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
We are planning to make some changes from the 2024/2025 academic year. Please read the information below carefully.
All application forms are to be emailed to MSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich.ac.uk
Please do not post any application forms.
Cohorts for academic year (2024/2025):
- January 2025 - application deadline 11th October 2024
- February 2025 - application deadline 22nd November 2024
- April 2025 - application deadline 17th January 2025
- May 2025 - application deadline 21st February 2025
You can find upcoming cohort dates under Course Structure.
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 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.
National ratings
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, over 85% of our Allied health professions, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy research* was classified as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ for output and environment.
* Joint submission with University of Greenwich.
Course structure
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:
2024/25 entry
Cohort 73 (January 2025)
- Tuesday 14th January 2025
- Wednesday 15th January 2025
- Thursday 16th January 2025
- Tuesday 18th March 2025
- Wednesday 19th March 2025
- Thursday 20th March 2025
- Tuesday 20th May 2025
- Wednesday 21st May 2025
- Thursday 22nd May 2025
Assessment days:
23rd June-04th July (students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 11th October 2024
Cohort 74 (February 2025)
- Tuesday 04th February 2025
- Wednesday 05th February 2025
- Thursday 06th February 2025
- Tuesday 01st April 2025
- Wednesday 02nd April 2025
- Thursday 03rd April 2025
- Tuesday 15th July 2025
- Wednesday 16th July 2025
- Thursday 17th July 2025
Assessment days:
13th - 24th October 2025 (students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 22nd November 2024
Cohort 75 (April 2025)
- Tuesday 22nd April 2025
- Wednesday 23rd April 2025
- Thursday 24th April 2025
- Tuesday 10th June 2025
- Wednesday 11th June 2025
- Thursday 12th June 2025
- Tuesday 02nd September 2025
- Wednesday 03rd September 2025
- Thursday 04th September 2025
Assessment days:
03rd - 14th November 2025 (students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 17th January 2025
Cohort 76 (May 2025)
- Tuesday 13th May 2025
- Wednesday 14th May 2025
- Thursday 15th May 2025
- Tuesday 08th July 2025
- Wednesday 09th July 2025
- Thursday 10th July 2025
- Tuesday 07th October 2025
- Wednesday 08th October 2025
- Thursday 09th October 2025
Assessment days:
01st - 12th December 2025 (students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 21st February 2025
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 date on one of the listed assessment days. You may need to attend the Medway Campus for the PAPP assessment in person.
Please ensure you are available for all the study and assessment days before applying.
These dates are subject to change.
Modules
The programme consists of four compulsory modules at either level 7 or level 6.
No modules information available for this delivery.
Teaching and Assessment
Each module and its assessments are applied to your scope of
practice. All of the assessments are different in focus and require different
things from you. You are given feedback on your work before your next
assignment is due to be submitted.
Module 1
Clinical Review as a recorded narrative with supporting documentation directly relating to scope of practice
Module 2
Exam: includes sections on Numeracy, Using the BNF and
Pharmacology pre-seen long answer questions to demonstrate the required knowledge,
understanding and skills.
Module 3
Practical Assessment of Prescribing Practice (PAPP): a
high-fidelity clinical situation tailored to your individual scope of practice.
VIVA for applied evidence based medicine analysis , focused questioning on the application of the evidence base to a given patient case, this is linked with the PAPP
Module 4
Structured portfolio evidencing how you have met the prescribing competencies, learning outcomes and professional requirements for your regulatory body (NMC, HCPC, GPhC)This includes evidence of Portfolio Progress Reviews (one formative review- 2 summative)
Reflective Diary, containing three structured reflective entries supported by an appendix of personal reflection diary entries
which document progress during period of learning in practice and provide evidence against the professional and regulatory body requirements linked to the period of learning in practice
The type of assessments are the same for each version of the modules (level 6 or level 7).
Programme aims
This programme aims to:
- prepare pharmacists to practice as independent/ supplementary prescribers
- prepare nurses and midwives to practice as independent/ supplementary prescribers
- develop the knowledge and skills required by an allied health professional to practice as a supplementary prescriber
- meet the standards set by the respective professional or regulatory body as required within the legislative framework.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You will gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the legal and professional framework for non-medical prescribing
- local health service provision and systems
- national and local frameworks for medicines use
- national and local budgetary constraints on prescribing
- models of consultation
- principles of diagnosis
- applied advanced physiology
- pathophysiology, natural history and progression of defined conditions
- changes to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in certain patient groups
- principles of monitoring.
Intellectual skills
You develop intellectual skills in:
- reviewing and critically evaluating best available evidence relevant to a specified area of prescribing practice, synthesising information from key sources and databases
- integrating previous learning with professional skills and expertise to synthesise innovative approaches to implementing extended independent/supplementary prescribing in practice
- further developing the skills to review and critically analyse your own learning and apply this to enhance your role as a non-medical prescriber
- making sound judgements about prescribing issues in the absence of complete data and communicating conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- consultation and medical history taking
- physical examination of patients to aid diagnosis and monitoring
- interpretation of medical documentation with an understanding of risks and benefits of incomplete data
- monitoring patient response against objectives set within clinical management plans
- recording prescribing actions and outcomes and the evidence base behind them contemporaneously in patient records.
Transferable skills
You will gain the following transferable skills:
- critical self-reflection and the ability to enhance professional competence on the basis of feedback from self and others
- communicating with clarity in both the academic and professional setting to a range of audiences and using a variety of approaches
- effectively managing and presenting complex information using a comprehensive range of learning resources
- autonomous learning and accessing professional resources including others as appropriate.
Study support
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.
Workplace Support Guides
Please have a look at the following guides, outlining support you will need from your workplace:
British National Formulary (BNF)
Students will need access to the BNF App for the duration of the programme and throughout their career as a prescriber upon completion of the programme.
Global Skills Award
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Careers
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
Entry requirements
- 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.
While we welcome applications with a focus on aesthetics, we recommend a broader scope than botulinum.
General entry requirements
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.
International students
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
English language entry requirements
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Need help with English?
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language
condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for
Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
Research areas
Chemistry and drug delivery
This group has laboratories with dedicated state-ofthe art drug delivery, nanotechnology, spectroscopy, chromatography and organic synthesis facilities. It brings together researchers in medicinal chemistry and drug design, nanotechnology and materials science, drug delivery and pharmaceutics encouraging a multidisciplinary approach to research. Research covers synthesis and biological evaluation of potential anti-cancer agents, structurebased drug design, QSAR predication of ADMET properties, controlled release, particle engineering, powder technology, pharmaceutical technology, and novel drug delivery systems, with a focus on respiratory drug delivery.
Biological sciences
This group is housed in recently refurbished laboratories with dedicated state-of-the-art molecular biological, electrophysiological, tissue culture and microscopy facilities. The research is divided into four main themes; infectious diseases and allergy; neuroscience; renal and cardiovascular physiology; and pharmacology. Examples of current work include: investigation of the use of non-pathogenic virus ‘pseudotypes’ to study pathogenic RNA, study of the properties of neuronal potassium channels and their modulation and the development of new therapies for patients that have developed acute kidney injury in collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company.
Pharmacy practice
This group conducts research in two areas: public health and medicines optimisation, with a particular focus on cardiovascular diseases and mental health. Work in public health includes studies in physical exercise, alcohol, cardiovascular screening and spirometry testing, plus pharmacovigilance. Studies in medicines optimisation include work in dementia, bipolar disorder and stroke, with an emphasis on the patient perspective.
Staff research interests
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Fees
See the Medway School of Pharmacy website for Postgraduate Fees
For more fee information, please email MSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich.ac.uk
Funding
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
