This programme has been designed in close collaboration with NHS partners to support the development of foundation stage pharmacists. Build your knowledge and skills in clinical pharmacy practice and medicines management. Gain the core skills required to provide holistic pharmaceutical care in the practice setting.
We work on a philosophy of student-centred workplace learning, supported by workbooks and learning sets facilitated by experienced pharmacy practitioners. You are expected to take responsibility for managing your learning and achieving the course objectives in support of your continuing professional development (CPD).
You will gain the understanding needed to conduct effective consultations with patients respecting their diverse needs and with regard to confidentiality and consent and to identify, prioritise and resolve complex pharmaceutical care issues.
The postgraduate Diploma in General Pharmacy practice is a predominantly work-based programme that develops competencies using the Foundation Pharmacy Framework (FPF), a validated competency framework accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
As a student on this programme you will be allocated:
Self-directed learning in the workplace is underpinned by study days (or learning sets) at the university co-ordinated by an academic facilitator.
Medway School of Pharmacy is one of the few regional schools of pharmacy in the UK, a collaboration between the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich.
The impetus for the formation of the Medway School of Pharmacy came from the local community, who recognised the shortage of qualified pharmacists in all branches of the pharmacy profession in Kent.
The School is now recognised as an established school with accreditation from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Graduates are employed in health disciplines in Kent and the south-east and more broadly across the UK.
Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
In addition practitioners must have an accredited practice base from which to operate and have access to an accredited educational supervisor.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
Duration: PCert: 18 months; PDip: 1 year; MSc 1 year. Maximum time allow from start to completion - 6 years
Postgraduate Certificate (PCert): There is one intake each year for the certificate level of the programme. Students begin in March of each year and attend eight learning sets over a period of 18 months. By October of the following year, if all the assessments have been passed, you can either exit with a postgraduate certificate or transfer to the postgraduate diploma.
Postgraduate Diploma (PDip): The postgraduate diploma consists of two separate modules which each run for six months, starting in March and October. Both modules are delivered via three learning sets. Most students complete the certificate and then transfer immediately to the diploma. There is flexibility in the system and you can elect to delay before transferring if necessary. You must complete within six years of the certificate start date.
Completing the practice elements of the programme leads to both an academic award and the award of a Statement of Completion of General Pharmacist Training (SCGPT) from an accredited training centre.
Master's degree (MSc): If you have successfully completed the postgraduate diploma in General Pharmacy Practice you can elect to continue to the MSc. You will complete a research project within your Trust, supported by one or two academics with expertise in practice research. You will gain expertise in research techniques relevant to your project, you will be supported to write a protocol and complete either an NHS or University Ethics application (whichever is appropriate) and to collect and analyse your data. Start dates are in September, January and April.
You will need to have the support of your Trust to carry out your project. Ideally this will include at minimum some protected time to collect data. If you are not sure of what topic you would like to research, we can help you find a suitable project relevant to your working environment.
We identify a lead academic to support you. You can expect to take six months to a year to complete your research – if NHS ethics approval is required this can be a lengthy process. You will be required to write a thesis and prepare and defend a poster suitable for submission to a conference. You will also have to write two short reflective essays about your experience of research.
Contact days will require attendance at the Medway School of Pharmacy, the University of Brighton, or locations in Sussex.
The structure of the programme empowers you to plan and develop your own learning leading to the achievement of the academic and practice awards. You will be able to develop individual learning plans for yourself based on prior knowledge and the acquisition of new skills. You will be able to present yourself for summative assessment when you, your educational supervisor and you academic tutor feel you are ready.
You will be assessed through objective structured clinical examination, multiple-choice questions, assignments, a literature review, an audit, a change management project, case study presentation and a competency-based portfolio review. A range of formative workplace assessments will help you to plan their learning and assess current levels of competency against the FPF.
Research project thesis, poster, abstract and two personal reflections
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
Postgraduate students have access to all the facilities at the Medway School of Pharmacy, including clinical skills labs and a ‘simulation man’. As the School of Pharmacy is a joint venture between the two universities, students have access to facilities at Kent’s Medway and Canterbury campuses, and the University of Greenwich.
Medway School of Pharmacy has a research culture and as such postgraduate students publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: International Journal of Pharmacy Practice; Nephron Physiology; Acta Physiologica; Purinergic Signalling; and European Journal of Pharmacology.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
This group has laboratories with dedicated state-of-the-art drug delivery, nanotechnology, spectroscopy, chromatography and organic synthesis facilities. It brings together researchers in medicinal chemistry and drug design, nanotechnology and materials science, drug delivery and pharmaceutics encouraging a multidisciplinary approach to research. Research covers synthesis and biological evaluation of potential anti-cancer agents, structure-based drug design, QSAR predication of ADMET properties, controlled release, particle engineering, powder technology, pharmaceutical technology, and novel drug delivery systems, with a focus on respiratory drug delivery.
This group is housed in recently refurbished laboratories with dedicated state-of-the-art molecular biological, electrophysiological, tissue culture and microscopy facilities. The research is divided into four main themes; infectious diseases and allergy; neuroscience; renal and cardiovascular physiology; and pharmacology. Examples of current work include: investigation of the use of non-pathogenic virus ‘pseudotypes’ to study pathogenic RNA, study of the properties of neuronal potassium channels and their modulation and the development of new therapies for patients that have developed acute kidney injury in collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company.
This group conducts research in two areas: public health and medicines optimisation, with a particular focus on cardiovascular diseases and mental health. Work in public health includes studies in physical exercise, alcohol, cardiovascular screening and spirometry testing, plus pharmacovigilance. Studies in medicines optimisation include work in dementia, bipolar disorder and stroke, with an emphasis on the patient perspective.
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
This programme provides progression for pharmacists towards advanced practitioner status.
Completion of the practice elements of the course leads to the award of the Certificate of Completion of General Pharmacist Training from an accredited training centre.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
Please see our Fees page
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Applications must come via the workplace Educational Programme Director in the first instance.
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