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2026/27

MPharm Pharmacy

  • UCAS code
    B230
  • A level offer
    ABB
  • Year of entry
    2027/28 See 2026/27 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years

Gain practical, patient-facing skills, and the theoretical knowledge you need to excel in your career, with our MPharm Pharmacy course.

At Reading, you’ll study the chemistry, biology, pharmacology and pharmaceutics that drive pharmacy practice. This learning will enable you to apply scientific knowledge to patient care from year one.

Choose MPharm Pharmacy at the University of Reading

  • Benefit from excellent clinical facilities, including a simulated hospital ward.
  • Undertake longer than average clinical placements.
  • Attend business and leadership lectures at our prestigious Henley Business School.
  • 94% of our pharmacy graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation. (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2026, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023/24, includes all Reading School of Pharmacy responders.)
  • Our pharmacy courses are ranked 5th in the UK for graduate salary. (Based on The Telegraph's analysis of DfE data on the earnings of first degree graduates after five years, July 2025 – includes pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy.)
  • We are 5th in the UK for Pharmacy (Daily Mail University Guide, 2027).
  • 98% of our students said teaching staff are good at explaining things and have supported their learning well (National Student Survey 2026, responders from MPharm Pharmacy).

What you’ll study

You’ll learn how to take theoretical scientific knowledge and apply it to clinical practice to best care for your patients. Your learning will cover:

  • how the body works
  • how the body is affected by medicines
  • how medicines are designed.

Throughout your studies, you’ll develop essential knowledge and skills in areas such as:

  • law and ethics
  • medicine safety and error prevention
  • patient consultation
  • assessing prescriptions and dispensing medication
  • public health and health promotion
  • collaborative working with other professions.

Alongside your scientific studies, you’ll undertake clinical placements in various settings. This will provide you with the expertise and clinical experience you’ll need to succeed in your career.

Placements with MPharm Pharmacy

Throughout the MPharm programme, you will develop your professional skills through a range of placements in a variety of healthcare settings. These include hospital and community pharmacies, and GP practices. These placements are an integral part of your training and will help prepare you to become a pharmacist independent prescriber of the future. Placements are therefore compulsory and start in Year 1 of the programme.

During your placements, you'll work towards relevant learning outcomes set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Under the supervision of experienced pharmacists, you'll undertake a range of clinical activities, which may include:

  • dispensing medicines
  • counselling patients
  • conducting medication reviews
  • carrying out physical assessments.

Please note that placements may require travel, with journey times of up to approximately 90 minutes each way. There may also be associated travel and accommodation costs.

To support your career development, we also host an annual Pharmacy Careers Fair, attended by a wide range of employers from across the profession. This provides an excellent opportunity to:

  • explore career pathways
  • network with potential employers
  • find work experience, placement, and employment opportunities.

Visit the School of Pharmacy website for more placement information

Accreditation

Our MPharm course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council, the UK’s pharmacy regulator. This means that when you graduate you can go on to complete a Foundation Training Year, then register as a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber.

How you'll learn

Our MPharm Pharmacy course brings the latest techniques and research into the classroom, lab and clinical space. We encourage you to work independently and collaboratively, using simulations and digital technologies to support your learning.

You’ll develop your knowledge and clinical skills through extensive placements, lab projects and theoretical lectures.

Develop business acumen

At Reading, experts from our award-winning Henley Business School will teach you the fundamentals of business and management. You will also have the opportunity to select an optional module in business and leadership during your final year.

This unique feature of our MPharm degree will equip you with the knowledge and skills to manage people in your future career.

Pharmacy facilities at the University of Reading

You’ll benefit from our extensive Clinical Skills Suites, where you can practice assessing and treating patients in simulated hospital and community settings.

The Clinical Skills Suites contain a range of facilities, including:

  • a simulated ward
  • a simulated community pharmacy
  • consultation rooms
  • a dispensary.

These facilities enable you to develop and practice the skills you’ll need to care for patients and collaborate with other clinical professionals.

We also use professional dispensing software and real medicines to build up your experience of key processes and handling medicinal products.

Work with industry

Your learning will be supported by industry and healthcare providers, including pharmaceutical companies and local hospitals. We work closely with our partners to deliver lectures, placements and visits, and to develop your employability skills.

Develop research skills

Our academics are working on world-leading research. Your studies will be enhanced by their latest findings, with cases studies included in your modules.

You will also have the opportunity to develop your research skills during the course. If you choose the optional research module in your final year, you can spend part of the year working alongside our internationally recognised researchers.







New UK/Republic of Ireland students: The home tuition fee for 2027 entry is £10,050. The home tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study.

New international students: £31,800 for 2027/28. The international tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study as set out in your student contract. For more details, please visit our Fees for International Students page.

Tuition fees

To find out more about how the University of Reading sets its tuition fees, see our fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Become a Global Sustainability Leaders Scholar

This exciting new undergraduate scholarship scheme is focused on creating a community of global sustainability leaders of the future. We are offering up to 400 scholarships per year, for high-achieving students from the UK and overseas.

Each scholar will receive £6,000 a year for maintenance and living costs, for up to four years of full-time study on their course (subject to terms and conditions).

Find out more about the Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship scheme.

Our Pharmacy students have excellent graduate outcomes and earning potential:

  • 94% are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation. (Based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2026, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023/24, includes all Reading School of Pharmacy responders.)
  • Our pharmacy courses are ranked 5th in the UK for graduate salary. (Based on The Telegraph's analysis of DfE data on the earnings of first degree graduates after five years from English Higher Education Institutes, July 2025, includes pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy.)
  • 98% of our students said the course has developed the knowledge and skills they think they will need for their future (National Student Survey 2026, responders from MPharm Pharmacy).

Enhance your employability

As a future pharmacist, you'll develop a strong portfolio of transferable skills and professional experience throughout your MPharm degree. This will be through both University-organised placements and opportunities you pursue independently.

Our Careers team encourages and supports you to enhance your employability through part-time work and/or placements and internships during vacation periods in:

  • community pharmacies
  • GP surgeries
  • hospitals
  • other healthcare settings.

This helps you build the practical experience and professional skills valued by employers.

Career opportunities with MPharm Pharmacy

Most of our graduates go on to work in community or hospital pharmacies, with a few moving into industry. A small number decide to embark on careers in other areas, such as teaching, or move on to further study. 

Past MPharm Pharmacy graduates have gone on to work for leading employers, including:

  • the NHS
  • Boots
  • GSK
  • Lloyds Pharmacy
  • Spire Healthcare.

(Based on HESA data © HESA 2020 - 2026, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20 - 2023/24; includes MPharm Pharmacy responders).

Foundation Training Year

An MPharm is the only degree that will allow you to register as a pharmacist independent prescriber, following a Foundation Training Year.

During the third year of your MPharm degree, you can apply to complete a Foundation Training Year at an approved training site. We will support you throughout the application process.

Successful completion of the Foundation year is required by the General Pharmaceutical Council to qualify as a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber.

To qualify, you will need to submit a portfolio of evidence of competence and take a further assessment. We’ll continue to provide support during this year, including study documents and mock examinations.

Careers support

The University of Reading has an award-winning Careers team (AGCAS Green Careers Award). The team offers a number of services to support you, including careers advice, interview preparation, and events and workshop to develop your employability.

At Reading, we also have a University-wide focus on developing the skills to tackle environmental and sustainability challenges throughout your career.

Explore climate and sustainability initiatives at the University of Reading