Throughout the MPharm course, students will have the opportunity to assess where their professional interests lie and to establish links with practices where they might hope for future employment. MPharm students will be given every opportunity to develop their own areas of interest and expertise as well as covering the core requirements.

Pharmacists can expect to command competitive salaries and there are great opportunities for career progression.

Careers in Pharmacy

Pharmacists work in a wide variety of different situations and careers are available that can be tailored to your own personal development needs and interests. There are four major sectors of employment:

	Community Pharmacy Community pharmacists work under contract to the NHS and are involved in many areas of patient care. Their role includes checking that the medication requested on prescription is appropriate for the patient and advising general practitioners when problems arise. They advise members of the general public on healthcare matters and diagnose and prescribe for minor ailments. Additionally they perform clinical checks such as glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure monitoring.
	Hospital Pharmacy Hospital pharmacy offers a structured career pathway enabling pharmacists to train and then specialise either in management or in clinical practice right through to consultant level. Hospital pharmacists are responsible for all aspects of medicines management in the hospital, including the associated risks to patients and staff. They undertake competency-based training programmes in the workplace and usually study for further academic qualifications. They can also train and register as a prescriber after two years as a qualified pharmacist.
	Primary Care Pharmacy The role of the primary care pharmacist varies widely but is generally based within a general practitioner's surgery. Primary care pharmacists can be involved in reviewing the prescribed medication of patients, advising general practitioners regarding their prescribing and conducting clinics with patients to ensure they have the most appropriate treatment.
	Industrial Pharmacy Pharmacists work in industry in two main areas, either as pharmaceutical scientists or in clinical trials and regulation. Pharmaceutical scientists are responsible for developing new drug molecules into medicines. This involves developing a dosage form that a patient can use easily e.g. a tablet or injection and making sure that the drug gets to the correct site of the body at the correct time at the correct level. Pharmacists are also involved in ensuring that medicines are manufactured to the highest possible standards and the patients receive the best quality product possible.