ObjectivesThis programme offers an unrivalled learning experience and access to Sunderland's excellent facilities. Teaching is undertaken on the small number of study days by clinicians and clinical pharmacists. Students will receive comprehensive up-to-date open learning materials. Completion of the masters programme will also provide a sound training in practice research. Clinical Pharmacy is a well-established area of pharmaceutical expertise that provides significant input into the overall provision of health care throughout the National Health Service. To this end, all Schools of Pharmacy in the United Kingdom now offer Clinical Pharmacy, not only in their undergraduate programmes but also as a specialised postgraduate provision.
Entry requirementsMinimum of a Lower Second Class Honours degree in pharmacy from an institution recognised as registerable by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Registration and employment as a Pharmacist in the UK for study at Sunderland Where the applicant's first language is not English, they must provide evidence of competence in English. This would normally be a TOEFL score of 550 or IELTS Grade 6 according to University policy.
Course descriptionClinical Pharmacy is available as:
• PG Certificate in 1 year part-time
• PG Diploma in 2 years part-time
• MSc in 3 years part-time or 1 year full-time.
Diploma students also undertake an updated practical component - Skills in Practice module (formerly Clinical Clerkship) where the practitioner undertakes tasks in their hospital, community pharmacy or primary care workplace.
To allow students from different backgrounds to study in their chosen area of interest the option modules offer a broad range of subjects.
All the programmes will continue in the open learning format with a small number of study days.
Students will use a mixture of paper and internet based materials (distance-learning units or workbooks) covering all aspects of the syllabus, much of the reference material is provided and guidance as to the sources of other material is detailed.
This material will continue to be authored by University of Sunderland staff and expert practitioners and be validated by experts in the fields.
Course Content
Stage 1
Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) 60 credits
You study the following core modules:
* Evidence Based Practice: including Critical Appraisal and Pharmacoeconomics
* Clinical Biochemistry
Together with the first 3 Therapeutics modules:
* Cardiovascular
* CNS
* Endocrine
Stage 2
Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) 60 credits
You will continue with 3 further Therapeutics modules:
* Anticoagulation
* Dermatology
* Infection
* Natural Health Products
* Palliative Care
* Public and Population Health
Stage 3
Masters (MSc) 60 credits
* Research Methodology
* Project
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching is through open learning, lectures, seminars, group work and structured practical experience, and is delivered by staff from the university with some lectures from clinical specialists.
The project requires you to investigate a topic of practical relevance to patients' needs, and may either involve your own practice base, or else be based entirely at the university.
Assessment includes reports, oral presentations, case studies, critical appraisals as well as OSCE and a thesis for the MSc project.
Career Opportunities
For pharmacists this programme opens up careers in such areas as: prescribing support pharmacists, pharmaceutical advisors, practice pharmacists, research and teaching.