Pharmacy MPharm

Program Overview

The Pharmacy MPharm program at University College Cork is a five-year undergraduate degree designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel in the pharmaceutical field. The program focuses on four key areas: pharmaceutical chemistry, formulation design, drug action in the body, and pharmacy practice. Graduates are eligible to work as pharmacists in various settings, including community pharmacies, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Program Outline

Pharmacy MPharm at University College Cork (UCC)

Degree Overview:

The Pharmacy MPharm at UCC is a five-year, full-time undergraduate degree program designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in the pharmaceutical field. The program focuses on four key areas:

• Pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry: Understanding the chemical properties of drugs and medicines.
• Formulation design: Developing and designing drug formulations for optimal delivery and effectiveness.
• Drug action in the body: Studying how drugs interact with the body and their effects on various systems.
• Practice of pharmacy: Gaining practical experience in dispensing, counseling, and providing pharmaceutical care to patients.
The program integrates both theoretical learning and practical experience through a series of placements in various settings, including community pharmacies, hospitals, and pharmaceutical industries.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the BPharm/MPharm program, graduates will be able to:

• Register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and practice as a pharmacist.
• Evaluate interventions to improve prescribing practices within the healthcare team.
• Practice pharmacy competently in primary and secondary care settings, adhering to the Core Competency Framework for Pharmacists.
• Communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals for counseling and advising on medicines and their safe usage.
• Interpret and evaluate prescriptions and supply medicines in accordance with current legislation and professional codes of practice.
• Apply the physiochemical properties of drugs to design, develop, and manufacture emerging medicines.
• Outline the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and genetic basis of disease, drug therapy, and drug delivery.
• Recognize common disease states and respond appropriately to presented symptoms.
• Conduct literature reviews, design research protocols, collect and interpret data, and write a dissertation.

Outline:

The program is structured over five years, with the first four years leading to a BPharm degree and the fifth year culminating in an MPharm degree.

Year 1 (60 credits):

• AN1075 Principles of Human Structure for Pharmacy Students (5 credits): Introduces the fundamental principles of human anatomy and physiology relevant to pharmacy.
• BC1443 Biochemistry (10 credits): Covers the biochemical processes occurring within the body, focusing on their relevance to drug action and metabolism.
• PF1009 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Chemistry (10 credits): Provides an introduction to the chemistry of drugs and medicines, including their synthesis, properties, and analysis.
• PF1010 Physiochemical Basis of Pharmaceuticals (5 credits): Explores the physiochemical properties of drugs and their impact on drug formulation and delivery.
• PF1011 Pharmacy Practice I (5 credits): Introduces the fundamentals of pharmacy practice, including dispensing, counseling, and patient care.
• PF1012 Introduction to Pharmaceutics: Formulation Science (10 credits): Covers the principles of drug formulation, including dosage forms, manufacturing processes, and quality control.
• PL1401 Introduction to Physiology for Pharmacy II (5 credits): Continues the exploration of human physiology, delving deeper into specific organ systems and their interactions with drugs.
• PT1445 Foundation Pharmacology (5 credits): Introduces the principles of pharmacology, including drug mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.

Placements:

Placements are an integral part of the program, providing students with practical experience in various settings.

• Year 1: One-day placement.
• Year 2: Two-week placement.
• Year 3: Optional two-month placement (summer period).
• Year 4: Four-month placement.
• Year 5: Eight-month placement (must be in a patient-facing setting).

Assessment:

Assessment methods include:

• Written exams: Held before Christmas and in May.
• Multiple-choice questions: Used to assess understanding of key concepts.
• Practical reports: Evaluating students' ability to perform laboratory procedures and analyze data.
• Computer-aided exams: Assessing knowledge and problem-solving skills through interactive simulations.
• Essays: Demonstrating students' ability to research, analyze, and synthesize information.
• Research reports: Evaluating students' ability to conduct independent research and present findings.
• OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination): Assessing students' clinical skills and ability to apply knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Teaching:

• Teaching methods: Lectures, laboratory sessions, tutorials, and placements.
• Faculty: Staff members with connections to the pharmaceutical industry and research expertise.
• Unique approaches: Innovative technology is used in over-the-counter (OTC) tutorials, employing interactive patient scenarios across various diseases.

Careers:

Graduates of the Pharmacy MPharm program are eligible to work as pharmacists in various settings, including:

• Community pharmacist: Providing pharmaceutical care to patients in community pharmacies.
• Hospital pharmacist: Providing pharmaceutical care to patients in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
• Industrial pharmacist: Working in the pharmaceutical industry, involved in drug development, manufacturing, and quality control.
• Regulatory work: Working in regulatory agencies, ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs and medicines.
• University lecturer: Teaching and conducting research in pharmacy.
• Research: The program is research-led, with staff members actively involved in research projects.
• Industry connections: The program has strong connections with local pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, and community pharmacies, providing opportunities for inter-professional learning and placements.
• QP (Qualified Person) status: Graduates are eligible for QP status, allowing them to work as qualified persons in the pharmaceutical industry.
• EU recognition: The degree is recognized throughout the European Union.

• EU State Student Contribution + Capitation: €3,138 (Years 1-4); €7,500 (Year 5).