Non-Medical Prescribing for Pharmacists, PGCert

You can apply for this standalone module or PGCert if you:

• meet specific entry requirements set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (see below)
• be approved by Health Board Prescribing Pharmacy Lead and Clinical Manager
• hold a current enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to meet specific requirements of their professional body
• demonstrate ability to study at academic Level  7

In addition, and to meet the entry requirements for the stand-alone module, the GPhC requires that pharmacist applicants:

a. Applicants are registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or, in Northern Ireland, with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI). 

b. Applicants are in good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI and any other healthcare regulator with which they are registered. 

c. Applicants must have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber to act as the foundation of their prescribing practice whilst training. 

d. For the purposes of developing their independent prescribing practice applicants must identify an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning. 

e. Applicants must have a designated prescribing practitioner who has agreed to supervise their learning in practice. The applicant’s designated prescribing practitioner must be a registered healthcare professional in Great Britain or Northern Ireland with legal independent prescribing rights, who is suitably experienced and qualified to carry out this supervisory role, and who has demonstrated CPD or revalidation relevant to this role. Although an applicant may be supervised by more than one person, only one prescriber must be the designated prescribing practitioner. The designated prescribing practitioner is the person who will certify that successful pharmacists are competent to practise as independent prescribers. 

Applicants must have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and will to be able to provide examples of relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting.

Whilst patient care will be central to every applicant’s experience, ‘relevance’ will look different from applicant to applicant. Examples of relevant experience may include:

• counselling patients whilst working in collaboration with multidisciplinary hospital pharmacy teams on a ward where shared decision making is essential
• drug history taking and medication reviews whilst assessing patients’ medicines as part of an annual review in a GP practice
• dealing with ethical dilemmas whilst working in a community pharmacy on a weekend and having to decide whether to supply medicines to a patient who has run out and they cannot discuss this with the patient’s GP
• observation/involvement in specialist clinics in their local GP surgery where maintaining patient confidentiality will be essential

The above examples should not be seen as a checklist. They are intended to demonstrate the wide-ranging nature of relevant pharmacy experience.

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching. 

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

The Non-Medical prescribing qualification at Swansea University is available through a stand-alone 40 credit module - Non-Medical prescribing (GPhC) SHGM22(approved by the GPhC) or by doing a Post Graduate Certificate in Non-Medical prescribing.

The stand-alone module SHGM22 Non-Medical Prescribing (GPhC) comprises 17 days theory, a minimum of 9 days of self-directed study and 12 days supervised practice.

The full Post Graduate Certificate programme comprises one 40 credit module, SHGM22 Non-Medical prescribing and one 20 credit module, Pharmacology principles and practice (NMC) SHGM23 (26 taught days and 12 days supervised practice). Some pharmacists might choose this option if they have not studied for some time or if they wish to gain an additional academic qualification.

The programme is based at the St. David’s Park site in Carmarthen. Teaching takes place one day a week over the academic year.

At least 40 credits

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study at least 40 credits of this postgraduate course through the medium of Welsh. Many University departments develop and offer Welsh medium or bilingual modules as part of their courses so you will need to discuss the possibilities with the relevant Programme Director. You can study a module or modules through the medium of Welsh where possible or submit your dissertation in Welsh with guidance from a subject specialist through the medium of Welsh.

Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:

• Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
• Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the App Store and Google Play.
• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to create and submit your coursework or sit exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be assessed in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
• Membership of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Visit the Welsh Language Rights webpage for further information about Students' Welsh Language Rights.

Continuing to study through the medium of Welsh will be:

• a natural step for you if you have studied through the medium of Welsh at undergraduate level.
• a way of maximizing your chances of getting the best education.
• a way of receiving a high level of support as the study groups are smaller.
• a valuable addition to your CV and career development.

SHGM22 is accredited by the GPhC

The teaching team:

• are very experienced in delivering prescribing programmes
• have a wide range of relevant skills, experience and qualifications
• are members of a range of prescribing forums and groups
• have well established links with health board Non-Medical Prescribing Leads throughout the region 

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

International students and part-time study: It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.). Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Applications close:

Application deadline Sept intake: 1st June, interviews held in mid-June

Application deadline March intake: 1st Nov, interviews held in mid-November

*subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances*

Please note that we cannot accept late or incomplete application forms. 

Contact:

Please contact your NMP pharmacy (below) representative for your health board before you apply to enquire about funding (Please note: They are not able to provide information regarding practice placements and/or availability of DPP’s).

• Jonathan Harris, PharmacyEducation@wales.nhs.uk (Swansea Bay - Hospital Pharmacists)
• Amy David, Amy.David2@wales.nhs.uk (Swansea Bay UHB - Primary Care Pharmacists )
• Robin Benton, Robin.Benton@wales.nhs.uk (Hywel Dda UHB – Hospital Pharmacists)
• Rachel James, Rachel.James10@wales.nhs.uk (Hywel Dda UHB – all Pharmacists)
• Applicants who are not applying from Swansea Bay UHB or Hywel Dda

Application form: GPhC Application Form 2024

Please return your application to Swansea University.

You will be required to attend a half day selection event, which consists of a group discussion and one-to-one interviews. You must also have an up-to-date DBS check.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

Preparing to Prescribe:

Check out this free online implementation tool kit for non-medical prescribers here.

GPhC Accreditation Reports

The Non-Medical prescribing qualification at Swansea University is available through a stand alone 40 credit module - Non-Medical prescribing (GPhC) SHGM22(approved by the GPhC).

The stand-alone module SHGM22 Non-Medical Prescribing (GPhC) comprises 17 days theory, a minimum of 9 days of self-directed study and 12 days supervised practice.

The fees for the stand alone module: £1,740 

Module info:

SHGM22, 40 credits, Non-Medical Prescribing (GPhC)