MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year
About this course
MPharm in Pharmacy, including a preparatory year at level 3 before the four-year programme. Core topics include Laboratory Techniques, Clinical Skills, Ethics & Professional Practice, and Research Methods. The programme includes around 11 weeks of placements across community, hospital, and GP pharmacy settings in North Wales. A research project in the final year produces a dissertation and poster presentation, and graduates are eligible to register as Independent Prescribers subject to completion of Foundation Training and the GPhC Registration Assessment.
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Entry requirements
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. 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 O3 in Maths and O4 in English 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) dependent 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 . 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. 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. Please see our Interview and Selection page for more information. 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. 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.
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What students say
Based on about 125 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 83%
- Assessment and feedback: 85%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 76%
- Learning resources: 87%
- Student voice: 82%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 74 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 78%
- Working and studying: 9%
- Further study: 3%
- Unemployed: 3%
Most common jobs
- Nursing Professionals: 77%
- Other Health Professionals: 8%
- Natural and social science professionals: 2%
- Administrative occupations: 1%
- Skilled trades occupations: 1%
- Find their work meaningful: 99%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 92%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 81%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 265 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 12%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 2%
- London: 1%
- South East: 1%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 72%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
- Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in order to progress to pharmacist pre-registration training and then to register as a pharmacist. Please note, the 5-year integrated MPharm degree programme includes pre-registration training.
Modules
- Introduction to Academic Skills
- Introduction to Laboratory Skills
- Numeracy for Medical Sciences
- History of Medicine
- Introduction to Chemistry and Biology for Medicine and Pharmacy
- Human Systems and Biological Chemistry for Medicine and Pharmacy
- Fundamentals of Pharmacy Practice
- Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Science
- Gastrointestinal
- Skin, Eyes and ENT
- MPharm Professional Portfolio 1
- Cardiovascular
- Infections and Immunity
- Renal and Hepatic
- Respiratory
- MPharm Professional Portfolio 2
- Cancer, Pain and MSK
- CNS and Mental Health
- Endocrine and Reproduction
- Research Project
- MPharm Professional Portfolio 3
- Advanced Therapeutics and Clinical Practice
- MPharm Professional Portfolio 4
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year at Bangor University earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £28,500 after 3 years, £34,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,000 and £39,000. The £34,000 median after five years is £6,000 less than the UK median for Pharmacy.
What do graduates of MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year at Bangor University do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year at Bangor University?
85% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year at Bangor University?
The typical offer is BBC at A level. The average entrant had 87 UCAS points.
Is MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year at Bangor University accredited?
Yes. Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in order to progress to pharmacist pre-registration training and then to register as a pharmacist. Please note, the 5-year integrated MPharm degree programme includes pre-registration training.
How many students continue on MPharm Pharmacy with Preparatory Year at Bangor University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.