New Year, New Pharmacy Qualification

New Year, New Pharmacy Qualification

At a time of transformative change in pharmacy, from the General Pharmaceutical Council’s new Standards for the initial education and training for pharmacists which include prescribing, right up to advanced and consultant level practice, exciting opportunities are available across the spectrum for ambitious and forward-thinking pharmacists.

There has never been a more important or opportune time to consider postgraduate, Masters’ level education which will enable you to take advantage of the many openings on offer in all sectors of pharmacy. Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen, Scotland, offers a strong portfolio of on campus and online courses designed to meet the needs of pharmacists and others in the UK and worldwide. Recognised for its teaching excellence and student-centred approach, RGU is consistently named as one of the top UK universities for graduate employability.

With courses developed and delivered by pharmacists, many of whom are prescribers, and other expert practitioners, you can be confident you are learning the necessary skills sought after by employers.

• Pharmacist Independent Prescribing (IP) Practice Certificate

From 2026, newly registered pharmacists will be able to make enhanced contributions to clinical care, including as prescribers. Pharmacists who are not currently prescribers will want to upskill themselves and this part-time course, offered as a stand-alone module and as part of the MSc Advanced Pharmacy Practice, is currently delivered entirely online. A range of therapeutic topics is offered along with pharmaceutical care planning, polypharmacy, clinical skills and pharmaceutical public health.

• MSc Advanced Pharmacy Practice

This part-time online course delivers a focused yet flexible education in clinical pharmacy and advanced pharmacy practice, with content mapped to relevant professional development frameworks and options for interprofessional learning. The IP module is mandatory at the diploma stage (recognition of prior learning is available) while the MSc stage is by an Advanced Pharmacy Practice portfolio including pharmaceutical service development. 

• MSc Clinical Pharmacy Practice

Delivering a broad education in clinical pharmacy, this course is open to all pharmacists irrespective of their country of undergraduate study or practice and is delivered entirely by part-time, online learning. It provides an opportunity to focus your studies more specifically to your area of practice and will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance your decision-making and patient care abilities.

• MSc Clinical Pharmacy Service Development

This full time, on campus course is open to pharmacists worldwide.  It has an exciting and varied blend of academic and clinical learning, providing you with a unique learning experience and the professional knowledge and skills required to develop your practice and excel as a clinical pharmacy practitioner. The focus is on developing the knowledge and skills required for the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical pharmacy services. By combining academic and theoretical learning with experience of professional practice, you will develop the skills appropriate for the modern clinical pharmacy practitioner.

• MSc Pharmaceutical Science

This full time, on campus course offers the broad curriculum essential for a pharmaceutical scientist in current and future job markets. The course helps you to develop the required skill set in chemistry, drug delivery and biomedical science.  It is distinct from others and is taught in modern, well-equipped pharmaceutical laboratories. Modules include advanced pharmaceutical analysis and quality control; drug dosage form and design; pharmacology for drug design; advances in pharmaceutical science; and drug discovery and design.

Use the new year to plan ahead and consider your future within pharmacy.  Wherever that takes you, RGU can help you get there. For more information visit www.rgu.ac.uk