The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 265 No 7118 p568-573
October 14, 2000 Pharmacy education

The schools of pharmacy

All information on this page has been supplied by the universities concerned

ABERDEEN
BATH
BELFAST
BIRMINGHAM
BRADFORD
BRIGHTON
CARDIFF
GLASGOW
LEICESTER
LIVERPOOL
LONDON
LONDON
MANCHESTER
NOTTINGHAM
PORTSMOUTH
SUNDERLAND
DERBY
KEELE
LEEDS

ABERDEEN

ABERDEEN School of Pharmacy, The Robert Gordon University, Schoolhill, Aberdeen AB10 1FR Head of School Professor Clare A. Mackie Students MPharm 374, BSc 33 Information contact Mrs Ruth Edwards Fees Home and EC £1,050*; International £7,300 (Scottish Students Award Agency will fund Scottish and non UK EC students from September 2000 onwards, English, Welsh and Northern Irish students will continue to pay this fee).

The school, which is situated in the centre of the attractive city of Aberdeen, offers a four-year full-time honours undergraduate MPharm course. The MPharm course is taught almost entirely within the school which, for teaching purposes, is administered as two integrated sections, namely pharmaceutical sciences and clinical and professional sciences (CPS). The pharmaceutical sciences section ensures that the science base is provided and is subsequently developed throughout the course. Pharmacology, clinical and pharmacy practice related material is taught by CPS staff from the first year onwards. Visiting practitioners from community, hospital and industrial pharmacy, together with teacher-
practitioners, are involved with the teaching, thereby enhancing the quality and clinical perspective of the undergraduate course. All final year students undertake an honours project. A pharmaceutical care centre within the school, comprising a drug information centre, a mock pharmacy, a GP surgery with 10,000 sets of case notes, a near-patient testing facility, counselling area and a large teaching laboratory, has been used for teaching since 1999. This facility is used extensively by undergraduate and postgraduate students. The school has links with overseas universities and is involved in collaboration with European, African and Asian universities. Its links with the World Health Organisation are unique in that it is designated WHO collaborating centre for pharmaceutical care and curriculum development. The Scottish national specialist in clinical pharmacy practice is based in the school. The school has two distance-learning based postgraduate diplomas linked to MSc degrees. One is in clinical pharmacy, the other in prescribing science. The school carries out laboratory and practice based research in many areas of medical and pharmaceutical interest. Facilities are available for postgraduate studies leading to Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Accommodation is available in halls of residence, self-catering flats and approved lodgings. (Top)

BATH (Top)

BATH Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY Head of Department Professor P. H. Redfern Students 380 Information contact Dr N. D. Hall (e-mail: N.D.Hall@bath.ac.uk) Fees Undergraduate: Home and EC £1,050; overseas £9,220

The Master of Pharmacy (Honours) degree is a four-year course strongly based on the chemical, physical and biological sciences which provide the groundwork for the more applied aspects of pharmacy. Formal lectures are kept to a minimum, with use being made of laboratory sessions, workshops, tutorials and computer-assisted learning facilities. The degree programme is composed of units, each of which is taught within a single semester and assessed on completion. Assessment is by a combination of continuous monitoring, written assignments and examinations. Second and third year performances contribute towards degree classification. Pharmacy practice is integrated with clinical pharmacy and includes elements of social and behavioural sciences. Role playing and video-recorded sessions help students to improve their communication skills. Community and hospital pharmacists hold joint appointments and help to teach this part of the course with the additional involvement of hospital-based clinicians. Third and final year students choose from a range of options related to current research interests and strengths within the department. This includes a supervised project which aims to develop skills in experimental design and execution, as well as oral and written presentation. A recent assessment by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education graded teaching and learning in the department as “excellent”. All first year students are offered university accommodation. Bath university is well known for its sports facilities and offers opportunities in music, drama and art, as well as a wide range of students’ union clubs and societies. There is an active pharmacy students’ association and a staff-student liaison committee. There are active research interests in pharmaceutical analysis, medicines design and synthesis of agents activating second messenger systems, pharmaceutical technology, drug targeting, cardiovascular and smooth muscle pharmacology, psychopharmacology, inflammation and thrombosis, microbiology and pharmacy practice. There are 70 postgraduate research students, 36 postdoctoral research officers and 28 experimental officers. The international excellence of the department’s research has been recognised by the award of a five grading in the past two Higher Education Funding Council exercises. The diploma in clinical pharmacy is a part-time course run in conjunction with the regional health authority and is available to pharmacists who are full-time health authority employees. Students reaching the required standard in the diploma course may be considered for the MSc degree by means of a research project. (Top)

BELFAST (Top)

BELFAST School of Pharmacy, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland Head of School Professor James McElnay Students 360 Information contact Professor McElnay Fees Undergraduate (home and EC) £1,050; overseas £7,705

The MPharm degree at Queen’s is four years in duration. In year one students take six compulsory modules in skills development, pharmaceutics, chemistry and physiology. These introduce various transferable skills (eg, communication and IT skills), pharmaceutical microbiology, physicochemical principles, organic and bio-organic chemistry, general principles of physiology, and histology and pathophysiology. The second year develops further the basic sciences related to pharmacy (including pharmacology) and introduces professional aspects concerned with interpretation of prescriptions. Professional and clinical aspects of the course, covered primarily in the final two years, reflect the extension of the pharmacist’s role in the health care team. Students continue to study the pharmaceutical sciences which underpin professional and clinical judgments. Both the third and fourth years contain the equivalent of six modules, although subject areas are taught in an integrated fashion. Examinations are held in January and May/June during the first and second years and in May/June for the last two years of the course. Coursework contributes to the final mark in most subjects. The school has been particularly responsive to the changing needs of the pharmacist by introducing courses in areas such as transferable skills and pharmaceutical care. Third and fourth year students attend hospital ward rounds and outpatient clinics in a variety of specialties. Short presentations based on clinical cases encountered during the visits are followed by discussion led by hospital pharmacists. Clinicians and staff with joint appointments contribute to the design and running of the clinical and practice courses. The degree is recognised by both the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland; graduates may apply for registration with either body, between which there is reciprocal recognition of qualifications. Research leading to the award of MPhil and PhD degrees is available in each of the major areas of pharmacy, with particular emphasis on drug delivery, medical devices, pharmaceutical material science, biomedicinal chemistry and pharmacy practice/clinical pharmacy. Postgraduate diploma and MSc courses by distance learning are available in both clinical (hospital based) and community pharmacy. A postgraduate certificate in community pharmacy management is also offered by distance-learning. Halls of residence are within easy walking distance of the main university buildings. A wide variety of accommodation is available in the private sector. (Top)

BIRMINGHAM (Top)

BIRMINGHAM Aston Pharmacy School, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET Head of School Dr Keith A. Wilson Students Undergraduate 510; postgraduate 180 Contacts tel 0121 359 3611 ext 4771, fax 0121 359 0733, e-mail pharmsci@Aston.ac.uk Fees EC £1,050; non-EC £9,300

Aston is a modern technological university close to the centre of Birmingham. Aston pharmacy school offers a four-year MPharm programme and a comprehensive range of postgraduate programmes for practising pharmacists. It was awarded the highest possible score (24 points) by the Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency. The school has an active research division — the Aston Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute — which includes eight research groups covering all areas of the pharmaceutical sciences and practice of pharmacy. The undergraduate pharmacy programme has been designed to integrate the scientific, clinical and professional aspects of pharmacy. It develops both the knowledge base and the professional skills necessary for students to gain employment equally in all branches of pharmacy. Each year has a distinct theme with the final year teaching focused upon pharmaceutical practice through the integrated study of drugs and medicines. This is closely linked to the study of the use and management of medicines by a clinical pharmacy course involving case studies and ward-based clinical tutorials in local hospitals. Other final year modules develop understanding of evidence-based practice and its application to the provision of pharmaceutical services, including prescribing advice. Specialisation is provided through a dissertation, a final year research project and a range of optional courses, which may be vocational or scientific in emphasis. The school uses a wide variety of assessment methods with degree classification determined by performance in the third and fourth years. The practice of pharmacy is taught throughout the programme and is supported by an extensive network of teacher-practitioners, including three teacher-practitioners funded by local National Health Service education consortia, the first such posts in the UK. The school also offers a range of postgraduate programmes from one day specialist courses to taught certificate, diploma and masters courses. This year the school has introduced a new diploma programme in psychiatric pharmacy and this complements the established certificate programmes in this area. Other formal programmes are a diploma and MSc in clinical community pharmacy and clinical hospital pharmacy, offered in a flexible format with both taught and distance-delivered options, and a diploma and MSc in evidence based pharmacotherapy. The school’s research institute is closely integrated with both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research activity informs course development. There are currently over 100 graduate students registered for PhDs. The pleasant location and layout of the Aston campus, together with its educational, social and sporting facilities, provide an excellent opportunity for a fulfilling experience of university life. Aston is able to accommodate two-thirds of its undergraduates in on-campus accommodation with a place guaranteed to all first year students and extensive provision for postgraduate research students. (Top)

BRADFORD (Top)

BRADFORD School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP Head of School Professor Brenda Costall Students Undergraduates 670; postgraduates 150 Information contact Dr P. A. Linley Fees UK/EU £1,050, sandwich placement, £520; overseas £8,550, sandwich £7,695

Bradford provides an excellent supportive environment in which to study pharmacy. During the recent subject review exercise, the school was awarded 23 points (max 24) for its teaching provision and has also received an Investors in People award. Bradford offers a unique five-year sandwich course in pharmacy which leads to an MPharm (Hons) degree. Students undertake two six-month periods of professional training in community, hospital or industrial pharmacy during their third and fifth years. The professional periods are approved by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society as preregistration training. A four-year continuous MPharm programme is also available. Tuition is via formal lectures and practical classes, with an increasing contribution from tutorials, seminars, workshops and computer-assisted learning. Pharmaceutical sciences are emphasised in years one to three; the clinical sciences and the practice of pharmacy predominate in years four and five. Key skills are embedded throughout the curriculum. Pharmacy practice and clinical modules prepare students for their integrated placements and consolidate their experiences in later modules. Links with professional practice are strengthened further by feedback from preregistration tutors (currently around 130) and teacher-practitioner appointments. Optional modules, in the final years, allow a more detailed study of the pharmaceutical sciences and practice-related topics. An independent research project is a major component of the final semester. The school also offers, at honours level, a three-year BSc degree in pharmaceutical management, the latter combining pharmaceutical sciences with management studies and an optional language. All first year students, except those who live locally, are offered university accommodation. Privately rented accommodation is cheaper than in most cities, close to the university and easily obtainable. Postgraduate courses in clinical pharmacy (hospital or community) may be studied to certificate, diploma or master’s degree levels and an MSc in pharmaceutical services and medicines control is offered, primarily for pharmacists working in developing countries. Over 50 academic staff, with a breadth of interdisciplinary skills, contribute to a vibrant research culture and close collaborative links are maintained with many hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry. Consequently, MPhil or PhD programmes are offered in many areas of pharmaceutical sciences and practice. (Top)

BRIGHTON (Top)

BRIGHTON School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Cockcroft Building, Moulsecoomb, Brighton BN2 4GJ Head of School Professor S. P. Denyer Students 90 in first year Information contact Mr M. G. Aiken (admissions tutor) Fees UK/EU £1,050; overseas £7,950

The MPharm degree in pharmacy is a four-year modular course offering a rigorous scientific and professional education appropriate to a successful career in pharmaceutical science and practice. Throughout the course the fullest attention is paid to integration of the principal modular components of the course: biological sciences, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics and professional studies. In the final year, in addition to the core curriculum, students select from a range of specialist modules enabling them to concentrate on areas of particular personal interest; currently, these include ion channels and disease, bioimplants and medical device technologies, pharmaceutical industrial processes, medicinal plants and techniques in pharmaceutical analysis. Final year students also undertake an extended, independent, research project in a pharmaceutical subject related to the research interests of the school. In all aspects, the course is enhanced by the school’s excellent links with the pharmaceutical and other industries and its extensive collaboration with local and London hospitals. These links are facilitated by joint teacher-practitioner appointments between the school and the local health care trusts and Boots the Chemists; hospital training is supported by a practitioner team of recognised clinical teachers. The school’s clinical pharmacy unit (awarded a National Training Award in 1994) is fully integrated with the Brighton Health Care trust and offers a unique interaction with the clinical environment through accredited academic pharmacy teaching hospitals. Annexed to the school is a modern, purpose-built, pharmaceutical manufacturing suite for training in industrial pharmacy. Course material is presented by lectures, laboratory exercises, seminars/tutorials, independent learning packages and a computer-based school intranet. Assessment may be either continuous or by end-of-module multiple choice or essay style examinations. The school has a formal tutor system to ensure the academic and personal well-being of students. The school environment is multidisciplinary, enriched by students following biomedical sciences, biology and chemistry courses and by postgraduate research and professional development programmes; an active pharmacy students’ association exists. The cosmopolitan town of Brighton is within easy reach of London and the Continent and offers a stimulating environment for both leisure and study. It is home to two universities and has a plethora of theatres, art centres, restaurants, sports and other leisure facilities. Accommodation is available either in self-catered and catered halls of residence or within the private sector in Brighton or Hove. (Top)

CARDIFF (Top)

CARDIFF Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3XF Head of School Professor D. K. Luscombe Students Undergraduate 390 Information contact Dr Cate Whittlesea (tel 02920 874080, fax 02920 874535) Fees Undergraduate home and EC £1,050; overseas £9,000

The Welsh School of Pharmacy was recently awarded “excellent” for its teaching and a grade five rating for its research. The major objective of the full time four-year MPharm degree is to provide students with a firm foundation in the pharmaceutical sciences combined with the knowledge and skills required to carry out professional duties in all areas of pharmacy practice. The school has a flexible approach to admissions and will consider applications from any well qualified student. In addition to the pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy is taught in all four years of the course with emphasis in the third and fourth years being placed on the application of the pharmaceutical sciences to patient care and the practice of pharmacy. Final year studies have been designed to reflect the abilities of individual students and their future careers in either hospital, community or industrial pharmacy. The school continues to develop its pioneer approach to teaching clinical pharmacy. This is largely problem-solving orientated with students working on case-studies to illustrate and emphasise the principles of therapeutics and decision making, ensuring that patients receive drugs that are effective, economic and safe. The new programme is modular (12 modules each year) and teaching is by formal lectures and laboratory sessions with increasing use being made of computer-assisted learning. Role-play sessions in the second, third and fourth years develop interpersonal and communication skills. The school operates a comprehensive tutorial system with all students being allocated a personal tutor. The university has introduced a two semester academic year. However, in common with other UK schools of pharmacy, main examinations continue to be held in May/June. Excellent research opportunities exist with MPhil and PhD degrees being offered on a full- or part-time basis. Postgraduate part-time diploma and masters programmes are available in community pharmacy, clinical research and clinical pharmacy, the latter being run in collaboration with hospital centres in Oxford, Bradford, Airedale, Cardiff and Wrexham. The Welsh Centre for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education provides continuing and further education for the 2,000 pharmacists in Wales. New residential accommodation is available to all first, and many second, third and final year students, and is within walking distance of all academic buildings. The university and most of the student residences are situated on a green-site campus adjacent to the city centre with access to numerous cultural, social and sporting facilities. (Top)

GLASGOW (Top)

GLASGOW School of Pharmacy, University of Strathclyde, Strathclyde Institute for Biomedical Sciences, 27 Taylor Street, Glasgow G4 0NR Head of School Dr T. M. Healey Students 500 Information contact Dr B. L. Furman (tel 0141 548 2678, email b.l.furman@strath.ac.uk) Fees Home/EC £1,050; overseas £8,900

The recently revised Strathclyde course will lead to the degree of MPharm with honours in pharmacy for entrants from 1997 onwards. Teaching in the school of pharmacy has been judged to be excellent by the teaching quality assessment panel. The course is challenging, being based on student-centred and problem-based learning. A strong foundation in the pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacology will be learned along with an expanding
emphasis on practice aspects of pharmacy as the course progresses. This culminates in a final year equally spread between core science, pharmaceutical care and a principal subject with a group-work approach to a problem-solving project. The pharmaceutical care teaching has a high input from teacher-
practitioners and university-accredited clinical pharmacy tutors; students also gain experience through visits to surgeries of general medical practitioners. The course duration is four years for students with appropriate passes in the Scottish Certificate of Education, GCE advanced level, or the Irish Leaving Certificate. The university year consists of two semesters, with diets of examinations in January and May/June. Excellent facilities are available for postgraduate research leading to MPhil or PhD degrees in pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences; the principal research groups are drug delivery and formulation, biomedicinal chemistry, molecular signalling, neuroscience, cell pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology and pharmaceutical care. Postgraduate instructional courses leading to MSc/diploma qualifications in clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmaceutical quality and good manufacturing practice, pharmacology, and immunopharmacology are also offered. Two Scottish national specialists are based within the school: the national specialist in
pharmaceutical care and the director of the Scottish Centre for Post Qualification Pharmaceutical Education, which organises an extensive programme of direct and distance learning courses for pharmacists throughout Scotland. The University of Strathclyde is located in the heart of the vibrant city of Glasgow. The university has a well developed student welfare system and each student is allocated to a member of staff of the school who can advise on academic and non-academic matters. Modern self-catering accommodation is available both on campus and within a short travelling distance of the university. The university offers excellent recreational and sports facilities. The school of pharmacy has recently relocated into a new custom-built research and teaching building overlooking the university green. (Top)

LEICESTER (Top)

The four-year MPharm (Hons) degree in pharmacy aims to produce graduates with a standard of scientific knowledge, interpersonal skills and the professional outlook necessary to embark on careers in any branch of pharmacy. The course is based on a comprehensive
treatment of relevant subjects in an integrated manner and involves the application of scientific knowledge and practices to pharmaceutical systems. Clinical and pharmaceutical care aspects are developed as the course proceeds. A high level of hands-on laboratory experience is provided due to the importance attached to the development of practical skills and theoretical expertise. The course is presented as a modular programme over four years, each comprising two 15 week semesters. Four modules of the programme are taught and assessed in each semester. Tuition is by formal lectures and laboratory sessions
augmented by tutorials, seminars, computer-aided learning, clinical visits, role-play sessions and case discussions. The programme is taught by full-time staff aided by teacher-practitioners from all branches of the profession. Assessment is usually based on a combination of coursework and written end-of-semester examinations. Postgraduate courses include part-
time, distance learning and practice-based MSc/postgraduate diploma/postgraduate certificate programmes in clinical pharmacy for practising pharmacists. Postgraduate research leading to MPhil and PhD degrees may be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis. The facility to work for an MSc by independent study is also available. The university’s accommodation service will endeavour to obtain hall of residence places for first year students. It provides a wide range of alternative accommodation to meet individual needs and budgets. Rents reflect the lower than national average cost of living in the city. Other courses include BSc and BSc (Hons) degrees in pharmaceutical and cosmetic sciences and in biomedical sciences. The excellent range of social and recreational facilities reflects the large size of De Montfort University. This range is augmented by the activities of the Leicester Pharmacy Students’ Association and the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association. (Top)

LIVERPOOL (Top)

Founded in 1849, the school is the second oldest school of pharmacy in the UK and has recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. The school has pioneered developments in pharmacy education over the years including: integration of teaching in pharmaceutical sciences in 1976; the introduction of vocational options in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and industrial pharmacy in 1987 (reflecting the school’s ethos of preparing its students for their chosen profession) and a fully modular credit-based course in 1991. Indeed, during the 2000 round of teaching quality assessment (TQA) visits, the school received an “excellent” rating (23/24) for its provision of pharmaceutical education. The School offers a four-year modular MPharm pharmacy course and an integrated five-year sandwich programme. This latter option is intended to enable students to graduate and register as pharmacists simultaneously following five years’ study and practice experience (subject to students’ successful completion of the RPSGB registration examination). In 1995, the school introduced formal programmes of study in pharmacy and business management through a sponsored Numark lectureship. This post complements 12 other teacher-practitioners (including sponsored lectureships by Boots, Cohens, Lloyds and Tesco) whose specialist contributions facilitate the greater appreciation and understanding of students regarding the relationships between pharmaceutical science and professional practice. In 1997, the new purpose-built Learning Resources Centre opened, providing excellent text and computer-based facilities for all students. The school also offers a wide portfolio of full-time and part-time modular postgraduate diploma/MSc programmes. These include: PgDip/MSc in clinical pharmacy (certificate of professional development also available); PgDip/MSc in pharmaceutical primary care; PgDip/ MSc in pharmaceutical or instrumental chemical analysis. The school also offers a portfolio of awards for those employed within the clinical trials sector. Offered in partnership with the Institute of Clinical Research (formerly ACRPI), the clinical research programme allows entry to certificate of professional development, postgraduate diploma and master’s level study. Research is actively being pursued in industrial pharmacy; quantitative structure activity relationships; pharmacy practice and the authentication and screening of herbal medicines, leading to MPhil and PhD degrees.
n Royal Pharmaceutical Society accreditation for the Liverpool pharmacy degree was not renewed earlier this year. As The Journal went to press, accreditation was expected to be granted in November. (Top)

LONDON (Top)

King’s College offers a four-year programme leading to the MPharm degree. The programme is designed to produce graduates having the scientific and professional knowledge with personal and transferable skills necessary for practice in all branches of pharmacy and to support continuing pharmaceutical and professional education throughout their careers. The department was rated “excellent” in a recent QAA audit. King’s College operates a personal tutor scheme and all first year students are offered places in college halls of residence. The department is located in the new Franklin-Wilkins building within the School of Health and Life Sciences. This building is part of the college’s Waterloo campus on London’s South Bank, opposite the Stamford Street student apartments and close to the Strand and Guy’s campuses of the college, as well as London’s South Bank arts and entertainment centre. The MPharm programme starts with a 12-week foundation module on the basic sciences of pharmacy and continues to the end of the third year with four teaching streams covering the scientific and professional knowledge base. The streams cover the drug, its formulation, the disease and its treatment, and the profession; they are linked through integrated studies and topic weeks. Coursework is continually assessed and contributes 30 per cent to the marks during years one and two, and 40 per cent in years three and four. Satisfactory performance is mandatory for progression. The final year course consists of clinical pharmacy (including ward and general practice visits) and two electives (examples include chemical mediators and disease, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical microbiology and biotechnology, pharmaceutical phytochemistry, hospital pharmacy, medicines control, plants and pharmacy, science of dosage form design and receptor pharmacology). An extensive research project is undertaken by all students in their final year, which may be laboratory or field-based. The course makes use of traditional lectures, laboratory classes, workshops and computer-aided learning and has a purpose-built pharmacy studio for teaching professional communication skills. Postgraduate degrees and diplomas offered are: diploma in community pharmacy, MSc in community pharmacy; MSc in biopharmacy; MSc in pharmaceutical analysis and quality control; and MSc in pharmaceutical technology. The department has an international research reputation based on six research groups: medicinal chemistry; bioactive natural products; biopharmacy; drug delivery and absorption; molecular biophysics; and pharmacy practice. Research programmes leading to MPhil and PhD degrees are offered by all groups. (Top)

LONDON (Top)

The School of Pharmacy is a small specialist college of the University of London which welcomes students from around the world into its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Its rating of “excellent” for both teaching and research is a testament to its high standards and innovative approach. The undergraduate master of pharmacy degree is a four-year full-time programme which integrates the teaching of science and professional practice throughout. The emphasis is on self-directed learning and teamwork. All students have the chance to study abroad during the spring of their third year. Usually students do a research project, and, because English is the international language of science, knowledge of a foreign language is not a requirement. The school has exchange agreements with 37 universities in 12 countries through the European Union’s Socrates-Erasmus programme. There is also a link with Mt Sinai hospital in New York and a number of other American pharmacy schools. Students can arrange their own placements and each year more countries are added to the list. In taught postgraduate courses, the focus is on clinical practice, with an MSc in clinical pharmacy and a part-time certificate, diploma and MSc in pharmacy practice. Overseas pharmacists wishing to apply core knowledge, skills and attitudes to practice in their home countries can enrol on the MSc in clinical pharmacy, international practice and policy. The certificate and diploma in medicines in health care is open to pharmacists and other health care professionals such as doctors and nurses. Supported by over 100 PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and research assistants, academic staff are engaged in research in the following areas: pharmacology, including neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology and toxicology; pharmaceutics, including drug delivery and drug targeting, pharmaceutical and health policy, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical technology, materials science and microbiology; pharmaceutical and biological chemistry, including medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis and pharmacognosy and phytotherapy. The school is located on the University of London’s central campus in Bloomsbury, near the British Museum. Intercollegiate residence halls are a short walk away, as are the sports facilities at the University of London Union. The school has its own facilities for teaching and research, a library, computer and multimedia unit, refectory and coffee bar. The atmosphere is friendly and informal and students feel very much a part of the academic community. (Top)

MANCHESTER (Top)

MANCHESTER School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL Dean of School Professor Malcolm Rowland Students 125 Information contact Dr. L. Gifford (undergraduate), Dr. D. Allison (postgraduate), Ms J. Cantrill (diploma/ MSc in clinical and health services pharmacy) Fees Undergraduate £1,050 (home/EU); £9,400 (overseas)

Manchester, one of the largest civic universities in Britain, offers students an extensive range of academic and recreational facilities. It is one of the few UK universities in which courses for pharmacy, medicine, nursing and dentistry are all taught. Accommodation is guaranteed to all first year students in either a hall of residence or other university owned accommodation. The library is one of the best stocked in Britain. The four-year undergraduate course for the degree of MPharm with honours emphasises the close relationship between the science and practice of pharmacy. Undergraduates follow a curriculum which provides a broadly based education in the pharmaceutical sciences and in the practice of pharmacy to enable entry to any branch of the profession. The course incorporates traditional and innovative teaching methods, including computer-assisted learning, interactive video and the development of communication skills. A modern dispensary incorporates a television studio for role-play counselling and there are well equipped teaching laboratories, plus a teaching computer network. In the final year, all students participate in case studies and ward rounds with hospital pharmacists and carry out a research project. Teaching is provided by full-time academic staff and by clinical hospital pharmacists holding joint appointments with the university. Students have the opportunity to participate in a work-based learning programme during the summer vacations. This innovative scheme was the basis of a National Training Award to the department. There are excellent postgraduate research opportunities, leading to MSc and PhD degrees in all areas of the science and practice of pharmacy, including medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, drug targeting, microbiology, dosage form design and pharmacokinetics. A one-year full-time MSc and a two-year, part-time diploma/MSc course in clinical and health services pharmacy are now available. There are also part-time, two-year modular diploma/MSc courses in industrial pharmaceutical sciences and pharmaceutical engineering. The department is host to the national Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education, funded by the Department of Health, and also the Centre for Applied Pharmacokinetics Research, funded by a consortium of industrial companies. (Top)

NOTTINGHAM (Top)

NOTTINGHAM The Pharmacy School, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD Head of School Professor M. C. Davies Students (1999-2000) Undergraduate 450 Information contact Mr D. E. Pfleger (HEU undergraduate); Dr R. J. Grout (international undergraduate); Dr C. Anderson (MSc\diploma in pharmacy practice); www.nottingham.ac.uk/pharmacy (programme and admission requirements Fees Undergraduate home/EU £1,050; international £9,400 (bursaries available)

The pharmacy school offers a broad-based four-year MPharm (Hons) course that aims to provide our students with all the skills required for the rapidly evolving pharmacy profession. The school has almost completed an extensive refurbishment with state-of-the-art laboratories in which students gain practical experience in pharmacy practice (incorporating professional and clinical pharmacy), pharmaceutical manufacturing, microbiology and sterile products, pharmacology and pharmaceutical chemistry. Practical training is given alongside lectures, tutorials and workshops that together provide a strong foundation in the science that underlies the modern pharmacy profession. The course has a modular structure, allowing effective integration of the different components of pharmacy training, as well as allowing third and fourth year students to tailor some parts of the course to their own interests. In the final year, students spend some time with one of the school’s research groups. Much of the pharmacology teaching in years one and two is integrated with that of medical and nursing students, thereby fostering association between the professions from an early stage. Specialists from local hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry, a team of teacher-practitioners from community and hospital pharmacies, and other professionals from the university, contribute to the teaching. Teacher-practitioners and clinical pharmacists provide work-based experiential learning. Teaching is by a mixture of lectures, practical classes and workshops, problem classes, small group tutorials and computer-aided learning (CAL). The school has extensive facilities for personal computing and CAL. Throughout the course emphasis is given to the development of students’ intellectual, personal and communication skills. Assessment is through a combination of continuous assessment (coursework) and written examinations which are held at the end of each semester. The first year (qualifying year) examinations determine progression to the second year, but do not contribute to the final degree classification. The university is one of the UK’s leading institutions for teaching and research, and attracts students of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities, offering excellent academic and recreational facilities. Academic departments, social and sports facilities, and accommodation are contained within a campus comprising extensive woodland, parks and playing fields about three miles from Nottingham city centre. All first year students will be offered accommodation in a hall of residence or in a self-catering apartment complex situated adjacent to the campus. A taught distance-learning modular postgraduate MSc/diploma in pharmacy practice is offered. The school has an international reputation for research and has been awarded the highest rating in the research assessment exercise. All research postgraduates participate in generic and specific training programmes. Postgraduate studies leading to the degrees of MPhil and PhD are available in all subjects; many projects are multidisciplinary. Research studentships and fellowships are available. (Top)

PORTSMOUTH (Top)

PORTSMOUTH School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St Michael’s Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, Hants PO1 2DT Head of School Dr John Smart, MRPharmS Students 400 Information contact Dr Tim Mason (tel 023 9284 2649) Fees Home £1,050; overseas £7,300

The University of Portsmouth offers a four-year master degree in pharmacy (MPharm). The subject matter is integrated under three main headings. Pharmacy practice brings together subjects at the heart of community and hospital pharmacy, including dispensing, administration, management and teamwork in the health service, health economics and pharmacy law and ethics. The development of communication skills is important in this area. Students will be taught to respond efficiently to symptoms presented by patients, developing the art of patient counselling. Pharmaceutical sciences incorporates the chemistry, physical sciences, mathematics and statistics necessary for understanding the formulation, manufacture, administration, quality control and storage of medicines. Life sciences covers the human physiology and biochemistry necessary to understand disease processes, their treatment and the mode of action of drugs. The safe and effective use of medicines and the design of pharmaceutical care plans are further developed in the clinical pharmacy component. Prescription monitoring and treatment strategies are studied, as well as the role of the pharmacist in the hospital environment. These themes are complemented in the final year by option topics and projects. Other features of the course are the opportunity to develop skills, such as IT and communication skills, along with the option of studying a modern language. Part-time postgraduate courses (a one-year certificate, two-year diploma, and three-year masters) are offered in both clinical pharmacy and community pharmacy. Both were developed to meet the needs of practising pharmacists as they respond to the increasing challenges of their professional role. All the Portsmouth pharmacy courses were awarded top marks (24) for every aspect of teaching quality in a recent inspection by the government Quality Assurance Agency. The school also offers BSc degrees in biomedical science, pharmacology and radiography, along with postgraduate degrees in biomedical sciences and medical imaging and radiation therapy. Currently 65 students are undertaking higher degrees by research (MPhil, PhD). The school is housed in the state-of-the-art St Michael’s Building located in the city centre within easy walking distance of the seaside resort of Southsea, the Solent and the famous Portsmouth historic ships. Student accommodation is available in halls of residence (1,700 beds) along with a plentiful local supply of student housing. Portsmouth University Students Union has more than 100 clubs and societies offering a wide range of sports and social activities. Further details of the School can be obtained at http://www.sci.port.ac.uk/pbs. (Top)

SUNDERLAND (Top)

SUNDERLAND Institute of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, University of Sunderland, Sunderland SR1 3SD Head of School Professor J. B. Lloyd Students 480 Information contact Dr R. M. Morgan, director of pharmacy programmes (tel 0191 515 2612, e-mail rae.morgan@sunderland.ac.uk) Fees Undergraduate UK/EC £1,050; Overseas £7,300

The institute offers a four-year modularised course of eight semesters leading to the degree of Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) with honours. The modules are designed so that inter-relationships between the subject areas of pharmaceutics, chemistry, physiology, microbiology and pharmacology are emphasised. Subsequently, the application of this core knowledge to pharmacy practice, drug discovery and formulation is developed in a progressive manner and students are introduced to relevant aspects of behavioural and social sciences. The use of a range of traditional and innovative teaching techniques — including lectures, laboratory work, seminars, computer-aided learning, independent study, project work, clinical work — helps students to acquire appropriate communication and counselling skills. All students have the opportunity of carrying out a research project in the final year, which can be linked to research strengths in the institute. There is input by local hospital consultants and local pharmacists from hospital, community and industry, including teacher-practitioners, visiting professors and honorary lecturers. The institute offers postgraduate and research opportunities across the pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice. Full-time and part-time students are accepted for study leading to the degrees of MPhil and PhD. A part-time postgraduate course is offered leading to a certificate, a diploma or an MSc in clinical pharmacy. The course uses a flexible, modular approach designed to meet the needs of practising pharmacists. The institute occupies a modern building on an attractive science complex near Sunderland city centre. Its research and teaching laboratories were purpose built for pharmacy and are well equipped for state of the art techniques. University accommodation can be provided for undergraduate and postgraduate students, often within easy walking distance of the campus. (Top)

DERBY (Top)

DERBY Pharmacy Academic Practice Unit, School of Health and Community Studies, University of Derby, Kingsway House, Kingsway, Derby DE22 3HL Head of Unit Professor M. C. Allwood Information contact Professor Allwood Fees UK/EEC PG CertDip in clinical pharmacy £1,170 per stage; community pharmacy £800 per stage; master’s stage £740; DPharm approx £4,000; BTEC PDC £1,350

The clinical pharmacy course is part-time (2/3 years), comprising clinical modules with learning packs, linked to structured clerkship training at the student’s own hospital. A distance learning option is available. The master’s stage comprises a work-based project. Applicants possessing a postgraduate diploma can register for the master’s stage. Details: Professor Allwood (tel 01332 593160, e-mail M.C.Allwood@derby.ac.uk). The community pharmacy programme is a distance-learning course provided in computer-based multimedia interactive format. It comprises topics in health
policy, patient-centred skills, including therapeutics, interface issues, finance, sociology, health psychology and research methods. The master’s stage comprises a research or work-based project. Details: Dr Ruth
Goldstein (tel 01332 593158, e-mail R.Goldstein@derby.ac.uk). The DPharm course provides opportunities for pharmacists to enhance their previous academic achievement in this post-master’s distance-learning programme. The programme comprises studies in transferable skills, research methods, professional skills and practice, and independent research. The practice component enables students to develop and apply their professional skills and knowledge within their area of practice. Students undertake studies in their workplace, supported by local and university tutors. The independent research study comprises a topic chosen by the student. The pace of study is flexible, within a three to six year period. Details: Professor M. C. Allwood. The new BTEC professional development certificate for qualified pharmacy technicians is a two-year part-time course, comprising five modules covering clinical knowledge and skills, therapeutics, pharmacy practice and a specialism. It requires monthly attendance at the university (a distance-learning option is planned for 2001). Details: Professor Allwood. (Top)

KEELE (Top)

KEELE Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG Head of School Professor D. Millson Students up to 200 Information contact P. Black or B. Oakden 01782 584132/584207; e-mail b.oakden@mema.keele.ac.uk web site http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/mm/ Fees Available on application

The Department of Medicines Management offers a range of well-established distance learning courses. The diploma programme in community pharmacy is studied part-time over two years by distance learning and students must complete five core and one optional module. A study day complements each module. Problem solving cases and project assignments form the basis of assessment. A one year course leading to a certificate in therapeutics and prescribing is also available and provides an excellent starting point for those wishing to work more closely with GPs. The short starter course (prescribing support in primary care) is suitable for hospital and community pharmacists who wish to work with GPs and PCGs. The diploma in advanced therapeutics by distance learning is suitable for pharmacists who are already working in GP practices and provides the opportunity for joint learning and interprofessional development with GPs. For pharmacists employed in accredited hospitals there is a two-year, part-time diploma course in clinical pharmacy, which combines distance learning material with structured base hospital activity, study days of teaching and workshops and tutorials. Students must complete six compulsory modules as well as an annual evidence based portfolio recording clinical pharmacy activity. Part-time courses are available for all students wishing to top-up their diploma to a masters degree. The first two years are identical to the diploma programmes. In the third year, students undertake a research project following tuition on research methods. Those already holding an equivalent diploma may be eligible for direct entry to the appropriate masters course. Assessment is by submission of a thesis and viva voce. (Top)

LEEDS (Top)

LEEDS University of Leeds, Division of Academic Pharmacy Practice and School of Continuing Education, Leeds LS2 9JT Head of Division Professor D. K. Raynor Chair of School Ms Miriam Zucas Fees Available on application

Three part-time postgraduate courses for pharmacists are offered. The postgraduate programme in prescribing management in primary care is a flexible programme with certificate, diploma or masters options. It is designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to play a positive role in prescribing management in the primary care group environment. Students attend 12 study days per year and undertake course work integrated with their workplace duties. The emphasis is on evidence-based prescribing and implementing change. Details from Dr Catherine Lowe, course director (0113 392 6737, e-mail C.J.Lowe@leeds.ac.uk). The professional development programme in clinical pharmacy teaching has exit points at postgraduate certificate (16 months), postgraduate diploma (27 months) and masters (36 months) and comprises five taught residential modules and work based practice. Candidates for the MEd also complete a 500 hour research project. Details from Mrs Helen Bradbury (0113 233 3228,
e-mail H.M.Bradbury@leeds.ac.uk). The professional development programme in pharmaceutical technology and quality assurance has exit points at postgraduate certificate (1 year), diploma (2 years) and MSc (3 years) and comprises a total of six taught residential modules, distance learning and work based practice. Candidates for the MSc also complete a 400 hour research project. Details from Mr Tim Sizer, course director (0113 233 3248, email PTQA@leeds.ac.uk. (Top)