MPharm Pharmacy with a Foundation Year

Our GPhC accredited five–year Pharmacy with a Foundation Year degree prepares you for university-level study if you don’t have the required qualifications for direct entry onto the four-year MPharm course.

The five-year program helps you develop the knowledge, skills and attributes required of a modern pharmacist. From day one, you’ll work with patients and other healthcare practitioners in placements and simulations. Learning in an enjoyable and supportive environment to maximise your potential.

We are proud of our graduates, and their early career destinations are a testament to the employability prospects provided by our degree.

About

The foundation year of this five-year course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to move on to study our MPharm degree. You’ll not only focus on fundamental skills in mathematics, biology and chemistry but undertake a bespoke Pharmacy skills module. You’ll explore teaching methods utilised throughout the MPharm and learn some of the underlying principles of medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical formulation and pharmacy practice.

Our MPharm degree programme has a global reputation for exceptional, innovative teaching, backed by world-class research. You’ll focus on clinical skills development and practical experience to develop your professional attributes and competencies. You will benefit from the support of our friendly staff, who are leading researchers and practitioners. Furthermore, your learning will be integrated with placements from the very beginning of this four-year course.

Whatever your focus, your course will reflect the most up-to-date developments in pharmaceutical science and the most recent advances in clinical practice.

This course is intended for UK and EU students who wish to later register as a Pharmacist in the UK following a 12-month period of foundation training undertaken after graduation. If you wish to register as a pharmacist overseas we recommend you check this course is acceptable for this purpose in that country.

Clearing and Admissions Live Chat

Hear from our Graduate

Meet Pharmacy graduate Aditya Aggarwal, and find out about his experiences studying Pharmacy at UEA.

Hear from our students

Find out what it’s like to study Pharmacy at UEA.

WATCH >

Ask a Student

This is your chance to ask UEA's students about UEA, university life, Norwich and anything else you would like an answer to.

ASK US ON UNIBUDDY >

UEA Award

Develop your skills, build a strong CV and focus your extra-curricular activities while studying with our employer-valued UEA award.

LEARN MORE >

What is Pharmacy?

Watch our Pharmacy animation to find out more.

WATCH >

What's a Foundation Year?

Find out why they could be a great opportunity for you.

FIND OUT MORE >

Mature Students

If you are aged 19 or older and are seeking further help with applying to university, or where to start in figuring out where to go with your education, we can help.

FIND OUT MORE >

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Course Modules will be provided soon. For further information on Foundation Year modules, please see our MPharm Pharmacy with a Foundation Year 2022 entry.

For further years' module information please check out our MPharm Pharmacy.

Important Notice

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.

Course Structure

Our Pharmacy with a Foundation Year course follows a carefully structured programme. In your foundation year, you’ll focus on developing fundamental skills in mathematics, biology, chemistry and pharmacy, which on successful completion will allow you to move onto our four-year MPharm degree.

The next four years of the MPharm course covers topics in an integrated way, centered on different diseases and clinical topics. Throughout your degree you will develop your skills through patient-facing experiences and placements. Some parts of your learning will be alongside other healthcare professionals, just like it would be in the workplace.

For information on subsequent years, please see the full MPharm Pharmacy course.

Assessment

Our course combines a variety of teaching methods, designed to help you make the most of your learning and your ability to perform the professional role of a Pharmacist.

We promote active learning, with a large proportion of workshops, practicals and simulations designed to help you get to grips with applying your knowledge to deliver benefits to patients and the public.

You’ll work in small groups to solve problems, and in teams to help you recognise your own strengths and weaknesses, and to support your development to becoming a healthcare professional.

We give you plenty of practice of the things you will need to do as a working Pharmacist: from the production of a professional portfolio to counselling a patient and preparing a pharmaceutical care plan, everything is taught in context.

Independent study

The course is designed to give you space to reflect on your experiences to help you to maximise your potential. You’ll have opportunities to research, test and apply your knowledge in your own time, supported through tasks and activities delivered via our virtual learning environment.

Assessment

We employ a range of innovative assessment methods based on the procedures you will use as a qualified Pharmacist, including portfolio-based assessments and observations of clinical practice.

We carefully select our assessment methods in order to:

Optimise your learning and development
Develop professionalism
Develop clinical decision-making skills
Prepare you for professional and scientific practice

Support for assessment is central to our ethos. This is achieved through provision of:

Mock assessments and feedback for exams
Feedback on first drafts of course assignments
Drop-in sessions to provide time to support students throughout the degree

Here are some examples of ways we assess you:

Short answer and multiple-choice tests
Essays and laboratory reports
Pharmaceutical care plans
Clinical observations
Professional development portfolios
Oral and poster presentations
Scientific paper writing
Staff and peer assessment

Clearing and Admissions Live Chat

Open Days

Entry Requirements

A Levels

CCC

T Levels

Obtain an overall Pass including a C in the core of the T Level and a Pass in the Occupational Specialism. Any subject is acceptable.

BTEC

MMM

Scottish highers

BBCCC

Scottish highers advanced

DDD

Irish leaving certificate

6 subjects at H4

Access course

Pass the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3

European Baccalaureate

60% overall

International Baccalaureate

28 points

GCSE offer

You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.

Additional entry requirements

UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.

We welcome and value a wide range of alternative qualifications. If you have a qualification which is not listed here, please contact us via Admissions Enquiries.

A-Level General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.

We welcome applications from students with non-traditional academic backgrounds. If you have been out of study for the last three years and you do not have the entry grades for our three year degree, we will consider your educational and employment history, along with your personal statement and reference to gain a holistic view of your suitability for the course. You will still need to meet our GCSE English Language and Mathematics requirements.

Applicants submitting UCAS applications that include a good personal statement and academic reference as well as a strong academic background will be invited to an interview. We will be in touch prior to the interview to arrange a suitable time.

Programme Conditions

Offers to successful applicants will be subject to a successful interview, a satisfactory occupational health check, including evidence of appropriate immunisations and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). As part of the selection process, successful applicants will be asked to complete the Pharmacy Schools Council Excluded Database form. UK Pharmacy students are also required to sign up to a national Code of Conduct for Pharmacy Students.

Placements

Where a course includes patient facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.

Important note

Once enrolled onto your course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include your eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):

IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components) for year 1 entry

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Interviews

Interviews will be held virtually with a member of academic staff from the School of Pharmacy. Please note that we do not disclose interview questions. Typically, we will look for you to demonstrate a good understanding of the course, your approaches to decision making, effective teamwork and a desire to help others.

The selection process is designed to help us choose students with the appropriate skills and attitudes to become excellent pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists.

Gap year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.