Our Advanced Pharmacy Practice MSc programme is designed for hospital-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland who wish to practice at Advanced Practitioner level.
In Year 1, students cover clinical reasoning and decision marking, leadership, education and research and data analysis methods.
In Year 2, students are required to undertake a service evaluation/development project.
Advanced Pharmacy Practice (with Independent Prescribing) highlights
World Class Facilities
The School of Pharmacy at Queen's is acknowledged as a leading centre for Pharmacy teaching and research in the UK, consistently featuring at or near the top of league tables for the subject.
Student Experience
Students are supported by full-time dedicated staff in the School of Pharmacy Distance Learning Centre and at the NI Centre for Pharmacy Learning and Development (NICPLD).
Study part-time by distance and work-based learning
Stage 1 (PG Diploma stage)
Hospital pharmacists who have completed the NICPLD Post-registration Foundation Programme will receive 60 credits for the following modules:
PMY7111 Safe & effective provision of medicines
PMY7110 Promoting public health
PMY7109 Medicines optimisation & proficient patient care
PMY7108 Evidence-based practice & quality improvement
Hospital pharmacists who have completed the Independent Prescribing Pg Cert will receive 60 credits for the following modules:
PMY7070 Person-centred care and collaboration
PMY7071 Disease management
PMY7072 Clinical skills
PMY7073 Professionalism
PMY7074 Learning in Practice
Note: These modules are also coverd in the former Advanced Pharmacy Practice (with Independent Prescribing) PgDip (which is permanently closed for recruitment from September 2024)
Stage 2 (MSc stage)
Students complete the following modules:
Year 1:
Advanced Practice Development
Research in Advanced Practice
Teaching is is delivered via a combination of distance and work-based learning, and on-campus workshops.
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.
On the Msc in Advanced Pharmacy Practice we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies that enhance their development as independent, lifelong learners.
Teaching is is delivered via a combination of distance and work-based learning, and on-campus workshops.
Assessment
Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:
Includes practice portfolios, coursework assignments, a viva voce, paper and poster.
What our academics say
This programme is delivered by expert pharmacy practitioners in Northern Ireland. On completion, students will be able to demonstrate the competencies required to work at an advanced level of practice, as defined in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum.
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.
The NI Centre for Pharmacy Learning & Development (NICPLD) Post-registration Foundation Programme is a pre-requisite for entry to the PGDip/MSc Advanced Pharmacy Practice (APP).
The learning outcomes for this module are delivered within the (NICPLD) Post-registration Foundation Programme and APP entrants receive credit via RPL.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Apply pharmaceutical principles to the safe and effective formulation, preparation, packaging and disposal of medicines.
Take responsibility for the legal, safe, and efficient provision of medicines.
Apply the principles of clinical therapeutics, pharmacology and genomics to make effective use of medicines for people.
Critically evaluate and use national guidelines and clinical evidence to support safe, rational and cost-effective procurement for the use, and prescribing of, medicines.
Make use of the skills and knowledge of other team members, and apply appropriate strategies, to manage resources and priorities effectively.
Skills
Students will acquire the following skills with taking this module:
Checking dispensed medicines
Disposal of medicines
Clinical screening of prescriptions
Procurement of medicines
Management of workflow
Time management, prioritisation and delegation
Reflecting on practice
The NI Centre for Pharmacy Learning & Development (NICPLD) Post-registration Foundation Programme is a pre-requisite for entry to the PGDip/MSc Advanced Pharmacy Practice (APP).
The learning outcomes for this module are delivered within the (NICPLD) Post-registration Foundation Programme and APP entrants receive credit via RPL.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Assess and respond to individuals’ particular health risks, taking account of their protected characteristics and background.
Effectively promote and protect public health using evidence-based techniques.
Understand and implement relevant safeguarding procedures, including local and national guidance in relation to each person.
Identify misuse of medicines and implement effective strategies to deal with this
Skills
Students will acquire the following skills with taking this module:
Supporting patients through behavioural change
Applying antimicrobial stewardship
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Promoting the health of the public
Minimising the misuse of medicines
Reflecting on practice
The NI Centre for Pharmacy Learning & Development (NICPLD) Post-registration Foundation Programme is a pre-requisite for entry to the PGDip/MSc Advanced Pharmacy Practice (APP).
The learning outcomes for this module are delivered within the (NICPLD) Post-registration Foundation Programme and APP entrants receive credit via RPL.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate effective communication skills and adapt their approach and communication style to meet the individual needs of the person.
Systematically obtain a structured medication history from people, utilising all relevant sources of information.
Work collaboratively and effectively with the person and other members of the multi-disciplinary team to deliver appropriate person-centred care, including continuity of care.
Apply clinical judgement and decision-making to formulate a treatment plan which includes clear benefit-risk assessment and monitoring parameters.
Check the person’s/carer’s understanding and that they are satisfied with the treatment plan.
Request and interpret relevant examinations and investigations and act on the findings as appropriate and in a timely manner.
Modify / adapt the treatment plan in response to ongoing monitoring and review of the person’s condition and preferences.
Communicate and document decisions and recommendations accurately and appropriately.
Skills
Students will acquire the following skills with taking this module:
Medication history taking
Oral communication
Clinical assessment
Clinical decision-making
Safety netting
Patient monitoring
Team working
Written communication
Documentation and record-keeping
Reflecting on practice
This module will help individuals to develop as Advanced Pharmacist Practitioners who are able to deliver holistic care autonomously to people with complex needs, and have the leadership, management, and education capabilities to drive service change and improve patient outcomes. The knowledge and skills covered in this module are based on the capabilities and outcomes defined in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum in the following four domains:
1. Person-centred care and collaboration
2. Professional practice
3. Leadership and management
4. Education
A combination of eWorkshops, self-directed learning and practice activities are used to achieve the learning outcomes. Students will develop a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate that they have achieved the capabilities and outcomes of the RPS Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum in the four domains listed above.
The module is divided into 3 parts:
Part 1: Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice
(RPS domains 1. Person-centred care and collaboration and 2. Professional practice)
Topics include:
• Applying advanced clinical knowledge and skills to deliver holistic care for people with complex needs (as described in the RPS Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum)
• Managing clinical risk in the presence of significant uncertainty
• Effective influencing, persuasion, and negotiation
• Collaborative working relationships
• Managing patients in a multidisciplinary environment
Part 2: Education, training, and development of other healthcare professionals
(RPS domain 4. Education)
Topics include:
• Developing the pharmacy workforce to achieve local and national healthcare priorities
• Promoting a learning culture
• Theories underpinning adult learning
• Designing effective learning programmes
• Evaluating the effectiveness of learning programmes
• Supporting individual learners
• Assessing the performance of learners using a range of methods
Part 3: Leadership and management
(RPS domain 3. Leadership and management)
Topics include:
• Leading and managing an advanced pharmacy service
• Contextual considerations – local, national, and international
• Developing a vision for the service
• Managing change
• Leading and managing a team
• Managing risk
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
• Deliver holistic person-centred care (including pharmaceutical care) autonomously to people with complex needs
• Work effectively as an Advanced Pharmacist Practitioner in a multidisciplinary environment
• Support the education, training, and development of other healthcare professionals
• Lead and manage an advanced pharmacy service
Skills
Students will develop the following skills:
• Reflective thinking
• Clinical reasoning and decision-making
• Written communication
• Team working
• Teaching
• Mentoring
• Leadership
• Management
• Time management
• Independent learning
Clinical and pharmacy practice research methodology including:
Formulation of research questions
Quantitative research techniques
Qualitative research techniques
Clinical and practice audit
Statistical analysis of data
Project management
Research governance and ethics
The module aims to prepare students for the ‘Service research and development’ module.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
Describe the stages of the research process and how they are managed
Formulate a research hypothesis
Select appropriate research methods to generate data
Explain how a representative sample may be obtained from the population under study
Design a survey questionnaire and select an appropriate administration method
Select and employ appropriate statistical methods
Describe the ethical considerations of research.
Skills
Students will develop the following skills:
Time management
Written communication
Reflective thinking
Statistical analysis
The NI Centre for Pharmacy Learning & Development (NICPLD) Post-registration Foundation Programme is a pre-requisite for entry to the PGDip/MSc Advanced Pharmacy Practice (APP).
The learning outcomes for this module are delivered within the (NICPLD) Post-registration Foundation Programme and APP entrants receive credit via RPL.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Undertake audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activities, and apply effective strategies to improve the quality of care and safe use of medicines.
Take appropriate actions to respond to errors, incidents, or adverse drug reactions in a timely manner and to prevent them happening again.
Use data and digital technologies to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety, keeping to information governance principles.
Support the learning and development of others.
Make use of the skills and knowledge of other members of the multi-disciplinary team to manage resources and priorities.
Critique published literature and discuss with peers.
Receive and answer, using appropriate information sources, a variety of medicine-related and clinical enquires from people, carers and healthcare professionals.
Skills
Students will acquire the following skills with taking this module:
Service evaluation
Data collection
Data analysis
Critical appraisal
Oral communication
Written communication
Clinical governance
Teaching
Team working
Reflecting on practice
Students study material that enables them to prescribe safely within a legal and ethical framework with due regard to their role in relation to safeguarding and human rights.
Learning Outcomes
On completion the student will be able to:
• Understand and meet their legal responsibilities under equality and human rights legislation and respect diversity and cultural differences
• Recognise their own role as a responsible and accountable prescriber who understands legal and ethical implications
• Recognise and manage prescribing and medication errors
• Understand the clinical governance of the prescriber, who may also be in a position to supply medicines to people
• Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
• Support individuals to make informed choices that respect people’s preferences
• 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
• Identify and respond to people’s need when prescribing remotely
• Utilise current and emerging systems and technologies in safe prescribing
• Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
• Apply relevant legislation and ethical frameworks related to prescribing, including remote prescribing and the handling and sharing of confidential information
• Recognise their own role and responsibilities, and those of others, in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Recognise other professionals’ practice and raise concerns related to inappropriate or unsafe prescribing by other prescribers
• Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
Students study material relating to the influences on, and psychology of prescribing. They gain understanding of the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people and how to manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions. They will learn about their role in caring for patients, including how to undertake a consultation, take an accurate history and subsequently manage the patient, including when and where to refer them appropriately.
Learning Outcomes
On completion the student will be able to:
•Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
•Demonstrate appropriate consultation skills to get information from individuals who are either unaware of or guarded about their health needs, to inform safe prescribing
•Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
•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
•Work collaboratively with others to optimise individuals’ care, understanding their roles in the prescribing process
•Recognise when and where to refer people appropriate
•Recognise the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people
•Collaborate with people to encourage them to take responsibility for managing care
•Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
•Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice
•Recognise and manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions
•Support individuals to make informed choices that respect people’s preferences
•Take responsibility for ensuring that person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs
Skills
• Time management and prioritisation
• Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
Students receive instruction and are assessed on their ability to perform basic physical examination skills.
Learning Outcomes
On completion the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate clinical and diagnostic skills in clinical settings appropriate to their scope of practice.
• Outline the general principles of physical examination
• Assess general appearance
• Describe how to assess vital signs
• Outline the specific anatomy and physiology concepts that underpin clinical examination skills for the cardiovascular, respiratory and abdominal systems
• Demonstrate examination of the cardiovascular, respiratory and abdominal systems
Prior to commencing the course, students are required to identify their clinical or therapeutic area(s) of practice in which they intend to prescribe. They identify personal learning outcomes relevant to their chosen therapeutic areas and undertake self-study that enables them to prescribe and modify therapy for identified disease conditions. Students study self-teaching material relating to evidence-based practice and the development of a Treatment Plan as part of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
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
• Apply evidence-based decision making in all aspects of prescribing
• Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
• Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
• Recognise when and where to refer people appropriately
• 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
• Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice.
Skills
• Time management and prioritisation
• Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
Students will undertake a period of learning in practice under the supervision of a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) documenting and compiling evidence within their practice portfolio. Students will undertake e-learning and self-directed learning alongside 90 hours of learning in practice in a clinical setting.
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
• 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 when and where to refer people appropriately
• Demonstrate appropriate consultation skills to get information from individuals who are either unaware of or guarded about their health needs, to inform safe prescribing
• Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
Skills
• Time management and prioritisation
• Decision-making
• Clinical and diagnostic skills
• Patient consultation
• Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
This module is designed to enable students to contribute to service improvement by identifying an appropriate service-related issue and exploring means of improving that service.
The topic for the project will be agreed between the student, their employer/manager and the module co-ordinator. Students are encouraged to focus on a small-scale project that is integral to the delivery of quality patient care.
Learning Outcomes
On completion, the student will be able to:
• Plan, implement and reflect upon the outcomes of a small-scale service improvement project
• Critically evaluate the evidence for change
• Identify and critically analyse significant factors that are likely to have a bearing on the outcome of the service improvement project
• Author a conference poster and journal paper
Skills
Students will develop the following skills:
Time management
Project management
Scientific writing
Critical evaluation
Data collection and analysis
Independent learning
A primary degree in Pharmacy (minimum Bachelor Degree) from an institution approved by the University. Additionally all applicants must:
- have identified a designated medical practitioner prior to commencing the prescribing modules;
- have completed the NICPLD foundation/vocational training (VT) programme or must be able to demonstrate equivalent experience;
- be employed as a hospital pharmacist.
Please note: this programme is open only to students who are resident in Northern Ireland or pharmacists in Ireland by prior agreement between QUB and the applicant's employer.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2024 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. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.
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.
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.
This Masters/PG Diploma programme in Advanced Pharmacy Practice enhances the opportunities for hospital-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland to progress their career to Advanced Practitioner level.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
The fee indicated is for the three-year programme.
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.
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
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.