Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists (Level 7) - 45 credits
Independent Prescribing (IP) is becoming an essential skill for pharmacists, to enhance their existing role or to act as a catalyst for role change. Our dedicated IP Team continues to develop the curriculum to ensure you meet the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) learning outcomes and are appropriately prepared for your future prescribing practice.
Please note, applications for this programme will open on 2 November 2026 for the February 2027 intake.
Month of entry
- September and February
Mode of study
- Part time
Fees for 2026/27 academic year
-
Part time - £3,300
Fees
Duration of study
- Part time: 6 months | Modular: Up to 2 years
This course is no longer accepting applications from international students for the 2026/27 academic year.
Why study Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists (Level 7) - 45 credits at Keele University?
About the course
Our course is designed specifically for pharmacists and both the course manager and course tutors are qualified prescribers. In addition, our course has been approved by the GPhC to be delivered by a distance learning format requiring only four days attendance at the University and a further two online study days over a 6-month period.
The distance learning format of the course enables busy health professionals to study where and when it is most convenient to them.
The aims and learning outcomes for the course are those stipulated by the GPhC for a full Independent Prescribing programme. They are expressed below in a manner that is compatible with Masters level study.
Following completion of the course, pharmacist independent prescribers will be able to demonstrate all 32 of the GPhC learning outcomes, by applying knowledge of therapeutics and prescribing to the condition(s) for which they intend to prescribe, using an evidence-based approach that takes into account recent research and current professional practice.
The learning outcomes are presented under four domains:
- person-centred care
- professionalism
- professional knowledge and skills, and
- collaboration
and can be accessed here.
Course structure
The course has been designed to allow students to meet all of the GPhC’s learning outcomes.
In addition, students are required to meet some selected prescribing competencies that are included in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s prescribing framework.
Provisional February 2027 study dates
Online
- Study day 1 - Tuesday 2nd February 2027
- Study day 2 - Wednesday 3rd February 2027
Keele campus
- Study day 3 - Tuesday 2nd March 2027
- Study day 4 - Wednesday 3rd March 2027
- Study day 5 - Tuesday 4th May 2027
- Study day 6 - Wednesday 5th May 2027
- Study day 7 - Wednesday 2nd June 2027
- Study day 8 - Tuesday 10th August 2027
N.B. It is compulsory that you attend all of the above study days in order to complete the Independent Prescribing course.
There will be additional travel and accommodation costs (if required) to attend the face to face study days.
What you will study
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
The following entrance requirements are stipulated by the GPhC and the University:
- Current registration with GPhC &/or PSNI as a practising pharmacist and be of good standing with their Regulatory Body
- Have appropriate patient orientated experience practising in a hospital, community or primary care setting
- Identify an area of clinical practice and need in which to develop their prescribing skills
- Understand the role of an Independent Prescriber and the required skills and attributes
- Able to provide written endorsement from an appropriate Designated Prescribing Practitioner - (DPP) that they will supervise the 'learning in practice' element of the course. This should be in the clinical area in which the pharmacist intends to prescribe independently immediately on qualification.
Please note, places on each cohort are limited to 60 and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis to completed applications submitted.
The following resources will support you in your role as a DPP.
- NPC Training non-medical prescribers in practice
- RPS A competency framework for Designated Prescribing Practitioners
- Designated Prescribing Practitioner - Information
- Designated Prescribing Practitioners - Summary
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application. For international students, find out how we work with approved agents as part of our admissions process.
Postgraduate funding and scholarshipsFees, funding and scholarships
Fees
2026/27 academic year
For start dates between September 2026 and July 2027.
| Type of study | Fees (per year) |
|---|
Part time - £3,300
2027/28 academic year
For start dates between September 2027 and July 2028.
| Type of study | Fees (per year) |
|---|
Part time - £4,550
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Funding
Whether you're continuing from undergraduate study or returning to education, our dedicated financial support team is here to help.
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in this case, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2026 start date falls in the 2025/26 academic year. Please see the tuition fees archive for the 2025/26 fees.
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our financial support team.
Scholarships
We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage for more information.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Scholarships
We know that understanding what support is available for postgraduate students is an important step in planning your future and we are committed to rewarding excellence and potential.
Visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage to find out more about our scholarships, including:
- Keele Global Scholarship – up to £5000 tuition fee discount for international students (2027/28)
- Keele Graduate Scholarship – up to £3000 tuition fee discount for home students (2027/28)
Terms and conditions apply.
Additional costs
There are no additional costs for this course. However, students may incur general expenses related to university study, such as for printing, textbooks and other materials. Students who undertake a placement may be responsible for additional costs, such as travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs. For further information, please refer to the additional costs information.
Teaching, learning and assessment
An interactive distance learning module and a Professional Portfolio of Practice provide the backbone of the IP course with additional clinical and consultation skills taught on six compulsory study days. Student development is achieved via structured and self-directed learning and measured by achievement of learning outcome and prescribing competencies.
In your programme you will sometimes be expected to role play and engage in simulated clinical scenarios with other students, such as the practice and observation of practical skills in physical contact with other students. For some specific practices, this may necessitate modification of dress - e.g., to shorts and t-shirt. These activities will be conducted in a professional, safe, respectful and culturally sensitive way, under the supervision of academic staff, according to a defined protocol.
A variety of work-based assessments and coursework is used to meet students’ individual learning needs and maximise experiential learning opportunities.
These include:
- Professional Practice Portfolio
- Patient Case study
- Clinical and consultation skills assessment
