With its well-developed resources and opportunities, UK pharmacy schools are an attraction for a lot of talented and skilled students from in and out of the country. This is because of their well-defined study programs that embrace the most cutting-edge developments in Pharmacy and medical studies as well.
Therefore, if you want to pursue a career in pharmacy and don’t know which school or university is best and the cheapest to apply to? You may need to consider any of these pharmacy schools in the UK. We’ll also examine intending opportunities for Students to study Pharmacy in the UK.
What Is Pharmacy?
Pharmacy deals with the study of Health Sciences related to drug information, medical formulations, and clinical services to create a better living. Just like pure medicine, pharmacy as a profession is highly lucrative, especially when groomed by the best hands.
Unarguably, pharmacy is a diverse and rewarding career, with lots of opportunities for patient care, scientific research, and innovation.
It is one of the top-notch careers in healthcare that has played a very important role in the system.
More About Pharmacy
Pharmacists like we all know play an important role in the healthcare team. They dispense medications to patients and ensure they are used in the safest and most effective way.
Also, they are responsible for checking that the doses are safe and that there are no potential drug interactions that could have adverse effects on the patient.
Additionally, they may be involved with health screening, help to take blood pressure tests, provide vaccinations, and give recommendations about the optimal use of medications.
Summarily, pharmacists are healthcare professionals who are experts in medicines, with a detailed understanding of the scientific basis of therapy.
Is Pharmacy Hard To Study?
Learning how to effectively study in pharmacy school is one of the biggest challenges students initially face. Also, from research, pharmacy isn’t an easy career choice to study. To become a pharmacist, one needs a Pharm.D. degree which can take from six to eight years after high school graduation to complete. This includes two to four years of college coursework and four years of professional study.
Also, with the required topics such as pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, and pharmacokinetics, there is no doubt that pharmacy school is difficult. According to the American Associations of Colleges of Pharmacy it is estimated that more than 10% of people who make it into pharmacy school do not make it through to graduation day.
Also keep in mind that if you choose a pharmacy, you have to go through chemical reactions and biological mechanisms of drugs.
Getting a university-level education is one of the compulsory requirements if one must pursue a career in pharmacy. Stay with me as I walk you through the cheapest pharmacy schools in the UK.
How Long Does It Take To Study Pharmacy In The UK?
Pharmacy courses usually last for four years and courses will look at pharmacology, biology and physiology pharmaceutics, chemistry, ethics, and economics.
Students will also benefit from internships and work placements within the industry to provide valuable insights and professional experience. More so, state-of-the-art labs will help sharpen your skills with replica medicine-dispensing stations, consulting areas, and computers linked to the systems used by the Pharmacy industry.
To practice as a pharmacist in the UK, you need to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). And to register, you need to study for an accredited Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm).
In a nutshell, pharmacy schools in the UK lasts four years, full time.
List Of The Cheapest Pharmacy Schools In The UK
Most of these pharmacy schools on our list offer the traditional brick and mortar pattern of studies while some others offer online pharmacy that can be taken either from the UK or any other part of the world.
There are lots of options open and available to you depending on which you find suitable.
Explore the list below:
#1 University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde pharmacy degree combines science and pharmacy from the start providing you with the skills and knowledge to be a medical expert to choose from the full range of pharmacy careers.
As a pharmacy graduate of Strathclyde, you’ll need to understand the science behind drug discovery, development, and delivery along with how patients react to the medicines they take. Additionally, you’ll have to understand individual patient care and public health issues to deliver the best health and pharmaceutical care.
Located in the heart of the Scottish capital, Strathclyde University is proud to have a national and international reputation in its pharmacy programs.
The MPharm program is Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Tuition fees: £1,820 for Scotland/EU, £9,250 for the rest of UK, £19,750 for internation students.
#2 University of Nottingham
As one of the world’s top 10 and UK’s top 10 pharmacy and pharmacology schools, the University of Nottingham provides integrated teaching across therapeutic themes or disease states.
This program of study helps students succeed in gaining key skills in Pharmacy through in-depth teaching and exposure to research with its modern facilities students get fortified for the professional hurdles ahead.
In this program, you’ll gain patient interaction experience through placements in community and hospital pharmacies.
The Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Tuition fees: £9,250 for UK students. The fees for non-UK students remains unconfirmed.
#3 University College London
The MPharm program at University College London integrates pharmaceutical science into the practice of clinical pharmacy. They offer students the opportunity to become confident and competent healthcare professionals with patient safety and well-being as the primary concern.
Ranking as one of the best pharmacy school’s in the UK and beyond, the University College London produces pharmacy graduates worth their onion who have made significant impacts on treating medical issues.
The Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Tuition fees: UK students £9,250 (2024/23), Overseas students £25,800 (2024/23)
#4 Cardiff University
The MPharm program at Cardiff University equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to kickstart a career in pharmacy.
As an internationally renowned institute of learning, the University combines impressive modern facilities and an exciting approach to teaching.
In this four-year program, you’ll learn about the discovery and development of new drugs and explore their chemical, physicochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological properties. Additionally, you’ll study the clinical uses of medicines and the role of the pharmacist in improving patient outcomes as part of interprofessional healthcare teams.
Cardiff University School of Pharmacy ranks as the top School of Pharmacy in England and Wales according to The Complete University Guide.
We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2024/23 academic year. Fees for the previous year were £9,000.
#5 University of Manchester
With a pharmacy degree from the University of Manchester, you get hands-on experience of community, the NHS, and industry pharmacy so you can choose an area of specialty.
In addition, the University maintains strong links with partners of common interest off-campus. It has been approved as one of the best pharmacy schools in the United Kingdom.
The training courses give you the advantage of learning from the most experienced professionals and learning to successfully face the daily challenges you’re bound to face in the profession.
University of Manchester’s MPharm degrees is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
#6 University of Bath
The University of Bath’s department of pharmacy trains students to develop extensive knowledge and skillset in preparation for a career as a research scientist.
The department offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. As a result of the school’s reputation, students don’t find it difficult to get outstanding placement opportunities which helps them garner practical experiences.
In addition to providing a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge, at this school, you will have the opportunity to attend training courses in scientific facilities. There you can apply your knowledge about the medical use of various medications.
Asides being one of the cheapest pharmacy schools in the UK, the University of Bath’s MPharm degrees is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
#7 Queen’s Belfast
The School of Pharmacy at Queen’s Belfast is a renowned center for pharmacy teaching and research.
Being one of the leading pharmacy schools in the UK, students of Queen’s get the best practical learning experience. Additionally, the School of Pharmacy houses world-leading research laboratories with the best technologies in the industry.
The Queen’s Belfast is classified as one of the best UK pharmacy schools, highly valued for its variety of programs and it’s quality of education. With a great reputation and quality, the school is a hub for many talented and skilled scholars in and out of the country. This is one of the cheapest pharmacy schools in the UK.
#8 University of Ulster
In recent years, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Ulster has been rated as one of the best pharmacy schools in the United Kingdom. It is not surprising if we look at their well-defined study programs and curriculum.
The MPharm program at Ulster will provide you with an academically challenging and vocationally relevant pharmacy education and training.
The best description of this school is the combination of research and theoretical educational base developed in a dynamic scientific environment backed by modern facilities. It is also one of the top pharmacy schools in the UK.
#9 University of Birmingham
This course at the University of Birmingham is one of the cheapest pharmacy schools in the UK. It equips intending pharmacists with the skills and knowledge required to become a crucial member of the healthcare team on the frontline of modern healthcare.
Throughout this 4-year MPharm Pharmacy degree course, you will learn the science supporting the use of medicines, including the physiology and anatomy of the human body, the effect of medicines on the human body, and how medicines are produced.
Additionally, you will be trained in clinical communications, problem-solving, and decision making to guarantee you have the skills to enjoy a rewarding career in pharmacy, and contribute to patient care.
This course has been awarded full accreditation from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Tuition fees
- UK: £9,250
- International: £23,400
#10 University of Robert Gordon
At the School of Pharmacy & Life Sciences, University of Robert Gordon you’ll get an in-depth insight into the theory and practice of the pharmacy.
The program prepares effective practitioners with the knowledge, skillset, and desire to deliver the very best pharmaceutical care for patients, supported by sound scientific principles. This is achieved through a student-centered approach, helping you to develop as a life-long learner and reflective practitioner.
The course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Therefore on graduation provided you keep to the GPhC’s Standards for Pharmacy Professionals, you will be eligible to undertake a pre-registration year.
This full time MPharm 4 year course of study assures students of 100% job placement after the program.
Based on this, this institution has made it to our list of best UK pharmacy schools and also one of the cheapest pharmacy schools in the UK.
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