Course summary
Learn from leading experts in the pharmaceutical field within a prestigious pharmacy school - the only pharmacy school in the UK to hold a prestigious Regius Chair in Pharmacy. Course overview Our Master of Pharmacy degree is designed to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of pharmaceutical science and the practical skills necessary to excel professionally. This programme stands out as a premier pathway for aspiring pharmacists, providing a full learning experience combined with hands-on learning through our extensive network of industry partners; developing your skills in our dedicated specialist facilities, and benefitting from the experience and insight of our expert teaching staff. You will benefit from extensive patient contact throughout the course, both within the University and through a series of professional experiences in different workplace environments such as hospitals, community pharmacies, GP surgeries and primary care settings. We also have a strong focus on interprofessional practice and collaborative care, offering opportunities for you to learn with, from and about other healthcare specialities. In addition, our final-year students can personalise their learning through elective choices and research projects, including in pharmacy practice, which can be based in either community, hospital or primary care practice. What you will learn Aston’s Pharmacy MPharm degree delves into twelve integrated themes spanning three fascinating areas of study: ‘The Professional’, mastering the science of safe and effective healthcare delivery; ‘The Medicine’, learning how medicines are discovered, formulated, and used in practice; and ‘The Patient”, the immersion into the multifaceted world of patient care, covering a wide range of clinical conditions. Foundations Your first years of the MPharm Pharmacy degree introduce you to key concepts of pharmaceutical science - the process of discovering, designing, and formulating new drugs, discovering how drugs interact with the body, understanding the chemical properties of drugs, drug safety, and patient care. You’ll begin to learn how to make professional judgments based on evidence in pharmacy practice and develop effective leadership and management skills. Build upwards With the fundamentals learned in your first three years firmly in place, your final year culminating in a master’s degree provides you the opportunity to apply knowledge to more complex clinical cases and build your understanding of real-world industry practice. Placement You will benefit from extensive patient contact throughout the course within the university and through a series of professional experiences in different workplace environments such as hospitals, community pharmacies, GP surgeries and primary care settings. We also have a strong focus on interprofessional practice and collaborative care, offering opportunities for you to learn with, from and about other healthcare specialities. Key course benefits:
- Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), a key requirement to practice as a pharmacist in the UK.
- Top 15 for student satisfaction in Pharmacy (Complete University Guide, 2024).
- 93% of students felt that the course is intellectually stimulating and 93% of students felt teaching staff are good at explaining things. (NSS 2023).
- Access to a range of specialist facilities in our recently redeveloped Wilson Pharmacy Suite. This includes our clinical skills room with a mock hospital bay set up, dispensing and patient counselling suites with discrete video recording capabilities.
Modules
See course page for details
Assessment method
Learning and teaching You will benefit from working with our highly qualified and knowledgeable team of academics, scientists, leading researchers and practising pharmacists from a variety of healthcare areas. Our interconnected course structure enables us to put all teaching firmly in the context of delivering patient care as part of a multi-disciplinary team. We have a strong and deliberate focus on interprofessional practice and collaborative care, working closely with Aston’s many healthcare courses to increase the opportunities for you to learn with, from and about other healthcare specialities. Your learning will be delivered via a range of teaching methods from problem-based learning and video recording sessions, to computer aided learning and patient-simulators. We utilise a range of learning technologies, which are combined with high-fidelity simulations of healthcare practice to provide you with a realistic and safe environment in which to learn skills and develop your knowledge. Each year of study is worth 120 credits, with each credit equivalent to 10 learning hours. The learning hours may include but are not limited to lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab sessions, practicals, online activity, reading, other independent study, reflecting on assignment feedback, field trips and work placements. Assessment Our recently revised MPharm curriculum utilises a range of different assessment types which may include written examinations, coursework, oral presentations, poster presentations, clinical simulations activities and laboratory assessments. What learning facilities can I expect? As a Pharmacy student, you will have access to a range of specialist facilities in our recently redeveloped Wilson Pharmacy Suite. This includes our clinical skills room with a mock hospital bay set up, dispensing and patient counselling suites with discrete video recording capabilities. You will also have access to and use a range of cutting edge laboratory equipment used in the design, development and testing of drug products which includes tabletting machines, high-performance liquid chromatograph, gas chromatography, NMR spectroscopies and dissolution vessels.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- General Pharmaceutical Council
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- B230
- Institution code:
- A80
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Please visit our helpful webpage for International Applicants: https://www.aston.ac.uk/international
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - ABB - BBB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D*D* - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - Not accepted
Scottish Higher - AABBB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DD
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D
Pearson BTEC 90-Credit Diploma (QCF) - DD
Scottish Advanced Higher - BBB
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 - 31 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H3, H3, H4
GCSE/National 4/National 5
T Level - Not accepted
Admissions Review Process While the listed grades are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are estimates. Therefore, we consider applicants with predicted or achieved grades slightly below these requirements if their application is strong. However, as this course is competitive, we do not issue offers below the published entry requirements to applicants within this category. Additionaly, they may not receive a decision until after the UCAS Equal Consideration deadline and does not guarantee being shortlisted for an interview or receiving a subsequent offer. If you are shortlisted, you will receive an interview invitation which will be conducted virtually. The virtual interview is a compulsory element of the application process and no offer will be made without a successful interview being conducted first. When applying, please ensure you include an up to date email and telephone number as this is important information for us if you are shortlisted for interview. Further information about the interview and application process will be made available to you post-application.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Interview
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £9250 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
International | £20700 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Sponsorship information
Please visit our helpful webpage for applicants: https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/your-application/funding
Provider information
Aston University, Birmingham
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B4 7ET