Pharmacy - Advanced Pharmacy Practice with Independent Prescribing

Overview
Our Advanced Pharmacy Practice programme is designed for hospital-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland who wish to practice at Advanced Practitioner level.

The PG Diploma stage aims to develop the student's knowledge of therapeutics in several key areas and includes training as an independent non-medical prescriber.

Advanced Pharmacy Practice (With Independent Prescribing) Highlights
In the non-medical prescribing modules, students undertake clinical skills training in the clinical skills teaching laboratories at Queen's.

Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
At Queen's, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On the PgDip in Advanced Pharmacy Practice we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies that enhance their development as independent, lifelong learners.

Course Structure
Study part-time by distance and work-based learning

Introduction Hospital pharmacists who have completed the NI Foundation Programme (or equivalent) will receive 60 credits.

The remaining 60 credits are delivered in the following modules:
PMY7040 Advanced Therapeutics (includes respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and infectious disease)

Plus the non-medical prescribing modules:
PMY7070 Person-centred care and collaboration
PMY7071 Disease management
PMY7072 Clinical skills
PMY7073 Professionalism

Note: Following publication of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum in 2022, the content of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice programme is being reviewed for 2023 entry.

Graduate
A primary degree in Pharmacy (minimum Bachelor Degree) from an institution approved by the University. Additionally all applicants must:
- have identified a designated medical practitioner prior to commencing the prescribing modules;

- have completed the NICPLD foundation/vocational training (VT) programme or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience;

- be employed as a hospital pharmacist.

Please note: this programme is open only to applicants who are resident in Northern Ireland or pharmacists in Ireland by prior agreement between QUB and the applicant's employer.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2023 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

How to Apply
Applications should be submitted online via the Postgraduate Applications Portal for admission to the vast majority of postgraduate programmes.

New applicants will need to register via the Portal to create an application account. If you are already a Queen's student with an active Qsis account, you can log in using your student number and Qsis password. Guidance on how to complete an application is provided within the Portal and it is possible to save application data and return to complete it at a later date, if you wish. After core details about yourself and your academic background have been provided, you can submit an application, or multiple applications, if required.

If you applied in a previous cycle through the Portal and are re-applying, you should use your previous log in details. Please review and update your personal and contact details, academic and professional qualifications before submitting a new application.

Important – please ensure that the email address you provide is correct and active, as this will be used by us to communicate the progress of your application to you.

Includes competency assessments, practice portfolios, coursework assignments, online tests, workbooks, and Observed Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

24 months (Part Time)

Teaching Times
Teaching is delivered via a combination of distance and work-based learning, and on-campus workshops.

Entry year 2020

Career Prospects
Introduction
This Masters/PG Diploma programme in Advanced Pharmacy Practice enhances the opportunities for hospital-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland to progress their career to Advanced Practitioner level.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.