The University of Birmingham is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham, and Mason Science College, making it the first English civic or 'red brick' university to receive its own royal charter. The University have a long and proud history of firsts, at the University of Birmingham; they were the first – and are now one of the largest - civic universities in the UK.

At Birmingham, the institution teach and research across the full breadth of academic disciplines, creating a vibrant community with multi-disciplinary opportunities for research and education. The University is a truly international community consisting of more than thousands of staff, students, and alumni. The student community is not only one of the largest of any UK university, it is highly diverse, with 82 per cent of home undergraduate students from state schools, 32 per cent from a BAME background, and 35 per cent in the first generation of their family to attend university.

Modules in the first year
During first year, you will explore fundamentals in the pharmaceutical sciences, including cell biology, physiology, and pharmacology. You will also learn the basic principles of pharmaceutical chemistry, which underpins the formulation and synthesis of drugs. You will discover more about the pharmacy profession itself, covering areas such as the supply of over-the-counter medicines, human medicines regulations, supply of prescription only medicines, legality of prescribing and prescribing governances, and the pharmacist’s role in society and healthcare systems. Key aspects of information mastery and evidence-based medicine are also explored in this year. A strong emphasis is placed on the development of communication skills. In a simulated environment, you will develop your interprofessional communication skills, and skills in gathering and providing information.

Applied Pharmacy Practice 1 - 40 credits
Health Sciences 1 - 40 credits
Science of Medicines 1 - 40 credits
Professional Experience Placements 1 - Non-credit bearing (must pass)
Basic Life Support - Non-credit bearing
Portfolio 1 - Non-credit bearing
Modules in the second year
In your second year, you will continue to build on the scientific basics, exploring practical applications, such as the drug development process. Body-system-themed physiology and therapeutics modules focus on bringing together your understanding of basic physiology, pharmacology and clinical pharmacy. You will also discover the key principles of immunology and the concepts associated with the safe use of medicines, as well as developing evidence-based medicine skills to inform decision-making. A strong emphasis is placed on the continued development of communication skills. In a simulated environment, you will develop interprofessional communication skills, and skills in gathering and providing information.

Applied Pharmacy Practice 2 - 40 credits
Health Sciences 2 - 40 credits
Science of Medicines 2 - 40 credits
Professional Experience Placements 2 - Non-credit bearing
Portfolio 2 -Non-credit bearing
Modules in the third year
Through completing a comprehensive, patient-orientated study of body systems, there will be a substantial focus on clinical pharmacokinetics, toxicology and diagnostic skills. You will learn about new technologies and advanced therapeutics, such as pharmacogenomics, and there will be a continued emphasis on the pharmaceutical sciences, including the contribution of advances in biotechnology and tissue engineering to pharmaceutical research will also be highlighted.

A strong emphasis is placed on the continued development of your communication skills, including direct, remote, and written methods. In a simulated environment, you will develop your interprofessional communication skills, develop resilience and flexibility and face challenging interactions with professionalism and empathy, including extreme emotion, and breaking bad news. You will conduct diagnostic examinations and procedures in a simulated environment and interpret physiological tests to inform clinical decision making in relation to medicine supply, prescribing and administration.

You will also be introduced to key concepts in conducting research, research design and ethical considerations.

Applied Pharmacy Practice 3 - 40 credits
Science of Medicines 3 - 30 credits
Health Sciences 3 - 40 credits
Professional Experience Placement 3 - Non-credit bearing
Portfolio 3 - Non-credit bearing
Modules in the fourth year
Your final year focuses on personalised patient care, advanced pharmacy services, and prescribing. Therapeutics teaching draws on your previous studies of scientific and clinical concepts, with the aim of supporting you to deal confidently with complex patients involving composite medicines use, including prescribing. You will engage with theories of the psychology of prescribing, external influences on prescribing decisions and the importance of relationships with other healthcare professionals and patients. Professional accountability will be examined including the recognition of ethical dilemmas and the application of the principles of clinical governance.

You will undertake a substantial individual research project, which may have a laboratory-based scientific theme, or a professional or clinical focus in a healthcare environment. You can fulfil your own personal learning objectives by identifying an area of specialist pharmacy activity you wish to focus on. You will also learn about the key concepts of leadership in pharmacy and the wider healthcare system.

Applied Pharmacy Practice 4 - 60 credits
Research Project - 40 credits
Leadership and Elective - 20 credits
Professional Experience Placements 4 - Non-credit bearing
Portfolio 4 - Non-credit bearing
Please visit our Programmes and Modules Handbook for further details.

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2023. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it