Pharmacy with Preparatory Year MPharm Undergraduate - September 2025/26* Entry

This exciting MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year prepares students for a successful pathway through the four years of an MPharm programme after a successful Preparatory Year at level 3, building up knowledge and skills in science and health-related topics. 

The MPharm course aims to provide students with the skills, knowledge, competencies and other attributes expected of the pharmacy profession as outlined through the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists Standards 2021.

The overall philosophy of the MPharm Pharmacy programme places the patient, and the way in which a pharmacist serves the needs of the patient, as central to the learning experience of the pharmacy student. Whilst focussing on the patient, their medicines and their care, the MPharm programme will equip the future pharmacist with a strong scientific foundation that will inform their decisions in practice. The programme will equip the future pharmacist with the skills and knowledge to practice safely and ethically within the emerging independent prescribing environment.

Placement activities will take place within Wales and will be focussed in the North Wales region with around 11 weeks planned across the duration of the programme. These placements are split between community, hospital and GP-based pharmacy settings along with plans to expose students to some non-standard settings within the programme. During the placements students will grow and develop their skills and this will be monitored through placement supervisors guiding students through multiple Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) which will involve increasing levels of entrustment as the programme develops enabling the student to engage more autonomously with patients and their carers. (Please note There will be no placements during the Preparatory Year.)

Bangor’s five-year undergraduate MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year programme equips a suitable graduate to become a pharmacist and independent prescriber, subject to the successful completion of a subsequent one-year Foundation Training programme (previous known as pre-registration training) and passing a GPhC Registration Assessment. In addition, graduates from this programme will also be eligible to join the register with the accrediting body as an Independent Prescriber (IP). Whilst the majority of graduates choose a career as a practising pharmacist, other roles and jobs are available given the scientific nature of the programme.

The MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year programme is subject to accreditation by the GPhC and Bangor University is working towards accreditation of this programme with the GPhC. The programme will be provisionally accredited until the accreditation process is complete.

What will you study on this course?

The Bangor MPharm degree programme is aligned to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)’s 2021 Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists.

The programme is taught through a mixture of large and small group teaching in lecture, workshop and tutorial settings and through flipped classroom approaches. This will be further enhanced with teaching in laboratory and simulated pharmacy and clinical settings. We have purpose-built simulated pharmacy and clinical ward teaching environments for this teaching to take place. In additional placement-based learning is delivered in hospital, community and GP-based pharmacy settings.

The programme learning outcomes address the development of both knowledge and understanding but also skills essential to being a successful pharmacist. Assessment strategies align with this with a mix of coursework and end-of-module formal assessments. Alongside usual examinations, a significant amount of assessment will take place in an OSCE format where skills and knowledge around patient and colleague interactions are assessed. Students are also required to reflect on their time in practice as part of their formal assessment.

In the Preparatory Year, at level 3, you will develop your knowledge and understanding of the basic science required to study pharmacy along with essential skills needed for successful study on an MPharm programme.  Following a successful Preparatory Year you will progress to year 1 of the MPharm programme.

In year 1 you will start with two modules covering the fundamentals of pharmaceutical science and of pharmacy practice. These will set the scene for the Patient, their Medicine and their Care (PMC) modules from the end of year one onwards. In these PMC modules you will build up your knowledge and skills in a spiralling pathway where you will encounter patient cases and understand the therapeutic approaches from the viewpoint of chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and pharmacy practice.

As you develop your knowledge and skills across years 2 and 3 you will encounter more complex cases and deepen your understanding of ethics and law as well as professionalism. As each module moves through different body systems and disease states you will develop your knowledge and understanding of prescribing practice and patient counselling skills. Through placement activities in each year you will interact with real patients in a pharmacy setting and bring your classroom learning to a real clinical setting.

At the end of year 3 you will undertake a research project to enhance your research and analysis skills. Some members of the teaching team are actively involved in medical and scientific research, giving you a unique opportunity to discover how research translates into advances in clinical practice. You will learn how to conduct research and go onto conduct your own research dissertation and present your results during a poster day event.

In year 4 you will bring your learning together in a year long module with complex cases and extended periods of placement, preparing you for your Foundation Year training, the next stage of your training as a pharmacist.

Placements are an integral component of the programme and you will spend some of your timetabled time in hospital, community and GP-pharmacy settings.

Pharmacy Simulation suite 
The newly construced pharmacy simulation suite provides a mock pharmacy environment with dispensary, label printing, counter and shelves with pharmacy stock items as well as a controlled drug cabinet. Included in the suite is a set of consultation rooms where students will practise their consultation skills.

Clinical Simulation suite 
Our state-of-the-art hospital ward simulated teaching space enables us to deliver teaching in a mock hospital setting to enable pharmacy stduents to prepare for placement activities as well as work on interprofessional learning scenarios. 

Anatomy suite 
The state-of-the-art facilities in our human anatomy suite allow you to learn about the workings of the human body. Resources and teaching facilities include an Anatomage table, the world’s first 3D anatomy visualisation and virtual dissection tool. 

Virtual Reality Suite
Our Virtual Reality (VR) Suite provides a state-of-the-art immersive learning experience using award-winning Oxford Medical Simulation equipment and software. This lets you safely practice skills, examine ‘patients’ and interact in real-time to clinical situations based on real-life situations. For example, you can confidently learn how to manage a quickly deteriorating patient or how respond when presented with a very sick patient, knowing you’re not going to do them any real harm. 

Teaching laboratories
Our recently refurbished laboratories feature state-of-the-art audio-visual systems, making it easier for you to follow demonstrations in detail. Lab sessions develop relevant practical skills, including the importance of health and safety and working with hazardous substances. You’ll use a range of essential laboratory equipment, such as centrifuges, incubators, scales and spectrometers. Extensive specialist equipment includes ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays), digital pathology, bacterial cultures, antibiotic sensitivity testing, immunohistochemistry, DNA/RNA extraction, enzyme kinetics, and drug synthesis, among others. We also have a restricted Category 2 (containment level) pathogen lab for work with medium-risk biological agents, hazards and genetically modified organisms. Pharmaceutics equipment for developing and testing dosage forms is also available alongside labs for undertaking pharmaceutical chemistry and analysis.

Please note:

• we do not accept deferred applications
• This course is subject to validation.

A Levels

A Level grades BBC (or equivalent) required. Must include Chemistry or Biology (minimum grade B) and an additional STEM science (minimum grade C) from the list below:  

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Maths / Further Maths
• Psychology

You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-Level if this is part of your programme of study.

General Studies and Key Skills not accepted. Other non-standard subjects are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may not be accepted.

A contextual offer of BCC (or equivalent) may be made to first language Welsh speakers or those who meet our contextual offer requirements. Please note that if you are a first language Welsh speaker, your application must demonstrate having gained a Welsh (First Language) GCSE.

International Baccalaureate 

28 overall. Must include minimum grades 5,5,5 at the Higher Level. 

Must include: 

• grade 5 in HL Biology or Chemistry; 
• and grade 5 in HL Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics, Psychology.

Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay not accepted.

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (Level 3)

This qualification will be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects

Irish Highers and School Leaving Certificates

• H2 in Biology or Chemistry plus H2 in five other subjects. 

Minimum grade O4 in English and Maths in the Leaving Certificate will be accepted in lieu of Maths and English GCSEs. Equivalent level, grade, and subject requirements must be met. Duplicate subjects will not be counted twice.

Scottish Highers and School Leaving Certificates

• Grades BBC at Advanced Higher including Biology and/or Chemistry.

National 5s and Highers will be accepted in lieu of GCSE. Equivalent level, grade, and subject requirements must be met. Duplicate subjects will not be counted twice.

BTECs

• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Applied Science or Applied Science (Biomedical Science): minimum DMM
• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Diploma will be considered on a case-by-case basis. National Diplomas in relevant subject area may be accepted in lieu of 2 A Levels (minimum DM plus grade B at A2) dependant on the science content studied. 
• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Certificate will be considered on a case-by-case basis. National extended certificates in relevant subject area may be accepted in lieu of 1 A Level (minimum D plus grades BB at A2) dependant on the science content studied. 

Access to HE (Science)

Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum 45 credits must be at Level 3 made up from a minimum of:

• 15 graded Level 3 credits at Distinction from Biology or Chemistry units.
• 30 graded Level 3 credits at Merit which must include 15 credits from an additional science or maths unit.

Graduate Entry

Graduates with science based Bachelors degree: third class honours or higher. 

Graduates with a science based MSc or PhD, pass required. 

Important: If your degree level qualifications are not science based admissions decisions will revert to the Level 3 requirements stated above

Additional Entry Requirements

• GCSEs: English minimum Grade C/5 and Maths minimum grade B/6 plus Chemistry and Biology at grade B/6 or Double Science at grades BB/66. 
• Applicants will also be expected to have an awareness, and a rudimentary understanding, of the GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals as part of the process. 

English language requirements must be met:

• All UK applicants must possess GCSE (or equivalent) English at grade C/5 or above as an academic requirement for admission. 
• International students will require to obtain an IELTS qualification of at least 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all subskills. Alternatively, an equivalent such as TOEFL iBT of at least 100 overall with a minimum of 22 in all subskills.

Qualification resits 

We allow one resit of Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A Level).

Contextual admissions

We carefully consider your contextual data (the circumstances in which you've been studying) upon application. We will be considering this in the offers that are made, which may be lower than advertised. Further details about contextual offers can be found here.

Interviews

Should you be selected, you will be invited to attend an interview. We use the multiple mini interview (MMI) format, which is a series of short interview stations. All applicants must attend for interview if invited.

Where an applicant has been invited to interview, a dummy date will be issued through UCAS. This is a requirement of UCAS and is NOT your interview date. The offer will state that you must disregard the date provided through UCAS and that you will be contacted by email shortly.
Applicants should receive an email the following day directly from Bangor inviting them to select their own interview slot. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they check their inbox, including their junk mail, regularly and book their interview slot. If you have not received an email within 48 hours of the invite via UCAS, applicants must email pharmacyadmissions@bangor.ac.uk  If you do not follow up and/or book your slot before the booking closing date, we cannot make alternative arrangements.

Enrolment conditions

Before starting the course, all successful applicants will be required to undergo a health check, including screening for blood-borne viruses and tuberculosis, by our Occupational Health Service. If you are non-immune to Hepatitis B, you will need to complete a full immunisation programme before taking part in placement activities. If you have a health issue that you think might have an impact on your ability to study or practise, please contact us before applying.  

Criminal convictions

If your application is successful, you will be required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) as part of the process for admissions to the course. 

If you have a relevant criminal conviction, this will be stated in the check and may affect your ability to enrol on the course. Those with criminal convictions should contact pharmacyadmissions@bangor.ac.uk prior to application.

Applicants are required to meet the costs of obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate and are encouraged to join the DBS Update Service for the duration of the programme.

Additional Costs

Applicants are advised that, while you will be reimbursed for some of the costs you incur whilst attending practice placements, you will be required to cover the initial costs for later reimbursement. This may include both accommodation and travel costs (if they are in excess of your normal daily travel costs to your university base).

Previous study of Pharmacy

We will not normally accept any applicants who have previously enrolled on a UK MPharm degree.  In exceptional cases, where a student has left a programme for personal or other non-academic reasons, then on a case-by-case basis consideration may be given to starting the MPharm in Year 1 - please contact us to discuss before applying. As a member of the Pharmacy Schools Council, the school makes use of the Excluded Students Database to identify applicants who have been excluded from a professional degree programme on grounds of fitness to practice. Applications from applicants who appear on the Database will be considered on an individual basis.

Important information

• Entry requirements are subject to change year by year.
• All applicants must be 18 years old at the start of the course.
• International qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. Please email pharmacyadmissions@bangor.ac.uk with copies of your qualifications before applying.
• The GPhC will also carry out its own health, good character and identity checks before registering a graduate as a pharmacist. These checks relate to registration and are additional to checks made by universities and employers. The GPhC may not register a graduate if a check is failed, even if they have passed previous checks. The GPhC is not able to offer prospective registration advice.
• As a member of the Pharmacy Schools Council, we make use of the Excluded Students Database to identify applicants who have been excluded from a professional degree programme on grounds of fitness to practice. Applications from applicants who appear on the Database will be considered on an individual basis.
• Following successful completion of the Preparatory Year, progression to the MPharm will be dependent upon completing an enhanced DBS application and self-declaration and fulfilling health checks as specified below.
   

The MPharm is a vocational programme where the main outcome is that graduates will enter in to a Foundation Training Year (FY; 5th year) as a trainee pharmacist prior to sitting the GPhC National Registration Exam and then becoming a qualified pharmacist.

Employability support will be provided to students throughout the programme.
We will work with students in year 3 to prepare them for Oriel (the FY placement mechanism) and in year 4 to prepare them for FY Training.

A very small number of graduates do not progress through Oriel but instead enter other professions (law, journalism, academia) and careers support will be provided for this minority.