Pharmacy with Foundation Year
Pharmacy is the healthcare discipline focused on the science and practice of medicines: how drugs are discovered, developed, manufactured, dispensed and monitored to ensure they are used safely and effectively. Pharmacists are expert professionals who play a central role in patient care, both in advising on medication and in clinical decision-making alongside doctors and other healthcare practitioners. The profession has expanded considerably in recent years, with pharmacists now taking on prescribing roles and working as independent clinicians in primary and secondary care.
At the University of Keele, this five-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, providing an accessible entry route for students who want to build their scientific foundations before progressing into the four-year MPharm degree. The main degree is evidence-based and patient-centred throughout, combining pharmaceutical science with clinical practice. You will study pharmacology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry and pharmacy practice, developing both the scientific knowledge and the clinical skills to practise as a registered pharmacist.
The programme uses innovative learning approaches, including augmented reality, to enhance your clinical training and preparation for practice. You will have opportunities to develop your skills in real clinical environments across primary care, secondary care and community pharmacy settings.
Successful completion of the MPharm degree is the first step towards registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Graduates go on to practise as clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists and specialist practitioners in areas such as oncology, paediatrics and care of the elderly. The scientific rigour of a pharmacy degree also opens pathways into pharmaceutical research and development, regulatory affairs, the pharmaceutical industry and clinical trials.
Postgraduate study, including specialist clinical pharmacy qualifications and academic research, is a well-established route for those who want to develop expertise or move into leadership roles.