University of Strathclyde

What you'll study

This masters-level programme combines taught modules, clinical supervision and workplace-based assessments to develop safe, effective independent prescribing practice. Core areas include clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning, pharmacotherapeutics across common disease areas, patient consultation and shared decision-making, legal and professional frameworks for prescribing, and risk management and clinical governance.

• Clinical assessment and diagnostic skills – history-taking, physical examination techniques relevant to pharmacist practice, interpretation of investigations and clinical decision-making.
• Pharmacotherapeutics and medicines optimisation – evidence-based prescribing for long-term conditions and acute presentations, dose adjustment, drug interactions and deprescribing.
• Consultation skills and patient safety – person-centred communication, shared decision-making, safeguarding, consent and strategies to minimise prescribing errors.
• Legal, ethical and professional issues – prescribing legislation and professional accountability, record-keeping, confidentiality and multidisciplinary working.
• Workplace-based learning and clinical supervision – a supervised period of clinical practice with a designated medical or non-medical prescriber sign-off, completion of a competency portfolio and reflective practice.
• Research methods and quality improvement – applied audit or service improvement project relevant to prescribing practice, with training in critical appraisal and use of evidence in practice.

The programme typically includes blended delivery with face-to-face teaching days, online learning materials and placement-based assessment. Successful completion requires achievement of specified clinical competencies and submission of a portfolio demonstrating safe prescribing practice.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to be registered pharmacists with the relevant professional regulator and to be practising in a setting that supports supervised prescribing training (for example hospital, primary care or community pharmacy). Typical entry requires:

• Current professional registration as a pharmacist in the UK or equivalent evidence of registration for international applicants.
• Practice experience post-registration sufficient to demonstrate competence and readiness for prescribing training; employers often expect at least one to two years’ experience, though this can vary by employer.
• Support from an employing organisation or clinical practice site able to provide a designated clinical supervisor and access to suitable patients for workplace learning.
• Evidence of professional references and a satisfactory DBS or equivalent safeguarding checks where required.

Specific programme entry checks and the process for approval of a clinical supervisor are managed by the university and must be completed before commencing the workplace-learning component.

Career prospects

Graduates gain recognised independent prescribing qualification that expands clinical responsibilities and career opportunities. Common career pathways include advanced pharmacist roles in hospital specialties (for example cardiology, respiratory, antimicrobial stewardship), clinical pharmacist positions in primary care networks or GP practices, and enhanced roles in community pharmacy providing clinical services and minor illness management.

• Progression to advanced clinical pharmacist, consultant pharmacist or specialist prescribing roles within multidisciplinary teams.
• Opportunities to lead or contribute to medicines optimisation, formulary management, antimicrobial stewardship and prescribing governance.
• Improved ability to deliver patient-facing services, undertake clinic-based prescribing, and participate in quality improvement or research projects around prescribing practice.

Why study at University of Strathclyde

Strathclyde’s School of Pharmacy has a long-established reputation for practice-orientated education and close links with NHS partners across Scotland, enabling strong clinical placement support and interprofessional collaboration. The programme is delivered by academic staff with clinical prescribing experience and by practising clinicians who supervise workplace learning.

• Access to modern campus facilities and simulation resources that support development of consultation and clinical examination skills.
• Established relationships with local health boards and primary care providers to facilitate workplace-based supervised learning and real-world clinical exposure.
• Support for professional development, including careers guidance and opportunities to undertake applied improvement projects that benefit local services.

The programme emphasises safe, evidence-based practice and prepares pharmacists to take a leading role in the delivery of clinical pharmacy services and integrated patient care.