Pharmacy

Pharmacy is seeing a healthy rise in applicants, partly because the unemployment levels for the industry are very low, but also because the perception of the role of the pharmacist is changing.

Whether it be in a community or hospital setting, the government is increasingly acknowledging that pharmacy is one of the primary health professions in the NHS, and that pharmacists are an integral part of most people's experience of NHS care. The government's pharmacy strategy (yes, they do have such things) was launched in 2000 and is likely to have a big impact on the profession in the next few years. It was welcomed by a profession hoping for better utilisation of their skills and expertise.

Schools of pharmacy teach the study of medicinal substances and the application of their therapeutic uses in the practice of the profession.

The course is a broad-based four-year affair, leading to an MPharm degree, producing graduates for careers in community, hospital and industry or research pharmacy.

All UK pharmacy degree courses are accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. In almost all cases, graduates follow their degree with a pre-registration year of professional training in community; hospital or industrial pharmacy before qualifying to join the society's register of professional pharmacists.

Teaching is by a combination of formal lectures and laboratory-based classes, which can be supplemented by computer-assisted learning, video demonstrations and tutorials. You will be assessed by a combination of written examination and coursework.

If you want to study pharmacy, you'll almost certainly need three A-levels, including chemistry with two subjects from biology/human biology maths and physics. Work experience is also a big help, but if you lack the contacts to arrange this, get in touch with the pharmacy school yourself to see if they can help.

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