MPharm Pharmacy (Hons)

Program Overview

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Liverpool John Moores University's MPharm Pharmacy program is a professionally accredited, four-year undergraduate Masters designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and professional confidence to become competent, safe, and effective person-centered prescribing practitioners. The program emphasizes the science-basis for practice, ensuring students develop a strong understanding of the science-basis for practice and become "experts in medicines." Graduates are prepared to undertake a Foundation Training Year in practice and register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The MPharm Pharmacy program at Liverpool John Moores University is a professionally accredited undergraduate Masters degree designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and professional confidence to become competent, safe, and effective person-centered prescribing practitioners. The program emphasizes the application of science to clinical practice, ensuring students develop a strong understanding of the science-basis for practice and become "experts in medicines."

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Objectives:

• Develop advanced understanding of the science-basis for practice.
• Become an "expert in medicines."
• Develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors, and values necessary for working in partnership with patients and other healthcare professionals.
• Provide accessible, compassionate, and integrated person-centered care with a focus on enhancing patient outcomes.
• Develop the confidence to continue personal and professional development independently.
• Make good clinical and professional decisions based on evidence and risk assessment.
• Work effectively in a team-based environment.

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Description:

The program offers a combination of innovative and high-quality pharmacy teaching, practical placements in community, hospital, and primary care settings, inter-professional learning, patient/public engagement, and practice simulations. It emphasizes the development of clinical reasoning and skills needed for independent prescribing.

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Outline:

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Structure:

The MPharm Pharmacy program is a four-year full-time program.

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Course Schedule:

The program is divided into four levels:

• Level 4: Integrated Foundations of Pharmacy, Research Skills assessment, Person-Centred Care assessment, Formulary assessment, End of Year examination paper 1, End of Year examination paper 2, Pharmacy skills assessment, Pharmacy Law and Ethics assessment, Professional Portfolio assessment, Pharmaceutical calculations assessment.
• Level 5: Formulary Assessment, Medicines, Patients and the Pharmacist, Research Skills assessment, Person-Centred Care assessment, End of Year examination paper 1, End of Year examination paper 2, Pharmacy skills assessment, Pharmacy Law and Ethics assessment, Professional Portfolio assessment, Pharmaceutical Calculations assessment, Study Year Abroad - Pharmacy (optional).
• Level 6: The Complexities of Healthcare, Research Skills assessment, Person-centred care assessment, Formulary assessment, End of Year examination paper 1, End of Year examination paper 2, Pharmacy skills assessment, Pharmacy Law and Ethics assessment, Professional Portfolio assessment, Pharmaceutical Calculations assessment.
• Level 7: Advancing Person-Centred Care, Research Skills assessment, Person-centred care assessment, Prescribing Formulary assessment, End of Year examination paper 1, End of Year examination paper 2, Pharmacy skills assessment, Pharmacy Law and Ethics assessment, Professional Portfolio assessment, Pharmaceutical Calculations assessment.

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Individual Modules:

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Level 4:

• Integrated Foundations of Pharmacy: Covers the underpinning sciences (anatomy and physiology, basic principles of pharmacology, cells and biomacromolecules, principles of medicinal chemistry) and patient-focused systems (Blood, Gastrointestinal system, Peripheral Nervous System).
• Research Skills assessment: Assesses student research skills.
• Formulary assessment: Assesses student understanding and early development of a personal formulary.
• End of Year examination paper 1: Synoptic assessment of student learning from year 1.
• End of Year examination paper 2: Assesses student ability to make professional decisions and justify them based on evidence and reasoning.
• Pharmacy skills assessment: Assesses student practice-based skills.
• Pharmacy Law and Ethics assessment: Assesses student knowledge and understanding of how the Law applies to pharmacy practice.
• Professional Portfolio assessment: Assesses student reflective practice and personal development.
• Pharmaceutical calculations assessment: Assesses student ability to accurately perform calculations.

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Level 5:

• Formulary Assessment: Assesses student understanding and early development of a personal formulary in year 2.
• Medicines, Patients and the Pharmacist: Builds on year 1 topics and includes the Central Nervous System, Cardiovascular system, Respiratory system, and Infection control.
• Research Skills assessment: Assesses student research skills in year 2.
• Person-Centred Care assessment: Assesses student understanding of patient-centered care in year 2.
• End of Year examination paper 1: Synoptic assessment of student learning from year 1 and year 2.
• End of Year examination paper 2: Assesses student ability to make professional decisions and justify them based on evidence and reasoning.
• Pharmacy skills assessment: Assesses student practice-based skills.
• Pharmacy Law and Ethics assessment: Assesses student knowledge and understanding of how the Law applies to pharmacy practice.
• Professional Portfolio assessment: Assesses student reflective practice and personal development.
• Pharmaceutical Calculations assessment: Assesses student ability to accurately perform calculations.
• Study Year Abroad - Pharmacy: An additional year of full-time study abroad at an approved higher education institution.

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Level 6:

• The Complexities of Healthcare: Covers Mental Health, Immunology, Endocrine health and disorders, Oncology, and a pharmacy-focused Research Project.
• Research Skills assessment: Assesses student research skills in year 3.
• Person-centred care assessment: Assesses student understanding and demonstration of patient-centered care in year 3.
• Formulary assessment: Assesses student understanding and ongoing development of a personal formulary in year 2.
• End of Year examination paper 1: Synoptic assessment of student learning from years 1, 2, and 3.
• End of Year examination paper 2: Assesses student ability to make professional decisions and justify them based on evidence and reasoning.
• Pharmacy skills assessment: Assesses student practice-based skills.
• Pharmacy Law and Ethics assessment: Assesses student knowledge and understanding of how the Law applies to pharmacy practice.
• Professional Portfolio assessment: Assesses student reflective practice and personal development.
• Pharmaceutical Calculations assessment: Assesses student ability to accurately perform calculations.

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Level 7:

• Advancing Person-Centred Care: Focuses on integrating learning and skills from years 1 to 3 to consider the patient as a whole, further developing skills in providing person-centered care.
• Research Skills assessment: Assesses student research skills in year 4.
• Person-centred care assessment: Assesses student understanding and demonstration of patient-centered care in year 4.
• Prescribing Formulary assessment: Assesses student further developing and using their personal formulary as part of their prescribing skills in year 4.
• End of Year examination paper 1: Synoptic assessment of student learning from years 1, 2, 3, and 4.
• End of Year examination paper 2: Assesses student ability to make professional decisions and justify them based on evidence and reasoning.
• Pharmacy skills assessment: Assesses student practice-based skills.
• Pharmacy Law and Ethics assessment: Assesses student knowledge and understanding of how the Law applies to pharmacy practice.
• Professional Portfolio assessment: Assesses student reflective practice and personal development.
• Pharmaceutical Calculations assessment: Assesses student ability to accurately perform calculations.

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Assessment:

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Methods:

• Exams: Multiple-choice, short answer questions, longer analytical essays, discussions of therapeutic strategies in a clinical scenario.
• Coursework: Pharmaceutical care plan for a fictional patient, development of a medicines formulary, preparation and delivery of a research seminar, viva voce examination to assess awareness and understanding of practice.
• Clinical examinations of patients.
• Practical exams to ensure competence in core duties of a pharmacist.

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Criteria:

• Meeting minimum expectations for competence in various skills at each level of study.
• Meeting the expectations and Professional Standards of the General Pharmaceutical Council.

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Teaching:

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Methods:

• Structured online learning.
• Lectures.
• Interactive workshops.
• Practical laboratory and clinical practice sessions.
• Small-group tutorials.
• Seminars.
• Professional placements.

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Faculty:

• Dr. Alice McCloskey, Programme Leader, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

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Unique Approaches:

• Active blended learning approach combining face-to-face and online learning.
• Use of technology to enhance the learning experience, including interactive patient communication/clinical assessment mannequins and virtual patient technology during clinical simulation workshops.

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Careers:

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Potential Career Paths:

• Hospital pharmacist.
• Health center pharmacist.
• Community pharmacy pharmacist.
• Drugs development industry.
• University-based research.

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Opportunities:

• Excellent prospects and competitive salaries.
• Strong links with local hospitals, community pharmacies, and primary care providers.

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Outcomes:

• Graduates are prepared to undertake a Foundation Training Year in practice and register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• The MPharm Pharmacy program makes full use of innovative learning enhancement practices, which students value highly.
• The School is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) and has a Disability Support Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator, and a School EDI Working Group.
• The Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects, or unpaid placements anywhere in the world.

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National full-time per year

£9,250

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International full-time per year

£18,250 All figures are subject to yearly increases. Tuition fees are subject to parliamentary approval.