The aim of this advanced practice postgraduate MSc is to support practitioners to attain Excellence in the core skills and knowledge they require to provide all aspects of advanced pharmaceutical care in the workplace. The programme is designed on a philosophy of student centred workplace learning, specifically aligned with the ACLF (Advanced and Consultant Level Framework, www.codeg.org). The programme will support further development of self reliance and an independent approach to learning in support of professional development. Practitioners undertaking this advanced practice programme are expected to take responsibility for their learning and achieving the course objectives through work-based professional development. The programme has been designed to support contemporary pharmacy policy, in collaboration with the Joint Programmes Board (JPB, www.postgraduatepharmacy.org).

Length and mode
There will be 10 half-day learning sets, and a requirement for completion of a series work-based project(s) over 12 to 18 months, mapped against the ACLF.

Calendar
Annual intake of students is in September.

Provisional Dates for 2009-10
Download pdf document with dates from September 2009.

Application form
Application for the September intake is now closed.

Fees
The fees for 2009/10 are £2,200.
The usual APL/APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning/Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning) fee will be waived this year.

Programme structure
The MSc programme is organised as:

• 10 half-day learning sets every 4 or 5 weeks.
• A series of ACLF-linked assignments.
• Professional development assessments linked to ACLF progression.

Practitioners will be required to undertake a series of work-based projects, linked specifically to the ACLF, and prepare a paper “ready for submission” to a journal in the practitioner’s area of practice.

Assessment
The learning outcomes for this programme are underpinned by the ACLF (Advanced to Consultant Level Framework http://www.codeg.org/ ).  Practitioners will be assessed by portfolio assessment (including assessment of project(s) and related assignments) and a viva (based on the portfolio). The viva will assess the practitioner’s knowledge and experience across all competency areas for each ACLF cluster at “Excellence” level of competence.

Final award
Transcripts are issued to students by Registry about 3 weeks after the Exam Board meeting. 

All students who are awarded the advanced practice “fast-track” MSc are invited to attend the School’s main graduation ceremony, usually held on the last Wednesday in November.

Entry requirements
Applicants must:

• be a practising pharmacist in a Band 8 post

AND

• have completed the Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University of London, or equivalent from another University (at discretion of the Course Director);

OR

• provide a portfolio of evidence of prior learning and experience and undergo a formal interview with an approved APL/APEL panel.

Note: All applicants will be required to submit a CV and a portfolio of experience.

How to apply
Application must be made here by means of the online application form.

Programme Team
Dr Catherine Duggan
email: catherine.duggan@pharmacy.ac.uk

Mrs Alison Innes
email: alison.innes@pharmacy.ac.uk

Dr Laura Obiols
email: laura.obiols@pharmacy.ac.uk