University of East Anglia

What you'll study

This accelerated Diploma of Higher Education develops advanced competence in the core knowledge, clinical skills and professional behaviours required of senior pharmacy technicians. Teaching combines theory, clinical simulation and protected practice-based learning to support extended roles in hospital, community and primary care settings.

• Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics – principles of drug action, polypharmacy and optimisation of therapy for common conditions.
• Advanced medicines management – medication reconciliation, discharge optimisation, domiciliary medicines reviews and shared care pathways.
• Clinical assessment and patient consultation skills – history taking, clinical decision-making, communication and person-centred care.
• Patient safety and governance – risk management, incident investigation, safe systems of work and legal/ethical frameworks.
• Leadership, quality improvement and service development – change management, audit, project work and leading teams within pharmacy services.
• Research methods and evidence-based practice – appraisal of literature, applying evidence to practice and completing a service improvement or practice development project.

Learning is delivered through blended methods: online study units, campus workshops and simulation sessions, plus assessed placements in practice. Assessment typically includes workplace‑based assessments, practical skills demonstrations (such as OSCE-style assessments), reflective portfolios and a project report or dissertation equivalent.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to be registered pharmacy technicians or have substantial, documented pharmacy practice experience at an equivalent level. Typical requirements include:

• Professional registration – registration with the relevant pharmacy regulator (where applicable) or employer confirmation of competence and scope of practice.
• Experience – recent practice experience in a pharmacy setting; many entrants have at least one to two years of post-qualification experience in hospital, community or primary care pharmacy.
• Academic background – a level 3 vocational qualification in a health‑related subject, A-levels or equivalent prior learning; applicants without formal qualifications may be considered on the basis of experiential learning and workplace evidence.
• Employer support – a declaration of employer support for protected learning time and supervision during practice placements is often required for accelerated routes.
• Other checks – satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check (or local equivalent), and up-to-date occupational health and immunisation records where practice placements are needed. International applicants should meet English language requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to take on advanced and specialist pharmacy technician roles across hospital, community and integrated care settings. Typical career paths include:

• Advanced clinical pharmacy technician roles delivering medicines reconciliation, clinics and medicines reviews.
• Lead or senior pharmacy technician posts responsible for service delivery, governance and training within pharmacy departments.
• Specialist roles in areas such as oncology, critical care, anticoagulation, sterile services or primary care networks.
• Medicines optimisation and pathway development roles working across multidisciplinary teams.
• Progression to higher study (top-up degree, postgraduate certificates or MSc) or into education, training and managerial positions within healthcare organisations.

Why study at University of East Anglia

UEA offers a practice‑orientated health and social care learning environment with established links to NHS trusts and community pharmacy providers across the region. The programme combines campus-based simulation and interprofessional learning with workplace mentoring to ensure skills are transferable to real clinical settings.

Students benefit from experienced teaching staff with clinical pharmacy backgrounds, dedicated simulation facilities and a supportive postgraduate skills service. The accelerated format is designed for practising professionals, offering flexible study patterns that align with employer‑supported protected learning time and workplace assessment opportunities.