Careers

A Levels

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

International applications

In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are intensive one-year foundation courses for international students of high academic potential who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL and other top UK universities.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

The English language level for this programme is: Good

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

• The UCL School of Pharmacy has a long tradition of academic and research excellence and is internationally recognised as being one of the leading pharmacy schools worldwide. It is ranked seventh in the world for Pharmacy and Pharmacology (QS World University Rankings 2021).

• Placements in community pharmacies and teaching hospitals and GP practice. Interprofessional learning with other healthcare students. Students make regular visits to Green Light Pharmacy, where workshops are taught by community pharmacists and students can interact with the patients.

• The UCL School of Pharmacy has a dedicated pre-registration co-ordinator and an excellent graduate employment rate. A Pharmacy degree from UCL will bring a wide range of career choices. 99% of our graduates are in work or further study within six months of finishing their degree. 

• Opportunity to take the Year 4 research project as part of our Study Abroad programme either in Europe or at one of our international partner institutions.

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

The Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). An MPharm from an accredited UK school of pharmacy is the first step towards a career as a pharmacist. To qualify as a registered pharmacist in Britain you will need to undertake a year of pre-registration training after graduation and then pass the qualifying examinations of the GPhC.

The programme gives graduates an integrated and interdisciplinary perspective on the science of medicines and links this to the practice and ethics of the pharmacy profession. It includes contact with patients throughout, with students taking part in placements in pharmacy settings and in-house patient interviews.

In the fourth year students undertake a research project in an area of pharmacy or pharmaceutical science. This project may be carried out in the school or with one of our NHS or international partners.

Upon successful completion of 480 credits, you will be awarded a MPharm (Hons) in Pharmacy.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

MPharm graduates must apply for and undertake a year in pre-registration training then pass the registration examination to qualify as a professional pharmacist. As a pharmacy professional you will be a frontline healthcare provider and can have a direct impact on people's lives and health.

Six out of every ten pharmacists work in community pharmacies on the high street or in supermarkets or in GP practices. Another popular branch of the profession is hospital pharmacy, working closely with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. After one or two years, a hospital pharmacist can choose to specialise in areas such as cancer, paediatrics, HIV, surgical or education and training.

There are also career routes into industry and academia. Industrial pharmacists work in research and development, production, quality control, clinical trials, product registration and medical information. Those choosing to stay in the academic world undertake teaching and research.

UCL is committed to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.

Tuition fees

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2022/23 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2022/23 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

UK students

£9,250 (2022/23)

Overseas students

£26,600 (2022/23)

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/funding-your-studies.

Additional costs

Students living or who have lived outside of the UK will be expected to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (police check) from that country. You will be responsible for any costs of this check. You will need to provide your own lab coat for practical classes and you may also incur additional transport costs from undertaking the hospital visits, placements and patient interviews that are a part of the programme.

A charge for a Post Office check needed for an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is payable by the student. The cost of the DBS check itself is paid by the School of Pharmacy

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Departmental scholarships

Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.