Fitness to practise procedure

The MPharm Pharmacy integrated Master's course prepares you to enter the profession of pharmacy. This brings privileges and responsibilities.

If you're accepted onto the course, you must demonstrate you can exercise those privileges and bear those responsibilities while you're a student.

We'll work with you to promote professional behaviour, give you opportunities to learn and practise to professional standards, and support and guide you with your professional development.

However, there can be times where a student's situation or actions could bring into question their 'fitness to practise' – this is their ability to carry out their role safely, effectively and professionally in line with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) standards for pharmacy professionals (PDF).

This page highlights the factors that can influence your fitness to practise – before you apply and when you're studying on the course. It also highlights what you must tell us when you apply and outlines our fitness to practise procedures.

Factors that can influence fitness to practise

Disability and health

The GPhC require we inform all applicants that a disability or health condition may make it impossible for a student to graduate with an accredited pharmacy degree.

Disability includes any chronic illness (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, mental health difficulty, sensory or physical impairment), specific learning disability (e.g. dyslexia. dyspraxia), and autistic spectrum disorder (e.g. Asperger’s syndrome) that may adversely impact on your ability to access the University campus, the curriculum, the teaching, learning and assessment processes or any other services available to students.

If you have a disability or learning difference, we can work with the University's Additional Support and Disability Centre to make reasonable adjustments so you can achieve the outcomes needed to complete the course successfully. But we can't adjust the course content.

When you tell us you have a disability, we may ask you for more information.

Criminal convictions

Previous involvement in criminal activity can impair your eligibility to register as a pharmacist and complete placements in NHS organisations, which are an important part of the programme.

These criminal activities include (but aren't limited to):

• theft
• financial fraud
• possession or dealing illegal substances
• creating or obtaining child pornography
• child abuse or any other abuse
• aggressive, violent or threatening behaviour

If you have a criminal record, we process your application in accordance with the University of Portsmouth Policy for Admissions of Applicants and Students with a Criminal Record (PDF).

Professional or regulatory body disciplinary action

Previous disciplinary action from a regulatory or professional body could affect your fitness to practise. If this applies to you, we ask you for information when you apply.

Fitness to practise procedures

In common with other institutions, we have procedures for investigating and addressing situations that affect a student's fitness to practise. These procedures are transparent and fair.

We explain the full details of our fitness to practise procedures during your induction. We've outlined the key information below.

Supplying accurate information

Please make sure you supply accurate information when we ask you for it.

If any checks reveal you've provided inaccurate information, then any offer we make may be withdrawn. If you're enrolled on the programme, you may be excluded.

If a Fitness to Practise panel imposes a sanction, the University must inform the GPhC. This may impair your eligibility to register as a pharmacist.