This course is an exciting and varied blend of academic and clinical learning. It will provide you with a unique learning experience, and the professional knowledge and skills required to develop your practice and excel as a clinical pharmacy practitioner.
With a focus on developing the knowledge and skills required for the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical pharmacy services, the course is underpinned by a student-led approach to learning and facilitates the acquisition of problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills. By combining academic and theoretical learning with experience of professional practice, the course helps you to develop the skills appropriate for the modern clinical pharmacy practitioner, and to face the challenges and make the most of the opportunities you will face in the future.
Specialist practitioner e-tutors, teacher practitioners and academic staff facilitate learning in small groups with real-life problem-based scenarios, sharing knowledge, expertise and practice related experiences.
In the Patient Centered Clinical Pharmacy Practice module you will develop the knowledge and skills required for the systematic synthesis, implementation, evaluation and communication of care plans for patients with complex pharmaceutical care needs.
Your personal and professional practice will be developed in the Developing Personal Practice module by studying ways in which to promote effective communication and professionalism. You will also cover aspects of education and learning necessary for the professional development of other members of the healthcare team.
In the modules Implementing and Evaluating Clinical Pharmacy Service and Organisational Aspects of Clinical Pharmacy Service Development and Implementation you will consider the service-related aspects of being a clinical pharmacy practitioner. You will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to systematically implement services and to evaluate service outcomes, utilising evidence-based recommendations to develop services in order to improve health. You will develop practical experience of designing a research project in providing you with the knowledge and skills required to design, execute and report on a research project.
A key element of the course is the use of simulation-based learning within our dedicated Pharmacy Simulation Centre and Clinical Skills Centre. This prepares you for periods of clinical learning on short professional practice placements, allowing you to integrate knowledge and skills learned in class, with core skills such as patient care and communication skills. This provides an enhanced learning experience as you transition between the academic and clinical learning environments.
We use a variety of teaching and learning methods which are grounded in adult reflective learning theory and adopt the principles of continuing professional development. An evidence-based approach is central to the teaching philosophy, with integrated, case-based methods to student learning embedded at all stages, to facilitate acquisition of problem-solving, critical thinking and decision making skills. This increases the relevance and meaning of the subject matter and enhances motivation and peer support networks. Ownership of the learning material is encouraged, increasing the depth of learning achieved. Overall, this approach means that you’ll be well-prepared for your future practice as a clinical pharmacy practitioner.
ACTIVITY SUMMARY
INDEPENDENT STUDY
There is an emphasis on fostering self-reliance in analysis and problem-solving, giving you confidence to seek practical solutions to problems and evaluate your own skills to identify your strengths and areas for development. As an independent and reflective life-long-learner you will have team-working and reflection abilities, which are essential for developing, implementing and evaluating clinical pharmacy services.
STAFF DELIVERING ON THIS COURSE
Lecturers are practiced academics, with active links to national and international pharmacy organisations including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, General Pharmaceutical Council, Canadian Pharmaceutical Association, Royal Pharmaceutical Society Faculty, The European Society of Clinical Pharmacy and the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists. They also have experience and links to a host of pharmacy and clinical practice settings, and bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to the classroom. They are facilitators of learning who support you to build on your pre-existing graduate skills in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere. You will be assigned a personal tutor for pastoral care and to assist in any general matters that relate to your studies.
ASSESSMENT
You will be assessed by continuous assessment based on your acquisition and application of knowledge in practice-related problem-based scenarios and activities including: responding to case studies, developing care plans and essay responses to specific topics and contribution to online discussion forums, formative peer-assessed essays, short answer problem/case study questions and multiple-choice questions.
Typically students are assessed each year:
You will be provided with short periods of practice experience focused on the delivery of clinical pharmacy services to patients in a range of practice settings. These periods are a compulsory component of the course and will be arranged by the University and are unpaid. Experienced clinicians provide supervision and additional teaching in a clinical setting during these periods of experience enabling you to put theory into context.
This is a career-enhancing course which offer unique learning experience, and the professional knowledge and skills required to develop your practice and excel as a clinical pharmacy practitioner.
Equip yourself to become a leader in the profession with the Master of Clinical Pharmacy.
Our new course structure acknowledges a shift in the way pharmacy is practiced: clinical pharmacy no longer happens only in hospitals. With the growth of patient-centred care, clinical pharmacy is being practiced in a wide variety of healthcare settings.
You will have the option of completing the course through either:
All of the subject areas covered within the Master of Pharmacy Practice are still available, but now you’ll be able to study them in the coursework-only stream. In the coursework stream you’ll be able to select units to suit your interest and career aspirations. These studies cover aspects of pharmacy practice, clinical pharmacy, health-care related economics and wound care.
If you're a pharmacist looking to include a practice-based research project in your study, the coursework and research stream will help you gain specialist clinical knowledge in addition to advanced skills in research and clinical pharmacy practice.
The course is structured in 2 parts:
All students complete both Part A and Part B.
Part A: Core master's studies
You will complete
within the first 3 units; and
within the final 2 units
Part B: Advanced studies
You will choose a stream to suit your interests and career aspirations. You can choose from
This MSc is an advanced-level programme offered by UCL School of Pharmacy together with several local hospitals or teaching hospitals within London. It is designed for overseas pharmacists who wish to develop the clinical expertise and leadership skills needed to deliver enhanced pharmacy services adapted to their home countries.
Pharmacists will develop clinical pharmacy skills, inquisitive and enquiring approaches to practice and pharmaceutical care delivery, critical thinking and appraisal skills, transferable skills for pharmaceutical care services in new settings and environments, and an international perspective on healthcare systems and health needs of different populations worldwide.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (120 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and workshops, case tutorials and small-group work. Assessment is through written examination, coursework, resesarch projects and oral presentations.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Clinical Pharmacy, International Practice and Policy MSc
Graduates of this programme usually return to their home countries to work in governnment ministries, hospitals and universities, or pursue a PhD in the UK or overseas.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The programme is centred on the health priorities of the World Health Organisation, which includes diabetes, cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Approximately half of the programme is delivered through taught modules at the UCL School of Pharmacy with the remaining time spent gaining clinical and research experience at hospitals in the London area under the tutelage of clinical pharmacy specialists.
Students develop new learning styles as they progress through the programme. This makes for a stimulating and challenging year where self-development is central.
This programme has drawn international students from approximately 40 countries worldwide.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: School of Pharmacy
87% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This MSc course is for pharmacy graduates who want to gain experience of clinical pharmacy practice in the UK as well as a postgraduate qualification.
As a student on this course, you will study new developments in the areas of clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice and spend time in our clinical skills laboratory.
Workshops make extensive use of patient simulation technology known as SimMan 3G, which allows for realistic and challenging scenario-based learning to help with the development of critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills.
You will also have the chance to undertake a placement in a clinical setting to maximise your practical experience and interact with other healthcare professionals and patients.
The Extended Masters (EMA) gives international applicants the opportunity to take an intensive English language course before starting their degree. Successful completion of the EMA allows you to progress automatically to the MSc.
This is a 12-month, full-time course with a combination of seven modules run over two semesters, one independent study module and six university-based modules.
The independent study module is supported by specifically written module materials and staff-led tutorial sessions. The remaining six modules involve a mixture of lectures, skills-based workshops and research-based activity.
You will need to complete a research project and will have a supervisor to support you.
Modules
Options
Applied Therapeutics is a distance-learning module supported by a workbook, tutorials and a clinical placement, giving you an in-depth understanding of the therapeutic process by examining the major diseases that affect the population. It uses evidence-based practice to assist in rational drug therapy, taking patient factors and economic considerations into account.
Pharmaceutical Skills is a year-long module that gives you the necessary skills to practise pharmacy. These skills include those in communication, record keeping, numeracy, teamwork, literature searching and evaluating, dispensing, and diagnostic and patient management.
The Special Topic varies according to your interests. Example topics include diabetes, oxidative stress, human disease and the pharmaceutical care of surgical patients.
The Project module is the largest of the course. It mainly involves independent study, requiring you to collect and analyse your own data and report on your findings, but you will also have a project supervisor who will support and guide you throughout the academic year.
The types of project vary and some may require ethical approval before they begin. Examples of projects that the course leader has supervised include:
All Clinical Pharmacy students have access to our SimMan 3G, a highly advanced patient simulator that allows you to monitor vital signs, detect numerous signs of disease and assess clinical response to drug treatment in real time.
The simulator can be programmed to exhibit the symptoms of specific medical conditions, so you can apply your theoretical knowledge to a variety of practical scenarios. This will help you to be more confident when faced with similar real-life situations.
You will graduate with enhanced career opportunities and a deeper understanding of research methodology, which may be appropriate for further study of a PhD. The course is beneficial to students who have had a career break and want to get back into the workplace, or who want a career change to a role more focused in clinical pharmacy.
This programme has been developed to ensure that pharmacists working in primacy care and at the interface with secondary care are highly skilled in clinical pharmacy, enabling them to fully embrace the advancing role of the pharmacist in these interprofessional settings.
•Aimed at pharmacists working in community pharmacies, general medical practices or hospital outpatient pharmacies operated by community providers
•Apply your skills to your day-to-day work and enhance your practice from day one
•Demonstrate best practice on a course aligned to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Foundation Pharmacy Framework
•Benefit from clinical teaching delivered by specialist practising pharmacists
•Optional Independent Prescribing pathway (subject to accreditation by the GPhC)
•LJMU is one of only four universities accredited by the RPS under their Foundation Training School scheme and has over 25 years' experience offering postgraduate training in Clinical Pharmacy
The University operates all of its programmes on a modular basis. Two intakes will be offered each year, in April and October and students can enrol with the PgCert/PgDip/MSc as their target award.
The MSc will allow students to excel in their professional practice. It is an important early step en route to becoming a leader in the field. The course runs over three years (part-time), but for students who wish to stage their development, it is also offered as a one year Postgraduate Certificate or two year Postgraduate Diploma, both of which can be subsequently topped up by returning to the course.
You will be assigned a clinical liaison tutor (CLT) at enrolment who will keep in regular contact with you and visit you in your workplace to undertake assessments. The CLTs main role is to support the you through your studies and help you to demonstrate your competence through a professional practice portfolio.
The MSc level Research Project is undertaken in your workplace under the supervision of a University supervisor, with support from a local mentor, where available.
The programme is delivered with the support of our Virtual Learning Environment (Canvas), which will provide a range of learning activities to develop your knowledge in clinical pharmacy and related topics. This student-led learning is supported by face-to face study days (nine in year 1 and between five and nine in year 2) as well as two to three virtual workshops in years 1 and 2, supplemented by workplace visits from the student's CLT where work-based assessments will take place.
If you are enrolling on the PgDip or MSc you can complete an Independent Prescribing qualification as part of the programme or take a non-prescribing pathway. The PgDip (Prescribing) or MSc (Prescribing) awards will allow students to apply for Independent Prescribing annotation from the General Pharmaceutical Council (subject to course accreditation by the GPhC).
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Level 7
Key areas include:
•Common acute and chronic conditions
•Specialist clinical pharmacy practice
•Optimisation of therapy and person centre care
•Clinical consultation skills and clinical reasoning
•Development, delivery and evaluation of healthcare practice/service provision
plus:
Non-prescribing pathway:
•Leadership and mentorship
•Public health pharmacy
or:
Prescribing pathway:
•Clinical skills
•Effective Prescribing
Further guidance on modules
The information listed in the section entitled ‘What you will study’ is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal Academic Framework review, so may be subject to change. Students will be required to undertake modules that the University designates as core and will have a choice of designated option modules. Additionally, option modules may be offered subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Academic Framework reviews are conducted by LJMU from time to time to ensure that academic standards continue to be maintained. A review is currently in progress and will be operational for the academic year 2016/2017. Final details of this programme’s designated core and option modules will be made available on LJMU’s website as soon as possible and prior to formal enrolment for the academic year 2016/2017.
Please email [email protected] if you require further guidance or clarification.
This is a career-enhancing course that will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to have a positive impact on patients’ lives and make a difference in the field of clinical practice.
This course has been designed to deliver a broad education in clinical pharmacy for all qualified Pharmacists irrespective of their country of undergraduate study or practice, and provides an opportunity to focus your studies more specifically to your area of practice. It will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance your decision-making and patient care abilities.
PGCERT STAGE (STAGE 1) - 30 WEEKS, JAN-AUG
The first two modules in Pharmaceutical Care Planning and Therapeutics are common and are studied over 2 semesters.
PGDIP STAGE 2 (STAGE 2) - 60 WEEKS, SEP-JUN
In this stage students choose two 30-credit modules from the four options including; Medicines Management: Collaborative Working - where you will critically explore successful approaches to practice that ensure safe, effective and efficient use of medicines through collaborative working; Developing and Implementing Models of Care – where you will critically investigate the structures, processes and outcomes of a variety of pharmacy services in specialist areas including hospital, community and primary care; Person Centred Care – where you will develop an understanding of person-centred care with a focus on pharmaceutical care and service provision; and Prescribing: theory and practice – where you will understand the basic skills needed to establish a pharmacist prescribing service in practice.
MSC STAGE (STAGE 3) - 90 WEEKS, JUL-APR
In this stage you will undertake Health Services Research – and develop skills and expertise in relation to research and development of pharmacy services.
You will be taught part-time via our virtual learning environment CampusMoodle, allowing you to develop clinical knowledge and skills while you remain in employment.
The Course Leader is a central point for information and support with regard to the delivery of the course. It is also recommended that you have a work-placed mentor to provide local support and encouragement.
ACTIVITY SUMMARY
INDEPENDENT STUDY
All your materials will be provided online and are designed to allow self-assessment of learning needs.
STAFF DELIVERING ON THIS COURSE
Staff delivering this course are practiced academics, with active links to national and international industry bodies including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, General Pharmaceutical Council, Canadian Pharmaceutical Association, Royal Pharmaceutical Society Faculty, and the Chamber of Pharmacist of Austria and Germany.
The Course Leader is your central point for information and support with regard to the delivery of the course. You will be supported by e-tutors who are all practicing clinical pharmacy practitioners. They review the learning materials, provide real-life case scenarios and participate in the marking of practice related assessments. They facilitate discussion and learning within the modules and bring a unique practice-related perspective to learning.
ASSESSMENT
You will be assessed by continuous assessment based on your acquisition and application of knowledge in practice-related problem-based scenarios and activities including: responding to case studies, developing care plans and essay responses to specific topics and contribution to online discussion forums, formative peer-assessed essays, short answer problem/case study questions and multiple-choice questions.
Typically students are assessed each year:
This course has been designed in collaboration with employers in both primary and secondary care to ensure that the course is kept up-to-date and in line with current practice and the demands of the workplace. The multi-disciplinary nature of the course enhances its appeal to employers and as a result, career prospects are excellent.
Your employer will benefit from your completion of this course as it is designed to enable you to develop in the key competency areas for clinical practice. This will mean that you are able to make a valuable contribution to the provision of clinical pharmacy services through the application of aspects of your learning in areas such as direct patient care, personal, problem-solving, and management and organisation.
Our professionally recognised MSc/PGDip Clinical Pharmacy course and offers a mix of clinical, applied practice, public health and research units, giving you the knowledge and skills to be an excellent clinical pharmacist.
You will also cover applied practice topics including health economics, public health, pharmacy practice research, training others and organisational influences on healthcare.
If you want to undertake research, you will be supported by one of our leading academic researchers to undertake a small-scale clinical research project to complete the MSc award.
Following four compulsory units in Year 1, you can choose from 12 units in Year 2 to tailor the course to your own interests.
There are two learning routes to suit pharmacists in all patient-facing roles and with differing work demands.
Distance learning
This is a completely online route and allows you to study from home at times convenient to you, which is ideal for international students, shift workers and those based outside the Manchester area.
Interactive online learning supplemented by webinars will enhance your skills in optimising drug therapy and clinical problem-solving. This route is open to pharmacists in any patient-facing role.
Blended learning
This route consists of seven study days per year and interactive online learning that will enhance your clinical knowledge, teaching you to optimise drug therapy and develop your problem-solving skills.
You need to be in a patient-facing role and will need both a suitable work environment and work-based tutor. Study days are mandatory.
This route is generally aimed at Band 6 and 7 pharmacists who are seeking to develop within the NHS.
Both routes are open to qualified pharmacists who would like to develop their clinical skills and enhance their practice.
Accreditation
The content of this course is accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). We are an RPS Foundation School and are recognised by the RPS for our commitment to pursuing and promoting quality and excellence within the profession.
By working towards foundation level practice, you may be awarded a certificate of professional recognition, which is highly sought after by employers.
This course aims to help you develop:
Apply your knowledge to work
The content of this course has been written by clinical experts with a focus on workplace application.
Varied unit options
This course can be tailored to meet the needs of your own career goals through a range of optional course units in the second year and choice of research dissertation in the final year. We offer a selection of 16 learning units, including unique optional units such as paediatrics, mental health, public health and leadership.
Develop research skills
You will have the opportunity to conduct master's-level research within a university ranked number 1 for research power in pharmacy within the UK in the national Research Excellence Framework (UoA3 REF 2014).
The course uses a range of teaching and learning approaches, including:
Blended or online learning?
We offer both blended and distance learning study options to suit your own location and circumstances.
All students will benefit from:
Blended learning students will benefit from:
Distance learning students will benefit from:
We use a range of assessments that allow you to demonstrate your clinical knowledge and skills in medicines optimisation and critical analysis.
We use a variety of formative and summative assessments including online quizzes and exams, participation in online discussion boards, patient case studies and care plans, oral case presentations, professional development and clinical portfolios and research protocol.
Candidates for all three awards will need to achieve an overall mark of 50% in each course unit to progress.
You will study four core units to build your clinical, problem-solving and critical appraisal skills.
You will choose four optional units from the following:
A choice of research dissertation is offered, based upon your research aspirations and opportunities in your workplace.
This postgraduate qualification will allow you to develop their chosen career path within the pharmacy profession by providing advanced clinical knowledge, problem-solving skills and a critical awareness of the role of pharmacy services within the healthcare system.
Optional specialist units allow you to directly align your learning with their career aspirations.
The course develops pharmacists into individuals who can improve patient care by demonstrating leadership and excellent clinical skills, which is sought-after by employers.
Research is actively promoted and further study to PhD level is possible for successful candidates.
The content of this course is accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
Our course has strong links with the teaching hospitals in and around Manchester.
Many specialist and expert pharmacists contribute to the teaching to create a truly contemporary and progressive course.
This course enables pharmacists to apply knowledge of medicines actions and formulations in patient care. You’ll also develop the skills required to promote effective use of medicines in all areas of pharmacy practice.
You’ll study the scientific and clinical factors that influence treatment with medicines and the delivery of pharmaceutical care. Advanced training in the practice of pharmacy will enable you to judge new treatments critically and to plan and develop clinical services.
The course content includes:
If you successfully complete all assessments and want to continue to MSc, you’ll carry out a three-month individual research project.
The Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS) offers an excellent environment for research and teaching. It’s located in a new building with several laboratories. All labs are fitted with modern equipment.
Semester 1
Students study two classes that are designed to introduce key concepts and skills in a clinical setting, including pharmaceutical care planning, patient interview skills and bedside teaching, and to develop critical analysis and reflection.
Semester 2
Students choose two electives that align with their clinical interests. Topics may include:
Students who successfully complete all assessments and wish to continue to MSc will carry out a three-month individual research project in a clinical setting and submit a thesis.
The course is delivered as workshops and tutorials in small group teaching.
Each element is assessed by a series of assignments based on students’ clinical evaluations.
Gaining clinical pharmacy skills offers a route into enhanced career progression within pharmacy.
How much will I earn?
In the NHS, salaries for specialist pharmacists range from £30,764 to £40,588 (Band 7). Promotion to this band is normally possible after two to three years at Band 6.*
Job titles include:
Take your career to the next level with the UK's number 1 School of Pharmacy (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016)
New for 2016/17, our new MSc in Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice provides a flexible programme of study that is designed to develop the therapeutic knowledge and clinical practice skills of pharmacists to an advanced level.
- Open to local, national and international applicants
- Open to pharmacists from all employment sectors
- Blend of distance and work-based learning
- Independent Prescribing option for UK pharmacists (subject to GPhC accreditation)
- Management and leadership development option
- Optional on-campus and local hospital teaching for International students
This programme replaces our previous Clinical Pharmacy and Community Pharmacy programmes.
This programme is delivered using a combination of distance and work-based learning; there is no requirement to attend QUB at any stage. This format allows delivery to pharmacists globally and we welcome applications from international pharmacists.
Students are provided with access to their module study materials and online resources via Queen's Online, the QUB online learning environment. Modules are studied and coursework is submitted according to a timetable provided at the start of the course. A variety of assessments are used throughout this programme including case studies, online tests, written coursework and workbooks. Written coursework is uploaded and returned via Queen's Online.
Therapeutics examination
Students sit a written therapeutics examination at the end of the first and second years. UK examination centres are located in London, Glasgow, Bradford and Belfast. Examination venues are arranged for international students in their countries of residence. These are normally at the nearest British Council office.
MSc research supervision
In the Master's (MSc) year, students undertake a work-based research or audit project and submit a dissertation at the end of the year. Each student is allocated to a member of the School's academic staff who supervises their work and the preparation of the dissertation. Students are required to submit progress reports and dissertation drafts to their supervisor according to a timetable throughout the year.
The MSc is normally completed over a period of 36 months, however, credit transfer may be available for students who already possess a suitable postgraduate qualification. Sufficient credit transfer may allow the student to complete the PG Diploma in 12 months or the MSc in 24 months.
Full details and an online application form can be found at http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPharmacy/ or contact Dr Brian McCaw on 028 9097 2004 (+4428 9097 2004).
