To register as a Pharmacist in Ireland, you must hold a Masters degree in Pharmacy (MPharm).  

To obtain this Masters degree, you must first register for the four-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (GY505), once you have successfully completed this, you will progress to the fifth year (MPharm). Please note that an additional fee is payable in respect of this fifth year.  

Once you have successfully completed year 5, and subject to sign-off by your tutor Pharmacist and an absence of Fitness to Practice issues, you will be eligible to sit the Professional Registration Exam for Pharmacy. Evidence of successful attainment of an MPharm degree and successful completion of the Professional Registration Exam, must be provided to the Irish Pharmacy regulator, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), when applying to be added to the register of Pharmacists. More information on this process can be found on the PSI website. 

Year 1 provides an in-depth introduction to relevant sciences underpinning Pharmacy including chemistry, physiology, pharmacology, formulation science, biochemistry and anatomy. These subjects will be taught in a Pharmacy-relevant context and provide the fundamental knowledge required for later years of the programme. Students will begin to learn about the role of Pharmacists in society, in particular in protecting and advocating for patients. Students will work in simulated Pharmacy settings and will begin their journey of personal and professional development and reflective practice. Students will learn to make simple pharmaceutical formulations including mouthwashes and other liquid preparations. Students will learn about the legislation and ethical principles governing Pharmacy and will begin to discuss and debate issues of relevance to Pharmacy as well as undertaking one day of placement. 

Year 2 begins to integrate core scientific knowledge with clinical Pharmacy and patient care. Case-based learning using real and simulated patients, will enhance students problem-solving, decision-making and teamwork skills. Students will begin to work with their peers from other healthcare courses on simulated clinical activities focused on patient care. Students will complete two weeks of work placement in a patient-facing setting, to apply their learning to real-life scenarios. Modules on pharmaceutical microbiology and toxicology will expand scientific knowledge. The formulation and manufacture of sterile pharmaceutical products will also be introduced, with a site visit to a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. A module on applied data analysis will introduce research methods and give practical experience of analysing data using specific data analytics packages. 

Year 3 has an emphasis on students seeking out answers for themselves and applying their knowledge to scenarios relevant to Pharmacy. This year encourages students to move from passive learning to problem-solving, in preparation for their transition to practice placements in Year 4. This year builds on knowledge of pharmaceutical science, the formulation, manufacture and regulation of medicines and includes training on the commercialisation process and visits to pharmaceutical companies. Simulated clinical activities throughout the year focus on clinical decision-making in preparation for clinical practice. 

Year 4 begins with a four-month placement activity which can be in a patient-facing setting or in the pharmaceutical industry, university research, the Pharmacy or the medicines regulator. Exciting new opportunities for Pharmacists emerge constantly, meaning the diversity of placement settings increases year-on-year. In semester 2, students will have the opportunity to complete a research project giving an insight into academic research, working in multidisciplinary teams, making evidence-based decisions and presenting research results. Students will focus on medicines optimisation for complex patients and learning to work within multi-professional teams in practice. 

Year 5 is future-focused, building on knowledge and skills learned in the course to apply these to potential future developments in Pharmacy. The activities in this year are largely student-led working on real-life scenarios from Pharmacy practice and industrial Pharmacy to solve-problems. This year includes an emphasis on advanced clinical skills and students developing their leadership skills. Students will complete an 8-month placement in a patient-facing setting and a placement research project. 

• You’ll gain real-world experience early in your programme through simulation, lectures from practising pharmacists and hands-on placements in hospitals and community pharmacies.
• You will learn with students from other healthcare degree programmes, building relationships with them which will enhance your ability to work as a team to improve patient care.
• This programme prepares students for the future of pharmacy by teaching data analytics and advanced clinical skills, preparing you for future expansion of the role of pharmacists.   

Following award of your MPharm qualification and registration with the Pharmacy regulator you can work in any role, including the following:   

Community Pharmacy: Community Pharmacists work closely with the Pharmacy team, the local GP and other members of the healthcare team to care for their patients. Community Pharmacists provide healthcare advice and help patients to treat minor illnesses. Community Pharmacists may also provide vaccinations and other services such as blood pressure testing. Community Pharmacists monitor medicines prescribed for patients and ensure they are suitable for the person and won’t cause any unsafe effects. Community Pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare professionals, making them the first port of call for many people who need healthcare advice. 

Hospital Pharmacy: In hospitals, Pharmacists review patient medicines, identifying medicines that may need to be stopped and ensuring new medicines are safe for patients. Pharmacists provide advice to other healthcare professionals on the most appropriate medicines to prescribe and other advice such as appropriate formulations for people with swallowing difficulties. Pharmacists in the hospital may also assist with running clinical trials for new medicines and sometimes manufacture medicines in a sterile environment. 

Pharmaceutical Industry: As medicines experts, Pharmacists have a unique insight into how to make a drug into a medicine that can safely and easily be taken by patients. This includes everything from how to manufacture tablets and other forms of medicines, to the quality assurance, packaging, licensing and distribution of these medicines. 

Regulatory Affairs: Any new medicines coming on to the market must be assessed to make sure they are safe and work as they are supposed to. All medicines are continuously monitored to identify if they are causing harm to people or are not working as they should. Pharmacists have expertise in all aspects of medicines development and therefore are well-placed to work in the regulation of medicines. 

Research: Pharmacists can perform research on any topic related to Pharmacy including drug development, formulation development, clinical Pharmacy or other areas related to medicines or healthcare. 

In all of these areas, Pharmacists work with multidisciplinary teams, using their knowledge of medicines and healthcare to optimise patient care and outcomes.

Some students may have the opportunity to complete part of their placement or a research project abroad. The University of Galway has research and educational partnerships with universities around the world where research projects could be undertaken. 

Placement opportunities throughout the programme give you the opportunity to use what you have learned in a real-world setting. 

There are three main placements during the five years of the degree: 

• Year 2: A two-week placement in a patient-facing setting, allowing students to apply foundational skills and gain exposure to pharmacy practice.
• Year 4: A four-month placement from September to December, offering opportunities in diverse environments such as community pharmacies, hospitals, pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, or academic research. 
• Year 5: An eight-month placement in a patient-facing setting, focusing on developing advanced clinical skills and competencies under the supervision of a tutor pharmacist. 

These placements are designed to enhance students' practical knowledge and prepare them for professional roles in the pharmacy sector. Students will have the opportunity to provide a list of preferences on the location of these placements. Placement capacity is limited and so students may not always get their choice of placement location or setting. 

• The Pharmacy degree is accredited by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the professional body that regulates pharmacists in Ireland.
• Graduates are eligible to register and practise as pharmacists in Ireland upon completion.
• The degree is recognised across the European Union, allowing graduates to pursue pharmacy careers in other EU countries.
• International recognition enables graduates to explore opportunities beyond Ireland, subject to local registration requirements. 

This course is taught by experts in a range of areas. Pharmacists teach content on the practice of Pharmacy, professionalism, clinical Pharmacy and the formulation of medicines. These Pharmacists have experience working in many different roles and may also have performed academic research in specific areas of the science or practice of Pharmacy, meaning they are at the cutting-edge of new developments in Pharmacy. In the early years of the programme teaching of chemistry, physiology, biochemistry, bacteriology and pharmacology is performed by experts in these subject areas.

How Will I Learn?  

You will learn through a range of methods that represent the best-practice in Pharmacy education. You will have a mixture of traditional lectures, workshops, tutorials and laboratory classes. As you move through the course learning will be increasingly based on you working with a group to solve problems you may encounter in a range of practice settings. Your personal and professional development will be enhanced by the opportunity to learn from and with students from other courses. Flipped-classroom approaches mean you will sometimes have the opportunity to teach the class, improving your communication skills. Simulated dispensing activities are included from Year 1, giving you the opportunity to learn in a safe and secure setting.   

How Will I Be Assessed?  

A range of assessment types will be used. Each module has some continuous assessment, which supports your learning throughout the semester. This might be a group project, presentation, debate, laboratory activity or a multiple choice quiz. Written exams happen at the end of the semester, where you will answer multiple choice questions or write essays on the material you have learned. You will also have simulated dispensing exams to strengthen your ability to complete clinical and accuracy checks on prescriptions and dispensed medicines.

The accreditation of a new Master’s degree in Pharmacy at the University of Galway

The MPharm provides the qualification necessary for registration to practice as a pharmacist and is a five-year integrated programme that incorporates clinical and other experiential learning placements.

The University of Galway has completed the PSI accreditation process to establish a new Master's degree in pharmacy (MPharm). The Council of the PSI, the pharmacy regulator’s governing board, was pleased to accredit the programme. The University will be able to enrol students to the new programme commencing this Autumn. Read more

Course queries: 

Pharmacy@universityofgalway.ie 

Programme Director(s):   

Dr Joanne O’Dwyer 
E: joanne.odwyer@universityofgalway.ie

Q: Do students have to complete the 5-year programme to be a pharmacist?
A: Yes, to be eligible to register as a Pharmacist, students must complete the four-year BSc Pharmacy and the one-year MPharm programmes. A Pharmacy degree is the only degree that fulfils the educational requirements to be a Pharmacist. 

Q. Do students need to apply for Year 5 (MPharm)?
A: No, to enter this programme students must have successfully completed the BSc Pharmacy programme and have no fitness to practice concerns. Only students who complete the BSc Pharmacy in the University of Galway can enter this programme. Students from other programmes such as the BSc Biomedical Science are not eligible to enter the Year 5 MPharm (unless they have subsequently completed a Pharmacy degree).

Q: Can students transfer from another course into the MPharm programme?
A: No, students must apply via the CAO for entry into the programme. All students must complete the 5 years of the programme. 

Q: Can students apply for Recognition of Prior Learning ?
A: Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be assessed in accordance with the University of Galway RPL Policy. Applicants who hold relevant academic qualifications may be considered for exemptions from specific modules.  Each application will be reviewed and evaluated to determine the extent to which the applicant’s prior learning aligns with the learning outcomes of the MPharm programme. Only designated modules will be eligible for RPL consideration. Where RPL is granted, students will receive an exemption for the entire module.

Q: Can Mature Students apply for this course?
A: There are places allocated for mature entry students from September 2026. Applications are via the CAO. Please refer to the University of Galway Mature Students page for further information on how to apply and entry requirements.  

Q: Can Pharmacy Technicians apply for this course?
A: There are places allocated for pharmacy technicians from September 2026. Applications are via the CAO. Please refer to the University of Galway Mature Students page for further information on how to apply and entry requirements.

Q: What are the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) Accreditation Standards? 
A: The current accreditation standards for the MPharm programmes were first introduced in 2019. These standards were reviewed in 2024 and approved again by the PSI Council. These accreditation standards underpin accreditation processes. Annual reporting for currently accredited training programmes is carried out against these standards. 5Yr Prog Accreditation Standards 

Garda Vetting: Required: Garda Vetting - University of Galway

Vaccination and Screening: Required: Pre-Placement Health Assessment, Screening & Certification - University of Galway

Fitness to Practice: This programme is subject to the University of Galway Fitness to Practice Policy for Pharmacy Students.

Other Qualificationss

If you are a school leaver presenting results other than Leaving Cert results, please review the entry requirements relevant to you:

•  A Level students
• EU students

For applicants whose first language is not English, it is important to check our English Language Requirements.

Admissions Office

Our Admissions Office provides additional detail relevant to CAO applicants including key dates, FAQs and instructions for non-school leavers.

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants 

Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.  

Mature Applicants  

Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry. Further information available here.  

Access and Foundation Applicants 

Apply via the CAO.  

See our Access and Foundation Applicants page for information on places available and entry requirements  

Fees for Academic Year 2025/2026

• Most EU students applying through the CAO will be eligible for the ‘Free Fees Initiative’. You can find out more here.
• If you are eligible for a means tested SUSI grant this may cover 100% of this Student Contribution Charge. If you are 100% eligible SUSI will pay the Student Contribution Charge of €3,000 on your behalf. 
• The Student Levy It is payable by all students and it is not covered by SUSI. 
• Where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing year fees. This applies to non-EU tuition.
• You can find additional detail on the Fees Office webpage including FAQs and how fee status is assessed.
• Occupational Health Service
  In year one students are required to pay a €200 fee towards a subsidised Occupational Health Service provided to students of the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences in compliance with all relevant legislation and standards. This is shown as part of the levy

Not applicable, there are currently no places available to non-EU students

College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences - University of Galway

PSI:
https://www.psi.ie/