Careers
At Newcastle University, we pride ourselves in conducting world-class multidisciplinary pharmacy research.
A career as a pharmacist is exciting and constantly changing.
Careers in Pharmacy
Pharmacy is a highly varied profession with many different possible career paths open to graduates. To register as a pharmacist in the UK, you must:
- complete the MPharm degree
- complete a pre-registration training year
- sit the registration assessment
Registered pharmacy graduates are amongst the most employable professionals. There are many opportunities to work both in the UK and across the world. It is a rewarding field and graduates of pharmacy degrees enjoy high employment levels.
The majority of pharmacists work in community pharmacies or hospitals. Community pharmacists work at the heart of their local area. They supervise the supply and use of medications for the local population. Community pharmacists can own their own businesses or work for larger national organisations as employees. Experienced community pharmacists can offer more services, such as:
- flu vaccinations
- medicines reviews
- emergency contraception
Hospital pharmacists supervise the supply and use of medicines for patients with serious health conditions. They work side-by-side with medical doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals such as:
- physiotherapists
- occupational therapists
- dieticians
Hospitals pharmacists get more clinical pharmacy and independent prescribing qualifications to support their work.
Other pharmacists can work in the pharmaceutical industry. These roles involve designing, developing and testing new medications that are not yet available. Industrial pharmacists often work in laboratories and in the regulation of medicinal products. They work with national organisations such as:
- National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE)
- the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- the World Health Organization (WHO).
Emerging roles for pharmacists include those working in GP practices and care homes. These roles are new and include working like a GP to help patients to use medications. They provide guidance on using the right medication, at the right time, in the right way, for the right patient.
A career as a pharmacist is well-paid and flexible. Pharmacists can work full-time, part-time or as locums (where they chose the hours they work each week) in many different roles. Our MPharm degree will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge base to contribute to high-quality patient care.
The structure of our research-led programme ensures that you develop a keen awareness of research methods. Plus, our programme introduces you to our communities of practice within the University and our external NHS partners. Once registered you will be able to work within the breadth of fields traditionally associated with pharmacy. As well as having access to a range of postgraduate study opportunities such as PhDs.
You can find more information about pharmacy careers on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and NHS careers websites.
Newcastle University consistently has one of the best records for graduate employment in the UK.
94% of our 2014/15 UK/EU graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating. Of our graduates who entered employment 85% were in a professional or managerial position.
The University provides an extensive range of opportunities to all students through an initiative called ncl+. This enables you to develop personal, employability and enterprise skills and to give you the edge in the employment market after you graduate.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers.