Overview
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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| Experiential Placement in a Pharmacy Setting (5) 2 | |
| |
| 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 |
| Experiential Placement in a Pharmacy Setting (5) 2 | |
| |
| 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 |
| Experiential Placement in a Pharmacy Setting (5) 2 | |
| Total Credits | 240 |
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:
1
2-1
Define the role of the Pharmacist in hospital, community, industry, research environments and other positions where the pharmacist can be employed;
2
2-2
Communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals for the purpose of counselling and advising on medicines and their safe usage;
2-3
3
Interpret and evaluate prescriptions and supply medicines in accordance with current legislation and professional codes of practice;
2-4
4
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;
2-5
5
Apply the principles of chemistry underpinning the design, development, manufacture, analysis and quality control of pharmaceutical compounds and excipients;
2-6
6
Outline the physiological, biochemical, molecular and genetic basis of disease, drug therapy and drug delivery;
2-7
7
Apply the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetics and pharmacological principles underlying the use of medicines in health care;
2-8
8
Recognise common disease states and respond appropriately to presented symptoms;
2-9
9
Conduct a literature review, design a research protocol, collect and interpret data and write a dissertation.
*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***
Marks and Standards
These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.
Fitness to Practise
All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.
Marks and Credits
Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.
First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria
To pass first year and progress to second year, students must have satisfied the Fitness to Practise requirements and must achieve:
- An aggregate mark of 50% across all modules,
- A pass mark in modules to the value of at least 50 credits,
- A pass mark in each of the following modules: PF1009, PF1010, PF1011, PF1012, and PT1445, and
- A module mark of at least 45% in any remaining modules.
Pass by Compensation: Students who satisfy each of the above criteria are allowed to compensate in modules to the value of 10 credits and pass the year overall.
Award of Honours in the Degree Award
An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from the penultimate year. The aggregate of 33.33% of the penultimate year marks plus 66.67% of the final year marks will be used to calculate the final degree award.
Honours will be awarded as follows:
- First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
- Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
- Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 55% and <60%
- Pass: ≥ 50% and <55%
Examination Boards
- Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
- Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.
Supplemental Examinations and Assessment
- Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
- Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
- The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
- The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
- The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
- At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.
Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.
Exemptions
All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of five academic years (or two in the case of Computer Science modules) subsequent to the award of the exemption.
Repeat Year Examinations
Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 45%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.
Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).
Two Year Rule
Students must pass/progress within two academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.
Terms and Definitions
Programme Description
Module Descriptions/Assessment
- Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.
Marks and Credits
- A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
- Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.
Pass and Progression
- Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
- Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.
