Overview

NFQ Level 8, Major Award

The pharmacy programme is an MPharm degree (Master of Pharmacy) (NFQ level 9). The Pharmacy regulator (the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, PSI) now requires graduates to have completed a Masters degree of Pharmacy before entering the PSI Register and practising as a Pharmacist. Students studying Pharmacy complete an integrated BPharm/MPharm programme over 5 years of study. Once students have passed the first four years (BPharm) they can progress to the fifth year (MPharm).

First Year - Pharmacy

Regulations for the BPharm/MPharm (Hons) Degree

The programme is defined in terms of modules, which are measured in terms of credits. A module may correspond to 5 credits or multiples of 5 credits. One year of a degree programme consists of modules to a total value of 60 credits in years 1 to 4. The final year is a level 9 qualification (MPharm) and will consist of modules to a total value of 90 credits.

First Year - Pharmacy

In order to be admitted to the First University Examination in Pharmacy, each student must have attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Second Year - Pharmacy

No student may register for the Second Year programme of study until the First University Examination has been passed. To be admitted to the Second University Examination in Pharmacy a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Third Year - Pharmacy

No student may register for the Third Year programme of study until the Second University Examination has been passed. To be admitted to the Third University Examination in Pharmacy, a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Fourth Year - Pharmacy

No student may register for the Fourth Year programme of study until the Third University Examination has been passed. To be admitted to the BPharm Degree Examination, a student must therefore have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Fifth Year - Pharmacy

Students who obtain their BPharm above are invited to progress to the fifth year MPharm programme.

Non-Pharmacy Exit Pathways

Non-Pharmacy Exit Pathway for students not completing Second or Third Year Pharmacy

The BSc (Ordinary) (Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences), NFQ Level 7, is an Ordinary degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for Year 2 or 3 of the Pharmacy degree in the Summer Examinations and/or the Autumn Supplemental Examinations, or who do not wish to continue with their Pharmacy degree after obtaining the pass standard for Year 1 or Year 2 of the Pharmacy degree. Such students may, following consultation with the Programme Leader, register instead for the BSc (Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences) ordinary degree. Programme requirements are outlined on the corresponding page. The BSc (Ordinary) (Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences) does not confer eligibility to practice as a Pharmacist.

Students who pass all modules in the Third Year Examinations in the BSc Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences at the first or second attempt may choose to exit the programme and be awarded the BSc (Ord) Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences (NFQ Level 7) or, following consultation with the Programme Leader, progress to the Fourth Year BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences (NFQ Level 8). The BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences does not confer eligibility to practise as a Pharmacist.

Non-Pharmacy Exit Pathway for Students not proceeding to Fourth Year Pharmacy

The BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences, NFQ Level 8, is a non-pharmacy Honours degree pathway for students who satisfy the pass and progression standards of Third Year Pharmacy but who, following consultation with the Programme Leader, do not wish to continue with their pharmacy degree. Such students may register instead for the non-pharmacy BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences, commencing in Fourth Year. Programme requirements are outlined on the corresponding page. The BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Healthcare Sciences does not confer eligibility to practice as a Pharmacist. Neither does it allow a candidate to continue to the MPharm degree.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
AN1075	Principles of Human Structure for Pharmacy Students	5
BC1443	Biochemistry	10
PF1009	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Chemistry	10
PF1010	Physiochemical Basis of Pharmaceuticals	5
PF1011	Pharmacy Practice I	5
PF1012	Introduction to Pharmaceutics: Formulation Science	10
PL1400	Introduction to Physiology for Pharmacy I	5
PL1401	Introduction to Physiology for Pharmacy II	5
PT1445	Foundation Pharmacology	5
Year 2
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
BC2443	Molecular Biology	5
MB2555	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Microbiology	10
PF2010	Professional Pharmacy Core Skills	5
PF2011	Research Methods and Applied Data Analysis	5
PF2012	Pharmaceutical Analysis	5
PF2013	Pharmaceutical Chemistry	5
PF2014	Pharmacy Practice II	5
PF2016	Pharmaceutical Technology	5
PF2017	Sterile Pharmaceutical Preparations	5
PT2448	Cellular and Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Toxicity	10
Optional Module 1
PF2018	Experiential Placement in a Pharmacy Setting (5) 2
Year 3
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
PF3009	Gastrointestinal, Hepatic and Endocrine Systems	10
PF3010	Cardiovascular and Renal Systems	10
PF3011	Professional Practice III	5
PF3012	Respiratory, Musculoskeletal and Dermatology Systems	10
PF3013	Clinical Immunology and Infection	5
PF3014	Regulatory Science	5
PF3015	Pharmacokinetics: From Basic Principles to Clinical Applications	10
PF3016	Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmaceuticals	5
Optional Module 1
PF2018	Experiential Placement in a Pharmacy Setting (5) 2
Year 4
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
PF4010	Organisation and Management Skills 3	10
PF4011	Personal Skills 3	10
PF4012	Professional Practice 3	10
PF4013	Clinical Practice I	5
PF4014	Central Nervous System	10
PF4015	Novel Drug Delivery	5
PF4016	Pharmacy Research Project	10
Optional Module 1
PF2018	Experiential Placement in a Pharmacy Setting (5) 2
Total Credits		240

¹

Students electing to take this optional module must secure a work placement relevant to the discipline, to be undertaken outside of term-time (minimum two weeks (70 hours)) subject to the approval of the School of Pharmacy. 

²

Not included for progression to subsequent year and is not counted toward the final degree award. The result obtained will be recorded on the student's transcript.

³

Modules will be completed while on placement.

Examinations

Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for BPharm (Hons) Degree (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Define the role of the Pharmacist in hospital, community, industry, research environments and other positions where the pharmacist can be employed;
  
• Communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals for the purpose of counselling and advising on medicines and their safe usage;
  
• Interpret and evaluate prescriptions and supply medicines in accordance with current legislation and professional codes of practice;
  
• Apply the physiochemical properties of drugs to the design of small and large molecules and biopharmaceutical drug delivery systems and recognise the principles of pharmaceutical manufacturing encompassing good manufacturing practice (GMP), quality assurance (QA), quality control (QC) and regulatory affairs;
  
• Apply the principles of chemistry underpinning the design, development, manufacture, analysis and quality control of pharmaceutical compounds and excipients;
  
• Outline the physiological, biochemical, molecular and genetic basis of disease, drug therapy and drug delivery;
  
• Apply the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetics and pharmacological principles underlying the use of medicines in health care;
  
• Recognise common disease states and respond appropriately to presented symptoms;
  
• Conduct a literature review, design a research protocol, collect and interpret data and write a dissertation.