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.

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:
PMY7074 Learning in Practice

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

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2023/24). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

Year 1
Core Modules:
Promoting public health (10 credits)
Safe & effective provision of medicines (10 credits)
Medicines optimisation & proficient patient care (20 credits)
Evidence-based practice & quality improvement (20 credits)
Professionalism (10 credits)
Clinical skills (10 credits)
Disease management (10 credits)
Learning in practice (20 credits)
Person-centred care and collaboration (10 credits)

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.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2024 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.

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

12 months (Part Time)

Entry Year: 2024/25

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