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MPharm Pharmacy degree. Is it a good career to go for?

I like chemistry and want to do something related to it for my career.
so what is pharmacy like? is the pay and job chances good?

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Reply 1
I've heard the pay is very good and a junior pharmacist supposedly earns more than a junior doctor...But I think, like any good career path, it is competitive.
Reply 2
The pay is great (apparently :colondollar:) and it seems like a great job! Lots of chemistry and biology :biggrin: and nowadays, pharmacists are taking on many many more responsibilities like prescribing etc so yeah there's loads of opportunities. Plus all the supermarkets are getting pharmacists in, with pay on the likes of 40k :eek:
But there's loads of opportunities :biggrin:
Reply 3
I definitely wouldn't base a decision on pay. With the way pharmacy is going, salaries are going to decrease as there are too many pharmacists graduating. Only recently have birmingham and durham announced that they will be opening new pharmacy schools. Years ago it was not uncommon to have 6 offers for pre-registration pharmacy posts but nowadays you are lucky if you get one. Pharmacists may be taking on more roles, but there are also many more graduating!

If you like the look of the degree content and like the nature of the job and are passionate about pharmacy, then I would say go for it. But do not do it for the money, like some people at my school, otherwise you will find yourself severely disappointed.
Reply 4
Original post by elsa10
I definitely wouldn't base a decision on pay. With the way pharmacy is going, salaries are going to decrease as there are too many pharmacists graduating. Only recently have birmingham and durham announced that they will be opening new pharmacy schools. Years ago it was not uncommon to have 6 offers for pre-registration pharmacy posts but nowadays you are lucky if you get one. Pharmacists may be taking on more roles, but there are also many more graduating!

If you like the look of the degree content and like the nature of the job and are passionate about pharmacy, then I would say go for it. But do not do it for the money, like some people at my school, otherwise you will find yourself severely disappointed.


This Is all true, the next five or so years are going to be tougher than anything. HOWEVER, change is in the air, similar to medicine there will be a cap placed on pharmacy schools to ensure there are not too many graduates as far as I am aware. This will hit in around 5 years.

^uni of bath head of admission. Hopefully he wasnt talking crap lol
Reply 5
With regards to answering your question, is it a good degree to go for?

Have you done any work experience? Do you know what a pharmacist actually does day in day out and does that appeal to you? That is the most important thing.
There is no point getting a 40K a year wage if you hate your job with a passion.

x
Reply 6
Original post by Doctor.
This Is all true, the next five or so years are going to be tougher than anything. HOWEVER, change is in the air, similar to medicine there will be a cap placed on pharmacy schools to ensure there are not too many graduates as far as I am aware. This will hit in around 5 years.

^uni of bath head of admission. Hopefully he wasnt talking crap lol


Out of interest, you weren't at the bath pharmacy open day last wednesday were you?
Reply 7
Original post by thelooby94
The pay is great (apparently :colondollar:) and it seems like a great job! Lots of chemistry and biology :biggrin: and nowadays, pharmacists are taking on many many more responsibilities like prescribing etc so yeah there's loads of opportunities. Plus all the supermarkets are getting pharmacists in, with pay on the likes of 40k :eek:
But there's loads of opportunities :biggrin:


hey you going to cardiff for pharmacy this year?? if so then so am I
Reply 8
Pharmacists are actually becomming more awesome -Independent prescribes!!!!!!! This Is good news :colone:
Reply 9
Original post by levantine
hey you going to cardiff for pharmacy this year?? if so then so am I


Yeah I am :biggrin: well fingers crossed :biggrin: see you in a few months lol looking forward to it??
Original post by thelooby94
Yeah I am :biggrin: well fingers crossed :biggrin: see you in a few months lol looking forward to it??


hell yeah never been to cardiff before and no idea what to expect
Reply 11
Original post by levantine
hell yeah never been to cardiff before and no idea what to expect


Few friends who are first years said they loved it. Freshers was a great experience apparently. Great night life too! Have fun :smile:
Original post by Doctor.
Few friends who are first years said they loved it. Freshers was a great experience apparently. Great night life too! Have fun :smile:


which accomadation have you gone for?? ive gone for talybont south (as i heard its best). is cardiff your only offer?
Reply 13
Original post by levantine
which accomadation have you gone for?? ive gone for talybont south (as i heard its best). is cardiff your only offer?


book i never applied for Cardiff :frown:. But I do have friends who go there, who are all firdt years :smile:

Check my siggy, I got offers from LJMU and Bath :h:
Original post by levantine
hell yeah never been to cardiff before and no idea what to expect


It's an amazing city :biggrin:
Have high expectations and you won't be disappointed by Cardiff :wink:
Reply 15
Another Cardiff Pharmacy firmer :P
Love the city, its the best.. perfect for shopping, socialising and partying.. but not big and intimidating like London!
it's sickening to hear people go into certain professions for the pay only.
Reply 17
can anyone list out the reasons for why you want to do pharmacy... say if u were asked in an interview...
Original post by James A
it's sickening to hear people go into certain professions for the pay only.


This tbh.. :s-smilie:
Original post by elsa10
Years ago it was not uncommon to have 6 offers for pre-registration pharmacy posts but nowadays you are lucky if you get one. Pharmacists may be taking on more roles, but there are also many more graduating!


I personally feel this is a little far-fetched. It is currently very rare that MPharm students leave the course without an offer for preregistration training. I had three and I graduated only 2 years ago.

However, as you mentioned it may become more common for people to only receive one or two offers and we could see an increasing number of graduates without a training offer.

Original post by Doctor.
This Is all true, the next five or so years are going to be tougher than anything. HOWEVER, change is in the air, similar to medicine there will be a cap placed on pharmacy schools to ensure there are not too many graduates as far as I am aware. This will hit in around 5 years.

^uni of bath head of admission. Hopefully he wasnt talking crap lol


They are likely talking about the work being undertaken to integrate the prereg year into the MPharm degree. This will mean cohorts will have to be set based on the number of training places available.

Please note - these changes are not guaranteed to go ahead and are still working their way through various organisations within government. The timeline of 5-years is also questionnable. You can take my word for it because I am directly involved in this work along with the Schools of Pharmacy and the Department of Health. It is likely the admissions person picked it up from the Head of School at Bath.

If you want some more information on the work being undertaken in England surrounding this you can find out about it here: http://www.mee.nhs.uk/programme_boards/modernising_pharmacy_careers_p.aspx

Also, a PJ blog around this topic: http://www.pjonline.com/blog_entry/are_universities_to_blame

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