The MPharm programme at Ulster will provide you with an academically challenging and vocationally relevant pharmacy education and training.
The aim of the MPharm course at Ulster is to educate pharmacy students to a high standard in an environment of modern clinical relevance, thereby facilitating their immediate integration into a forward thinking, healthcare-based profession that practises clinical excellence and understands fully the pharmaceutical principles underpinning therapeutic application of drug substances. The MPharm programme is designed to provide academically challenging and vocationally relevant pharmacy education and training underpinned by appropriate science elements (pharmaceutical sciences) and appropriate professional practice skills (pharmacy practice, clinical skills, and patient care).
The MPharm programme offers a modern, innovative, and integrated Masters degree level education in Pharmacy that meets the standards of the University and the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The MPharm programme will provide students with the knowledge, understanding, skills and appropriate training required for them to be responsible for the manufacture, safe, legal and professional control, distribution and use of medicinal products. This programme also incorporates detailed studies of all aspects of drug action, design, formulation and use.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
In this section
The MPharm course at Ulster University, Coleraine is delivered by the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences consistently ranked as one of the top universities for Pharmacy and Pharmacology in the UK.
You will be joining a School dedicated to providing high quality education and support to students. School facilities including specialised teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, a model pharmacy, clinical education spaces, a drug information suite, store areas and staff accommodation have all been finished to a high specification for the delivery of the MPharm. MPharm students will also have access to the extensive facilities available to other courses on the Coleraine campus.
This is an exciting and challenging time for pharmacy. The government has introduced many changes that schools of pharmacy must deliver, including graduates with the clinical skills required to allow them to focus on patient-centred clinical care, i.e. to provide a more clinical MPharm. In order to provide high quality education in clinical practice, it recommends that schools of pharmacy increase their practice workforce and have an increased clinical input from practising pharmacists at Ulster. In Coleraine, we will achieve this by delivering a course that will provide a sound and comprehensive knowledge base developing into the clinical and professional practice of pharmacy. Appropriate module content will be delivered by practising pharmacists, so that our students will be learning from both knowledge and experiences.
We will integrate as many of our students as we can into the profession from the start. There will be experiential placements in years 2-4 of the course during pharmacy practice and clinical skills modules, to allow students to see in practice, hospital, community and general practice, what they are learning about on campus. Students will be supported through simulation learning in order to prepare them for the demands of clinical practice. In addition we will promote the professional attitudes and behaviours expected of practising pharmacists. In addition, in some modules pharmacy students will be taught alongside students from other professions, in addition to case study analyses with these students, resulting in the valuable experience of interprofessional education. The hospital clinical placements will be delivered by clinical Teacher Practitioners based in Trust hospitals in Northern Ireland, community placements will be provided by independent and multiple community pharmacists within Northern Ireland, and general practice placements provided by GP federation colleagues. We will work with the Northern Ireland Centre for Pharmacy Learning and Development to co-ordinate and delivery experiential placements. During these placements, students will be provided with portfolios to develop their learning skills, including lifelong learning and reflective and personal development skills.
The focus on providing a practice-based format to our teaching is illustrated in the staff competencies within the School – we have a dynamic practice team of lecturers who have real experience in practice, so their clinical and service provision is evident and experience based. In addition, the further development of practical experience is facilitated by developing partnerships with the employers in the region, so that students who wish to seek part-time employment, will be assisted in taking up this employment within their chosen profession from the start. This initiative has been named the ‘Pharmacy Job Shop’.
In the MPharm at Ulster University, the course team have produced an exciting, dynamic course that will meet the needs of the students, prospective employers and the pharmacy profession as a whole; resulting in graduates who have both the knowledge and social skills to begin their pharmacy career as competent junior pharmacists who are fit to practice. The integrated nature of the programme, where teaching is carried out within therapeutic areas, allows students to develop an understanding of 'Molecules to Patient' - the journey of a drug compound from discovery and development, through formulation and drug delivery, to therapeutic treatment, clinical outcomes and patient-centred care.
The course is currently undergoing re-accreditation in line with UK wide profession reform. The MPharm course is subject to change as it moves towards meeting the GPhC Initial Education and Training Standards for Pharmacists, published in 2021. Students entering first year in September 2023 onwards will benefit from the new provision of the course in line with these standards. GPhC and PSNI accreditation will take place throughout 2023 in anticipation of September 2023.
This is a 4 year full-time on-campus provision of the course.
The programme is taught as an integrated spiral curriculum, with the integration of science and practice elements being explicitly taught through a systems approach. Lectures, tutorials, case study orientated problem-based learning, practical classes, including CAL packages, dispensing practical sessions, clinical and community pharmacy placements and private study, supported by essential and desirable reading, including self-directed learning. Integrated seminars, in which students work on integrated case studies, enhance the integrated nature of the programme and facilitate students understanding and engagement with the concepts. Groups and individual projects will be included. Material will be delivered by blended learning, where lectures, assignments, on-line tutorials and past exam questions will be available on-line on BBLearn; or fully online, whereby all lecture materials and assignments will only be available on BBLearn, but supported by tutorial classes. Postings on discussion areas within some modules will be required.
Assessments are outcome driven. Examinations and class tests, incorporating essay and multiple choice style questions, will assess outcomes and facilitate learning and the integration of knowledge. Structured coursework will include practical reports, case studies, presentations, group reports, literature-based assignments and a research project report and poster presentations.
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Academic staff of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences - https://www.ulster.ac.uk/departments/dvc/lhs/pharmacy-and-pharmaceutical-sciences
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Cromore Rd, Coleraine, BT52 1SA
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Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
In this section
Year: 1
Status: C
To provide an overview of pharmacy and the profession in the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients; pharmaceutical calculations and numeracy; basic statistical methods and core mathematical techniques used in experimental reports and research, and to develop essential learning skills. This module provides these concepts and professional skills within an integrated framework, at the beginning of a spiral curriculum which will revisit these key concepts and skills over the period of the MPharm degree.
Year: 1
Status: C
To provide an overview of pharmaceutical legislation and the profession in the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients to optimise patient outcomes. This module provides these concepts and professional skills within an integrated framework, at the beginning of a spiral curriculum which will revisit these key concepts and skills over the period of the MPharm degree.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module provides an introduction to the physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology and minor ailments.
Year: 1
Status: C
The module is designed to provide an introduction to biological systems and the cells and macromolecules involved in these systems, the chemical processes underlying life and the role of pharmaceutical chemical sciences for the study and understanding of structures, properties and behaviour of drug molecules which will interact with these systems. The module will also introduce clinical skills and communication skills.
Year: 2
Status: C
To develop essential skills and understanding of the strategic context of pharmacy, and the application of standards and practice within pharmacy. To demonstrate ability to use professional decision making skills and apply the code of ethics for pharmacists in a range of situations requiring analysis. Maintaining the spiral theme of professional skills the students will also further develop their knowledge of the legislation that governs pharmacy professional practice, and will undertake work-based learning within community and hospital practice.
Year: 2
Status: C
The module will develop knowledge and understanding of the modes of action of pharmacological agents implicated in the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system, joints and the eye. Students will be able to develop an understanding and expertise in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical products. The concepts and protocols associated with responding to symptoms (pain & musculoskeletal) including in paediatric patients are covered.
Year: 2
Status: C
This module will provide the knowledge and professional skills required in the application of pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics and pharmacology to the therapeutic use of medical products pertaining to cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, nutrition and blood systems. It is taught within the integrated framework of a scientific degree, in the midst of a spiral curriculum which will cover, develop and implement upon these key concepts and skills relating to drugs that act on these systems over the period of the degree.
Year: 2
Status: C
To provide an understanding of physicochemical properties of drugs and excipients and how these contribute to formulation of medicines aimed for management of respiratory, reproductive, urinary tract, skin, gastrointestinal and liver diseases and how and why some of these medicines are dispensed. Students will also develop knowledge and understanding of the modes of action of pharmacological agents used to treat disorders of the respiratory system and GI tract as well as understanding endocrine control of reproduction and drugs affecting it.
Year: 2
Status: C
This module will provide the knowledge and professional skills required in the application of pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics and pharmacology to the therapeutic use of medical products pertaining to the treatment of cancer, infection and immune disorders. It is taught within the integrated framework of a scientific degree, in the midst of a spiral curriculum which will cover, develop and implement upon these key concepts and skills relating to drugs that act on these systems over the period of the degree.
Year: 3
Status: C
To provide the skills and knowledge to prepare a scientific proposal through critical review and evaluation with the application of research governance and ethics. To demonstrate ability to use professional decision making skills and apply the code of ethics in a range of situations requiring analysis. Maintaining the spiral theme of professional skills the students will also further develop their knowledge of professional practice, and will undertake work-based learning within community and hospital practice.
Year: 3
Status: C
To provide an understanding of the principles underpinning the use of drugs in the treatment of cancer, infectious disease and disorders of the immune system and emphasising challenges presented using conventional approaches. It is taught within the integrated framework of a scientific degree, in the midst of a spiral curriculum which will cover, develop and implement upon these key concepts and skills relating to drugs that act on these systems over the period of the MPharm degree.
Year: 3
Status: C
This module will also develop skills in critical thinking, communication, problem solving and both team and individual working, to enable students in their consideration of management of specific pathophysiologies from both a professional and patient point of view. Students level of knowledge continues to spiral upwards from the foundations of the first building blocks of pharmacy in relation to drug treatment for therapeutic areas, further inculcating an explicit understanding of where the traditional 'pharmaceutical sciences' integrate with practice and clinical teaching.
Year: 3
Status: C
To provide an overview of and develop appropriate knowledge and skills for applying physicochemical principles and preformulation information in relation to centrally acting drugs. To further develop essential skills in proprietary dispensing and responding to symptoms. This module will provide an awareness of the concepts and professional skills taught within the integrated framework of a scientific degree, in a spiral curriculum which will develop key concepts and skills relating to centrally acting drugs over the period of the MPharm degree.
Year: 3
Status: C
To provide an overview of and develop appropriate knowledge and skills for applying fundamental physicochemical principles and preformulation information to the design and production of stable pharmaceutical dosage forms in relation to drugs / medicinal products used for respiratory, reproductive, urinary tract, skin, gastrointestinal and liver diseases. This module will provide the student the opportunity to demonstrate professional skills taught within the integrated framework of a scientific degree.
Year: 4
Status: C
This module will provide the, knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical public health in relation to the practice of pharmacy and develop the professional attitudes and skills necessary for prescribing practice. It will provide an overview of the principles and applications of entrepreneurship. Maintaining the spiral theme of professional skills the students will also further develop their knowledge of the legislation that governs pharmacy professional practice, and will undertake work-based learning within community and hospital practice.
Year: 4
Status: C
Translational medicine is about translating pharmaceutical research into practice - delivering the chemical entity to the patient in order to achieve a desired therapeutic outcome. This module facilitates this understanding in students by teaching through the use of case studies. Building on skills and knowledge acquired throughout the programme, this module explicitly takes a chemical entity from the drug discovery and development stage, through approval and marketing to use in the clinical setting and ultimately patient outcomes.
Year: 4
Status: C
Translational medicine is about translating pharmaceutical research into practice - delivering the chemical entity to the patient in order to achieve a desired therapeutic outcome. This module facilitates this understanding in students by teaching through the use of case studies. Building on skills and knowledge acquired throughout the programme, this module explicitly takes a chemical entity from the drug discovery and development stage, through approval and marketing to use in the clinical setting and ultimately patient outcomes.
Year: 4
Status: C
To provide students with a comprehensive, detailed and systematic understanding of the impact of zoonoses on public health and the role of government, local authorities and pharmacy practice on zoonoses prevention and monitoring.
Year: 4
Status: C
This module provides experience in research philosophy, planning and methodology by relevant literature survey, and generation and evaluation of original data.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module provides students with the fundamental principles of business practice, commercial awareness and staff management and the opportunity to critically evaluate these principles within the context and application of pharmacy practice.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module provides students with the principles and background of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its evaluation according to the principles of evidence-based practice.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module provides an introduction to the understanding of the formulation, characterisation, evaluation and application of novel pharmaceutical delivery systems based on nanotechnology.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the legislative and practice requirements, and the organisational structures within which they will be working, for the practice of pharmacy in the Republic of Ireland.
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
In this section
Grades AAB
A Level Essential Subjects: Chemistry required and one subject from Biology, Mathematics, Physics, Applied Science or Life and Health Sciences.
DA Applied Science and DA Life and Health Sciences are acceptable along with Chemistry.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science (RQF) (601/7437/7)- Award profile of DDD.
The following units are essential and must be passed with Distinction: Principles and Applications of Science I, Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques, Principles and Applications of Science II, Applications of Inorganic Chemistry, Applications of Organic Chemistry and Industrial Chemical Reactions.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science (RQF) (601/7435/3)- Award profile of DD to include Distinctions in the units listed above plus one A Level grade A in any subject.
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma in Applied Science (RQF) (601/7461/4)- Award profile of DD plus A Level Chemistry Grade A.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science (RQF) (601/7436/5) / Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Human Biology (RQF) (603/3040/5)- Award profile of D plus A Level grades AA to include Chemistry.
To find out if the qualification you are applying with is a qualification we accept for entry, please check our Qualification Checker - https://www.ulster.ac.uk/study/entrance-requirements/equivalence
We will also continue to accept QCF versions of these qualifications although grades asked for may differ. Check what grades you will be asked for by comparing the requirements above with the information under QCF in the Applied General and Tech Level Qualifications section of our Entry Requirements - https://www.ulster.ac.uk/study/entrance-requirements/undergraduate-entry-requirements
Grades H2, H2, H2, H2, H2 to include Chemistry and at least one other subject from Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Agricultural Science.
Plus, a minimum of H6 in English and Maths or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.
Grades BBBBB to include Chemistry and one subject from Mathematics, Physics or Biology.
English & Maths required at Standard Grade 1, 2 or 3.
Grades BBB to include Chemistry and one subject from Mathematics, Physics or Biology.
English & Maths required at Standard Grade 1, 2 or 3.
Overall profile minimum: 28 points with 14 points at Higher Level to include 6 points in Higher Level Chemistry and 7 points from Higher Level Physics, Biology or Mathematics.
Only science based courses are acceptable, specific modules will be required and must include Chemistry.
Overall profile of 73%, to include 73% in Level 3 modules (120 credit Access Course) (NI Access Course).
Overall profile of 39 credits at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit to include Distinctions in all science modules. (60 credit Access Course) (GB Access Course).
If GCSE Maths at grade C has not been obtained then a 20 credit Level 2 Mathematics module, passed at 40% or successful completion of NICATS Mathematics as part of the pre-2021 Access Diploma is required.
Higher Certificate in Science, Pharmacy Technician with an overall mark of 65% including 65% in each science module. To include English and Maths at H6 if studied at Higher Level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.
Higher Education Diploma, Pharmacy Technician with an overall mark of 70% including 70% in each science module. To include English and Maths at H6 if studied at Higher Level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.
For full-time study, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or above in English Language and Mathematics. Chemistry Grade C or Double Award Science Grade CC or above also required.
Please note that for purposes of entry to this course the Level 2 Certificates in Essential Skills, Application of Number and Communication are NOT regarded as acceptable alternatives to GCSE Maths and English.
English Language minimum requirement for International applicants:
Academic IELTS overall 6.5, with speaking 6.5 and no other band score less than 6.0.
Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
All offers will be conditional on meeting the following requirements:
Successfully pass a competency based interview - to meet the new GPhC standards which stipulate that 'all admissions and selection processes must include an interactive component to assess applicants' values and professional suitability'. Further details will be emailed to all applicants.
Satisfactory AccessNI Enhanced Disclosure Check - as students will be engaged in ‘regulated activity’ involving children or vulnerable adults as part of their course, there is a compulsory, legal requirement to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure from AccessNI or other relevant authority. There is a cost for this service and more information will be provided to prospective students prior to registration. Overseas students will require a Police statement from their home country.
Health screening - you are required to demonstrate good health prior to commencing the course by completing a ‘Declaration of Health’ form which will be screened by Occupational Health who will confirm your medical fitness to undertake the course. You may also be required to undertake a vaccination programme. There is a cost for this service and more information will be provided to prospective students prior to registration.
Applicants should note that neither the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will offer prospective registration advice prior to commencing your MPharm. The GPhC / PSNI will carry out their own health and good character checks before registering an applicant, which are additional to the checks carried out by the university or a prospective employer. The GPhC / PSNI may not register a student if a check is failed, even if previous checks have been passed. An applicant may appeal against a registration refusal and appeals are heard by the Appeal Committee of the GPhC. Further information can be found at https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/about-us/who-we-are/gphc-committees/appeals-committee
Studies pursued and examinations passed in respect of other qualifications awarded by Ulster or by another university or educational institution, or evidence from the accreditation of prior experiential learning, may be accepted as exempting candidates from part of an approved programme of study provided that they shall register as students of the University for modules amounting to at least the final third of the credit value of the award at the highest level.
It is anticipated that only in exceptional cases will an exemption[s] be permitted, and any exemption must be approved by the professional/regulatory bodies governing the profession.
In this section
Graduates from this course are now working for:
With this degree you could become:
Following successful completion of the MPharm programme, graduates will enter a Foundation Training year, following successful completion of which they will be able to register as a pharmacist.
The future role of pharmacists lies in meeting patients' needs through working closely with patients, other healthcare professionals, the National Health Service (NHS) and the industry. Pharmacists are the only healthcare professionals with a unique knowledge and understanding of medicines from manufacture to their applications in patients, encompassing discovery and development, manufacturing, quality assurance, distribution, therapeutics, management and monitoring.
Qualified registered pharmacists can choose careers from a number of available options including healthcare provision in the high street (community pharmacists), clinical pharmacy duties and outpatient clinics (hospital pharmacists), running disease management clinics in GP practices (practice-based pharmacists) and pursuing medicines research in industry or academia. MPharm graduates will now be "prescriber ready", so they can begin their foundation training year and able to register as prescribers.
In summary, the career options for qualified pharmacists include hospital, community, primary care and industrial practice, general management and administration as well as research opportunities in industry, academia, or government laboratories. Opportunities are also available for MPharm graduates to enter into MRes and MPhil/PhD programmes.
The MPharm course at Ulster has periods of experiential placement within years 2-4 of study, during the Professional Practice Skills modules. Placements take place within primary care sites throughout Northern Ireland, and within the Health and Social Care Trusts. Experiential placements are co-ordinated and facilitated by NICPLD. Short placement visits also take place in Pharmaceutical Industries. All placement experiences allow students to develop their skills and competencies in the practice of pharmacy from the theoretical setting on campus, to the contextual and experiential learning achieved within the employed sectors. Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from placement and may be required to purchase suitable clothing for clinical and laboratory placements, such as scrub garments, professional dress, and white coats.
Placement opportunities are subject to change as the course moves towards meeting the GPhC Initial Education and Training Standards for Pharmacists published 2021.
Accredited by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for the purpose of registration with that body.
Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in order to progress to pharmacist pre-registration training and then to register as a pharmacist.
Undergraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2025/26 fees will be announced in due course.
See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2024/25 entry.
The School offers a suite of awards for academic achievement in each year of study.
Entry to the course is subject to a satisfactory medical check and also a criminal record check carried out through AccessNI. Students will be required to meet the costs of any vaccinations required and for the AccessNI checks. The current cost of an AccessNI Enhanced Disclosure is £33.
Students will be required to meet the travel costs of attending placements during the programme. Students will also be required to purchase required reading materials in the form of the BNF (annually) and Medicines, Ethics and Practice. Students will also be required to dress professionally for clinical and practice elements of the course - this will include purchasing scrubs/tunics for experiential placement.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
"I really do believe that I couldn’t have got any more support in any other pharmacy school in the UK and Ireland. I would recommend Ulster university pharmacy school to any student looking to do pharmacy and I don’t think there’s one thing I could fault about it. If I could I would do the four years all over again!" Emma Yazbeck, 2020 graduate
"I cannot believe that my four years at Ulster have gone by as quickly as they have, and although they have been cut short, I have enjoyed every single minute of my learning. I really appreciate the time and dedication to carrying out the remainder of teaching as smoothly as possible remotely in this strange time, and staff have always been on hand to clear up any issues or queries. Studying Pharmacy at Ulster was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I am finishing the course with lifelong friends and future colleagues. I cannot recommend pharmacy at Ulster enough to friends and younger students interested in pharmacy, as the standard of teaching I have received over the years is second to none.
Teaching aside, the close working relationship between staff and students is probably one of the highlights of studying with yourselves, I always felt like staff members doors were open to me if I ever had any issue, and nothing ever seemed to be too much trouble. Friends of mine outside of the school have been surprised in the past that our year groups mix as well as they do, and I really enjoy the atmosphere in the school, there are no great divides between year groups, and myself and my friends loved attending the whole school events like the Twelve Pubs and Formal each semester. There is such a sense of community studying at Ulster and specifically in pharmacy, and this is an environment which allowed me to flourish and reach maximum potential as a student, as I genuinely believe I may not have achieved the grades I have if I had chosen a different institution with a lesser bond between staff and students." Ruth McClements, 2020 graduate
"For me there was never a question about where I wanted to study pharmacy. From the first open day I knew that Coleraine was the school of pharmacy for me. Looking back now as a pharmacist the degree provided me with the most modern and in depth training needed to become a pharmacist after graduation. With a department of caring lectures and staff I really enjoyed Coleraine and the experience was invaluable" [Patrick Moylan].
“The small class sizes here at Ulster allow students and staff to engage in such a way that not only does the student-staff relations and teaching feel more personal, your university experience as a whole does so too! It is the perfect start to your journey into the world of Pharmacy!” [Aisling McGlinchey]
“Studying at Ulster is one of the best decisions I have ever made. We had an extremely supportive and tight knit community within pharmacy, which was unlike other universities. Although pharmacy was never an easy course, there was always someone willing to help when you needed it. I made friends for life at Ulster while enjoying the beautiful scenes around us and the nightlife!
Following graduation I have had the opportunity to continue studying at Ulster while completing a PhD. I have had ample opportunities to further my career and there is always amazing advice and support at hand.” [Laura Hutchinson]
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ulster studying Pharmacy. The small class size allows you to form a close relationship with your peers and allows the staff to build a rapport with students. All the staff are approachable are extremely enthusiastic, both in their teaching and research, and it was their enthusiasm that has inspired me to return to Ulster to study towards a PhD.” [Sara Gardner]
"The single best decision I made as a 17-year-old was to select Pharmacy at the University of Ulster on my UCAS application. On reflection, the course was delivered with exceptional standards of teaching and hands on practice experience that provided myself with invaluable skills and qualities I have used everyday to build my career as a pharmacist." [Louise Toner]
“I would strongly encourage anyone hoping to study pharmacy to choose Ulster. The course challenges you to think and behave like a pharmacist from the outset. For me, this meant that by the end of the 4 years I felt prepared and confident for my pre reg. I also found that outside of the classroom, the North coast is a great place to be a student.” [Rebecca Kennedy]
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
