This course is for pharmacy graduates who gained their degree outside the UK. It enables pharmacists to convert their existing pharmaceutical qualification so it is recognised in the UK.
Successful completion of the course will allow you to undertake a pre-registration placement in industry, before applying to the UK Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists. You will also gain an Aston University Diploma. Aston University is not responsible for the provision of a pre-registration training place nor preparation for professional qualifying examinations.
The programme focuses upon new developments in key pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice together with the study of health service delivery and pharmacy law and ethics within the UK.
Modules
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Professional Critical Skills - Covers core elements of the retrieval and use of pharmaceutical information, the theory and practice of personal and interpersonal skills including communication and IT skills, responding to symptoms and introduces students to the concepts of organised continuing professional development (CPD)
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Applied Pharmacology and Therapeutics (modules I and II) - Introduces therapeutics and develops an evidence-based approach to pharmacotherapy - covering diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, upper gastrointestinal and central nervous system disorders
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Pharmaceutical Care - Focuses upon the clinical use of medicines and the use of medicines for individual patients. This module provides an integrated approach to care in the primary and secondary sectors and provides all students with structured hospital-based, clinical study
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Evidence-Based Practice and the Public’s Health - This complements the study of pharmaceutical care and therapeutics by developing evaluation skills geared to the medicines management. The module also develops and promotes professional awareness as a basis for future practice, e.g. prescribing
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Pharmaceutical Technology - Focuses on radiopharmacy, cytotoxics, parenteral nutrition, intravenous additives, and quality assurance
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Pharmaceutics in Practice - Focuses on the role of drug delivery in patient care including advanced drug delivery techniques, biotechnology and clinical pharmaceutics
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Pharmacy Law, Ethics and Practice - This covers background to UK and EU law – origins of law, political and legal frameworks, dispensing and the sale and supply of medicines in the UK, medicines legislation in the UK, legislation that affects the practice of pharmacy, health service structures in the UK and Europe, legislation governing pharmacy within the UK and EU and an overview of the comparable legislation for medicine, medical and pharmacy ethics including the UK code of ethics and pharmaceutical calculations.
The following study methods are used throughout the programme:
- Lectures
- Group tutorials
- Practicals
- Web-based learning
- Clinical teaching sessions.
A wide range of assessment methods are used including:
- Examination
- Web based clinical assignments
- Clinical case studies
- Clinical case presentation
- Portfolio development
- Practical dispensing examination.
The course is designed for those who wish to practice as a Pharmaceutical Chemist in the UK. All Aston’s Postgraduate Diploma for Overseas Pharmacists candidates have been able to secure a pre-registration placement, and the pass rate for the RPSGB qualifying examination is above the national average.
The transferable skills acquired on this course include effective written and oral communication, team working, report writing, critical analysis and IT skills.
The programme utilises a range of specialist laboratories recently refitted to very high standards in a £3m upgrade project. In 2008 we opened a new fully computerised medicines management suite to support learning of modern pharmacy areas like clinical care and prescribing.
Dr Kay M G Wood - A practising pharmacist with an interest in teaching and learning, clinical pharmacy and medicines management.
Find out more about our
Pharmacy teaching staff.
On 15th June 2009 the UK Borders Agency (UKBA) removed the occupation of community pharmacy (but not hospital pharmacy) from the Shortage Occupation List that UKBA uses in determining whether or not to grant work permits to non-EU overseas pharmacists.
This decision may affect your eligibility to work as a community pharmacist in Great Britain.
The RSPGB recommend that before you start the qualifying process, i.e. the one year OSPAP and the one year pre-registration training (and the Society’s registration examination), you are advised to check the current information provided by the UKBA concerning the acquisition of the necessary visas and work permits. For further information, see the UKBA website.
If you have any questions relating to the Shortage Occupation List, you should contact the UKBA. The university is unable to comment or advise with regard to queries about visas and work permits.
Aston University is not responsible for the provision of neither pre-registration training place nor preparation for the professional qualifying examinations which form part of the pre-registration assessment.
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