Pharmacy Practice

Entry requirements

Before you apply:

1. Check that you meet the entry requirements:

• A pharmacy degree (BSc, BPharm, or MPharm).
• Registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• A practice-base with access to a workplace educational supervisor (the programme is suitable for pharmacists working in primary or secondary care), you should discuss your application with your manager prior to applying as workplace based support is essential to the programme.

2. Complete a statement of purpose.

The student statement is used to support evidence of meeting the entry criteria, as well as determining your preparedness to undertake the programme of study. You may wish to consider some of the following questions when writing your statement:

• What support networks do you have whilst you are completing your studies?
• How do you keep up to date in your practice and reflect on your impact on patient care?
• If you are currently studying another programme at the same time, how will you manage your workload?

3. Prepare the following documents, as you will need to provide all of these documents during the application process:

• Checklist for foundation programme (PDF)
• Workplace-based learning declaration
• If you are being part sponsored: Proof of funding (some NHS organisations require a Purchase Order number for the payment of invoices. This must be stated on this letter to ensure invoices are paid promptly).
• If you are self-funding, or doing your learning in practice hours with an organisation who is not your employer, the self-funding declaration.

How to apply:

4. Access the University's online application portal.

All communication from the application system is via automated email. Some National Health Service (NHS) email servers flag these email addresses as spam, so we recommend using a personal email address to ensure you receive all communications at this stage.

When you have started an application, the system will email you to remind you to start, and/or complete, your application at regular intervals. If your account is flagged as dormant for three or more weeks, your application may be automatically removed.

5. Once you have created an account, select your programme choice from the drop-down menu:

• PGCert Pharmacy Practice

6. Complete all the required fields (marked with an asterix *) and upload all of the documents stated above (step 2 and 3).

Make sure you upload your statement of purpose to the 'statement of purpose' field in the application portal.

The application portal cannot accept multiple uploads. Therefore, you will need to scan the documents from step 2 into one document and submit your combined documents to the 'other' field.

7. References

Once you have submitted an application, an automatic email will be sent to your referees (if you have provided an email address for them). It is your responsibility to make sure that your referee supplies a reference. We would therefore advise that you contact them in advance of submitting an application so that they have time to prepare a reference. They can use our template to prepare their reference in advance. Please also note that emails from the application system may be sent to their 'spam' folder, which they should check if they have not received the email when expected.

If you have completed postgraduate study, you should provide details of one academic and one non-academic referee. If you have not completed postgraduate study, you can provide details of two non-academic referees. A suitable non-academic referee is typically a past or current employer, or your pre-registration tutor or diploma supervisor.

8. The outcome of your application

Applications are reviewed throughout the year. However, the greater the number of applications we receive, the longer it may take to inform you of the outcome. The admission tutor may contact you to discuss your application if:

• it is unclear whether you have support from your manager
• the workplace has not been accredited as a training centre by the programme team
• it is unclear who your workplace based supervisor will be
• your ability to attend all the study days is not clear.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Please note that this course page includes information for the 2023/24 academic year. Details for 2024/25 entry to this course have not yet been finalised. Contact us for more information.

The PGCert Pharmacy practice is a workplace-based programme, aligned to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Foundation Pharmacy Framework, which allows pharmacists to develop their clinical and service skills.

This collaborative programme between local NHS pharmacy services and the University provides pharmacy practice training that is responsive to the UK government's national objectives.

Your learning will reflect the local context in which pharmacists work, and the changing needs of patients.

This is a workplace-based learning programme and placements are part of your employment prior to enrolment. You will be taught through blended learning which combines face-to-face with online study.

You may be sponsored by your employer or may choose to self-fund. If you are being sponsored you should ensure funding is in place prior to submitting an application as places cannot be held in the event of funding not being secured.

There is flexibility within the programme. You may choose to exit the programme with the PGCert and/or take a break prior to starting the PGDip. The programme is part of the Joint Programmes Board (JPB) partners group and there is flexible movement of students who complete the PGCert to study in other local HEIs.

97% of our research is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework [REF] 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy).

Upcoming cohort enrolment options

PGCert

Start date: 8 November 2023

• Applications for this cohort will open in summer 2023
• Deadline for applications: 29 September 2023
• View the enrolment timetable for the next available course

Application information:

• If you have any questions, please email cippet@reading.ac.uk.
• The required documents to be submitted with your application are found in the 'Entry requirements' tab, along with information about how to apply online. Failure to upload the correct documents may lead to your application being rejected.
• If you are interested in applying after the deadline, please contact cippet@reading.ac.uk – sometimes we can operate a waiting list if applicants withdraw at the last minute.

Fees and funding

New UK/Republic of Ireland students:

£1,500 per year

New international students: £ *Not applicable - this course is only open to UK applicants*

Tuition fee information: £1,350 for the 60 credit module.

Please note

We also offer this programme as a PGDip, which has a different fee structure. Visit the PGDip programme course page for more information.

Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Applicants can be fully or partly sponsored by their employer to undertake the programme. There is information on how to provide proof of sponsorship in the 'Entry requirements' section above. For all other potential HEE sponsorship/commissioned options, please contact your local HEE Branch Educational Commission Manager.