University of Ulster / eLearning / programmes

Pharmacy Management

Awards

PgDip (with PgCert exit award)

September 2012

The Programme

The Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacy Management offers practitioners working within pharmacy the opportunity to gain a unique qualification in pharmacy management, and thereby an opportunity for career development through the management route, either within secondary care or community pharmacy environments.

This diploma will advance the development of pharmacy practitioners in areas of personal and personnel management, marketing principles, and financial management within a framework of self-reflection and self-development. On successful completion of the course, students should have improved management, marketing and financial skills, which will benefit the practitioner, the employer and the community as a whole by the professional development of the pharmacist and other relevant pharmacy staff.

Structure and Content

The distance learning PgDip in Pharmacy Management normally comprises four semesters completed over 2 academic years, with 30 credits being studies over each semester.

Year 1
The programme starts with a 10 credit PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT module which will equip the student with key personal development skills allowing recognition of important strategies required for influential leadership. This is followed by the 10 credit LEGISLATION OF BUSINESS module, which will provide the student with knowledge of key pieces of legislation impacting upon the pharmacy, in addition to techniques to adopt for risk minimisation within a pharmacy business. The 20 credit module PLANNING FOR ACTION (STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL) is delivered over both first and second semester, and will provide the student with the skills necessary to create strategic and business plans for their pharmacy with well formed business goals. This will lead onto the final 20 credit module of first year, PEOPLE MANAGEMENT, which will equip the student with key skills to manage and develop employees within a pharmacy setting to enhance overall business success.

Year 2
The second year of study commences with a 10 credit module MARKETING FOCUS, where the student will develop an ability to understand how marketing, customer interaction and competitors all impact on business success. This is followed by FINANCE MANAGEMENT, another 10 credit module. A key understanding of the flow of cash through a business will allow the student to focus on key areas of working capital which is essential to the liquidity of any business. The study of this module will also allow the student to assess the financial health of the pharmacy. Quality within healthcare is essential, and a study of the next 10 credit, PHARMACY QUALITY SYSTEM, will equip the student with key skills in quality management and quality improvement techniques within the pharmacy setting.

The final semester of study commences with SERVICE DEVELOPMENT, a 20 credit module in which the student will gain an understanding of the importance of service development to the success of a business, and how these can be identified. This module will also discuss service developments that are government initiated and how these might successfully be implemented into a business. The programme is completed with MEASURING PERFORMANCE, a 10 credit module, which will equip the student with the skills necessary to analyse personal performance, business outcomes, financial and employee performance, and service quality to effectively ensure the quality of services and, ultimately, overall business performance.

Entry Conditions

Applicants for entry must:

(a) have gained:
(i) an Honours or non-Honours degree from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or from another institution which has been recognised by the Senate for this purpose;
or
(ii) an equivalent standard in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate or Postgraduate Certificate or an approved alternative qualification; and

(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent), or IELTS grade 6.5; and

(c) satisfy such additional requirements as shall be prescribed in programme regulations; and

(d) must be employed within the pharmacy industry

Exemptions and Transferability

It may be possible for students to transfer with credit to other programmes at similar level within the University, but this would be at the sole discretion of the receiving course team.

Due to the specific nature of the modules on this programme, students transferring into the programme will be required to undertake all compulsory modules (unless previous qualifications are recognised as equivalent to the modules and are approved through the University’s Accreditation of Prior Learning scheme). Each case of exemption is determined by whether the certificated evidence is commensurate with the learning outcomes within the module(s) for which exemption is sought. All students are accepted in accordance with the Faculty APC/EL Policy. (http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicoffice/download/Policies/APELPolicy.doc)

Careers And Postgraduate Opportunities

Many people working within pharmacy take on a management role to some extent which has not been supported by their undergraduate training. This programme will support those working within pharmacy to the Agenda for Change Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) who wish to progress and require a postgraduate diploma in addition to their undergraduate degree to do so. This programme will also support those employed within the pharmacy retail sector in community pharmacies who wish to proceed along a management career pathway. Currently most of the postgraduate diplomas that are available are clinical in nature; this programme will provide for those who have chosen a career pathway other than the clinical route e.g. patient-services, medicines information, management.

Application

Applicants can apply online at www.ulster.ac.uk/pgapply  

Contact Details

Tel: +44 (0)28 7012 3512
Email: g.kyle@ulster.ac.uk 

Course Director:
Dr Kathy Burnett
Tel:+44 (0)28 7012 3283
Email: k.burnett@ulster.ac.uk  

Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of support do I get from online learning?

Each module has a module coordinator, and an e-tutor associated with it to provide regular and ongoing support and guidance. The University of Ulster emphasizes prompt and regular feedback to students and the course team have built in a course support area to provide a general interface for students and staff to have a dialogue. Technical support is also available through the virtual school in Biomedical Sciences at Ulster.

How much time do I get to complete a course?

Students normally will complete the PgDip programme in 2 years.

Is Elearning for me?

Elearning is an excellent route for learning as it gives unique flexibility and ownership of how and when you learn. It is a different experience from traditional face to face learning and is especially suited to those who like to learn independently and are self-motivated. This course has been specifically designed with the Elearner in mind, so learning material is appropriately displayed and students are encouraged to participate in discussion boards, and to contribute to online chats and are given regular small tasks to complete so learning is broken down into manageable segments.

What do I need?

Access to a computer with broadband capability.

Duration and Mode of Attendance

PgDip: two academic years
PgCert: one academic year

Assessment

Teaching Methods and This is a fully online distance learning course supported by the university’s ELearning which facilitates a number of distance-learning courses from across the University, and includes personalised online access to course material, University library systems, academic and student support programs, and electronic communication tools through BBLearn.

This provides an alternative and stimulating learning environment, including areas for support material and lectures. There will be structured, weekly presentations of BBLearn-based lectures, with the BBLearn communication tools such as discussion board and chat room, being integral to the programme. Activities include online discussion work and text / web-based learning with module coordinator / tutor / mentor, interaction catering appropriately for the spread of knowledge, intellectual, professional and transferable skill outcomes. The online delivery will be supported by online tutorials which will be available in video format using appropriate development software. This will allow students repeated access to the tutorial at a time convenient for them. There will also be a number of subject-expert guest speakers providing video tutorials relating to their personal and professional experiences, which will broaden the learning experience for the students.

These teaching strategies, which include exposure to a variety of quality management systems and techniques encompassing a range of recognised transformational, behavioural and personal development practices, are designed to provide appropriate learning opportunities to meet all the objectives described.


Student performance and progression are assessed through coursework in the form of assignments. Assignments are an essential part of teaching and learning as they encourage students to be independent learners. Assignments take a variety of forms and are used to encourage students to read the literature underpinning lectures, integrate and apply knowledge and improve written skills. Assignments will include structured essays, practical workbooks, personnel case studies, word-limited reports, analytical reports and management plans, and a business proposal. They will all be submitted online and grades will be available online. criteria and coursework guidelines will be provided to achieve the pass mark and higher grades, so that students can develop their academic capabilities.

Fees

For current information visit http://www.ulster.ac.uk/finance/fees/
Fees are calculated per credit point.

Additional fees information

The fees section provides detailed information of costs and payment options, however the Ulster finance site should be used as the definitive source of information concerning fees.

• Ulster fees website
• Fees payment policy

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