative assessments vary according to the units you choose, but may include:

• online quizzes and exams;
• participation in online discussion boards;
• patient-specific case studies and care plans
• oral case presentations;
• professional development and clinical portfolios;
• business case, new drug report or teaching portfolio;
• research protocol.

To progress to subsequent years and for an award in Clinical Pharmacy, you must achieve an overall mark of 50% in each course unit you study.

The course is delivered online, so you will not be required to come to campus. However, our staff use a range of facilities to deliver high-quality online learning experiences. Of course, you are welcome to come to Manchester and enjoy access to the varied resources and facilities on campus .