Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists PgCert

See how you'll be taught in 2021/22 in our Covid information for applicants.

Overview

If you're an experienced practicing pharmacist and want to further your career in a specialist area, joining our PgCert Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists course is the perfect way to fulfil your ambitions.

On this course you'll develop your clinical examination and consultation skills, and build on your understanding of pharmacology and therapeutics, to inform evidence-based management decisions alongside patients within your chosen scope of practice. 

When you graduate, you'll be qualified for a career as an independent prescriber within a clinical setting.

Entry requirements​

What you'll experience

Careers and opportunities

What can you do with a Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists qualification?

Graduates have gone on to take roles in:

• Mental health
• Rheumatology
• Minor ailments
• Pain management
• Nutrition
• Travel medicine
• Critical care
• Cardiology
• Renal disease
• HIV medicine

We'll provide you with as much support as possible in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.

Work experience and career planning

We'll help you to find opportunities that will complement your studies.

When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the healthcare industry.

After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years as you advance in your career.

What you'll study on this PgCert Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists course

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Learning support

As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

• academic writing
• note taking
• time management
• critical thinking
• presentation skills
• referencing
• working in groups
• revision, memory and exam techniques

Support with English

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Teaching

Teaching on this course includes:

• online learning
• seminars
• workshops
• practice

How you'll spend your time

Each academic year is divided into 2 teaching blocks:

• September/October to December/January – teaching block 1
• January/February to May – teaching block 2

Teaching dates

Timetabled teaching is due to take place on the following dates. Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

September 2021 start

• 6, 7, 13 and 20 October 2021
• 3 and 17 November 2021
• 1, 15 and 22 December 2021
• 5 and 19 January 2022
• 2 and 16 February 2022
• 2, 16 and 30 March 2022

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed through:

• practical skills assessment
• written case studies and therapeutic reviews
• portfolio of competencies and reflective accounts
  

​Course costs and funding

Tuition fees (September 2021 and January 2022 start)

• UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £2,480 (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students– awaiting confirmation
• International students – £2,480 (may be subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Tuition fees terms and conditions

Apply

September 2021 or January 2022 start

• Part-time study September 2021 start (8 months)
• Part-time study January 2022 start (8 months)

You'll be asked to complete a shorter course specific application form once you have submitted your initial application. This includes a short section for your designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) to complete too.

All shortlisted applicants are also subject to interview.

International students

If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply directly to us (above) or you can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.