MPharm Pharmacy / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

Our four-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) course will give you the knowledge and practical skills you need to enter the pharmacy profession.

We integrate science and practice throughout the course, giving you a sound understanding of how to apply your knowledge to solve clinical problems. You will also learn from practising pharmacists and pharmacist prescribers throughout your studies and gain workplace experience in a range of settings and different sectors of pharmacy practice.

you will develop your consultation, clinical decision-making, professional and leadership skills in order to work effectively with patients, carers and other healthcare professionals and to adapt to the challenges and developments that may occur during your career.

Our MPharm degree is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Upon successful completion of the course, you will need to undertake a foundation training year, take the GPhC's common registration assessment and meet fitness to practise requirements before becoming a fully-fledged pharmacist.

Additional course information

Visas for the pharmacy foundation training year

All international/EU and EEA students who are graduating with an MPharm from a British university must apply for a visa to work in the UK, ie to undertake their foundation training year. 

Further information about the Graduate Immigration Route visa can be found  here .

Teaching and learning

We use an enquiry-based learning (EBL) approach to provide you with important skills that will help you become an independent, motivated and confident learner. You will benefit from a variety of teaching and learning activities throughout our MPharm course, including EBL workshops, core concepts lectures, tutorials, practical classes, group assignments, interactive online learning and a research project.

You will also go on an extensive range of placements as part of the course. Find out more about these and the other ways you will learn on the Teaching and Learning page .

Coursework and assessment

Your knowledge, understanding and practical skills will be assessed through a variety of methods, including examinations, assignment reports, portfolios, staff observations and testimonials, group work, peer assessment and oral or alternative-format presentations.

End of semester examinations include a multiple choice question paper, calculations paper, integrated case-based papers, and web-based learning programmes.

Report writing skills are assessed throughout the course, and your practical, consultation and clinical skills are continuously assessed during classes and placements.

The final degree mark is based on the results of assessments in all four years of the course, including the Year 4 research project.

Course unit details

You will take integrated course units throughout the four-year MPharm course, each developing your knowledge and understanding, practical and clinical skills and professional attributes.

Course units are organised by body systems, which increase in complexity year on year. Within each body system block, you will develop your learning in medicines design, disease management, professional skills and clinical practice.

The taught content of the course is common to all students, however each student has their own unique learning journey, experienced through our enquiry-based learning approach, extensive range of placements, inter-professional events and a master's level research project in Year 4.

Every six weeks, throughout the course you will have the opportunity to attend organised placements which take place in NHS hospitals, community pharmacies and GP surgeries. Your placements will take place in Greater Manchester each year of the course. There may be an additional opportunity to attend an organised placement within the pharmaceutical industry.

Course content for year 1

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Foundations of Pharmacy PHAR11001 60 Mandatory
Gastrointestinal system, liver and kidneys PHAR11002 60 Mandatory

Course content for year 2

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Immunity, Infection and Respiratory system PHAR22001 60 Mandatory
Cardiovascular system PHAR22002 60 Mandatory

Course content for year 3

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
The Medicine (Year 3) - Drug Development Process 2 PHAR30100 30 Mandatory
The Pharmacist (Year 3): Developing Professional Practice PHAR30200 30 Mandatory
The Patient (Year 3): Pathology, Pharmacology &Therapeutics 2 PHAR30300 30 Mandatory
Integrated Research Skills: preparation for 4th year projects and evidence-based practice PHAR30400 20 Mandatory
Yr 3 Integrated Prof Practice PHAR30700 0 Mandatory
Healthcare Leadership PHAR30902 10 Mandatory
Endocrine and musculoskeletal systems PHAR33001 60 Mandatory
Brain and neurotransmission PHAR33002 60 Mandatory

Course content for year 4

Course units for year 4

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Integrated Project (Year 4) PHAR40400 30 Mandatory

What our students say

The guidance and support I received helped me towards my dream of becoming a pharmacist in Canada. My time in Manchester was an amazing adventure.

Eric Huynh

Find out more about what it's like to study at Manchester on the  Biology, Medicine and Health Student Blog .

Facilities

You will learn in a range of pharmacy facilities throughout the course.

You will also have access to the University's other facilities for undergraduate students .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants from the Disability Support Office