PGDip Pharmacy Practice

Please note that this page includes information for the 2025/26 academic year. Details for 2026/27 entry to this course have not yet been finalised. 黑瓜吃料网 for more information

Our Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacy Practice is a workplace-based programme aligned to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) Post-registration Foundation Pharmacist Curriculum (2021).

Building on the knowledge and skills gained during the PGCert, the diploma modules expand your capabilities in leadership, management, and independent problem-solving, preparing you to confidently tackle complex pharmaceutical challenges in practice.

How you'll learn

You will benefit from a blended learning experience that combines face-to-face teaching with interactive online activities. Workshops, directed and self-directed study, and workplace-based assessment will support you to develop your professional portfolio.

As a workplace-based learning programme, placements are part of your employment prior to enrolment and you will require the support of an Educational Supervisor in your workplace.

There are three diploma modules designed to prepare you for more senior pharmacist roles. These focus on key areas such as evidence-based medicines, formulary management, audit, medication safety and research. You will apply this learning to your own area of practice to produce a detailed critical appraisal, quality improvement project and research proposal.

Collaboration with NHS pharmacy services

This collaborative programme between local NHS pharmacy services and the University provides the opportunity to gain experience and feedback that will inform your personal development plan.

The primary aim of the course is to enable pharmacists to become confident and adaptable practitioners with wider capability, including enhanced consultation, clinical examination, and digital literacy skills. In doing so, the programme contributes to the professional vision of pharmacists as medicines experts across all sectors, delivering safer, more effective and cost-efficient care to improve health outcomes

Sponsorship and self-funding

You may be sponsored by your employer or may choose to self-fund. If you are being sponsored you should ensure funding is in place prior to submitting an application, as places cannot be held in the event of funding not being secured.

Provisional timetable

for January 2026.
The timetable for the next academic year will be published provisionally during the spring term 2026.

Application information

Applications open in late October/early November for the main intake in January. If you are interested in applying after the deadline, please contact PACE@reading.ac.uk – sometimes we can operate a waiting list if applicants withdraw at the last minute.
If you wish to apply to start the course in May or September, please email PACE@reading.ac.uk
The required documents to be submitted with your application can be found in the 'Entry requirements' tab, along with information about how to apply online. Failure to upload the correct documents may lead to your application being rejected.

During this course, you will benefit from a blended learning experience that combines face-to-face teaching with interactive online activities.

Workshops, directed and self-directed study, and workplace-based assessment will support you to develop your professional portfolio. As a workplace-based learning programme, placements are part of your employment prior to enrolment and you will require the support of an Educational Supervisor in your workplace.

Diploma modules

You will apply this learning to your own area of practice to produce a detailed critical appraisal, quality improvement project and research proposal.

A collaborative course

This collaborative programme between local NHS pharmacy services and the University provides the opportunity to gain experience and feedback that will inform your personal development plan.

Its primary aim is to enable pharmacists to become confident and adaptable practitioners with wider capability including enhanced consultation, clinical examination, and digital literacy skills.

In doing so, the programme contributes to the professional vision of pharmacists as medicines experts across all sectors, delivering safer, more effective and cost-efficient care to improve health outcomes.

Overview

Please note that this page includes information for the 2025/26 academic year. Details for 2026/27 entry to this course have not yet been finalised. 黑瓜吃料网 for more information

Our Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacy Practice is a workplace-based programme aligned to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) Post-registration Foundation Pharmacist Curriculum (2021).

How you'll learn

As a workplace-based learning programme, placements are part of your employment prior to enrolment and you will require the support of an Educational Supervisor in your workplace.

Collaboration with NHS pharmacy services

This collaborative programme between local NHS pharmacy services and the University provides the opportunity to gain experience and feedback that will inform your personal development plan.

Sponsorship and self-funding

Provisional timetable

for January 2026.
The timetable for the next academic year will be published provisionally during the spring term 2026.

Application information

Applications open in late October/early November for the main intake in January. If you are interested in applying after the deadline, please contact PACE@reading.ac.uk – sometimes we can operate a waiting list if applicants withdraw at the last minute.
If you wish to apply to start the course in May or September, please email PACE@reading.ac.uk
The required documents to be submitted with your application can be found in the 'Entry requirements' tab, along with information about how to apply online. Failure to upload the correct documents may lead to your application being rejected.

Learning

During this course, you will benefit from a blended learning experience that combines face-to-face teaching with interactive online activities.

Diploma modules

You will apply this learning to your own area of practice to produce a detailed critical appraisal, quality improvement project and research proposal.

A collaborative course

This collaborative programme between local NHS pharmacy services and the University provides the opportunity to gain experience and feedback that will inform your personal development plan.

Its primary aim is to enable pharmacists to become confident and adaptable practitioners with wider capability including enhanced consultation, clinical examination, and digital literacy skills.

Entry requirements

Before you apply:

1. Confirm you meet the professional entry requirements:

A pharmacy degree (BSc, BPharm, or MPharm).
Registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
A practice-base with access to a workplace educational supervisor. The programme is suitable for pharmacists working in patient-facing roles in primary or secondary care. You should discuss your application with your manager prior to applying as workplace-based support is essential to the programme.

For entry directly to the PGDip modules, you need at least 60 academic credits at a level 7 of an equivalent and comparable programme. To have your previous academic credits recognised, contact pace@reading.ac.uk to discuss your case before making an application.

If you want to start your entry with the PGCert module, visit the PGCert Pharmacy Practice page for information on how to apply.

2. Complete a statement of purpose.

The student statement should be between 300 and 500 words. It is used to support evidence of meeting the entry criteria, as well as determining your preparedness to undertake the programme of study. You may wish to consider some of the following questions when writing your statement:

What support networks do you have whilst you are completing your studies?
How do you keep up to date in your practice and reflect on your impact on patient care?
If you are currently studying another programme at the same time, how will you manage your workload?

3. Prepare the following documents, as you will need to provide all of these documents during the application process:

Checklist for foundation programme (PDF, 149KB)
Workplace-based learning declaration (PDF, 223KB)
If you are being part sponsored: Proof of funding (PDF, 120KB). Some NHS organisations require a Purchase Order number for the payment of invoices. This must be stated on this letter to ensure invoices are paid promptly.
If you are self-funding, or doing your learning in practice hours with an organisation who is not your employer, the self-funding declaration (PDF, 146KB).

How to apply:

4. Access the .

All communication from the application system is via automated email. Some National Health Service (NHS) email servers flag these email addresses as spam, so we recommend using a personal email address to ensure you receive all communications at this stage.

When you have started an application, the system will email you to remind you to start, and/or complete, your application at regular intervals. If your account is flagged as dormant for three or more weeks, your application may be automatically removed.

5. Once you have created an account, select your programme choice from the drop-down menu:

PGDip Pharmacy Practice (part-time)

6. Complete all the required fields (marked with an asterix *) and upload all of the documents stated above (step 2 and 3).

Make sure you upload your statement of purpose to the 'statement of purpose' field in the application portal.

The application portal cannot accept multiple uploads. Therefore, you will need to scan the documents from step 3 into one document and submit your combined documents to the 'other' field.

7. References

Once you have submitted an application, an automatic email will be sent to your referees (if you have provided an email address for them). It is your responsibility to make sure that your referee supplies a reference. We would therefore advise that you contact them in advance of submitting an application so that they have time to prepare a reference. They can use our template to prepare their reference in advance. Please also note that emails from the application system may be sent to their 'spam' folder, which they should check if they have not received the email when expected.

If you have completed postgraduate study, you should provide details of one academic and one non-academic referee. If you have not completed postgraduate study, you can provide details of two non-academic referees. A suitable non-academic referee is typically a past or current employer, or your pre-registration tutor or diploma supervisor.

8. The outcome of your application

Applications are reviewed throughout the year. However, the greater the number of applications we receive, the longer it may take to inform you of the outcome. The admission tutor may contact you to discuss your application if:

it is unclear whether you have support from your manager
the workplace has not been approved as a training centre by the programme team
it is unclear who your workplace based supervisor will be
your ability to attend all the study days is not clear.

Pre-sessional English language Programme

Our Pre-sessional English Programme is for international students who need to meet their degree programme English language requirements.

Our courses equip you with the skills and language needed for academic success, including critical thinking, self-reflection, learner autonomy, research skills and integrating sources. The Pre-sessional English Programme is accredited by the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP), which guarantees you will receive a high-quality student experience.

To find out more, visit Pre-sessional English.

Structure

Year 1

You must have completed the PGCert Pharmacy Practice (or 60 academic credits of an equivalent and comparable programme). See ‘Entry Requirements’.

PGDip (without prescribing)

Each of the diploma modules is 20 credits.

Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine (PMMPD1)

This module introduces you to the concepts of evidence-based medicine, literature searching, critical appraisal tools and economic review. You'll apply this learning to a project in your own area of practice.

Introduction to Quality Improvement in Healthcare (PMMPD2)

Focus on developing your skills in promoting quality through audit, change management and service improvement. You'll have a chance to demonstrate your leadership skills by planning and undertaking a service improvement project relevant to your area of practice.

Introduction to Research

Gain a core knowledge of research methodologies and good research practice required to be able to write your own research proposal. You'll also present findings of a research project, highlighting the implications for patient care.

Each of the modules comprises three study afternoons plus an assessment. A provisional timetable is available under ‘Overview’. Please ensure that you can attend the timetabled sessions before submitting an application.

PGDip with prescribing

To apply for this route, applicants will need to fulfil the entry requirements for the PGCert Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Pharmacists.

Please note that modules are subject to change.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £1,500 (£500 per module). Flexible/modular study is charged on a pro-rata basis. Fees will increase each year according to inflation (up to 4%) and will be rounded up to the nearest £50.

New international students: *Not applicable - this course is only open to UK applicants*

Tuition fee information

We also offer:

for the PGDip route with prescribing, please see our .

Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Applicants can be fully or partly sponsored by their employer to undertake the programme.

For all other potential NHSEE (NHS Education England) sponsorship/commissioned options, please contact your local NHSEE Branch Educational Commission Manager.

Careers

Our programmes are based on developing your professional competence and confidence. Network with other healthcare professionals from a range of employers and sectors to identify future career options.

We can offer advice to help you meet your professional regulator revalidation requirements, and/or leadership body credentialing processes, and support you in building a personal learning plan to enhance your career prospects.

You can also use your academic credits towards our MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice programme to further your academic study.

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