Pharmacy - MPharm
Pharmacists are clinical professionals working at the frontline of healthcare with expertise in the science of medicines. A career as a pharmacist goes beyond dispensing medicines and offers exciting career opportunities in primary care, secondary care, community pharmacies and within the global pharmaceutical industry.
Year of entry
- 2023
Course type
- Integrated Master's
UCAS code
- B230
Duration of study
- 4 years
Why study Pharmacy at Keele University?
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"I would 100% recommend Keele for anyone interested in pharmacy. You'll get a very varied pharmacy course at Keele, much different to other universities. You'll also get many new and exciting placements, not available to everyone (the tutors work really hard to organise these), and the teaching style or tutorials, lectures and group projects makes for a very fun and productive 4 years."
Additional opportunities
There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.
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. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.
Additional information
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check (Enhanced plus Barring Lists) will be required for successful candidates.
The University follows the DBS Code of Practice in these issues and can provide a copy of the Code on request.
Health checks
A satisfactory health check will be required for successful candidates.
Interview
If you meet the academic entry requirements you will be offered an interview. The interview will be conducted online by an academic from the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering. If you are successful at interview you will be made an offer.
A Level requirements
- ABB
- Biology or Chemistry at grade B or above
- We do not accept Dual award Applied Science, Critical Thinking, General Studies, Maths and Further Maths in combination. Media Studies only accepted with both Chemistry and Biology
GCSE requirements
- Maths at B (or 5). If taken to AS/ A Level equivalent we can accept GCSE Maths at C (or 4). Please contact Admissions for further advice: admissions@keele.ac.uk
- English Language at C (or 4) or above
BTEC requirements
- DDM (Level 3 Extended Diploma only)
- You must have taken certain Science units. Please contact Admissions for further advice: admissions@keele.ac.uk
International Baccalaureate
- H6, H5, H5 or 32 points overall. Must include H6 in Biology or Chemistry
Access to HE Diploma requirements
- Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 15 Level 3 credits at Merit. 30 credits are required in Biology and/or Chemistry. Please contact Admissions for further advice: admissions@keele.ac.uk
T Levels
Distinction overall and a grade A in Core Component in the following subjects:
- Health
- Healthcare Science
- Science
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 .
Alternative and contextual offers
We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.
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.
"My journey at Keele has been an incredible experience, with the School of Pharmacy being very supportive and attentive to myself and my peers on the MPharm course. From lectures to clinical placements, it was easy to feel integrated and immersed into the different aspects of pharmacy, allowing me to develop my analytical and interpersonal skills, alongside acquiring a great deal of clinical knowledge. Moving forward, I feel proficient in entering the pharmacy profession, knowing I will be able to impact patients’ lives beneficially through the knowledge and acumen in which the Keele School of Pharmacy have instilled in me."
Facilities
Clinical Skills Suite
In our Clinical Skills Suite, we have a mock dispensary and six consultation rooms enabling you to develop essential pharmacist competencies such as labelling and selecting medication correctly. You will use the consultation rooms to facilitate expanding your expertise and increasing your confidence in communicating with patients.
Keele Augmented Reality Environment (KARE)
The School uses uses the KARE for patient simulation. It allows students to explore patient cases, including the prescribing of medicines, to ensure patients receive the best possible treatment. These virtual patients help you to learn those pivotal communication skills in a safe environment.
Central Science Labs
State-of-the-art laboratories with industrial research grade analytical and laboratory equipment that you will use in some of your laboratory teaching.
Campus Pharmacy
Well Pharmacy has a branch located at the heart of Keele campus offering some opportunities for you to work in a real pharmacy and engage with patients.
Pharmacy at Keele
Foundation year
Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.
This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.
Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.
The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.
Course content
Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.
This Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the MPharm Pharmacy course. For example, in the Academic and Professional Development for Health module you will begin to develop an awareness of professional standards that you will be working to in your degree and professional career. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.
On this Foundation Year, we will advance your knowledge of human biology and chemistry, giving you a solid grasp of body systems, science and lab work. You'll develop safe, professional laboratory skills and get to know the mathematical techniques and quantitative methods used across health science-related and social care programmes. You will also be introduced to concepts relating to organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry.
Throughout the programme, you will develop subject-specific and broad based skills that will be invaluable in your academic career and beyond. You can find out more about our Foundation Year, Including Information on learning, teaching and assessment methods and further opportunities available to you by visiting our homepage.
Course structure
The module details given below are indicative and will give you a good idea of the range of subjects that we teach. We regularly review our teaching to ensure that the modules we offer are up-to-date; therefore, the modules available to study are liable to change.
Semester one modules
| FYO-00237 | Foundations of Human Biology for Health | 15 credits |
| FYO-00241 | Foundations of Chemistry for Health | 15 credits |
| FYO-00213 | Foundations of Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Health Students | 15 credits |
Semester two modules
| FYO-00239 | Advancing Human Biology for Health | 30 credits |
| FYO-00243 | Advancing Chemistry for Health | 15 credits |
Year long modules (semesters one and two)
| FYO-00181 | Academic and Professional Development for Health | 15 credits |
Entry requirements
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check (Enhanced plus Barring Lists) will be required for successful candidates.
Health checks
A satisfactory health check will be required for successful candidates.
Interview
If you meet the academic entry requirements you will be offered an interview. The interview will be conducted virtually by an academic from the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering and a current student, using Microsoft Teams. If you are successful at interview you will be made an offer.
|
A-levels |
Subjects NOT accepted |
Alternative Qualifications |
Additional GCSE requirements |
|
A-level grades BBB are required if not taking A-level Chemistry or Biology. A-level grades CCC are required if taking A-level Chemistry or Biology. In addition applicants are required to have a successful interview |
General Studies and Critical Thinking |
GCSE English Language at grade C (or 4) and Maths at grade C (or 4). |
Progression requirements
To progress to Year 1, students will be required to achieve 40% from the Semester 1 modules, plus a 65% average from the remaining 75 credits to give a total of 120 credits. You will also be required to complete a declaration stating no change in your fitness to practice.
How to apply
UCAS Applications
Visit UCAS for applications. You should apply for Pharmacy with Foundation Year
UCAS code: B231
Direct entry students
If you are a UK or EU student, already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.
The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.
We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.
Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.
In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.
Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.
For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.
Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.
Discover the Keele difference
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Make yourself more employable after graduation by taking advantage of the whole host of additional opportunities.