This programme is designed for non-UK qualified pharmacists who want to develop advanced clinical skills, with a focus on clinical pharmacy research and healthcare leadership. It’s aimed at overseas pharmacists with prior clinical experience, helping them build on their expertise to practice at an advanced level.
Our master's programme offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines clinical pharmacy practice, pharmacotherapy, patient-centred care, and healthcare leadership. It emphasises evidence-based medicine and its role in improving patient outcomes across various healthcare settings.
The course equips you for senior specialist roles in both academia and clinical practice, providing a strong foundation in leadership and the skills needed to drive change in healthcare.
This course will run over 12 months full-time. While the exact content may change, here’s what you can expect to study each term.
In term one, you’ll be introduced to the key concepts and skills which are routinely applied in a clinical setting, and you’ll learn the principles of evidence-based medicine.
Additionally, you’ll explore leadership and its relationship to change by considering the conceptual frameworks and scholarly practices within which leadership and change is situated and applying these within a contemporary health and social care context.
In term two, you’ll build on further on your knowledge of pharmacotherapeutic approaches and rational medicines use in these areas, as well as imparting principles which can be applied in disease states.
You’ll be introduced to topics that are pertinent to conducting research including critical review of published literature, developing a research protocol, research ethics, study design and research methodology.
Communication and clinical skills training within our Interactive Studies Unit will also provide you with background in the systematic approaches around history taking, physical examinations and communication techniques.
In term three you’ll complete a focused research project. You’ll also be assigned to a clinical placement site at either a NHS teaching hospital in the West Midlands area, a primary care general practice, or within a community setting.
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To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
You should have a 2:1 Honours degree (at least 55%- 3 out of 4- GPA) or equivalent in Pharmacy.
You must also be a registered pharmacist in your home country with at least 6-months of patient facing practice-based role.
We also require students to have a DBS check and complete an occupational heath check once in the UK to be able to start their placements.
English language requirements If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.