Pharmacy is the science and profession of preparing and dispensing medical drugs. A Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD) is a prestigious programme designed for practicing pharmacists seeking to advance their clinical and research skills in pharmacotherapy and the pharmaceutical sciences.
Students can find more than 45 doctorate programmes available in the UK. Candidates for this programme typically require a master’s degree in pharmacy, pharmacology or a related field, along with substantial professional experience. Graduates emerge as highly qualified experts, ready for leadership roles such as clinical pharmacy specialists and consultants, healthcare administrators, research scientists and academic educators.
What to Expect
The PharmD curriculum in the UK is a terminal degree which encompasses a wide range of heavily research-focused topics including clinical pharmacokinetics, drug development, patient-centred and evidence-based practice. It prepares candidates for high-level inquiry and innovation in pharmacy, as well as pharmaceutical technology and laboratory research.
Students engage in extensive clinical training, research projects and coursework, developing skills in clinical decision-making, patient care and pharmaceutical policy. The programme is tailored to the individual’s professional interests and career goals. Assessment includes clinical competencies evaluations and a final dissertation, demonstrating the student’s ability to contribute to the field and encouraging collaboration with healthcare professionals across various fields.
Regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in the UK, PharmD graduates are positioned at the forefront of pharmacy practice and research, ready to drive innovation and improvement in medication management, healthcare policies and public health outcomes.