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MPharm

Pharmacy with Preparatory Year

Take the first step towards a rewarding career in pharmacy supporting hospitals, patients and communities.

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World-class facilities

Regular investment in our facilities ensures that you will be developing as a pharmacist in a world-class learning environment.

Part 1 Accreditation

The Medway School of Pharmacy has achieved part 1 accreditation from the General Pharmaceutical Council and is recognised as an established school of pharmacy.

Build your network

The British Pharmaceutical Student Association holds local branch meetings at Medway and runs conferences and seminars - get involved and build your network.

Get hands on

We make use of tutorials, workshops and practical laboratory classes as well as in-house simulation-based learning to foster your understanding and development.

Key information

Start
September 2026
View 2027 start
Location
Medway
Study mode
5 years full-time
Fees (per year)
UK: £9,790*
International: £23,500
Typical offer
CCC / 96 UCAS points All entry requirements

Overview

Become a pharmacist who makes a difference to people's health. Our GPhC-accredited MPharm with Preparatory Year is designed for students who do not yet meet the entry requirements for the four-year MPharm. It provides an alternative route for those who have not studied the required subjects or who would benefit from additional preparation for degree-level study.

During the Preparatory Year, you'll develop the academic knowledge, skills and confidence needed for higher education before progressing to Year 1 of the MPharm, provided you meet the progression requirements.

Based at the Medway School of Pharmacy, our five-year course brings together pharmaceutical science, biomedical science, therapeutics and professional practice to give you a strong foundation for modern pharmacy. You'll apply your learning through real clinical scenarios, developing your understanding of medicines and patient care as you progress through the course.

Throughout your degree, you'll gain practical experience on placements in a range of healthcare settings, building the confidence and practical skills employers value. When you graduate, you'll be well prepared for foundation training and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), opening the door to careers in community and hospital pharmacy, primary care, the pharmaceutical industry, and many other specialist areas.

The course

Our curriculum is outcomes-focused and designed to prepare you for your future professional practice. You study basic and applied science as well as clinical and professional practice, all in the context of patient care. We teach core themes of biological sciences, chemistry and drug delivery as part of integrated modules based around body systems.

What you'll study

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

You are required to study the following compulsory modules:

Stage 0 compulsory modules

  • Essentials in Chemical Sciences
  • Numeracy for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
  • Essentials in Human Biology
  • Essentials of Academic Research
  • Introduction to Pharmacy Skills
  • Progress to MPharm Stage 1

Stage 1 compulsory modules

  • Biomedical Science & Therapeutics 1
  • Patient Safety & Quality Competencies 1
  • Professional Practice & Prescribing 1
  • The Science of Medicines 1

Stage 2 compulsory modules

  • Biomedical Science & Therapeutics 2
  • Patient Safety & Quality Competencies 2
  • Professional Practice & Prescribing 2
  • The Science of Medicines 2

Stage 3 compulsory modules

  • Biomedical Science & Therapeutics 3
  • Patient Safety & Quality Competencies 3
  • Professional Practice & Prescribing 3
  • The Science of Medicines 3

Stage 4 compulsory modules

  • Patient Safety & Quality Competencies 4
  • Quality Use of Medicines
  • Research Project
  • Prescribing Scope of Practice

Please contact the Medway School of Pharmacy for information about the course structure.

How you'll study

A range of teaching methods will be used from traditional lectures and video recordings, seminars, tutorials, laboratory sessions, practical's, online work, reading, independent study, reflecting on assignment feedback and practice-based learning.
Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Independent Study
Lab Work

Entry requirements

Typical offer
96 UCAS points
A level
CCC
BTEC
MMM
IB
26 points overall

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2026 entry

UK / Full-time (UK)

£9,790*

International / Full-time (International)

£23,500

*The Government announced on 26 November 2025 that tuition fees in England for Home students will increase to £9,790 from £9,535 for the academic year 2026/27. This increase requires Parliamentary approval, which is expected to be given in early/mid 2026.

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.

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

New students are subject to a number of small mandatory costs at the start of their course of around £100 in total.

  • Students on the MPharm programme must complete the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of the fitness to practise and admission process. This is currently charged at £53.
  • We ask that all students purchase lab coats, safety glasses and a notebook at a cost price of £18.

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Medway School of Pharmacy.

Funding

Medway School of Pharmacy offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.

Your future

At the Medway School of Pharmacy our teaching, assessments and facilities are designed not only to ensure a high-level student experience, but to embed employability at every turn. Our extensive network of teacher practitioners are there to provide guidance for your studies and professional development. They will support you through a number of external placements in hospitals and community pharmacies.

In your first year, you spend one week in a community pharmacy. You then spend one week in hospital and one week in a community pharmacy during your second year of study. In Year 3, you go out to a hospital and a community pharmacy for one week each. In your final year of study, there are two weeks of developing your prescribing and scope of practice and in addition we are developing a further two weeks of placement in a community pharmacy, hospital, GP surgery or industry.

This extensive support and work experience you receive ensures that after you have the skills and confidence to launch your career.

Graduates entering high-skill roles can earn up to

48%
more than non-graduates. - WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025

A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over

£300,000
Graduate employment outcomes - Universities UK
Hear from our graduates

Ready to apply?

Apply for Medway School of Pharmacy courses through Clearing from 2 July 2026 and secure your place to start this September.

Apply for Pharmacy with a Preparatory Year - MPharm

If you're interested in September 2027 entry, you can apply on the UCAS website:

Apply through UCAS

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