Skip to content Accesskeys Newsroom

Pharmacist

Pharmacists are experts in medicines, including their use in community pharmacies and hospitals. They advise medical and nursing staff on the use of drugs, as well as advising patients on how to manage their medicines to ensure the best possible treatment.

Hospital pharmacists

Hospital-based pharmacists are responsible for overseeing the purchase, manufacture, dispensing, quality testing, supply and use of the medicines in their hospital. They work closely with medical and nursing staff to ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatment. They also provide help and advice to patients in all aspects of their medicines during their stay and when they leave hospital.

Many pharmacists undertake specialist roles in therapeutic areas such as intensive care or cancer treatments or deliver specialist services such as the provision of medicines information.

Community pharmacists

Community-based pharmacists work from high street, local and rural pharmacies. They use their detailed knowledge to ensure that medicines are correctly and safely supplied.

They also act as health advisors to the general public offering advice on improving health in a number of areas – for example, stopping smoking.

Skills required

As well as your scientific knowledge, you must also:

  • be able to work with great accuracy and attention to detail, even under pressure
  • have good communication skills
  • have an ability to work well with others in the health care team
  • be able to advise and reassure patients

Training programmes and entry qualifications

MPharm Hons at Queen’s University Belfast

This is an undergraduate full-time four-year programme.

Applicants should have grades AAB at A level, including Chemistry and at least one from Biology, Mathematics and Physics

or

grades ABB including Chemistry and at least one from Biology, Mathematics and Physics plus A in a fourth AS level subject.

One Applied/VCE A level or Applied/VCE AS level subject is acceptable in fulfilment of the three A-levels plus one AS-level offer. However, it may not be offered as part of a three A-level combination.

Only one Mathematics subject will be counted at A-level. General Studies is not acceptable.

Applicants should also have GCSE English, Mathematics and either Biology or Double Award Science at grade C or above if not offered at AS-level or A-level.

Where offers are made to repeat applicants, the standards required is AAA or AAB at Alevel plus A in a fourth AS-level.

MPharm Hons at the University of Ulster

This is an undergraduate full-time four-year programme.

Applicants should have a minimum of 340 UCAS tariff points to include grades AAB at A level (including Chemistry and one science subject from Mathematics, Physics or Biology). Biology is preferred as second science. GCE Applied Science Double Award is acceptable only when offered with A level Chemistry at least at Grade B.

GCSE passes at grade C or above in Mathematics, English and Chemistry or Double Award Science are also required.

You should contact the universities directly for up to date information on entry requirements

Career pathway

There are several career options available to graduates. The majority take up places in community pharmacies and some will eventually own their own business. Others will be employed as pharmacists within the health service working in hospitals, with GPs or for healthcare organisations.

Other graduates will take up positions in research, teaching and within the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmacists may also undertake postgraduate training which enables them to prescribe medicines.

Professional recognition

The courses are recognised by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. Following successful completion of the degree course, all graduates intending to register as pharmacists in are required to complete a one-year period of pre-registration training under conditions approved by the professional bodies. In addition, students are required to pass a registration examination.