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Independent / Supplementary Prescribing

Join our successful prescribing programme and qualify as a non-medical prescriber. We are currently taking applications for February 2027.

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Pharmacy

Key information

Start
September, February and May
Location
Medway
Study mode
8 months
Typical offer
Registration with the appropriate professional/regulatory body (NMC, GPhC, PSNI or HCPC)
All entry requirements

Overview

This is a well-established and successful independent/supplementary prescribing programme for pharmacists, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, paramedics,  podiatrists, radiographers and dietitians. 

It is a part-time, 8 month blended learning programme which leads to you qualifying as an independent prescriber (pharmacists, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, podiatrists, paramedics and therapeutic radiographers) or as a supplementary prescriber (diagnostic radiographers and dietitians). You develop the knowledge and skills to practise as prescribers and to meet the standards set by your respective professional/regulatory body. Also available at Level 6 for nurses/midwives only.

Is this programme right for me?

If you are a pharmacist, nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, paramedic, podiatrist, radiographer or dietitian looking to become a prescriber this is the programme you are looking for.

We also run a 40-credit module as part of the University of Greenwich MSc Advanced Clinical Practice. If you are part of this Greenwich programme and have selected the Prescribing module then you do need to complete our Prescribing Application form. 

Entry points and application deadlines

All application forms are to be emailed to MSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich.ac.uk 

Please do not post any application forms.

You can find upcoming cohort dates in the "The Course" section.

All dates and deliveries are subject to change.

Teaching

The Prescribing Programme is delivered by distance learning with a total of nine in person study days at the University, plus 12 days (90 hours) clinical practice, overseen by a DPP/PS/PE.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by GPhC, NMC, HCPC.

About Medway School of Pharmacy

Medway School of Pharmacy is one of the few regional schools of pharmacy in the UK, a collaboration between the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich.

The impetus for the formation of the Medway School of Pharmacy came from the local community, who recognised the shortage of qualified pharmacists in all branches of the pharmacy profession in Kent.

The School is recognised as an established school with accreditation from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Graduates are employed in health disciplines in Kent and the south-east and more broadly across the UK.

The course

What you'll study

The following modules are what students will typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Take the Independent / Supplementary Prescribing programme as a standalone qualification; OR continue on to Medicines Optimisation. The prescribing programme can be used as either the first or second year of the Medicines Optimisation qualification. You will need to apply for the Prescribing Programme separately to the Medicines Optimisation Programme. Acceptance onto one programme does not guarantee acceptance onto the other. 

On successful completion, the School notifies the appropriate professional / regulatory body that you have qualified as an independent / supplementary prescriber.

The dates for the cohorts that are coming up are as follows:

2026/27 entry 

Cohort 83 February 2027

 

Study day 1

09th February 2027

Study day 2

10th February 2027

Study day 3

11th February 2027

Study day 4

30th March 2027

Study day 5

31st March 2027

Study day 6

01st April 2027

Study day 7

13th July 2027

Study day 8

14th July 2027

Study day 9

15th July 2027

Numeracy Exam window

15th March -22nd March 2027

BNF Exam window

17th July-23rd July 2027

PAPP & VIVA assessment days

06th September – 17th September 2027

 Application Deadline 4pm 20th November 2026

Cohort 84 May 2027

 

Study day 1

18th May 2027

Study day 2

19th May 2027

Study day 3

20th May 2027

Study day 4

20th July 2027

Study day 5

21st July 2027

Study day 6

22nd July 2027

Study day 7

31st August 2027

Study day 8

01st September 2027

Study day 9

02nd September 2027

Numeracy Exam window

05th July-12th July 2027

BNF Exam window

10th September 2027-17th September 2027

PAPP & VIVA assessment days

29th November-10th December 2027

Application Deadline 4pm 12th February 2027

Applications received after 4pm will be processed for the next available cohort.

You need to be available to attend all of the study days. All Study days are delivered in person at our Medway Campus.

You will be allocated a PAPP and AEB slot on one of the listed assessment days. You may need to attend the Medway Campus for the PAPP assessment in person.  

For the Numeracy Exam Window and BNF Exam Window you will organise to take the exam online during this window while externally invigilated.

Please ensure you are available for all the study and assessment days before applying. 

These dates are subject to change.

Level 7

  • Non-medical Prescribing in Context (15 credits)
  • Safe and Effective Prescribing (15 credits)
  • Consultation and Decision Making (15 credits)
  • Putting Prescribing into Practice (15 credits)

Level 6

  • Background to Non-medical Prescribing (10 credits)
  • Prescribing Safely and Effectively (10 credits)
  • Embedding Prescribing in your Consultations (10 credits)
  • The Practice of Prescribing (15 credits)

Postgraduate resources

Postgraduate students have access to all the facilities at the Medway School of Pharmacy, including clinical skills labs and a ‘simulation man’. As the School of Pharmacy is a joint venture between the two universities, students have access to facilities at Kent’s Medway and Canterbury campuses, and the University of Greenwich.

Distance learning

While on a distance learning programme you need to be able to organise your time carefully and negotiate with your workplace on how this programme will work for you and your employer. We will provide you with a comprehensive list of dates for submission to help you plan your placement time and to help you negotiate study leave so you can complete your assignments and portfolio.

You will already possess most, if not all, of the required skills such as navigating around a webpage or attaching a file and uploading this to a website or email. The academic skills required will depend on your level of study and how recently you last studied. The universities have good resources that you can access to help you rediscover or reinvigorate these skills as needed.

Getting to grips with the virtual learning environment (Moodle) early will be really useful to you. This is where the course is delivered. You will be able to get feedback at regular intervals to help you with your assignments, access practice quizzes and examples of the assessments, revisit lecture material when it suits you and download Course Study Guides & Workbooks for each of the four modules within the programme.

How you'll study

Postgraduate taught modules are designed to give you advanced study skills, a deeper knowledge of the subject, and the confidence to achieve your ambitions.

Entry requirements

Registration with the appropriate professional/regulatory body (NMC, GPhC, PSNI or HCPC)

  • Registration with the appropriate professional/regulatory body (NMC, GPhC, PSNI or HCPC)
  • Applicants must be in good standing with their professional/regulatory body
  • Appropriate experience in the area of practice in which they will be prescribing
  • The ability to study at academic level 6 or level 7
  • Nurses and Midwives: At least one year's post-registration clinical experience in the UK. This includes all nurse (level 1), midwife or SCPHN registrants (including NHS, self-employed or non-NHS employed registrants) at the point of application
  • Pharmacists: must demonstrate they have relevant patient orientated experience in a UK Pharmacy setting in their application
  • Allied Health Professionals (excluding Paramedics) At least three years' post-registration clinical experience in the UK at the point of applying
  • Advanced Paramedic Practitioners: College of Paramedics recommend that paramedics are registered and qualified for at least five years with at least three years' relevant post-qualification experience in the clinical area in which they will be prescribing
  • Advanced Paramedic Practitioners will normally have evidence in their application that they have completed or are working towards a Master's qualification (level 7)
  • Appropriate numeracy skills, clinical/health assessment, diagnostics/care management and planning and evaluation of care in their intended area of prescribing practice.
  • Support from the sponsoring organisation confirming service need, indicating the necessary governance structures are in place (including clinical support, access to protected learning time and employer support where appropriate) to enable the students to undertake and be adequately supported throughout the programme. Access to appropriate supervised practice
  • A named practice supervisor (nurses and midwives); designated prescribing practitioner (pharmacists); practice educator (AHPs), who will facilitate, supervise and support the student during their clinical placement

It would be helpful (but not essential) for applicants to submit their Qualification certificates with their applications. 

Please note students need to be in active clinical practice to be on this programme of study. The longest period of time a student can be out of clinical practice while on the programme is 2 consecutive weeks. This means that if you are on maternity leave, secondment or sabbatical, you are not currently eligible to undertake the programme of study. Please apply when you return to work.

Applicants with an Aesthetics scope of practice

While we welcome applications with a focus on aesthetics, for applicants to succeed on the programme they need to have a broader scope than just botulinum. You may be required to expand your scope to include other areas related to your practice and demonstrate your competency across your entire scope to complete the programme.

Applicants who are proposing a scope of Aesthetics must complete the programme at level 7.

Aesthetics applicants will at point of application, have organised guaranteed placement time and in the personal statement in their application include an explanation on how they are going to achieve tehri clinical placement in and outside of the aesthetics area.

We have created a Prescribing Application FAQ page to help with any queries you may about about your application. Click here to go to that page

 

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees can be found on the Postgraduate Fees Page

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Fees

Tuition fees can be found on the Postgraduate Fees Page

For more fee information, please email MSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich.ac.uk

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

International scholarships

Unlock your potential with scholarships up to £5,000

Research

Kent is a leading research university, meaning that you will be informed about new discussions and developments by the people making them. This means your work will have real potential to make a difference.

Your future

There is a high and rising demand for a range of healthcare professionals to qualify as non-medical prescribers. There are career opportunities for both non-medical prescribing nurse practitioners and pharmacists in GP surgeries or other primary care settings and enhanced options for radiographers, physiotherapists, podiatrists and dietitians with the prescribing qualification.

Professional recognition

Accreditation with the GPhC, HCPC or the NMC as a non-medical prescriber

Postgraduates earn

£6,000
more per year than graduates (Graduate Labour Market Statistics, 2021).

A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over

£300,000
Graduate employment outcomes - Universities UK

Ready to apply?

To apply please use the forms below:

Allied Health Professionals (AHP) application form

Pharmacists application form

Nurses, Midwives and Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) application form

For more information see Prescribing Programme Application FAQs

Everything else