Pre-reg Pharmacist Programme

Your workplace learning is complemented and supported by the UEA study programme. This consists of a series of study blocks where you are taught by a range of experts on a wide variety of topics relevant to the GPhC assessment framework.

The sessions are designed to be highly interactive and follow innovative learning approaches that cater for all learning styles.

As a foundation trainee, you will have access to a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment on UEA Blackboard. This is used as a portal for all communications, learning materials from all study sessions, online learning packages, calculations support and GPhC style assessments.

All members of the programme delivery team are committed to ensuring that all trainees are well prepared for the GPhC registration assessment, so we provide revision tools and formal full-length practise assessments, towards the end of the training year.

We offer 82 placements at 21 NHS Trusts in the East of England covering Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Essex ,and Norfolk and Suffolk. See the placements available on the map below. Open the key to the map to see detailed information on each placement site.

• Recruitment to all hospital placements and over 2,000 community pharmacy placements is via the Oriel IT system which already supports the recruitment of dentists, doctors and healthcare scientists
• Only one application is required to apply for both hospital and community posts
• Applicants are able to state their preference for all advertised posts

Recruitment for 2021/22 placements is now closed

Applications for 2022-23 placements open in June 2021. More details on the recruitment timelines can be found on the National Pre-registration Pharmacist recruitment website.

The majority of hospitals in East of England offer structured work experience opportunities for MPharm students during the Summer months.

Click the hospital names on the map below to view more information and contact details for applying.

Disclaimer: This information may no longer be accurate due to Covid-19 pressures on the NHS.

Please contact individual hospitals to enquire whether they are receiving applications for Summer 2021

What we offer

The 1-3 week placements are supported by a Handbook developed by expert practitioners. The Handbook provides:

• a set of objectives for each rotation
• a tool for recording competencies achieved
• an evaluation form of overall experience

All students who submit a completed evaluation form receive a 'Certificate of Achievement' issued by the UEA Programme Delivery Team.

How to apply

For Summer 2021 placements please complete an application form (PDF) and submit directly to the trust(s) of your choice, with a cover letter and a current CV.

Closing date for applications - 31 January 2021 – may be extended due to Covid-19

Applicants will be contacted directly by each trust with either a placement offer or an invitation to an interview.

Unsuccessful applicants are not always contacted.

Registered pharmacists have excellent career prospects in different sectors of practice including hospital, community, primary care/GP practices and industrial pharmacy.

Hospital pharmacy

If you enjoy working with patients and the public as well as a diversity of other healthcare professionals this could be a career for you.

To find out more visit the NHS Explore Roles in Pharmacy page.

More than 75% of the East of England hospital pre-reg trainee pharmacists secure band 6 pharmacist positions in the NHS.

All NHS jobs are advertised on the NHS website.

Community pharmacy

Working in community pharmacy can be a very fulfilling and rewarding career.

Modern community services are patient-centred and include delivery of a range of advanced and enhanced services under contract with the NHS.

To read more about careers in community pharmacy visit the PSNC website.

Primary care/GP practices

At present, a career in primary care is followed after gaining a few years’ experience and qualifications in either hospital or community pharmacy.

This is changing rapidly with increasing opportunities for clinical pharmacist posts at GP practices.

To read out more visit the NHS Community Pharmacy website.

Industrial pharmacy

There are opportunities for a newly qualified pharmacist to work in the pharmaceutical industry in a variety of roles:

• Medical Science e.g. Drug Development
• Medical Information
• Quality Assurance
• Regulation of Pharmaceuticals

About 4% of pharmacists currently working in the UK are employed by the pharmaceutical industry.

To find out more visit the APBI Careers website.

This course is for pre-registration pharmacist tutors who are new to the role, or existing tutors who would like to refresh their knowledge.

The course should take approximately three hours to complete. It does not need to be completed in one sitting. Your progress will not be saved if you exit the course without completing it.

Access the pre-reg tutor training course.