| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-23 | 2023-07-04 |
| 2024-01-23 | - |
Program Overview
Pharmacists are at the front-line of the modern healthcare system. Experts in medicines design and use, they play a critical role in improving patient health.
The content and structure of this course will be changing to reflect the revised standards for pharmacists training set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). This web page will reflect these changes in due course. Please note this affects all pharmacy courses in the UK.
You’ll gain a unique knowledge of both the scientific development and clinical use of medicines, equipping you with the skills for a rewarding career in pharmacy or pharmaceutical research.
By studying human biology and disease, pharmaceutical chemistry and physical sciences you’ll learn about the causes and progression of medical conditions and how drugs exert their effects. You'll also learn about the appropriate prescribing, supply and administration of medications and the principles of disease progression and medicines optimisation.
Put your learning into practice
As a highly patient focussed profession, we put great emphasis on regular patient contact and clinical placements. Starting from year one, you’ll benefit from our excellent connections on placements with major teaching hospitals, community pharmacies and GP practices.
You'll also have inter-professional sessions with medical, nursing and dental students to build confidence in your professional practice role.
Undertake a research project in the UK or abroad
You’ll undertake an extensive research project to develop your research skills, ensuring you graduate a well-rounded and highly employable pharmacist.
You’ll either work alongside researchers in the Department or internationally, on a 12-week placement with one of our partner organisations in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the USA or Brazil.
Benefit from specialist facilities
You'll have access to our specially designed Pharmacy Practice and simulation suites. As well as developing your consultation skills through role-playing exercises with staff and professional actors, you’ll get to put your knowledge to the test using SimMan 3G, an advanced robotic patient simulator used to emulate real-world scenarios.
Get ready for your future career
As a graduate from one of the top schools of pharmacy in the UK, you’ll be well equipped for a rewarding career in pharmacy or pharmaceutical research. We’re ranked Top 10 for ‘career after 15 months’ for pharmacy in the Guardian University Guide 2022 and our graduates consistently achieve high pass rates in the General Pharmaceutical Council’s pre-registration assessment. In 2021, our students had a 99% pass rate in the GPhC pre-registration assessment, the highest pass rate in the UK.
Connect with future employers
As the only undergraduate training provider for pharmacy in South West England, you'll be well-placed when looking for graduate jobs.
Whether you want to go into a patient-facing clinical role or prefer the idea of research or drug development, you’ll benefit from our strong links with the pharmaceutical industry, NHS providers and community pharmacy employers such as Boots, Lloyds and Day Lewis.
To become a practising pharmacist you will need to undertake a foundation year in primary or secondary care.
Learn more on our Virtual Experience Page
You can find out more about studying pharmacy at Bath by visiting our Pharmacy Virtual Experience page to hear from staff and students in the department.
Pharmacists are at the front-line of the modern healthcare system. Experts in medicines design and use, they play a critical role in improving patient health.
The content and structure of this course will be changing to reflect the revised standards for pharmacists training set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). This web page will reflect these changes in due course. Please note this affects all pharmacy courses in the UK.
You’ll gain a unique knowledge of both the scientific development and clinical use of medicines, equipping you with the skills for a rewarding career in pharmacy or pharmaceutical research.
By studying human biology and disease, pharmaceutical chemistry and physical sciences you’ll learn about the causes and progression of medical conditions and how drugs exert their effects. You'll also learn about the appropriate prescribing, supply and administration of medications and the principles of disease progression and medicines optimisation.
Put your learning into practice
As a highly patient focussed profession, we put great emphasis on regular patient contact and clinical placements. Starting from year one, you’ll benefit from our excellent connections on placements with major teaching hospitals, community pharmacies and GP practices.
You'll also have inter-professional sessions with medical, nursing and dental students to build confidence in your professional practice role.
Undertake a research project in the UK or abroad
You’ll undertake an extensive research project to develop your research skills, ensuring you graduate a well-rounded and highly employable pharmacist.
You’ll either work alongside researchers in the Department or internationally, on a 12-week placement with one of our partner organisations in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the USA or Brazil.
Benefit from specialist facilities
You'll have access to our specially designed Pharmacy Practice and simulation suites. As well as developing your consultation skills through role-playing exercises with staff and professional actors, you’ll get to put your knowledge to the test using SimMan 3G, an advanced robotic patient simulator used to emulate real-world scenarios.
Get ready for your future career
As a graduate from one of the top schools of pharmacy in the UK, you’ll be well equipped for a rewarding career in pharmacy or pharmaceutical research. We’re ranked Top 10 for ‘career after 15 months’ for pharmacy in the Guardian University Guide 2022 and our graduates consistently achieve high pass rates in the General Pharmaceutical Council’s pre-registration assessment. In 2021, our students had a 99% pass rate in the GPhC pre-registration assessment, the highest pass rate in the UK.
Connect with future employers
As the only undergraduate training provider for pharmacy in South West England, you'll be well-placed when looking for graduate jobs.
Whether you want to go into a patient-facing clinical role or prefer the idea of research or drug development, you’ll benefit from our strong links with the pharmaceutical industry, NHS providers and community pharmacy employers such as Boots, Lloyds and Day Lewis.
To become a practising pharmacist you will need to undertake a foundation year in primary or secondary care.
Learn more on our Virtual Experience Page
You can find out more about studying pharmacy at Bath by visiting our Pharmacy Virtual Experience page to hear from staff and students in the department.
Program Outline
Course structure
This course lasts 4 years. It starts in September 2023 and ends in 2027. Welcome week starts on 25 September 2023.
Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
Units
At Bath, our courses are made up of units of study. Compulsory units cover core concepts that you'll need to understand as part of your degree programme. Some of our courses also offer the opportunity for you to study optional units. These allow you to specialise in particular areas of knowledge that interest you.
As an undergraduate, you will be expected to take 60 credits (ECTS) in each academic year. These are usually split into 30 credits for each semester you study. Sixty credits are the equivalent of 1200 notional hours of study; this includes contact time with staff and your own independent learning.
Year 1
Compulsory units
Fundamentals of pharmacy: health and disease
15 credits
Fundamentals of pharmacy: the chemistry of drugs
15 credits
Fundamentals of pharmacy: the science of medicines
15 credits
Preparing for professional practice 1
15 credits
Year 2
Compulsory units
Preparing for professional practice 2
15 credits
Specialised integrated unit 1: immunity, inflammation and infection and gastrointestinal disease
15 credits
Specialised integrated unit 2: cardiovascular disease and endocrine disorders
10 credits
Specialised integrated unit 3: management of respiratory diseases and dermatology
10 credits
Specialised integrated unit 4: special patient groups and surgery
10 credits
Year 3
Compulsory units
Medicines optimisation and prescribing in complex patients 1
20 credits
Preparing for professional practice 3
20 credits
Specialised integrated unit 5: neurology and mental health
10 credits
Specialised integrated unit 6: oncology and palliative care
10 credits
Year 4
Compulsory units
Global health
5 credits
Medicines optimisation and prescribing in complex patients 2
15 credits
Pharmacy research project
20 credits
Preparing for professional practice 4
20 credits
Learning and assessment
You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.
Learning
Assessment
Learning and teaching
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activities. The balance of these elements within your overall workload may vary depending on the units you choose.
Contact hours
Timetabled contact hours, which can be made up of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes, vary throughout your course and between courses but are typically between 12 and 24 hours per week in your first year.
Independent learning
In addition to timetabled contact hours, you are expected to undertake independent learning and assessment activities. Typically, this might be around 16-28 hours per week, and include individual research, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments, presentations, or revising for exams. After your first year, the emphasis on independent learning becomes greater, for example you may do a final year project in the final year.
Assessment breakdown
A broad range of assessments methods will be used throughout the degree. As a guide, 46% of assessment is by coursework over the duration of the course.
The final degree classification is determined by your second, third and final year marks and each contributes 16%, 34% and 50% respectively.
We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities, take a look at our Disability Service’s pages for information.
Recognition of professional qualifications
As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).
The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.
The United Kingdom currently subscribes to The Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (MRPQ) Directive. The MRPQ Directive provides a reciprocal framework of rules which enables European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals to have their professional qualifications recognised in a state other than the one in which the qualification was obtained. In the event of a no deal Brexit, from 1 January 2021, the MRPQ Directive will no longer apply to the UK. However, it is anticipated that there will be a new system for recognising professional qualifications between the UK, EEA, and Switzerland.
