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PHA-40120 - Module Specification
School of Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 16 September 2026

PHA-40120 - MPharm Programme Stage 4
Coordinator: Kalpesh Thakrar Tel: +44 1782 7 34796
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 7
Credits: 120
Study Hours: 1200
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module aims to further develop your core skills in relation to the practice and science of pharmacy in the context of clinical care of patients. The module completes the implementation of the plan to create a modern, integrated and fully contextualised MPharm course, continuing a course structure that will be familiar to students progressing from previous years. The structure, of one year-long fully integrated programme of study, allows material to be delivered in a coherent and logical order, and enables effective monitoring and feedback mechanisms. You will also have the opportunity to gain the necessary theoretical background to becoming an independent pharmacist prescriber.
You will also explore specialisms within pharmacy, including research and sector-specific practice. On completion of this module you will be fully prepared to enter their pre-registration training year.

Aims
This module aims to further develop students core skills in relation to the practice and science of pharmacy in the context of clinical care of patients. Students will also continue to explore specialisms within pharmacy, including research and sector-specific practice.
On completion of this module students will be fully prepared to enter their foundation training year.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Explain in detail how molecular genetics can be applied in clinical research, in the diagnosis of disease states, and in the design of appropriate therapies using pharmacogenomics: 2,8
Undertake critical appraisal of the impact on pharmacy practice of recent legislative changes (including EC directives) and professional developments: 7
Interpret the impact of recent advances in therapeutics on patient care: 2,5
Keep abreast of new technologies and use data and digital technologies to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety, keeping to information governance principles: 2,5,7
Critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship and practice in selected specialist topics and accurately undertake data acquisition in a relevant project area if appropriate: 1,2,3,4
Communicate progress reports and conclusions on work carried out to specialist and non-specialist audiences: 3,4
Critically evaluate patients' responses to therapeutic interventions and modify treatment where appropriate: 2,5,7,8
Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the consultation process in different clinical settings: 1,5,6,7
Justify decisions made according to the principles of risk management: 2,5,7
Critically evaluate the available evidence to make informed decisions and solve complex problems related to patient care: 1,2,5,6,7
Obtain informed consent before providing care and pharmacy services: 1,6,7
Demonstrate competence in calculations related to evidence-based medicine, clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutics: 5,6,7,8
Demonstrate effective leadership and management skills as part of the multi-disciplinary team: 7
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in a manner that reflects professional practice in a variety of settings: 1,2,5,6,7

Study hours

Taught sessions (including large- and small-group teaching sessions, seminars, tutorials, electives, projects and one-to-one interaction): 250 hours (approx.)
Placement: 480 hours (approx.)
Directed study linked to the above: 270 hours (approx.)
Non-directed private study and preparation time for assessment: 200 hours (approx.)
Total: 1,200 hours
NB there will be variation in the contact time for individual students based upon the project topic selected.

School Rules

Successful completion of MPharm Programme Stage 3 (FHEQ Level 6) at a minimum overall module mark of 50% with all SCIMS components passed.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 10%
Shared Decision Making (SDM) consultation
Each student will conduct a role-played consultation with a patient to arrive at a shared decision about their care. The patient will be played by an actor. The SDM consultation will be 10 minutes in duration.

2: Assignment weighted 25%
Therapeutic Framework
Students will produce work relating to the management of patient cases. This will be individual work with the production of a report. The word count for the Therapeutic Framework is 3000 (including tables) +10%.

3: Assignment weighted 18%
Research Proposal (Part 1) - Report
Students will be assessed by form of a research proposal. This will be one of the following: - Research Study - Clinical Audit - Quality Improvement Project (QIP) - Service Evaluation Maximum word count for the report will be 3000 words (+10%). This assessment links to Research Proposal (Part 2) - Viva.

4: Viva weighted 12%
Research Proposal (Part 2) - Viva
Students will be assessed by form of a viva based on their research proposal report (Research Proposal (Part 1) - Report). This will be one of the following: - Research Study - Clinical Audit - Quality Improvement Project (QIP) - Service Evaluation The students will complete a 10-minute viva examination to defend and justify the report.

5: Presentation weighted 10%
Patient case
Students will undertake a formal presentation of a patient case followed by questions. The details of the patient case will be obtained whilst on clinical placement. The patient case presentation will be between 8-10 minutes followed by 5 minutes of questions. The slides will have a pass/fail mark based on submitting the slides by the given deadline. The presentation will receive a mark based on the generic mark scheme. Failure to submit the slides by the deadline will result in a failure of this assessment.

6: Objective Structured Skills & Clinical Examination weighted 0%
Final competency based assessment
Students will complete a multi-station competency based assessment (CBA) that will focus on skills and knowledge required for day one of pharmacy practice. CBA stations will include for example: dispensing exercises, clinical skills, communication skills in the context of health promotion, recent changes to governance and regulatory requirements. There will be an opportunity for formative / mock assessment in the CBA under exam conditions.

7: Professional Development weighted 0%
Professional skills development
This assessment comprises students participation in a number of activities that reflect attributes of pharmacists in professional practice. These include CPD activities, competency assessments (including pharmacy placement skills, calculations, communication skills and placement portfolio of competence), case studies in ethics, and evidence of professionalism measured by Professional Activity Credits.

8: Exam weighted 25%
Integrated examination
This examination will be an integrated exam focusing on teaching materials studied. VSA Paper - 20 questions in 40 minutes. Clinical Problem Solving Exam - 3 cases completed in groups of 3 students over 3 hours.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 16 September 2026