University of Strathclyde

What you'll study

The programme combines taught modules, clinical skills training and an independent research or service improvement project to develop clinical knowledge, patient-centred consultation skills and the ability to translate evidence into practice. Typical taught topics include advanced clinical therapeutics, clinical decision-making and medicines optimisation, consultation and clinical assessment skills, clinical governance and service design, and research methods for clinical practice.

• Core clinical modules – focused on evidence-based management of long-term conditions, acute care therapeutics and medicines safety.
• Clinical skills and consultation – structured training in patient assessment, history-taking, clinical reasoning and interprofessional communication, often using simulation and case-based learning.
• Research and quality improvement – methods and statistics for applied pharmacy research, leading to a dissertation, audit or service improvement project grounded in clinical practice.
• Optional modules – allow specialisation in areas such as polypharmacy, perioperative medicines, mental health or primary care pharmacy depending on availability.

Delivery is typically flexible, with full-time and part-time routes and a combination of campus-based workshops, clinical placements or workplace-based learning, and online study. Practical assessment includes case portfolios, observed clinical assessments, written examinations and the capstone project.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally required to hold an accredited pharmacy degree and be a registered pharmacist with the appropriate professional regulator in their practising country. Most students will have some post-registration practice experience in hospital, community or primary care settings. Overseas applicants whose first language is not English will need to meet English language requirements. Specific entry conditions, evidence of registration and details of recognised qualifications should be confirmed with the university admissions team.

Career prospects

Graduates progress into a range of patient-facing and leadership roles across healthcare settings. Typical careers include advanced or specialist clinical pharmacist positions in hospitals, clinical pharmacists in primary care or integrated care teams, independent/supplementary prescribers where eligible, consultant pharmacist posts, medicines management and optimisation roles, and clinical research or academic positions.

The degree also supports pharmacists who wish to lead service development, implement medicines safety initiatives, or move into multidisciplinary clinical leadership and education roles within the NHS and other healthcare organisations.

Why study at University of Strathclyde

Strathclyde's Faculty of Medicine & Health and the School of Pharmacy are well connected with NHS clinical services in Glasgow and the wider region, providing access to clinical placements, multidisciplinary teaching and applied research opportunities. The university emphasises practical, career-focused postgraduate training, including simulation facilities and close links with practising clinicians to ensure teaching reflects contemporary service needs.

Students benefit from a research-led environment that supports translational projects and quality improvement work, flexible study options to fit practising pharmacists' schedules, and a supportive network of academic and clinical supervisors to guide professional development.