MPharm Pharmacy with a Foundation Year

If you’re aiming to become a pharmacist but feel you’re not fully ready to jump straight into the MPharm, this program is built exactly for you. The Foundation Year gives you the breathing space to strengthen your science background before stepping into the full MPharm Pharmacy degree.

During the foundation stage, you’ll cover core subjects like biology, chemistry, and maths — the essentials that set you up for success. Once you complete it, you smoothly transition into the MPharm program, where you’ll dive deep into pharmacy practice, drug design, and patient care.

What makes Manchester stand out is how they combine real-world experience with academic learning. From placements in hospitals and community pharmacies to working with cutting-edge research teams, you’re not just studying pharmacy — you’re already living it.

And once you graduate, you’re looking at a clear path toward becoming a fully qualified pharmacist, whether in the NHS, industry, or even research.

In short, this route is perfect if you’re passionate about pharmacy but want that extra year to build confidence and skills before tackling the full program.

Graduates of this programme leave Manchester ready to register as pharmacists, fully equipped with clinical, scientific and professional skills. After you finish the degree + the required Foundation Training year + pass the registration exam, you can work in many settings: community and hospital pharmacies, GP surgeries, regulatory bodies, academia, or industry. Because this course has a strong scientific base and is GPhC accredited, what it really means is you can step into a regulated pharmacist role with confidence.

Here are the key supports, outcomes and advantages:

• University services that help with employment: The Student Support Hub and Peer-Assisted Study Sessions provide academic help; the Pharmacy teaching programme includes placements in real clinical settings (hospitals, community pharmacies, GP practices) to build workplace experience.

• University–industry / NHS partnerships: Manchester has relationships with multiple NHS Trusts (e.g., University Hospital of South Manchester, Salford Royal, and Central Manchester University Hospitals) for student placements. These give direct insight into hospital pharmacy practice.

• Long-term accreditation value: The course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which is necessary to register as a pharmacist in the UK. Without that, you can’t practise in regulated clinical roles. 

• Graduation outcomes: When you complete the MPharm + Foundation Year + one year of Foundation Training + pass the GPhC Registration Assessment, you become eligible for full registration as a pharmacist. Career roles open to you include: Community Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist, roles in GP surgeries, or work in industry or research. 

• Employment stats & salary figures: For Pharmacy & Pharmacology graduates at Manchester more broadly, the median salary about 15 months after graduation is ~£33,500; this increases over time. Though that’s not specific just to the Foundation Year route, it gives a solid benchmark. 

Further Academic Progression:

After finishing the MPharm + registration, you have several strong options:

• Pursue postgraduate specialisation (Master’s) in Pharmacy Practice, Clinical Pharmacy, or Therapeutics.

• Go into research with a PhD in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, or related health sciences.

• Focus on specialised clinical roles (e.g. in oncology, mental health, paediatrics) or move into prescribing roles (once eligible).

• Enter roles in regulatory affairs, policy, or pharmaceutical industry where you can leverage your scientific + clinical knowledge.