Become a Pharmacist

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What is Pharmacy?

Our integrated Masters degree in Pharmacy builds on the strengths of the Medical School, integrating science and practice to prepare you to meet the challenges of the changing face of Pharmacy.

Pharmacists today work together with doctors and nurses in a clinical setting so training at Swansea will reflect this. You will benefit from our experience and expertise in clinical and life science, research, training and practice, helping you to develop your pharmaceutical practice, science and knowledge.

Throughout the course, your studies will reflect the way Pharmacists approach patients and how patients present to Pharmacists, combining scientific understanding with how it is applied; ‘the practice of Pharmacy’.

What is the difference between Pharmacy and Pharmacology?

Pharmacy and Pharmacology are two distinct disciplines – with similar goals of ensuring medicines are safe and effective for patients.

Pharmacology is the biomedical discipline concerned with the development of drugs and the study of the effects they have on the function of living organisms. Pharmacology today has a number of subfamilies including but not limited to:

Pharmacokinetics
Neuropharmacology
Immunopharmacology
Cancer pharmacology

Pharmacology is integral within many biomedical disciplines. You can find pharmacology present everywhere. In medicine cabinets, when you visit the dentists and when you take any type of medication. Pharmacologists may have specialised understanding on the impact of drugs on the body of living organism within certain therapeutic areas; such as cardiovascular pharmacology or gastrointestinal pharmacology. They may work as part of a multidisciplinary team including pharmacists in the drug design and development process. They may also be involved in research related to how drugs work and how they affect the body. Pharmacologists help improve current therapies as well as discover and develop new medicines for use in healthcare.

Pharmacy, on the other hand, is the vocational biomedical discipline that involves aspects of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, human physiology, pharmacy practice, clinical pharmacy.

Historically, pharmacy was seen as the science of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medicines. However, Pharmacy today involves drug discovery, design and development. It is a registered profession that has shifted from the dispensing of medicines to medicines’ management and the management of patients with complex needs. Pharmacists help develop and improve the use of current and new medicines in healthcare.

Pharmacists are expert in medicines, they are able to evaluate the clinical appropriateness of prescribed medicines, review and monitor patients, and signpost appropriately to ensure patient safety. Pharmacists today are involved in the development and utilisation of personalised medicines, CAR-T therapies and vaccines.

The study of pharmacy is like having a global passport degree, which enables you to work in community, hospital, industry, general practice (GP) academia, research, care home, regulatory affairs, prison, veterinary and military pharmacy. Many pharmacists today are independent prescribers and key members of multidisciplinary teams ensuring the provision of a seamless care.

What does a Pharmacist do?

The role of a pharmacist is varied and now is an exciting time to enter the profession. As experts in medicine, pharmacists have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their patients and their community. The majority of pharmacist work with their local community in a pharmacy, others will work to support patients in hospitals. Newer roles for pharmacists include close working with GPs and other healthcare professionals.

Is Pharmacy a good career?

A career in pharmacy is a rewarding choice for anyone with an interest in helping others. The skills you will learn on an MPharm degree will put you in a unique positon to pursue a career in science or a career in healthcare.

What does Pharmacy cover?

Pharmacy combines scientific understanding with its clinical application ‘the practice of Pharmacy’. You will be taught by experts in their field across a range of scientific practice including Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biology and Biochemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice. Together with a strong focus on clinical and communication skills and digital technology, you will develop the academic, practical, and personal qualities to practise pharmacy competently and with confidence.

What does MPharm mean?

An MPharm degree is a four year degree programme and earns you a master’s level degree upon completion. Through the four years of study you will learn about a number of different themes including how drugs are formulated in pharmaceutics. How drugs act on the body in pharmacology. As well as advanced chemistry and biology. The use of drugs as medicines is taught in clinical therapies and pharmacy practice.

What careers could be open to me when I Graduate?

Pharmacists work in a range of settings in healthcare and beyond including:

Community pharmacies
GP surgeries
Hospitals
Mental Health Services
Academia
Pharmaceutical industry

98% of pharmacy graduates are working or in further study 6 months after graduation.

What comes after MPharm?

Once you have completed your degree you will undertake a year in practice known as the Foundation Training Year. You will spend a year putting in to practice everything you have learnt during your degree. The year offers the opportunity to work with experienced pharmacists to further advance your knowledge and expertise. Upon completion, and once a final exam has been passed your name will appear on the pharmacist register held by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

How much do pharmacists earn in the UK?

With the range of career options open to a pharmacist the salary you can expect will vary. A newly qualified pharmacist can expect a starting salary of £35,392, and the average salary of a Pharmacist in the UK is £50,183.

Want to know more?

As well as our 4-year MPharm Pharmacy degree, we also offer a 5-year MPharm Pharmacy with a Preparatory (Foundation) Year which is ideal if you don’t have the required entry qualifications or experience, or you're worried about your grades.