You will be directed through specific course assignments to engage with interprofessional learning activities; supporting your wider understanding of, and integration into, the healthcare team.

This course has two intakes a year. The next intake will be March 2022.

Course features

• Uses Bath’s blended-learning style of delivery: you will attend a series of face to face workshops, and have your learning at distance supported by our highly experienced educators via our Virtual Learning Environment.

• This course is GPhC accredited: successful completion will allow you to apply for annotation as Independent Prescriber on the General Pharmaceutical Council register.

• Leads to the award of 30 academic credits (CATS credits), which can be used to contribute to a range of academic awards with us including Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

• You will nominate a clinical area in which you'll train as an Independent Prescriber for the duration of the course. You must have existing expertise within this clinical area.

Workshop dates: March 2022 start

The Independent Prescribing course takes place over six months and you'll attend a series of mandatory workshops.

• Workshop days 1 & 2: 9 & 10 March 2022
• Workshop days 3 & 4 : 6 & 7 April 2022 (face to face on campus workshop)
• Workshop day 5: 11 May 2022
• Workshop day 6: 14 June 2022 (face to face on campus workshop)
• Workshop day 7: 29 June 2022
• Workshop day 8 (Assessment): 20 July 2022 (face to face on campus workshop)

We have successfully moved our teaching online in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. We have planned to have a hybrid model of teaching for the March 2022 cohort (some face-to-face and some remote workshops) although we will be reviewing University guidelines at all times. All dates remain the same whether face-to-face or virtual and these are all compulsory. Please ensure you can attend all dates and share with your workplace to ensure you can attend before you apply for this unit.

The Advanced Clinical Assessment unit results in the award of 30 academic credits (CATS credits), which can be used to contribute to a range of academic awards including Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

If you complete Independent Prescribing and Advanced Clinical Assessment units, you will gain the award of PG Cert in Prescribing and Therapeutics.

You can take Advanced Clinical Assessment as a standalone CPD unit if you have already completed an accredited Independent Prescribing course.

• Apply to Bath starting 9 March 2022. Induction is on 9 & 10 March 2022.

The application deadline is 17 January 2022.

Download the guidance notes and forms.

Please complete each form individually and upload through application tracker. Emailed forms will not be accepted.

Application process

We will review all applications in line with the selection criteria detailed below and contact applicants with information about interviews, which may be face to face or via telephone. Not all applicants will require an interview.

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 there are a number of forms that are required for the application process as well the online application form. All forms must be submitted by the deadline 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 (see below). We are currently accredited up to 40 students per cohort.

We will give priority to those students who have a current 2021/2 registration at the University and wish to complete Independent Prescribing as part of a named award. If you are a current student and wish to request a place on Independent Prescribing, please see Moodle for full details of how to proceed. If you are unsure whether this applies to you, please Email ap3t-admin@bath.ac.uk

All completed applications must meet GPhC entry requirements as detailed below. If the unit is oversubscribed, we will prioritise as follows:

• Previous experience of postgraduate study
• Training environment (DPP commitment to support in practice, description of specialism, plan for completion of mandatory clinical practice hours and identified clinical need/future role
• Funding

Deadline for new external applications (all forms to be submitted by this date): Monday 17th January 2022

• Online application form
• Academic reference form (NB if you do not have a recent academic reference we will accept a 2nd professional reference if they can comment on your ability to study at Masters level). Not needed if doing the prescribing unit as part of your diploma.
• Confirmation of sponsor form
• Declaration of support form
• Professional reference form
• Designated Prescriber Practitioner (DPP) form
• Professional context form
• Professional reference form
• Pharmacy Integration fund confirmation form – (pathway students only)

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:

• Have current registration with the GPhC Pharmacy Regulator or PSNI as a pharmacist
• Have at least two years appropriate patient orientated experience practising in a UK hospital, community or primary care setting following your pre-registration year
• Have an identified area of prescribing need and a clinical practice in which to develop these skills
• Have identified an appropriate prescribing practitioner to be your educational mentor as a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP). Download our guide with more information about the role of DPP.
• Have up-to-date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to your intended area of prescribing
• Demonstrate a reflective approach to your continuing professional development
• Demonstrate how you will develop personal multidisciplinary networks for support, reflection and learning
• Disclose any current or pending formal investigations into your clinical practice or if you are aware of any pending issues that may affect your ability to practise (we suggest these should be declared in confidence to the Course Lead)

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS score of at least 7 overall with no less than 6.5 in all components or at least 250 (computer-based test) with a score of not less than 5.0 in the TWE or 100 (internet-based test) with not less than 24 in each of the components.