Education & Training

The School of Pharmacy at the Queen’s University of Belfast (QUB) provides undergraduate pharmacy training in Northern Ireland. In September 2002 the annual student intake was increased to 126 from an average of 70 in the previous decade to cope with the continued demand for pharmacists.

From 1997 those wishing to become pharmacists are required to have undergone a 4-year MPharm University training course followed by 1 year pre-registration experience.

The extra year will provide better opportunity to prepare practitioners for the realities of contemporary pharmacy practice.

In addition, in Northern Ireland, the continuity between pre - and post qualification training is facilitated by the location of the NI Centre for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education and Training (NICPPET)  at the School of Pharmacy, QUB.

The DHSSPS provides the financial support for this Unit and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer commissions the annual programme of training.  NICPPET Provides almost 900 hours learning opportunity per year in addition to facilitating CPD by, for example, funding pharmacists to participate in university accredited courses centre.  

It has also built an international reputation for distance learning courses and has been in receipt of various training awards for its work.

A Pharmacy Practice Research Unit exists in the School of Pharmacy, as does an Academic Practice Unit at Antrim Hospital, jointly managed by the Trust Director of Pharmaceutical Services and the Director of the School of Pharmacy.

This Research Unit has been linked into one of the Recognised Research Groups established through the Research and Development (R&D) Office.

The R&D office has supported the need of the pharmaceutical profession to develop their full R&D potential and capacity and has appointed a Liaison Development Manager for pharmacy to take forward research and development in pharmaceutical practice.