Course overview
This degree focuses on developing your scientific, technical and communication skills. You’ll leave as a professional, caring, ethical and effective pharmacist, able to contribute to the health of future generations.
Hands-on learning and clinical placements are embedded throughout the degree. You will have access to patients from the start of the course, as well as access to our on-campus skills labs.
You’ll become a confident expert in medicine by learning the fundamentals of the human body and the principles of areas such as:
- pharmaceutical microbiology
- biomedical science
- pathology
- microbiology
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions Â
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Quality and ranking
- 12th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2025 (Pharmacology and Pharmacy category)
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Top 90 for Life Sciences and Medicine – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 100 for Pharmacy and Pharmacology – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 7th in the UK – Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 (Pharmacy and Pharmacology category)
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024Â
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Professional accreditation and recognition
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)This degree has full accreditation from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
The GPhC accredits and recognises Pharmacy courses leading to foundation training and then pharmacist registration. After successful completion of your degree, you will need to complete one year of foundation training. After this, you can register with the GPhC and be allowed to practise as a pharmacist.
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you’ll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.Â
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions
Your learning will be focused on patient-orientated problems.
You’ll study areas such as the normal structure and function of the human body, pharmacology and medicinal chemistry.
You’ll gain professional and practical skills including how to talk to patients, working within healthcare teams and simple examination skills.
You will study pharmaceutical care, such as pathology, and topics such as systems for medicines management.
You will examine abnormal pathology and subsequent therapeutic options to deal with disease. This will be integrated with cutting-edge pharmaceutical science and continued workplace experience.Â
You’ll study applied pharmaceutical interventions such as design and delivery and develop an understanding of how medicines are used concomitantly and how adverse effects are monitored and managed.
You will explore the development of drugs from first principles, and the formulation of injections and implantable medicinal devices. You will also experience more complex patient-based cases.
You’ll study targeted therapeutics such as optimisation, critique and responsibility.
You will encounter complex clinical problems and examine specific areas of oncology, infection and immunology.
You’ll also learn about state-of-the-art formulation devices used in the delivery of chemotherapy and have the opportunity to choose an area of pharmacy to study as part of a research project.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
You’ll be taught through:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- problem-based learning
- practical experience
- laboratory work
- case seminarsÂ
These combined methods of teaching are designed to encourage you to develop knowledge and skills in an integrated manner.
You’ll be supported in case-led teaching so you are able to confidently apply your knowledge to future work.
Skills and experience
Research skills
Undertake a Research Project in your final year. Areas of focus include:
- medicinal chemistry
- pharmacology
- pharmacy practice
- formulation science
- pharmaceutical microbiology
Business skills
Gain hands-on learning through a range of experiential opportunities throughout the degree and access to patients from day one.
Embedding these opportunities at all stages of the course will give you the skills to excel as a pharmacist and effectively contribute to high-quality patient care to improve the lives of millions.
Practical skills
Reinforce your learning through:
- on-site visits to local hospitals
- practical sessions in our on-campus pharmacy labs, clinical skills suites and anatomy and biochemistry labs
- working and training alongside professionals and students within the Faculty of Medical Sciences
Clinical placements and experience
Clinical placements are a key element of your degree and an essential part of preparation for clinical practice.
On placement, you’ll have a diverse range of clinical experiences. This will introduce you to the many and varied roles that qualified pharmacists can undertake.
The placements help you develop a sense of identity as a pharmacist and identify your interests. They are also an opportunity for you to gain, develop and craft your practical knowledge and skills.
You’ll also engage in hospital-based learning, and interprofessional education at Newcastle.
Facilities and environment
Facilities
Our School is part of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, which is also home to Dentistry, Medicine, Psychology and Biomedical Sciences, encouraging inter-professional collaboration.
You’ll have access to newly refurbished pharmacy laboratories in the historic red-brick George VI Building, in our city-centre campus. You’ll also benefit from:
- a clinical skills suite, anatomy lab and biochemistry lab in the Medical School
- specialist medicinal chemistry facilities
- access to the hospital environment through our close proximity to the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Support
You’ll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.
Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.
Your future
Pharmacy is a highly varied profession with a number of different possible career paths open to graduates.
To register as a pharmacist in the UK, you must complete the MPharm degree, a foundation training year and sit the registration assessment. After registration, pharmacy graduates are highly sought after and are amongst the most employable professionals in the UK, with many opportunities to work internationally.
Career paths include:
- community pharmacist
- hospital pharmacist
- industrial pharmacist
- emerging roles, including working in GP practices and care homes
Careers support
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Check the government’s website for more information.
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2025 entry.Â
| A-Level | |
|---|---|
| AAB including Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics at A Level and excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies. For Biology, Chemistry and Physics A Levels we require a pass in the practical element. Mathematics and English Language both required at GCSE, minimum grade C or 4, if not offered at A or AS Level. Offers are made subject to satisfying fitness to practise conditions.
Applicants will also be required to undertake an online interview as part of the process. |
|
| International Baccalaureate | |
|---|---|
| 34 points. At least 5 points required from Higher Level Chemistry and at least 5 points required from at least one of Higher Level Biology, Mathematics or Physics. At least 4 points required from Standard Level Maths or Mathematical Studies if not offered at Higher Level.
Offers are made subject to satisfying fitness to practise conditions. Applicants will also be required to undertake an online interview as part of the process. |
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