Do you want to advance your pharmacy career by becoming a non-medical prescriber?
This programme is accredited by both the General Pharmaceutical Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland to train pharmacists as non-medical prescribers.
Students undertake online and work-based training and assessment in addition to a 5-day clinical skills residential in January at our Clinical Skills Centre on-campus in Belfast.
This programme has been developed to train pharmacists in Great Britain as non-medical prescribers.
When the course is oversubscribed, priority will be given to students already enrolled on the QUB Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice Programme.
If you are employed as a pharmacist in Northern Ireland and wish to train as a non-medical prescriber, please visit our PG Cert in Independent Prescribing.
As well as the QUB administrative application process there is a separate application process based on the GPhC eligibility criteria and to obtain these forms they should contact pharmacydl@qub.ac.uk.
Students undertake a 5-day clinical skills residential in January at our on-campus clinical skills teaching laboratories.
Prescribing for Pharmacists highlights
Professional Accreditations
This programme is accredited by both the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Student Testimonials
I will be recommending this course to so many, it is brilliant!
The programme is delivered via a combination of e-learning and work-based learning and includes 12 days in-practice training with a Designated Prescribing Practitioner, the purpose of which is to enable the student to develop and practice clinical examination skills relevant to the condition(s) for which they intend to prescribe.
E-learning modules are updated annually by subject experts and are delivered via the Queen's virtual learning environment.
In-practice training is documented in an e-portfolio, which, on successful completion, provides documentary evidence of meeting all of the competencies within the 'RPS Competency Framework for all Prescribers'.
Students attend a compulsory 5-day residential in Janury at Queen's, which includes workshops, clinical skills training and assessment.
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
Students complete their studies by distance/online learning without having to attend on-campus.
This programme consists of a combination of e-learning, webinars, work-based learning and clinical skills workshops during the residential component.
Assessment
Awarding of the qualification is based on continuous assessment of coursework, clinical skills objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and completion of a competency-based in-practice training portfolio.
On completion, students may transfer their 60 credits to the PG Diploma/MSc in Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice. Students who do so still receive their prescribing practice certificate, which is required for GPhC and/or PSNI annotation as a pharmacist prescriber.
The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.
Clinical skills, patient monitoring and onward referral
Overview
This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’. The standards are presented in four domains:
1. Person-centred care
2. Professionalism
3. Professional knowledge and skills
4. Collaboration
The aim of this module is to develop and demonstrate clinical and diagnostic skills appropriate to the student’s scope of practice. In addition, students develop an awareness of their own limitations as prescribers and when to refer patients rather than prescribe treatment.
Learning Outcomes
On completion, the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of their own role and the role of others in multi-professional teams
• Demonstrate clinical and diagnostic skills in clinical settings appropriate to their scope of practice
• Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
• Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
• Recognise when and where to refer people appropriately
• Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
Skills
• Clinical examination and diagnostic skills
• Reflective practice
• Time management
• Independent learning
This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’. The standards are presented in four domains:
1. Person-centred care
2. Professionalism
3. Professional knowledge and skills
4. Collaboration
The aim of this module is to develop and demonstrate the application of pharmacology in relation to the student’s prescribing practice.
Learning Outcomes
On completion, the student will be able to:
• Recognise the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people
• Recognise and manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions
• Apply evidence-based decision-making in all aspects of prescribing
• Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
• Demonstrate the application of pharmacology in relation to their own prescribing practice
• Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
• Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
Skills
• Reflective practice
• Time management
• Independent learning
This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’. The standards are presented in four domains:
1. Person-centred care
2. Professionalism
3. Professional knowledge and skills
4. Collaboration
The aim of this module is to develop ethical and legal prescribing practices.
Learning Outcomes
On completion, the student will be able to:
• Support individuals to make informed choices that respect patients’ preferences
• Recognise their own role as a responsible and accountable prescriber who understands legal and ethical implications
• Apply relevant legislation and ethical frameworks related to prescribing, including remote prescribing and the handling and sharing of confidential information
• Apply local, regional and national guidelines, policies and legislation related to healthcare
• Understand the clinical governance of the prescriber, who may also be in a position to supply medicines to people
• Recognise other professionals’ practice and raise concerns related to inappropriate or unsafe prescribing by other prescribers
• Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
• Utilise current and emerging systems and technologies in safe prescribing
• Identify and respond to people’s need when prescribing remotely
• Recognise their own role and responsibilities, and those of others, in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
Skills
• Professionalism
• Ethical decision making
• Reflective practice
• Time management
• Independent learning
Influences on and psychology of prescribing and patient-centred care
Overview
This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’. The standards are presented in four domains:
1. Person-centred care
2. Professionalism
3. Professional knowledge and skills
4. Collaboration
The aim of this module is to develop the ability to recognise and manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions.
Learning Outcomes
On completion, the student will be able to:
• Recognise the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people
• Understand and meet their legal responsibilities under equality and human rights legislation and respect diversity and cultural differences
• Take responsibility for ensuring that person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs
• Support individuals to make informed choices that respect patients’ preferences
• Recognise and manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions
• Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice
• Collaborate with people to encourage them to take responsibility for managing care
Skills
• Recognise and respect diversity and cultural differences
• Reflective practice
• Time management
• Independent learning
This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’. The standards are presented in four domains:
1. Person-centred care
2. Professionalism
3. Professional knowledge and skills
4. Collaboration
The aim of this module is to promote safe and effective evidence-based prescribing and to ensure that prescribers can manage the risks and benefits associated with their prescribing decisions.
Learning Outcomes
On completion, the student will be able to:
• Apply local, regional and national guidelines, policies and legislation related to healthcare
• Reflect on and develop their own prescribing practice to ensure it represents current best practice
• Apply an understanding of health economics when making prescribing decisions
• Understand the clinical governance of the prescriber, who may also be in a position to supply medicines to people
• Recognise other professionals’ practice and raise concerns related to inappropriate or unsafe prescribing by other prescribers
• Apply evidence-based decision-making in all aspects of prescribing
• Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
• Recognise and manage prescribing and medication errors
Skills
• Critical evaluation
• Reflective practice
• Evidence-based decision-making
• Safe prescribing
• Time management
• Independent learning
This module is taken by postgraduate students who are training to become pharmacist prescribers and the content meets the General Pharmaceutical Council’s ‘Standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers’. The standards are presented in four domains:
1. Person-centred care
2. Professionalism
3. Professional knowledge and skills
4. Collaboration
The aim of this module is to develop the ability to deliver effective consultations with patients and to work collaboratively with patients and others. In addition, students learn to interpret the results of clinical investigations and to create and maintain safe, effective and legal records of their consultations.
Learning Outcomes
On completion, the student will be able to:
• Take responsibility for ensuring that person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs
• Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the prescriber in working in partnership with people who may not be able to make fully informed decisions about their health needs
• Support individuals to make informed choices that respect patients’ preferences
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of their own role and the role of others in multi-professional teams
• Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
• Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
• Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
• Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice
• Work collaboratively with others to optimise individuals’ care, understanding their roles in the prescribing process
• Collaborate with people to encourage them to take responsibility for managing care
• Demonstrate appropriate consultation skills to get information from individuals who are either unaware of or guarded about their health needs, to inform safe prescribing
Skills
• Effective communication and consultation
• Reflective practice
• Time management
• Independent learning
A primary degree in Pharmacy (minimum Bachelor degree) from an institution approved by the University. Additionally all students must:
• Be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and/or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and be in good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI.
• Have relevant patient-oriented experience in a UK pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber (guidance on how to demonstrate this will be provided following application).
• Have a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise the learning in practice element. The DPP must be medically qualified (GP in primary care or Consultant/SAS [specialist, associate specialist or specialty doctor] in hospital)*.
• Have an identified an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning - please note that the DPP must have clinical expertise and experience in this area.
• Be able to attend 5-day clinical skills residential in Belfast in January 2025 (dates to be confirmed).
* Further guidance on the type of experience and DPP requirements will be provided when applying for this programme.
Note: this programme is only open to students who are resident in Great Britain.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2025 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page. https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPharmacy/Filestore/Filetoupload,894791,en.pdf
International Students
Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.
On successful completion, students can apply to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) for an annotation to their entry in the GPhC’s Register and/or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for an annotation to their entry in the PSNI’s Register.
The annotation is a public record that they can practise as an independent prescriber.
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1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Students incur additional travel and accommodation costs associated with the compulsory 5-day residential in Belfast. Information on local budget accommodation will be provided prior to the residential.
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.
Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.
There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.