Academic Year 2022/23
AAB
4 years (Full Time)
B230
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Overview
The MPharm degree is designed to help students become experts in medicines with the skills to work effectively with patients and the multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Pharmacy Degree highlights
The Pharmacy degree programme at Queen's is ranked 3rd in the UK (The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 )
Professional Accreditations
- The degree is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in Great Britain and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as the relevant regulators. The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) published new Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists in 2021. The MPharm course is therefore subject to change to meet the new Standards and prospective students should note that these changes are ongoing. The information presented here for 2022 entry is subject to ongoing changes.
https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/education/pharmacist/accredited-mpharmdegrees#Belfast
Industry Links
- The School's Stakeholder Group of Employers directly informs the development of the course. The School of Pharmacy has also developed close links with a wide variety of industry partners through research and teaching at a local, national and international level. Students are taught by practising pharmacists from the community, primary care and hospital setting and the School’s Careers Liaison Officer ensures that students are aware of all career opportunities and prepared for application and interview processes.
Career Development
- A feature of this MPharm is an increasing experience of the clinical environment through inclusion of clinical placements in both community and hospital settings.
World Class Facilities
- The School of Pharmacy at Queen’s is acknowledged as a leading centre for Pharmacy teaching and research in the UK.
- At Queen’s we believe in providing students with as authentic a learning experience and environment as possible. Our Pharmacy Practice Unit consists of everything you would find in a contemporary community pharmacy. Students are also taught clinical skills in a range of simulated healthcare settings. In addition we have world leading research laboratories with the best technology in the industry.
- The KN Cheung SK Chin Intersim Centre is the new state of the art interprofessional simulation centre, opened in 2021. The centre provides an innovative environment for students from all healthcare professionals to learn together as a team.
Internationally Renowned Experts
- According to REF 2014, the research environment at the School of Pharmacy has been rated as 100 per cent world leading.
“Queen’s University Belfast have advanced research methods and excellent facilities to develop an individual both professionally and academically. The best thing about being a student here is the number of opportunities that enable me to meet a vast range of individuals whom I will never get to meet in my home country.”
Kar wen Lee, Malaysia, MPharmNEXT
Course content - The degree is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in Great Britain and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as the relevant regulators. The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) published new Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists in 2021. The MPharm course is therefore subject to change to meet the new Standards and prospective students should note that these changes are ongoing. The information presented here for 2022 entry is subject to ongoing changes.
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Course content
Course Structure
Introduction The course integrates the chemical, and biological sciences with the discovery, design, evaluation and production of medicines and their clinical application to all areas of practice. A variety of placements and simulated learning with multidisciplinary teams help students develop the knowledge and skills to be a valued and effective member of the healthcare team. Level 1 • Structure, Reactivity and Mechanism in Organic and Biorganic Chemistry
• Practising as a Pharmacist
• Physiology for Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Microbiology
• Physical PharmaceuticsLevel 2 • Pharmaceutical Technology
• Applied Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Medicinal SubstancesLevel 3 • Drug design/Pharmaceutical analysis
• Advanced Delivery Systems for Large and Small Molecules
• Clinical Therapeutics
• Pharmacy PracticeLevel 4 • Research Project
• Pharmacy Practice Responding to Symptoms
• Advanced Pharmaceutical Care
• Preparation for Practice
• Advancement of Practice Through EvidencePeople teaching you
Dr Sharon Haughey
Director of EducationSchool of Pharmacy
Year Lead Level 1 MPharm Prof Karl Malcolm
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPharmacy/Connect/AcademicStaff/
Year Lead Level 1 MPharmSchool of Pharmacy
Year Lead Level 2 Dr Raj Singh Thakur
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPharmacy/Connect/AcademicStaff/
Year Lead Level 2 MPharmSchool of Pharmacy
Year Lead Level 3 Dr Niamh Buckley
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPharmacy/Connect/AcademicStaff/
Year Lead Level 3 MPharmSchool of Pharmacy
Year Lead Level 4 Dr Paul McCague
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPharmacy/Connect/AcademicStaff/
Year Lead Level 4 MPharmSchool of Pharmacy
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPharmacy/Connect/AcademicStaff/Contact Teaching Times
Large Group Teaching 6 (hours maximum)
Hours of lectures per week.Medium Group Teaching 11 (hours maximum)
Hours of practicals per week.Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial 4 (hours maximum)
Hours of workshops/tutorials per week.Learning and Teaching
The School of Pharmacy at Queen’s is consistently ranked as one of the leading Schools of Pharmacy in the UK, ranked as the number three pharmacy school according to the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. The 2019 National Student Survey result for student satisfaction was 95%. This reflects our commitment to deliver the highest quality learning experience and we are recognised for our excellence in teaching and our international reputation in research. We aim to stay at the forefront of Pharmacy education by continually upgrading our infrastructure and introducing new, exciting initiatives into the MPharm programme.
For example, the School has a major commitment to placements in the hospital and community setting. The programme provides hospital and community placements for students throughout all years of their undergraduate degree and is at the forefront of UK pharmacy undergraduate training.
These placements are designed to provide students with an excellent opportunity to apply their clinical knowledge and skills to real-life situations. The placement aims to facilitate high quality teaching and learning activities and also to promote the professional attitudes and behaviours expected of tomorrow's pharmacists.- Advisor of Studies
Who can provide additional support for students and can give advice on academic progression. - E-Learning technologies
Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree programme through the use of, for example, interactive support materials and web-based learning activities. - Induction – Skills weeks
A formalised induction for all undergraduate students in the School of Pharmacy. This allows first year students to familiarise themselves with the campus and the degree programme. During the first two weeks there are a number of sessions on topics such as academic writing, referencing, plagiarism, communication skills, examination preparation and managing time effectively. - Interprofessional learning
The course also includes opportunities to engage in interprofessional learning in all four years of the degree. Pharmacy students engage with nursing and medical students to address real world problems in healthcare. Students are also expected to develop a range of clinical skills that they will be able to use in both primary and secondary (hospital) care upon qualification. In addition, students are encouraged to develop their lifelong learning skills through the use of reflective portfolios and task booklets. - Lectures
These introduce foundation information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. As the module progresses this information becomes more complex. Lectures, which are normally delivered in large groups to all year-group peers, also provide opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification on key issues as well as gain feedback and advice on assessments. - Peer Mentoring Scheme
Whereby students in second and third year of their degree programme volunteer to mentor year one students. - Personal Development Planning
To encourage students to engage in independent learning. - Personal tutor
Who acts as a first point of contact for students with academic or personal issues that they may require guidance and/or support with. - Practicals
You will have opportunities to develop technical skills in our teaching laboratories and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts through the modules you study. - Self-directed study
This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out. - Simulated learning
The Pharmacy Practice Unit and Faculty simulation facilities allow students to practise in a safe environment with simulated patients and peers. These facilities replicate the community pharmacy, GP practices, a patient's home and hospital environment at the highest level. - Supervised Projects
You will get the opportunity to complete an individual final year research project with an academic in an area of pharmacy that you are interested in and enjoy. The project helps you to develop critical thinking skills by completing a critical review of the literature. You then develop your project research protocol, collect and analyse data and present this at the end of the year in the form of a research paper. - Workshops/seminars
A significant amount of teaching is carried out in smaller groups (typically 25-30 students). These sessions are designed to explore, in more depth, the information that has been presented in the lectures. This provides students with the opportunity to engage closely with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of their peers.
Assessment
Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
- The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the intended learning outcomes of each module. The majority of modules are assessed through a combination of coursework, OSCEs (objective, structured, clinical examinations) and three end of semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in Canvas (the virtual learning environment).
Feedback
As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module coordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:
- Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
- Face to face comments, either as part of scheduled classes or through meetings with members of staff
- Placement employer comments or references.
- Online or emailed comments
- General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
- Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
- Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
- Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.
- Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.
Facilities
Students have access to simulated clinical environments and large teaching laboratories.
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Entry Requirements - Advisor of Studies
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Entry Requirements
Entrance requirements
Selection Criteria
In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.
Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by the School of Pharmacy. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.
Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS. These decisions can only be made on the basis of the information given and applicants must show due care and diligence when completing their applications. In particular, full details must be included about qualifications completed or still to be completed.
The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of the Pharmacy degree, these are not the deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer is made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.
School Leavers taking A-level Qualifications
For admission to Pharmacy past performance at GCSE and AS-level is taken into account when deciding whether or not to make conditional offers. Where applicants do not cash-in AS-level examinations results at the end of year 13 (Year 12 England and Wales), it is helpful if the equivalent grades are given in the academic reference, since this will speed up the decision-making process.
For entry last year offers were initially made to those who achieved either 6 A/7s and 2 B/6s at GCSE or AAB/ABBB at AS-level (including Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics). These are the initial thresholds which may be relaxed once we have received all of our applications. The final threshold is not usually determined until late in the application cycle (February-March), so there may be a delay in processing applicants who have less than 6 A/7s and 2 B/6s at GCSE. The final threshold varies from year to year depending on competition for places. In recent years, applicants with 2/3 A/7s and 4/3 B/6s at GCSE have normally been made offers.
Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not acceptable. However, performance in these subjects may be taken into account in tie-break situations after the publication of A-level results in August. Only one Mathematics subject will be counted at A-level. Performance in the second Mathematics A-level may be taken into account in tie-break situations after the publication of A-level results in August.
Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview.
Repeat A-level Applicants
The offer for repeat applicants is normally one A-level grade higher than the normal asking grades. Grades from the previous year can be held and for subjects being retaken it is not necessary to repeat all modules.
Please note that only two attempts at admission are allowed.
Graduate Applicants
A minimum of an Upper Second Class Honours degree preferably in a relevant subject. Those with an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a non-relevant subject may be considered if they have the appropriate science background at GCSE and A-level.
Graduate applicants who are short listed will be required to attend an interview. Interviews take place during February-April.
Visiting the School of Pharmacy
In addition to the general University Open Days held in September, students made an offer will be invited to a Faculty/School Visit Day, usually held in February-April. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the Pharmacy degree and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.
If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions and Access Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.International Students
Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.
English Language Requirements
An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
- Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
- Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.
International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes
INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.
- Foundation
The INTO progression course suited to this programme is
http://www.intostudy.com/en-gb/universities/queens-university-belfast/courses/international-foundation-in-engineering-and-science.
INTO - English Language Course(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)
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Careers -
Careers
Career Prospects
Introduction
The MPharm course at Queen's is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Society (GPhC) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
To become a pharmacist in the UK, you will need to complete a four year MPharm degree, a year of foundation training in the UK and pass an entrance exam set by the GPhC and the PSNI.
Our graduates typically pursue careers in four main employment sectors, namely, community pharmacy and primary care, hospital pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry; however, graduates can develop careers in a range of other sectors. Examples of the major career sectors that have attracted our graduates in recent years:
• Hospital pharmacy
• Community pharmacy
• Primary care (GP based Practice Pharmacists)
• Scientific publishing
• Industrial pharmacy
• Academic pharmacy
• Varied graduate programmes (Times Top 100 Graduate Recruiters/AGR, Association of Graduate Recruiters UK)
Further information regarding careers in pharmacy may be obtained from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Consultations
We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers including, for example, multinational and independent pharmacies, trusts and GP Federations who provide placements for students and who contribute to the undergraduate teaching on the MPharm and who are members of the stakeholders panel for the course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovEImh8UHL4&list=PLfDdUE0cOJYDIu9_JDKiZFzEND05cMJBX&index=4&t=0sAdditional Awards Gained(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)
Prizes and Awards
A number of local employers and professional bodies sponsor prizes on an annual basis for best students in their level and module.
Available to level 1, 2 or 3 students:
Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) Prize for Engagement during Community Pharmacy PlacementClear Pharmacy Prize for Distinction in Pharmacy Practice
Level 1 Prizes
QUB Foundation Award Prize for Distinction in Level 1 Studies
National Pharmacy Association Prize for Distinction in Physical Pharmaceutics
McKay Pharmacy Prize for Distinction in Practising as a PharmacistLevel 2 Prizes
TG Eakin Ltd. Prize for Distinction in Medicinal Substances
McKay Pharmacy Prize for Distinction in Applied Clinical Pharmacology & TherapeuticsLevel 3 Prizes
MediCare Pharmacy Group Prize for Distinction in Level 3 Studies
The President, Ulster Chemists’ Association Prize for Distinction in Clinical Therapeutics
Professor W.M. Mawhinney Prize for Distinction in Pharmaceutical LegislationLevel 4 Prizes
Pharmacy Forum of Northern Ireland Prize for Overall Distinction in Pharmacy
Royal Pharmaceutical Society Prize for Distinction in Level 4 StudiesNorthern Pharmacies Ltd. Joshua Kerr Prize for Best Group Project in Advancement of Practice Through Evidence
School of Pharmacy Endowment Prize for Best Research Project in Pharmaceutical SciencesPharmacy Forum of Northern Ireland Prize for Distinction in Advanced Pharmaceutical Care
Lloyds Pharmacy Prize for Distinction in Responding to SymptomspHion Therapeutics Ltd. Prize for Best Research Project in Molecular Therapeutics
MediCare Pharmacy Group Prize for Best Research Project in Pharmacy PracticeDegree plus award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
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Fees and Funding -
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
Northern Ireland (NI) 1 £4,630 Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 £4,630 England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 £9,250 EU Other 3 £22,000 International £22,000 1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees, in line with the Common Travel Agreement arrangements.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted are for the academic year 2022-23, and relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Tuition fee rates are calculated based on a student’s tuition fee status and generally increase annually by inflation. How tuition fees are determined is set out in the Student Finance Framework.
Additional course costs
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library.
If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. A programme may have up to 6 modules per year, each with a recommended text.
Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
If a final year includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.
Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.
There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Pharmacy costs
All students entering this programme are required to undergo an enhanced disclosure check with Access NI which costs £33.
Year 1 students are required to buy a laboratory coat at a cost of £13.
Once enrolled on the MPharm students are responsible for funding travel, accommodation and subsistence costs associated with clinical placements in hospital and community pharmacies, if necessary, in the region of approximately £100 per year.
However, the School will try to allocate placements in pharmacies close to a student's home or study address, when possibleHow do I fund my study?
There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.
Information on funding options and financial assistance for undergraduate students is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/Fees-and-scholarships/.
Scholarships
Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students. Information on scholarships available.
International Scholarships
Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/International-scholarships/.
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Apply
How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2022 from 1 September 2021.Advisory closing date: 26 January 2022 (18:00). This is the 'equal consideration' deadline for this course.
Applications from UK and EU (Republic of Ireland) students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2022) subject to the availability of places.
Applications from International and EU (Other) students are normally considered by Queen’s for entry to this course until 30 June 2022. If you apply for 2022 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.
Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.
The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.
Further information on applying to study at Queen's is available at: www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/How-to-apply/
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.
Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students
- Applying through UCAS
Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2022. - Applying direct
The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application. Find out more. - Applying through agents and partners
The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application. Please consult the Agent List to find an agent in your country who will help you with your application to Queen’s University.
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Fees and Funding - Applying through UCAS