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PhD/MPhil Pharmacy Practice
Year of entry: 2024
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We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.
Full entry requirements
See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our websi te . You should then complete the online admissions application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.
Application deadlines
You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.
- January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
- April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
- September entry: 15 June (year of entry)
Programme options
Programme overview.
- Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.
- Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.
- Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.
- Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2023).
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:
- PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £h, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
- PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £j, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250
- PhD (full-time distance learning) UK students (per annum): Standard £h, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
- PhD (part-time distance learning) UK students (per annum): Standard £j, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Contact details
Programmes in related subject areas.
Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.
- Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview, english language.
For applicants whose first language is not English, or if you have not studied recently in the UK, you must provide evidence of how you meet the English Language requirement.
We mainly accept IELTS or TOEFL tests. Please note IELTS and TOEFL are only valid for two years.
We require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall or TOEFL (iBT) 90. Each component of the English test should meet the minimum requirement of IELTS 5.5 in all components, TOEFL (iBT 22). For the writing component , we expect you to have achieved a minimum of 6.0 (IELTS).
The English language requirements are slightly higher for applicants wishing to undertake the Distance Learning programme. We require a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with a score of 6.5 or above in each component.
If your IELTS or TOEFL expires before the start of your programme, you will need to take another official English test before we can issue you with a CAS for your visa application. This is a requirement of UKVI.
For more information about English language tests see English language requirements .
Please contact us at [email protected] for further information.
English language test validity
Other international entry requirements, professional entry qualification.
Postgraduate Research Study by Distance Learning
In addition to meeting the standard entry requirements, applicants wishing to study through Distance Learning will need to meet some additional requirements. If these requirements cannot be met, the Doctoral Academy reserves the right to reject any requests for Distance Learning, but this will not be associated with the academic assessment of an applicant (ie an academic offer for standard attendance can still be considered).
The Distance Learning PhD maximises flexibility and decreases the need for travel and actual presence on campus. It does not decrease the time and commitment required for serious and successful PGR study. Distance Learning students must prove that they have the time, commitment, language ability and facilities available needed to work remotely.
As part of their application, students should demonstrate that they have:
- 2.5 days per week minimum study time (part-time students) or full-time hours (full-time students)
- Access to study sites and research participants
- If seconded from employment to undertake the programme - written approval and support from employer for study time
- Adherence to University and home environment ethics and research governance procedures
- Consistent computer and IT access
- Broadband connection: minimum downstream 2 Mb, upstream 256k
- up-to-date Windows/Mac software
- Webcam and microphone
Applicants should submit an online application form in the usual way, selecting Distance Learning as the form of study. Applicants will then be asked to complete the `DL proforma' which asks for further confirmation of meeting the above requirements, outlining the reasons for wishing to undertake the programme by DL and plans for attending the University as explained in the Teaching and Learning section of the Programme details page.
Application and selection
How to apply, advice to applicants.
In addition to the formal online application, candidates should send all supporting documents (CV, transcripts, certificates, confirmation of funding, English language ability (if applicable) and a personal statement).
About the personal statement
We recommend that your personal statement summarises:
- any research experience and your interests;
- your motivation for postgraduate research study;
- why you want to do a postgraduate research degree in Manchester;
- your career development to date;
- your future career plans;
- other supporting information: recent publications if any or other research training and experience;
If you have completed a research project during your undergraduate/master's study, please give a short description of the work you undertook, including the following details:
- the research problem
- your key findings
- techniques acquired and skills learned
This information is especially important for applicants from overseas, so we can fully assess your practical background and experience alongside your academic qualifications. Failure to include this information may delay the processing of your application.
See further guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our website .
Interview requirements
Candidates will be required to attend an interview with their prospective supervisor as well as an independent Postgraduate Tutor. If it is not possible for you to attend in person, we are able to interview by Zoom/video conferencing.
Disclosure and Barring Service check
Programme details, programme description.
Our PhD/MPhil Pharmacy Practice programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve the practise of pharmacy, the prescribing of medicines to optimise therapy and how patients take their medicines. There are 3 working centres in Pharmacy Practice which include the Centre for Pharmacy Workforce Studies chaired by Dr Ellen Schafheutle , Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety chaired by Prof Darren Aschroft , and Prescribing and Patient Safety chaired by Dr Penny Lewis. There is a lot of interplay between the centres so there is maximum impact to the patient and to the research. We work with patient groups, prescribers, and pharmacists to gather the necessary information to conduct research, but also healthcare databases to maximise the study population size for robust results. We have a diverse skill base including clinical and community pharmacists, biostatisticians, epidemiologist, qualitative specialist researchers and health economists.
A research project is usually supervised by 2 co-supervisors that could be from different types of research backgrounds, but with this combination a unique and blended research experience is gained by the student. Research projects include pharmacoepidemiology studies, drug utilisation research, regulations, patient and medicines safety, organisational systems, transfer of care and disease specific research.
Our PhD research projects in Pharmacy Practice for international students primarily involve evaluation of practice and drug policy, pharmacoepidemiology using anonymous data, evaluating practice from already collected data or data collected by a third party or quantitative and qualitative analysis of national clinical data sets. These projects involve clinical knowledge and judgement and gaining skills in database management, analysis of large dataset and thematic analysis. All of these projects do not involve the international professional student having direct contact with NHS patients. Unfortunately, the NHS regulations on clinical contact with patients (including medical notes) is very strict and reserved for UK registered pharmacists and practitioners. Therefore a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy is not available to students wanting to attend the University of Manchester for this programme of study.
Special features
Training and development
All of our postgraduate researchers attend the Doctoral Academy Training Programme delivered by the Researcher Development team . The programme provides key transferable skills and equips our postgraduate researchers with the tools to progress beyond their research degree into influential positions within academia, industry and consultancy. The emphasis is on enhancing skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals, whether they relate to effective communication, disseminating research findings and project management skills.
Teaching and learning
Applicants are specifically matched with a Primary Supervisor and individual project based on their research interests and background.
International applicants interested in this research area can also consider our PhD programme with integrated teaching certificate .
This unique programme will enable you to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, whilst also carrying out independent research on your chosen project.
Attendance Requirement for Distance Learning Programme
Students must maintain expected virtual presence and communication with their Supervisor in order to remain registered on the programme and follow all online progression milestones as for any PGR student.
Students must attend, in person, the Welcome and Induction activities organised by the Doctoral Academy in September. As a result, a September start date is preferable. Students should also attend, in person, the compulsory `Life as a PhD Student' training.
Students are encouraged to consider undertaking additional training offered via the Doctoral Academy Training Programme.
It is expected that students will spend a minimum of one working week (5 days) in attendance at the University (in addition to welcome/induction days). This may coincide with formal study weeks (ie in NMSW) and will present the opportunity for the student to spend time with their Supervisory team, visit the Library or local research facilities.
Students must participate in the formal Annual Review meeting, ideally in person, but attendance via Skype etc can be considered.
The final oral examination will be held at the University of Manchester. Only in very exceptional circumstances will a student be allowed to undertake the viva remotely.
Scholarships and bursaries
Funded programmes and projects are promoted throughout the year. Funding is available through UK Research Councils, charities and industry. We also have other internal awards and scholarships for the most outstanding applicants from within the UK and overseas.
For more information on available the types of funding we have available, please visit the funded programmes and funding opportunities pages.
What our students say
Disability support, career opportunities.
Your postgraduate research degree will open up a range of career opportunities after you graduate. Find out more on the Careers page.
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PhD/MPhil Pharmacy Practice / Application and selection
Year of entry: 2025
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How to apply
Apply online
Before applying you must:
- Choose a programme or find a project you want to apply for and check you’re eligible.
- Speak to the listed supervisor about your suitability for their project or programme.
- Understand how your project is funded and, if it is self-funded, consider how you plan on funding it.
- Read our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more and ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission.
Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research page to find out more.
Advice to applicants
Before you start your application, you should:
- Identify the programme or find the specific research project you'd like to apply for.
- Contact the listed project supervisor and speak to them about your suitability for the project.
- Understand how your project is funded or, if you are self-funding, you should have an idea of how you are funding your project and have discussed this with your supervisor.
If you already have funding:
- Find a specific self-funded project and contact the project supervisor to talk to them about your suitability for the project; OR
- Determine your own research project and title, find a potential supervisor in this research area and contact them to discuss supervising your research.
Supporting documents
You'll also need to make sure you have the following documents before you apply:
- Personal statement
- Certificates and transcripts
- Confirmation of funding (if you are self-funded)
- English language ability
- Names and details of two referees to support your application
Visit our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more about the information required for each of these supporting documents.
Any missing information may delay the processing of your application.
Application deadlines
You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.
- January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
- April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
- September entry: 15 June (year of entry)
Interview requirements
Candidates will be required to attend an interview with their prospective supervisor as well as an independent Postgraduate Tutor. If it is not possible for you to attend in person, we are able to interview by Zoom/video conferencing.
Disclosure and Barring Service check
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