PgDip Pharmacy Practice

Why choose Herts?

  • Funding Available: Funding is available from Health Education England. In addition, University of Hertfordshire graduates are eligible for a 20% discount on postgraduate study fees.
  • Excellent Reputation: Experience clinical and therapeutic focused study within our internationally renowned simulation suite and teaching facilities, including Europe's largest medical simulation laboratory.
  • Industry Accreditations: The curriculum follows the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Foundation Pharmacy Framework (FPF). The Pharmacist Independent Prescribing module is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

About the course

The programme has been designed for pharmacists wishing to develop their clinical pharmacy, therapeutic management and professional skills, and is linked to the Foundation Pharmacy Framework.

Students can undertake individual modules as part of the CPD pathway which can lead towards a certificate/diploma award upon acquisition of the required credits and provided the core modules for each year have been completed. Alternatively, students can enrol onto the programme pathway and undertake the certificate in year one with progression to the diploma in year two. For each year, there are a set number of core optional modules.

The modules within the the programme develop core clinical pharmacy and therapeutic skills with a focus on the management of patients with acute and long-term conditions. Patient safety and leadership in practice are also core elements covered. The Independent Prescribing module accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council is an optional module offered in year two. Additional criteria apply for students wishing to undertake the Pharmacist Independent Prescribing module.

Students attend monthly study days at the University of Herfordshire and undertake work-based learning that is supported by a recognised work-based tutor.

Why choose this course?

The programme offers:

  • a flexible CPD pathway that allows you to undertake individual modules
  • greater choice with optional modules aligned to your interests
  • a one-year course for the Certificate in Pharmacy Practice, two-year course for the Diploma in Pharmacy Practice, and you are able to upgrade to the MSc in Pharmacy Practice post achievement of the PGDip Pharmacy Practice qualification
  • clinical and therapeutic focused study days supported by our internationally renowned simulation suite
  • directed learning with progression to self-directed learning
  • learning and sharing of experiences with colleagues from various clinical settings
  • a programme linked to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Foundation Pharmacy Framework
  • opportunity to transfer credits/qualifications between specified universities (subject to approval).

What will I study?

A flipped classroom approach to teaching is used on the modules, whereby students are introduced to information before their taught sessions in order to free class time for activities that involve higher order thinking. Modules are centred around work based learning that the student will undertake in their clinical practice.

Coursework contributes significantly to assessment and may comprise some or all of the following: portfolio of practice, written reports, patient care reports and case study assessments. Attendance at the taught component and satisfactory completion of coursework and OSCE examinations (where present), with a minimum mark of 50% in each element is normally required to pass each module.

Please see below for the compulsory and optional modules offered. You can also find further detail on the modules on our CPD page.

  • Level 7
    Module Credits Compulsory/optional
    Clinical Patient Assessment and Consultation 15 Credits Compulsory
    Clinical Patient Care 1​ 15 Credits Compulsory
    Evidence Based Provision of Pharmaceutical Services 15 Credits Compulsory
    ​Clinical Patient Care 2​ 15 Credits Compulsory
    Clinical Patient Care 3 15 Credits Compulsory
    Leadership, Education and Developing Others 30 Credits Optional
    Evidence Based Practice 30 Credits Optional
    Therapeutics of Skin Conditions 30 Credits Optional
    Service Review and Improvement 30 Credits Optional
    Parenteral Drug Administration and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring 15 Credits Optional
    Pharmaceutical Care for Older People 15 Credits Optional
    ​Paediatric Pharmaceutical Care​ 15 Credits Optional
    Pharmaceutical Care in Oncology 15 Credits Optional
    Pharmacist Independent Prescribing L7 30 Credits Optional
    Promoting Health 30 Credits Optional
  • Key staff

    Programme Leader Thaiba Bashir

    Find out more about Programme Leader Thaiba Bashir

    Further course information

    Course fact sheets
    PgDip Pharmacy Practice (revised 2022) Download
    Programme specifications
    PgDip Pharmacy Practice (revised 2022) Download
    Additional information

    Sandwich placement or study abroad year

    n/a

    Applications open to international and EU students

    No

    Student experience

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