Master of Pharmacy is a course of science that produces professionals who directly or indirectly affect the life and health of people. This venerated course is taught in popular overseas locations like the USA, Canada, UK, New Zealand, Australia, etc.
In this blog, we will be focusing on the Master of Pharmacy in UK and its several sides like universities, admission requirements, tuition fees, and job opportunities once the students are done with the degree.
Takeaways of Master of Pharmacy in UK
- Is a Master of Pharmacy in UK worth it?
- Can applicants from the field study Master of Pharmacy in UK?
- How much should an international student pay to study Master of Pharmacy in UK?
- Which UK universities offer Master of Pharmacy?
Why study Master of Pharmacy in UK
- UK universities offer interprofessional learning opportunities with other health care aspirants and professionals in the university and practice.
- The UK has more than 5 excellent Academic Health Science Centre known for world-class research, and clinical practice which provides students with the opportunity of cutting edge research and patient care.
- Some of the best universities in the world like the University of Oxford offer Master of Pharmacy in UK
- More than 80% of Master of Pharmacy Graduates of the UK find a job within a year of the completion of their degree.
- UK has some major pharmaceutical companies like Novartis, Pfizer UK, Shire, AstraZeneca, etc.
Top universities for Master of Pharmacy in UK
In the table below are the top universities in the UK for master of Pharmacy according to QS worldwide program ranking.
| UK universities | National Ranking | QS ranking worldwide |
| University of Oxford | 1 | 1 |
| University of College London | 2 | 5 |
| University of Nottingham | 3 | 7 |
| King’s College London | 4 | 13 |
| University of Birmingham | 5 | 51-100 |
| University of Glasgow | 6 | 51-100 |
| University of Strathclyde | 7 | 51-100 |
| University of Aberdeen | 8 | 151-200 |
| Aston University | 9 | 251-300 |
Master of Pharmacy fees in UK for international students
The cost of studying for a Master of Pharmacy in UK ranges from £ 16,000 to £ 30,000 per year for international students. The tuition fees for the same Master of Pharmacy program for domestic students range from £ 6,000 to £ 15,000 per year. More on this later!
Eligibility criteria for Master of Pharmacy in UK
To study Master of Pharmacy in the UK, students need to have a decent profile with English proficiency tests, and academics.
English Requirement
For international students who are from non-English speaking countries, you need to appear on an English test. The basic requirement is 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each band. A good score is 7 with a minimum of 6.5 in each band.
Some universities like the University of Oxford demand even higher scores.
Academic Requirement
International students need to bring at least a first-class degree or upper second class degree to study Master of Pharmacy in the UK.
Some universities require the bachelor’s degree to be in a relevant field (science- chemistry and biology), while others also accept a bachelor’s degree from an irrelevant field as long as you have adequate experience to prove the eligibility.
Application Requirement for Master of Pharmacy in UK
- University of Oxford
- Course offered: MSc in Pharmacology
- Program duration: 1 year
- IELTS/ TOEFL score: 7.5 with no band less than 7/ 110 with no band less than 24
- Academic Requirements: Students need to bring a first-class or strong upper second-class in an undergraduate degree with honours in biological or chemical science. Applications from high-calibre candidates with mathematical and physical science backgrounds may be considered. Students need to appear on the entrance test which is quite competitive.
- The annual cost of the program: £11,320 for domestic students and £24,450 for international students.
- University College London
- Course offered: Master of Pharmacy (MPharm)
- Program duration: 4 years
- IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE Score: 6.5 with no band less than 6 / 92 with no band less than 20
- Academic Requirements: Pass bachelors degree in chemistry or biology with mathematics and physics subject with minimum B grade
- The annual cost of the program: £9,250 for domestic students and £25,800 for international students.
- King’s College London
- Course offered: MSC Physiotherapy (pre-registration)
- Program duration: 2 years
- IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE Score: 7.5 with no band less than 7/ 109 with no band less than 25
- Academic Requirements: A minimum of 60% in relevant bachelor’s degree. If the bachelor’s degree is irrelevant, the applicants need to show significant work or a graduate qualification.
- The annual cost of the program: £11,320 for domestic students and £24,450 for international students.
Master of Pharmacy Scholarships in UK
Studying in UK can be expensive for international students. For this, other than the 20 hours per week working flexibility, UK also offers a number of generous scholarships to international students to help them with the tuition fees partially or fully.
- Felix Scholarships
- South Asia Postgraduate Excellence Award
- Chevening Scholarship
- University of Glasgow International Leadership Scholarship
- Aberdeen Global Scholarship
- Global Ambassador Scholarship
- Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship
- Rhodes Scholarships
- Faculty of Science Masters Scholarships
Application Requirement for Master of Pharmacy in UK
Documents you will need at the time of applying:
- Bachelor level certificates including transcripts, provisional certificate, and character certificate.
- Intermediate level certificates including transcripts, provisional certificates, and character certificates.
- University application fees
- English Proficiency test
- SOP/ Personal statement
- CV
- Passport
- Experience letter if asked
- 1-3 Letter of Recommendations if asked
- Proof of Scholarship if any
Career Opportunities after Master of Pharmacy in UK for international students
As a pharmacy professional who has completed the Master of Pharmacy in the UK, you will be a frontline healthcare provider. As a result, you will have a direct influence on people's lives and health. Many pharmacies work in the high streets, supermarkets, or GP practices.
Other than that, they could also work closely with doctors, and nurses in hospital pharmacies.
The scope of Master of Pharmacy in UK is also extended to research and development, quality control, clinical trials, production, product registration, medical information, etc.
| Master of Pharmacy jobs in UK | The annual salary in the UK (in pounds) |
| Pharmacist | 129,000 |
| Pharmacy Manager | 191,000 |
| Pharmaceutical Researcher | 170,000 |
| Pharmaceutical Sales Manager | 179,000 |
| Clinical Pharmacist | 133,000 |
| Assistant Pharmacist | 106,000 |
| Assistant Pharmacy Director | 191,000 |
| Clinical Pharmacy Specialist | 142,000 |
| Hospital Pharmacy Technician | 120,000 |
| Pharmaceutical Research Scientist | 163,000 |
After a certain year of experience, pharmacists can also specialize in fields like cancer, pediatrics, HIV, education, and training, etc.
