Pharmacy (MPharm)
- Subject area: Pharmacy
- UCAS code: B230
- Next intake: September 2025
- Duration: 4 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
A close-knit, long-established School
A long established School with over 100 years of excellence in teaching and research.
Top School for research excellence
We rank Joint First School of Pharmacy in the UK for the quality of our teaching and research according to the Research Excellence Framework.
Top pass rates for pharmacist Registration Assessment
93% of our students who sat the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Registration Assessment in 2024 passed first-time, higher than the overall national average of 75%.
Great careers prospects
98.5% of our graduates are in highly skilled jobs and/or graduate-level further study 15 months after their course ended. (Graduate Outcomes 2020/21)
Our MPharm programme is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience you’ll need to embark on a career as a Pharmacist. Our School is internationally renowned for the outstanding quality of our teaching and research.
Undertaking the MPharm at Cardiff University means studying at one of the top schools of Pharmacy in the UK.
Today's pharmacists are not only experts in drug discovery and delivery, they play a direct role in improving patients’ health and wellbeing. Many now prescribe medicines independently of a doctor. We are proud to train the pharmacists of the future and, as the role of the pharmacist evolves, so too does our programme to reflect these exciting developments.
Above all else, we strive to ensure that our graduates are ready for the next step in their career and the many opportunities that await them.
That’s why 95% of our students who sat the 2022 General Pharmaceutical Council’s registration exam passed first-time, higher than the overall national average of 82%. For many years, 100% of our graduates who have applied for pre-registration pharmacy training have been successful in securing a training place.
On this four-year internationally respected programme you’ll learn about the discovery and development of new drugs and explore their chemical, physicochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties. You’ll also study the clinical uses of medicines and the role of the pharmacist in improving patient outcomes as part of interprofessional healthcare teams.
You’ll learn about the underlying pathophysiology of many human diseases, and how the use of medicines can halt, slow the progression of, or reverse disease processes.
You’ll be taught all of this by our team of world-leading academic staff and pharmacist practitioners who have an extensive range of expertise. In fact, we ranked joint first School of Pharmacy nationally in the most recent Research Excellence Framework. This is a direct result of the quality, and cutting-edge nature of our research projects.
Some of your learning will take place alongside students from other health care disciplines as part of our interprofessional education and you’ll also be given the opportunity to carry out a range of placements in both traditional and role-emerging settings including community and hospital pharmacies, GP practices and specialist health and social care settings. This will provide you with invaluable experience on the front line of health care provision.
Our commitment to adapt to the changing needs of the pharmacy profession
Our MPharm programme is under continual review as part of our ongoing commitment to enhance our course to reflect changes in pharmacy practice and ensure that our graduates have the skills, knowledge and experience they need to continue on the next step in their pharmacy careers. This review is underpinned by the standards for pharmacy education and training produced by our regulatory body, the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Accreditations
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Subject area: Pharmacy
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
AAB-ABB in two sciences. Must include one from Biology or Chemistry, and one from either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
- Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application. Eligible students will be given an offer that is lower than the standard offer (usually the middle or lower end of the advertised grade range).
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional consideration in the selection process.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
34-32 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Biology or Chemistry, and grade 6 in HL Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
In your personal statement, you will need to demonstrate your commitment to pharmacy.
You must also have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade B/6 or, where GCSEs have not been taken, an acceptable equivalent. If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
- three GCSEs at grade B/6 including Biology, Chemistry, and Maths, or equivalent qualifications (subject and grade). Double science may be accepted in place of separate sciences.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
ENROLMENT CONDITIONS
In line with the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) student code of conduct and fitness to practise procedures, before starting your course you will need to undergo a health check by our Occupational Health Service, attend any subsequent appointments and receive all of the necessary vaccinations to undertake clinical placements safely.
The GPhC will carry out its own health, good character and identity checks when you complete your training and apply to register with the regulatory body.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade B or grade 6 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all subskills.
TOEFL iBT
At least 100 overall with a minimum of 22 in all subskills.
PTE Academic
At least 76 overall with a minimum of 69 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: Not accepted.
III: at least a Merit in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You will be required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check if your application is successful. If you are applying from certain countries overseas, a Certificate of Good Conduct may be required.
If you have a relevant criminal conviction, this will be stated in the check and may affect your ability to enrol on the course. Applicants who are on the barred list should be aware that applying to this course is likely to be considered a criminal offence.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
Qualifications from outside the UK
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Interview or selection process
We won’t make an offer without an interview.
All applicants must meet the minimum requirements at Level 2 (typically GCSE) and Level 3 (typically A-level) in order to be eligible for consideration for interview.
If you meet the entry requirements, we'll invite you to an online interview.
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
Learn more about our tuition fees
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
Applicants are required to meet the costs of obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate and are encouraged to join the DBS Update Service for the duration of the programme.
Applicants are advised that, while you will be reimbursed for some of the costs you incur whilst attending practice placements, you will be required to cover the initial costs for later reimbursement. This may include both accommodation and travel costs (if they are in excess of your normal daily travel costs to your University base).
Course specific equipment
Any protective or special clothing and equipment required will be supplied by the University. Reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in making visits away from the University required as part of the course will be reimbursed. You will be provided with a locker in the School's Redwood Building.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
The career options for Pharmacists are varied and plentiful, ranging from hospital, primary care or community settings - including being based within GP surgeries - to industry or research in the UK and internationally, making this an exciting degree to embark upon.
Many of today’s pharmacists are now also qualified to prescribe medicines independently of a doctor and are on the frontline of healthcare provision.
Our MPharm programme is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience you need to pursue your pharmacy career. Following on from successfully completing our MPharm programme, you’ll be able to undertake a pre-registration year of training before sitting the General Pharmaceutical Council’s registration assessment to register as a Pharmacist.
And we are proud that 100% of our students are in employment and/or further study six months after graduating.
Our graduates have gone on to occupy key positions in NHS hospitals and hospitals overseas, in community pharmacy organisation such as Boots UK, Lloyds Pharmacy Group, Well pharmacy, in allied scientific and healthcare enterprises, as well as in industry settings. Some have also gone on to enjoy careers as veterinary pharmacists, military pharmacists and in regulatory affairs.
Types of jobs:
Hospital Pharmacist - as a hospital pharmacist, you’d be a key part of the healthcare team, working in either the NHS or a private hospital, with a clear focus on patient needs.
Community Pharmacist - based in your own pharmacy, out of a local healthcare centre or doctor’s surgery, you’d be at the frontline of healthcare in the UK or overseas. With further study, you may prescribe medicines independently.
Primary care Pharmacist – as a primary care pharmacist you will optimise patient’s medicines to maximise the benefits and minimise the risks associated with different drugs. You will also help to develop services to support the local population with their health needs.
Industrial Pharmacist - you’d be involved in the research, design, development and testing of new medicines and treatments, ensuring they are safe and of a good quality for patients.
Academic Pharmacist - if teaching, researching, practising or a combination of all three appeals to you, becoming an Academic Pharmacist could be for you. You might be based in universities, research institutions or other organisations throughout the world.
Graduate careers
- Hospital Pharmacist
- Clinical Pharmacist in Community, GP surgery or other Primary Care setting
- Industrial Pharmacist
- Researcher
- Pharmacy Manager
Placements
There are pharmacy practice placements for all students in all years of the programme, including a number of days, about five in total, spent in community pharmacies and, in year three, a week in an NHS hospital pharmacy. There are also a number of whole or half-day role-emerging placements in other health and social care settings for all students.
Dependent on your study choices, there are opportunities for some students to undertake additional placements in patient or social care environments or visits to or placements in pharmaceutical industry establishments.
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.