Pharmacy: Your skills

Studying pharmacy enables you to develop many skills. Some of these skills and abilities are specific to the role of a pharmacist and include:

• knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the design and manufacture of medicines;
• ability to apply this knowledge, in practical settings, to meet the needs of patients and colleagues;
• how to communicate effectively with patients and other health professionals;
• production of pharmacy-specific scientific documentation;
• safe handling of potentially hazardous materials;
• the ability to work carefully, methodically and accurately;
• operation of pharmaceutical instrumentation;
• knowledge of the law and ethical concerns relating to the supply of medicines;
• analysis of medicines.

You also develop a broad range of transferable skills that are very attractive to employers in other sectors. These skills include:

• verbal communication - including the ability to listen carefully and explain complex and/or sensitive information;
• interpersonal skills - the ability to to empathise and establish relationships with patients, the public and other professionals;
• ability to work well as part of a team;
• numeracy and computation;
• problem-solving skills and the ability to think clearly and methodically;
• information technology;
• research and analysis;
• project management;
• time management and organisational skills;
• the ability to critically evaluate data;
• commercial awareness;
• an ethical attitude.