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Clinical Pharmacy Practice (Secondary Care)

This flexible, part-time master's level course for practising hospital pharmacists is evidence based with a problem-solving, practice-orientated approach.

Apply now for a March 2026 start

Flexible work-based learning

You'll be supported through web-based learning resources, online discussion and face-to-face learning events.

Choosing a Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma, MSc or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) option will help improve your professional status, developing your career prospects.

This course has two main cohorts a year, in April and September, but students can also start in January and June.

Course features

  • Choice of awards reflecting your area of professional interest
  • Excellent support and learner networks with a user-friendly virtual learning environment
  • Increased professional expertise and status with enhanced career prospects
  • Support in meeting CPD requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council and professional development in line with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society faculty frameworks

Dates for March 2026 start

  • Application deadline: Secondary Care applications are now open and close at 9am on 27 February 2026
  • Self-directed online induction: 23 March - 2 April 2026
  • Induction workshop: 24 or 31 March 2026
  • First unit start date: Monday 8 April 2026
  • Foundation workshop: 15 April 2026

Apply now for the Clinical Pharmacy Practice (Secondary Care) programme

Please see the CPD page for units starting in April 2026.

We would like to remind you that the online workshops are a very valuable element of the course. Please check the dates of workshops carefully, well in advance, and share them with your workplace to ensure you are able to attend. If you have any queries, including questions about the IT access required, please do contact a member of the team via the contact details at the bottom of this page and we can arrange a discussion to help resolve any issues.

Course details

Each unit lasts 11 weeks and is supported by online learning materials, live teaching sessions and optional face-to-face study days to support clinical skills.

CPD (individual units)

  • CPD units are 11 weeks
  • CPD intake points are throughout the year
  • Students can study any of our units as stand-alone CPD options or can continue their learning up to a master's qualification
  • Find out more about our CPD units

PGCert (Year one)

  • One year, part-time
  • This award can be achieved by successfully completing 60 CATS credits and the OSCE (Observed Structured Clinical Examination)

You can study combinations of units (including Independent Prescribing) to accumulate credit towards a named award.

PGDip (Year two)

  • Two years, part-time
  • This award can be achieved by successfully completing a further 60 CATS credits (a total of 120 CATS credits)

MSc (Year three)

  • Three years, part-time
  • This award can be achieved by successfully completing a further 60 CATS credits (a total of 180 CATS credits)
  • Study pathway as agreed with programme lead

Clinical Pharmacy Practice units

Find out more about the units available to study on our Clinical Pharmacy Practice courses.

Applications process

Make sure to complete all additional forms and upload these to your application tracker as required. Emailed forms will not be accepted.

Transfer of credit from other institutions is possible. Please email us ap3t@bath.ac.uk to discuss this option.

We will review all applications and contact applicants with information about interviews, if applicable. After any required interview, 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.

Entry requirements

Find out what criteria you need to meet before applying.

You must:

  • be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (unless you wish to study a single unit as CPD)
  • be supported by your employer
  • have an allocated work-based mentor (normally a more senior pharmacist) who will support your learning in practice and provide feedback on assignments
  • ensure that you have a UK practice base to work within and access to patient notes

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, you will need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least 6.5 overall with no less than 6 in all components.

Fees and funding

Go to our fees pages for more information on fees and how to pay them.

Please note that tuition fees do not cover travel, subsistence, delegate fees and accommodation at workshops.

Please refer to the forms and guidance notes before applying.

View and download all forms and guidance notes

Contact us

Contact us if you have any questions about the course or your application.