Choosing a Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma, MSc or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) option will help develop your professional status and career prospects. The upcoming intake point is April 2023.

Dates for April 2023 start

• Application deadline: 6 February 2023 at 5pm
• Self-directed online induction from 27 March to 7 April 2023
• Live online induction workshop 29 March 2023
• First unit start date 12 April 2023

Course features

• Choice of awards reflecting your area of professional interest
• Study at your own pace with minimal time away from work
• Excellent support and learner networks with a user-friendly virtual learning environment
• Increased professional expertise and status with enhanced career prospects
• Support in meeting requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council, and professional development in line with Royal Pharmaceutical Society development frameworks

Available qualifications & duration

• CPD course (11 weeks)
• Postgraduate Certificate (one year part-time)
• Postgraduate Diploma (two years part-time)
• MSc (three years part-time)

All Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc students are registered for the maximum study duration of eight years, to allow flexible study options.

Scheme of study

The course is divided into units of study, each lasting 11 weeks. Study in each unit is supported by online learning materials, live teaching sessions and face-to-face study days to support clinical skills.

Year One (Certificate)

• Four optional units
• If you are new to practice or have had a break from Masters level postgraduate education, a recommended course of study would be to start with the following units:
  • Professional Skills for Medicines Optimisation
  • Evidence Based Pharmacy Practice
• Successful completion of the OSCE (Observed Structured Clinical Examination) assessment

Year Two (Diploma)

• Four optional units

Year Three (MSc)

• Additional units as agreed with the programme lead

Independent Prescribing can also be used to contribute to building a postgraduate award.

Optional units

Core/Generalist units (15 CATS credits, 11 weeks)

• Professional Skills for Medicines Optimisation
• Evidence Based Pharmacy Practice
• Managing Long Term Conditions (MLTC): Respiratory & Endocrine
• Managing Long Term Conditions (MLTC): Cardiovascular Disease

Specialist/Advanced units (15 CATS credits, 11 weeks)

• Managing Minor Illness
• Managing Polypharmacy and Multimorbidity - Reducing Risk
• Care of the Older Person
• Pharmaceutical Public Health
• Quality Improvement (with University of Bath School of Management)

CPD Study

CPD intake points are throughout the year. If you wish to study programmatically and start with the recommended core generalist units, the upcoming intake point is April 2023.

For Postgraduate Certificate applications please click on the link below.

• Apply to Bath starting 27 March 2023.

The application deadline is 6 February 2023 at 5pm.

For CPD applications please click on the link below.

• Apply to Bath starting 27 March 2023.

The application deadline is 6 February 2023 at 5pm.

Download the guidance notes and forms.

Two references will be needed when applying for the MSc, Diploma, Certificate or CPD.

Transfer of credit from other institutions is possible. Please call the Programme Office to discuss this option.

Application process

We will review all applications and contact applicants with information about interviews, which may be face to face or via telephone.

After interviews, you will be notified of the decision of the University as soon as possible before the start of the course.

Please note that all elements of the application must be submitted on time for you to be considered for a place on the course. If the demand for places is greater than the number of places available, then the admissions panel will review applications following agreed selection criteria.

Values Based Recruitment

If you are working in or plan to work in the NHS, we follow the NHS Values Based Recruitment Guidance. We strongly believe in the NHS values and will be looking for them in our applicants.

All applicants will be assessed on individual merit, as well as their understanding and practice of NHS values in pharmacy. This assessment may take a variety of forms, including an interview. We strongly encourage all applicants to read the NHS Constitution before attending the interview.

You must:

• be a graduate of a recognised university and be registered as a practising pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (or for other health professionals, be a member of an appropriate professional body)
• ensure that you have a UK practice base to work within and access to patient notes (Community-based applicants will normally need to come to an arrangement with a local GP practice. The University can provide a letter to assist in gaining access to a GP Surgery for educational purposes.)

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, you will need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least 7.5 overall with no less than 7 in all components.