Pharmacy w/Integrated Foundation Training MPharm
London, Bloomsbury
Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who are experts in medicines, and have a detailed understanding of the scientific basis of therapy. The five-year MPharm with Integrated Foundation Training is primarily aimed at international students who want to complete the Pharmacy degree and UK foundation training whilst maintaining their student status. After graduating, students will be ready to apply for registration as a UK Pharmacist.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Programme starts
September 2025Application deadline
29 Jan 2025UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
- Chemistry and either Biology, Mathematics or Physics required.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- BBB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- Chemistry and either Biology, Mathematics or Physics required.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects including Chemistry and one subject from Biology, Mathematics or Physics, with no higher level score below 5. For Mathematics, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects to include Chemistry and one subject from Biology, Mathematics or Physics, with no higher level score below 5. For Mathematics, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated. This qualification is not accepted where applicants have not previously studied beyond GCSE standard or have not achieved the required grades at A-level.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D3,D3,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Chemistry required plus one from Biology, Physics or Mathematics
A,A,B at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and B,B,B at Higher). Chemistry required plus one from Biology, Physics or Mathematics, at Advanced Higher.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades AAB. Chemistry required plus one from Biology, Physics or Mathematics.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 3
-
Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
An MPharm from an accredited UK school of pharmacy is necessary if you wish to have a career as a pharmacist. The five-year MPharm with Integrated Foundation Training is particularly suitable for overseas students who wish to have the opportunity to complete their foundation training within the degree structure. We offer you the opportunity to become a confident and competent healthcare professional with patient safety and wellbeing as your primary concern.
To qualify as a registered pharmacist in the UK you will need to successfully complete the MPharm with Integrated Foundation Training, and pass the qualifying examinations of the GPhC.
The GPhC published new Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists in 2021. The new standards place a much greater focus on the development of clinical skills and on person-centred care. These changes will help to ensure that pharmacists are fully equipped for their future roles, providing clinical care to patients and the public, including by diagnosing disease and prescribing medicines, and by application of the science that underpins pharmacy.
Experiential learning placements, including contact with patients, members of the public and other healthcare professionals, will also form a much larger part of the MPharm programme, preparing you for the world of work as practising pharmacists.
From 2026 pharmacists can become independent prescribers from the point of registration, and the MPharm programme incorporates the development of the skills, knowledge and attributes for prescribing that are required to enable this.
What this course will give you
The UCL School of Pharmacy has a long tradition of academic and research excellence. It is internationally recognised as being one of the leading pharmacy schools worldwide. It is ranked fourth in the world for Pharmacy and Pharmacology (QS World University Rankings 2023).
The five-year MPharm programme integrates the year of foundation training into the undergraduate MPharm programme, enabling students graduating from this programme route to immediately become eligible to sit the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration examination.
Experiential learning placements are undertaken in community pharmacies, teaching hospitals and GP practices. Interprofessional learning is undertaken with other healthcare degree students. Students make regular visits to Green Light Pharmacy, where workshops are taught by community pharmacists and students can interact with patients.
You may have the opportunity to complete your Year 4 research project as part of our Study Abroad programme at one of our international partner institutions.
The Year 5 placements in community and hospital pharmacy are guaranteed for all students on the five-year MPharm with Integrated Foundation Training programme.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 480 credits and successful completion of Year 5 you will be awarded a MPharm (Hons) in Pharmacy with Integrated Pre-registration Training.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
-
The programme places a strong emphasis on the multi-disciplinary nature of pharmacy, and the interrelationship between science and clinical pharmacy. Integrated approaches are employed to understand the anatomy, physiology and normal function of body systems, the common diseases of those systems, and the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, formulation and clinical use of therapeutic drugs used to manage those diseases – all within the context of the professional role of the pharmacist as the medicines expert.
In Year 4 of the programme, students undertake a research project in an area of pharmacy or pharmaceutical science. This project may be carried out in the School in one of our research laboratories, or with one of our NHS or international partners.
In Year 5 you will undertake a full year of experiential clinical placement-based learning, comprised of two 26-week placements, one in a hospital setting and one in community pharmacy. You will additionally attend regular training days based at UCL and will produce a comprehensive portfolio of professional activities during your placement year that will further help to develop you as a future pharmacist.
Your learning
You will be exposed to many different styles of teaching and learning. Years 1-4 of the programme are delivered through a combination of experiential learning, lectures, practical classes, tutorials, problem-solving classes, clinical seminars and workshops, clinical placements, skills workshops with patients, journal clubs, independent learning, and visits to hospital and community pharmacies. There is also an emphasis on connected learning: supplementing traditional on campus teaching and learning with high quality, collaborative and engaging online learning activities.
Year 5 is comprised of two 26-week placements, one in community pharmacy and one in a hospital setting. This is supported by a placement tutor and includes mandatory anchor days at UCL. Students also have access to online resources and are assessed through coursework, portfolio, OSCE and work-based assessments.
Contact hours vary between years of study and students will participate in a variety of learning activities including lectures, practicals, workshops and placements across each year of the course. Contact time includes timetabled sessions you should attend either in-person or online. A Year 1 student on this course can expect to commit to 15-20 hours per week average contact time. This does not include self-directed study.
Assessment
Your performance is assessed through a diverse combination of written coursework and essays, online coursework quizzes and lab reports, multiple choice questions (MCQs), practical exams (lab-based and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations or OSCEs), presentations, portfolios, written examinations (short answer questions, extended written case studies, integrated questions), a wiki-based project, a research project and work-based assessments.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
Visit us
Online - Open day
Pharmacy MPharm Information Session
Watch this video to find out more about UCL's Pharmacy MPharm programme, entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.
The foundation of your career
Most pharmacists work in community pharmacies on the high street, or in supermarkets or GP practices. This is the most common route for our graduates.
Another popular sector of the profession is hospital pharmacy, working closely with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. After one or two years, a hospital pharmacist can choose to specialise in areas such as cancer, paediatrics, HIV, surgery or education and training.
There are also career routes into industry and academia. Industrial pharmacists work in research and development, production, quality control, clinical trials, product registration and medical information. Those choosing to stay in the academic world undertake teaching and research.
Employability
MPharm Pharmacy with Integrated Foundation Training graduates must pass the GPhC registration examination to qualify as a professional pharmacist. As a pharmacy professional, you will be a frontline healthcare provider and can have a direct impact on people's lives and health.
The UCL School of Pharmacy has a dedicated foundation training co-ordinator and an excellent graduate employment rate. A Pharmacy degree from UCL will bring a wide range of career choices. According to the Graduate Outcomes Survey of students graduating in 2020-2021, 96% of graduates were in highly skilled work within 15 months of finishing their degree.
Accreditation
An MPharm from an accredited UK school of pharmacy is the first step towards a career as a pharmacist. To qualify as a registered pharmacist in Britain you will need to undertake a year of the foundation training after graduation, or as part of a five-year MPharm programme with integrated foundation/pre-registration training, and then pass the qualifying examinations of the GPhC. We are currently working towards full accreditation with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The five-year MPharm with Integrated Foundation programme is provisionally accredited until it receives full accreditation.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £33,000 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
This programme requires a completed DBS check. You will receive more information from UCL on how to complete the check once you have received an offer for the programme. The DBS application cost will be covered by UCL, but you will also need to have your ID checked and verified at a Post Office, for which you will incur a charge of around £15.
You are also required to arrange and pay for any overseas police check that may be necessary; costs vary by country.
You may also incur additional transport costs from undertaking the hospital visits, placements and patient interviews that are a part of the programme.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
This programme is primarily aimed at international students.
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
We are looking for students who are intellectually curious, willing to study hard, and who will thrive in a personal, friendly environment where the emphasis is on teamwork and academic achievement. You will need to show that you have a strong understanding of science and a detailed knowledge of chemistry. As accuracy and an ability to communicate with all sectors of society are essential skills in a pharmacist, you will also be confident in your numeracy and literacy skills.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Interviews and tests are usually held from December to April.
Successful applicants are required to pass Occupational Health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced checks before starting the programme.
Successful applicants will need to show that they espouse the professional values necessary in a pharmacist or pharmacy student. The values of the UCL School of Pharmacy and information on selection can be found on the departmental website. You should read this before you apply.
Got questions? Get in touch
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.