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PgDip|Postgraduate Taught

Advanced Pharmacy Practice (with Independent Prescribing)

Entry year
2024/25
Entry requirements
Minimum Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy
Duration
12 months (Part-time)
Places available
30 (Part Time)

Our Advanced Pharmacy Practice programme is designed for hospital-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland who wish to practice at Advanced Practitioner level.

The PG Diploma stage aims to develop the student's knowledge of therapeutics in several key areas and includes training as an independent non-medical prescriber.

In the non-medical prescribing modules, students undertake clinical skills training in the clinical skills teaching laboratories at Queen's.

Advanced Pharmacy Practice (with Independent Prescribing) highlights

World Class Facilities

The School of Pharmacy at Queen's is acknowledged as a leading centre for Pharmacy teaching and research in the UK, consistently featuring at or near the top of league tables for the subject.

Student Experience

Students are supported by full-time dedicated staff in the School of Pharmacy Distance Learning Centre and at the NI Centre for Pharmacy Learning and Development (NICPLD).

Course Structure

Study part-time by distance and work-based learning

Introduction

Hospital pharmacists who have completed the NI Foundation Programme (or equivalent) will receive 60 credits. The remaining 60 credits are delivered in the following modules:

PMY7074 Learning in Practice

Plus the non-medical prescribing modules:

PMY7070 Person-centred care and collaboration
PMY7071 Disease management
PMY7072 Clinical skills
PMY7073 Professionalism

Note: Following publication of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum in 2022, the content of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice programme is being reviewed for 2023 entry.

People teaching you

Associate Postgraduate Pharmacy Dean (NICPLD)

School of Pharmacy / NICPLD
l.oloan@qub.ac.uk

Teaching Times

Teaching is delivered via a combination of distance and work-based learning, and on-campus workshops.

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

  • Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

    At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

    On the PgDip in Advanced Pharmacy Practice we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies that enhance their development as independent, lifelong learners.

    Teaching is delivered via a combination of distance and work-based learning, and on-campus workshops.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

  • Includes competency assessments, practice portfolios, coursework assignments, online tests, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

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Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2023/24). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

  • Year 1

    Core Modules

    Professionalism (10 credits)
    Clinical skills (10 credits)
    Disease management (10 credits)

Entrance requirements

Graduate

A primary degree in Pharmacy (minimum Bachelor Degree) from an institution approved by the University. Additionally all applicants must:

- have identified a designated medical practitioner prior to commencing the prescribing modules;

- have completed the NICPLD foundation/vocational training (VT) programme or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience;

- be employed as a hospital pharmacist.

Please note: this programme is open only to applicants who are resident in Northern Ireland or pharmacists in Ireland by prior agreement between QUB and the applicant's employer.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2024 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

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.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.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.

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Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

This Masters/PG Diploma programme in Advanced Pharmacy Practice enhances the opportunities for hospital-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland to progress their career to Advanced Pharmacist level.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready 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 Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 TBC
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 TBC
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 TBC
EU Other 3 N/A
International N/A

The fee indicated is for the two-year programme.

 

1EU 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.

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 relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

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. 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 programme 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.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

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Apply

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

When to Apply

The deadline for applications is normally 30th June 2021. In the event that any programme receives a high volume of applications, the university reserves the right to close the application portal earlier than 30th June deadline. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Entry Portal (DAP) against the programme application page.

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.

Download a prospectus