Pharmacy

Pharmacy at Swansea University is designed to prepare you for your role as medicines expert in the modern interdisciplinary healthcare team. Our 4-year MPharm programme will get you ready for the changing face of pharmacy and the new and advanced roles pharmacists undertake in healthcare and pharmaceutical settings.

We integrate the science of drug design and development, with embedded clinical case-study teaching alongside experiential learning. Our approach is designed to develop your academic, practical and personal qualities so you can practise competently, professionally and with confidence.

Throughout your 4 years with us, you will undertake a variety of placements in the hospital, community and primary care settings. Our expanding horizons placements will give some students the opportunity to undertake pharmacy experiences in prisons, care homes and enterprises to explore the role of pharmacists in new, innovative and emerging areas of practice. The breadth, variety and quality of our placements will allow you to experience the diverse roles you could undertake as a pharmacist and decide on the direction you would like your future pharmacist career to take.

From the moment you enrol at Swansea we will work with you to develop your clinical and professional skills, and alongside learning about the latest scientific advances we will prepare you for the rapidly changing and innovative environment in which modern pharmacists now find themselves. Our "digital thread" brings together the technological advances in pharmaceutical development and medicines management, preparing you for future practice in a world of big data, AI, robotics and video consultations. We take this modern approach whilst ensuring our students still have the underpinning knowledge of the fundamental sciences to cement their role as an experts in drugs and medicines.

Pharmacy at Swansea builds on the strengths of the Medical School by adopting an interdisciplinary approach. We recognise that Pharmacists, Doctors and Nurses work together in a clinical setting so education and training should reflect this. You will benefit from our experience and expertise in clinical and life science, research, training and practice, helping you to develop your pharmaceutical practice, science and knowledge.

It is these strengths and the recognition of the need for scientific rigour and understanding, coupled with a strong focus on patient care and outcomes that allow Swansea University Medical School to develop high-quality healthcare professionals to meet the needs of the NHS and patients alike.

Throughout your course you will have a high level of structured clinical contact, lecture and lab based teaching. Students will learn across 7 broad themes which have been adapted from the General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC's) Indicative Curriculum:
Pharmaceutics
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Cellular and Molecular Bioscience
Human Biology
Clinical Pharmacy
Pharmacy Practice

Students are required to undertake 120 credits per year throughout each year of their study. Students will undertake modules to embed the basic scientific knowledge required of a scientist, patient-centred learning and the role of a Pharmacist as a professional.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including:
Pharmacist as a Professional, Health, Disease and Patient, Drugs & Medicines, Practice of Pharmacy

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including:
Pharmacist as a Professional and Patient-Centred Learning

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including:
Pharmacist as a Professional, Patient Centred Learning, New Knowledge, Pharmacy in Wales and Substance Misuse

In Year 4, you will typically study areas including:
Pharmacist as a Professional, Patients and the population, Preparation for Advanced Practice & Management

Placements -
You will undertake placements in a variety of different settings to give you a taste of the options available to you as a graduate. The settings for placements throughout the rest of the course include, but are not limited to hospitals, community pharmacies and GP practices. Our 'Extending Horizons' placements will be offered in a variety of other healthcare sectors, prison pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry and other allied healthcare professions.

For students entering their 3rd year, there may be a limited number of overseas research projects available in Semester 2.

The teaching and learning methods employed address the knowledge and competencies required for the varied responsibilities of Pharmacists. You will learn through a variety of teaching methods including lectures, case-based learning, workshops, laboratory classes, experiential learning and an independently-led research project. Assessments will include Laboratory practicals, written exams, oral presentations, written assignments, and clinical skills assessments. The range of assessment methods is chosen to develop and demonstrate a range of skills transferable to the modern healthcare environment including reflection, oral and written communication, confidence and competence.