Master of Pharmacy

The Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) is a postgraduate degree program that prepares individuals for a career in pharmacy. It is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in various aspects of pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical sciences, and healthcare. The MPharm course typically spans a period of two to four years, depending on the country and university offering the program. It includes a combination of theoretical coursework, practical training, and research-based projects.

The curriculum of the MPharm program covers a wide range of subjects, including pharmacology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapy, pharmaceutical analysis, clinical pharmacy, pharmacy practice, drug discovery, drug development, pharmaceutical marketing, and regulatory affairs.

Students will learn about the mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects of various drugs and medications. They will also gain knowledge in drug formulation, dosage forms, drug delivery systems, and quality control of pharmaceutical products.

Throughout the program, students will have the opportunity to develop their clinical skills through practical training in community pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. They will learn about patient counseling, medication management, drug interactions, and pharmaceutical care.

In addition to the coursework, students may also be required to complete a research project or dissertation. This allows them to apply their knowledge and skills to a specific area of pharmacy practice or pharmaceutical sciences and contribute to the advancement of the field.

Upon successful completion of the MPharm program, graduates are eligible to register as pharmacists and pursue a career in various settings, such as community pharmacies, hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, research and development, academia, regulatory agencies, and healthcare organizations.

Overall, the Master of Pharmacy program provides students with comprehensive training and a solid foundation in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences, enabling them to make a significant contribution to the healthcare industry.

Pharmacy Degree Highlights

Ranked No.1 in the UK for Pharmacy and Pharmacology (The Guardian Best UK Universities for Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2021)

Professional Accreditations

The degree is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in Great Britain and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as the relevant regulators. The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) published new Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists in 2021. The MPharm course is therefore subject to change to meet the new Standards and prospective students should note that these changes are ongoing. The information presented here for 2023 entry is subject to ongoing changes, including to the admissions criteria (the 2021 standards stipulate that "all admissions and selection processes must include an interactive component, to assess applicants’ values and professional suitability"). The 2021 standards place more emphasis on students demonstrating professional judgment, management of risk, diagnostic and consultation skills, and other attributes associated with being an independent prescriber.

Industry Links

The School's Stakeholder Group of Employers directly informs the development of the course. The School of Pharmacy has also developed close links with a wide variety of industry partners through research and teaching at local, national, and international levels. Students are taught by practicing pharmacists from the community, primary care, and hospital setting and the School’s Careers Liaison Officer ensures that students are aware of all career opportunities and prepared for application and interview processes.

Career Development

A feature of this MPharm is an increasing experience of the clinical environment through the inclusion of clinical placements in both community and hospital settings.

World Class Facilities

• The School of Pharmacy at Queen’s is acknowledged as a leading center for Pharmacy teaching and research in the UK.
• At Queen’s, we believe in providing students with as authentic a learning experience and environment as possible. Our Pharmacy Practice Unit consists of everything you would find in a contemporary community pharmacy. Students are also taught clinical skills in a range of simulated healthcare settings. In addition, we have world-leading research laboratories with the best technology in the industry.
• The KN Cheung SK Chin Interim Centre is the new state-of-the-art interprofessional simulation center, that opened in 2021. The center provides an innovative environment for students from all healthcare professionals to learn together as a team.

Internationally Renowned Experts

According to REF 2014, the research environment at the School of Pharmacy has been rated as 100 percent world-leading.

Queen’s University Belfast is ranked in the Top 200 Universities in the World (QS World University Rankings 2019)

140 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020)

Founded in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, one of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland, it became an independent university in 1908 and is the ninth oldest university in the UK. Today, Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos.

Queen’s is ranked 8th in the UK for Research Intensity (REF 2014/ Times Higher Education) with over 75% of its research assessed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in REF 2014.

We’re A Global University

Students enjoy being educated by world-leading academics working at the forefront of their disciplines and a significant investment in the student experience has resulted in high levels of student satisfaction and employability rates.

Global Research Institutes

Building on its disciplinary excellence, the University has created four flagship Global Research Institutes which bring leading academics together to tackle some of the greatest global challenges of our time in the areas of: Global Peace, Security and Justice; Cyber Security; Health Sciences; and Food Safety.

The Faculty Of Medicine, Health & Life Sciences

The Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences at Queen’s deliver high quality, leading-edge education, through world-class staff, focused on the needs of society. We provide an educational experience that is research-led and enriches our students intellectually, socially and culturally.

Our hope is that students from around the world will join with us to both learn and also bring new ideas and approaches to help drive forward our ambitions to enhance and advance life. Queen's is at the heart of Belfast's culture, as well as its art and social scenes. We're proud to be part of a bustling, cosmopolitan city boasting a vibrant social life and rich cultural heritage.

Addressing Global Challenges

Through our education and research, we strive to address some of the world’s greatest challenges, our academic staff undertake world-leading research through our Schools and Global research institutes in Health Sciences and Global Food Security. This has resulted in new treatments for patients and greater levels of protection for the food we eat.

Faculty Schools

The School of Biological Sciences The School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences The School of Nursing and Midwifery The School of Pharmacy