Pharmacy

UCAS code: B230

Here's what University of Brighton says about its Pharmacy course.

A Brighton Pharmacy degree builds skills in prescribing, clinical decision-making and medicines management to prepare you for all areas of the profession, including community, hospital and industrial pharmacy.

At Brighton you’ll be part of a community that helps you grow, no matter what your background. This degree is taught through a series of case studies that help you apply what you learn to real-life situations. This is combined with clinical training and extensive placement experience in community, hospital and primary care settings. Our inclusive approach means we’ll help you play to your strengths and develop the skills to make a difference.

Brighton graduates progress into careers in community and hospital pharmacy, industry, academia and research.

Top reasons to choose this course

• Study a degree professionally accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), preparing you for the foundation training year required to become a qualified pharmacist.

• Our pharmacy courses are ranked?3rd in the UK overall?and?5th in the UK for career prospects?— Guardian University Guide 2025.

• 1st in UK for graduate earnings in pharmacy, three years after graduating – Longitudinal Education Outcomes 2024.

• Gain real experience throughout the course with12 weeks of clinical placements in community pharmacies, GP surgeries, mental health trusts and secondary and tertiary care sectors.

• Specialist facilities including patient simulators, an image analysis suite with atomic force microscope and a genomics/proteomics facility.

• Access funded opportunities such as the Brighton Student Research Experience Scheme (SRES).

• Guaranteed interview scheme with Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS).

• Contribute to research in areas such as drug delivery, cancer treatment, neuroscience and biomedical science.

• 100% of our research impact in allied health professions, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy is rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ – Research Excellence Framework 2021.

Why Brighton is a great place to study Pharmacy Brighton & Hove is a thriving health and research hub, and the university has strong links to local hospitals, GP practices and community pharmacies. The city’s collaborative healthcare networks give you excellent opportunities to apply your knowledge directly in practice and prepare you for your future career.

Year 1 Your first year will provide a solid foundation in the science that supports health, disease and medicines use, and introduce you to biomarkers of health and homeostasis. Case studies cover subjects such as digestive ailments, skin conditions and minor respiratory conditions. You’ll take part in simulation workshops and spend two weeks on a clinical placement to gain experience of patient care, medicines use and multidisciplinary working.

Core modules Fundamentals of Pharmacy: From Molecules to Medicine Fundamentals of Pharmacy: The Healthy Human and Healthcare Delivery Minor Illness Clinical and Professional Skills 1

Year 2 The second year theme is illness and disease. Most of the material covered in this year relates to common serious diseases or conditions including ischaemic heart disease, diabetes and asthma. Case studies deal with more complex areas like cardiovascular health, the endocrine system and immunity, infectious disease and global health. You’ll have another two-week clinical placement and attend simulation workshops focusing on patient communication and data retrieval, diagnostic skills, medicines supply and patient counselling.

Core modules Cardiovascular and Related Systems Endocrine and Immunity Infectious Disease and Global Health Clinical and Professional Skills 2

Year 3 Year three themes cover co-morbidity, complex disease and treatments. You’ll go on a four-week long clinical placement and study case-based modules that are delivered in a series, each one spanning two weeks. The case studies cover neurological disorders and mental health, molecular and genomic medicine, and managing complex patients. You’ll also attend around 20 two-hour simulation workshops throughout the year.

Core modules Neurological Disorders and Mental Health Molecular and Genomic Medicine Managing Complex Patients Clinical and Professional Skills 3

Final year The theme for the final year is multi-morbidity and ageing. You’ll focus on complex care involving patients, especially older people, with multiple chronic and acute conditions who may be prescribed several different medications. You’ll go on a four-week placement and have approximately 20 two-hour simulation workshops. You’ll also carry out a substantial research project based on an area that interests you, working with an academic who is a recognised expert in that field.

Core modules Pharmacy Research Project Clinical and Professional Studies 4