Hey how is DMU Mpharm?

- how's the teaching?
- how's the student life and the people there like?
- campus/ accommodation?
Thankss

Hey @Ma_ria

Hope you’re well.

I’m a recent graduate from DMU so I thought I’d talk about my time here.

DMU is like an extension, and like a reflection, of Leicester itself for me. It’s colour, vibrant and a real melting pot of different people and cultures – it’s what makes it really special. I’ve always felt that DMU is one of those uni’s where people can come together to support each other, but also embrace our own individuality and creativity!

We’ve come together as a uni to help make scrubs for our NHS staff during the pandemic, and we’ve also campaigned for change on our campus. Opening up more study spaces, longer library opening times and making sure the facilities on the course are always to a high standard.

For me, I really enjoyed my four years because of this community, it’s become a second family to me. I’ve met my best friend here, had amazing experiences but the support I’ve had has been invaluable. I got tested for Dyslexia whilst studying and I got some amazing support through the whole process has helped me beyond words. I don’t think I would have enjoyed my time here quite as much without it.

As part of the Pharmacy course, keeping the patient at the centre of all teaching, so the course focuses on providing you with the practical and professional skills of a pharmacist. You will gain a grounding in both science and practice that will enable you to make informed decisions in clinical settings.

Over all four years of the course you will have the chance to undertake placements in community, hospital and primary care settings, allowing you to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, under the supervision and guidance of professional practitioners.

Graduates progress on to rewarding and stimulating careers in all sectors of pharmacy, including in community pharmacies, the NHS, primary care settings and the pharmaceutical industry. Here’s a little more from our academic Helen Root!

There’s also so much to sink your teeth into on campus from societies to placements and #DMUGlobal – I’ve got to try things, I never thought I would! I picked up a new sport and got to help my community too through #DMUlocal; and with the city on your doorstep, you can explore so much of Leicester too. We’ve great music and comedy scenes, great history places and museums (with the Roman Baths and King Richard III at Leicester Cathedral), the cultural quarter with the theatre, and fun things to do like bowling and mini golf. I am still finding new places to enjoy so I hope you’ll get to see some of the hidden gems we have to offer.

Maybe I am a little biased, but I love our campus! It’s beautiful, everything is in one space so not got too far to go. For Pharmacy you’re usually based in Hawthorn which is this stunning old red-brick building that is literally a two minute walk to the library (which is the heart of campus); and again, we’ve got more hidden gems to find! If you take a walk over to Vijay Patel, they have some seats on a balcony where you can look over the campus (and on a good day see out across the city); or, and my personal favourite, if you walk over to the edge of campus by the River Soar, we have some nice open seating down there. You can watch the swans or the rowing team go by and it’s nice on a hot day if you want to enjoy the sunshine.

As for accommodation, it’s all within a 10-15 minute walk from campus. I stayed in Newarke Point which is to the edge of campus and again, loved it! Once you stick a few things around the place like posters and some photos, it does start to feel homely. I propped my door open on moving day and managed to meet my best friend! Depending on the room you pick, you only have to share your kitchen and/or bathroom which isn’t too bad either. Most accommodations also have some places where you can socialise outside of your flat too, like Newarke had some table tennis and sofa areas which is nice to meet up with people before heading out.

If you do have any questions about what accommodation or campus looks like, maybe have a look at coming onto a campus tour. I always find it hard to picture things so it may give you an idea as to how you’d feel about coming to study with us when you have a look yourself. We can also chat again if you want to find out anything else.

Stay safe and take care!

Sounds amazing! I'm also planning to study the MPharm course at DMU next year, and my plan is once I graduate is to become a GP Pharmacist. I was wondering if you or any of your classmates have decided to go down this route and if so, how did they go about it and how are they finding it?

Thanks x

Morning!

It sounds like we had the same thought. Even before I started pharmacy I knew I wanted to work in Community/GP and will be hoping to go down the GP Pharmacist route in my future career.

Throughout the course you have a series of placements each year across GP/community/hospital. I am currently in 4th year and about to start my GP placement taking place on 5 days over 4 weeks ( spread across the weeks to allow for seminar and research project time)

In terms of how you can go down the GP pharmacist path, when it comes to getting your placement year called Foundation Training Year (previously called Pre-registration year) you can select which setting you like. Currently you can’t do the GP placement for that whole year but you can do it in combination with community/hospital usually for 6 months in each.

When I have made my choice between programmes, I have selected those with GP and community and has been confirmed that I will have that placement 😊🎉

I have a few friends that are either GP pharmacists or doing part of their training year in GP. They all have said really positive things about it as it is an excellent setting to use your clinical skills and gives you really good opportunities for patient care

Really nice to see the passion for pharmacy, as I had and will be great to have you start with us next year

- Alex

Thank you Alex,

Just to follow up on that, would you be able to just elaborate slightly on the role of a GP pharmacist and what sort of things your friends are currently doing as GP pharmacists. I am aware that they can specialise in specific sectors like say diabetes and then prescribe medication for that or perhaps take a patients blood pressure and if it is not in the healthy region, again prescribe medication for that. I'm I on the right lines to say that is more or less their role. What are you also thinking about specialising as a GP pharmacist? And are GP Pharmacists primarily based in GP surgeries?

Thanks in advance x

Yeah I would love to, the GP pharmacist role is effectively taking all the clinical skills and knowledge we have as a pharmacist and doing specific services and counselling of patients. As a GP pharmacist you would have patients make appointments with you for things like medication reviews, health services like blood pressure, weight management etc. but the really nice thing about it is you have time to sit with the patient for longer than a doctor would be able too.
In community pharmacy you would be able to do health checks and go through someone's medication depending on what the patient wants to speak with you about. As a GP Pharmacist you would have a 30-60minute consultation where you could go through the patients concerns and do a full medication review with any medical checks they need. It means you get to use the clinical skills without having to focus on the dispensary side of pharmacy.

At the moment, I am not sure in which area I would like to specialise in. My friend in GP pharmacy has specialised in diabetes, so part of her work involves running diabetic clinics where she can go through patients medication, how they are doing and even things like diet management and social factors that all influence the condition.

I came across this really good article that might help, written by a GP pharmacist about their role and experience in GP https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/feature/all-you-need-to-know-about-gp-practice-pharmacists

Community Pharmacy and GP is a really exciting area to go into and really looking forward to it.
- Alex

Sounds amazing! I'm also planning to study the MPharm course at DMU next year, and my plan is once I graduate is to become a GP Pharmacist. I was wondering if you or any of your classmates have decided to go down this route and if so, how did they go about it and how are they finding it?

Thanks x

hey, I was reading this post looking for any potential mpharm dmu students - are you going to be starting this September ? if so, are you firming dmu , just in case you've changed your mind x

I'm thinking of an MPharm at DMU next year. Currently scared that I wont quite get the grades needed, but have time to work my pants off to improve them.

Does DMU have a history of taking applicants who may have missed grades and what support might they give to check that you're keeping up?

hey, I was reading this post looking for any potential mpharm dmu students - are you going to be starting this September ? if so, are you firming dmu , just in case you've changed your mind x

I'm thinking of an MPharm at DMU next year. Currently scared that I wont quite get the grades needed, but have time to work my pants off to improve them.

Does DMU have a history of taking applicants who may have missed grades and what support might they give to check that you're keeping up?

Hi, did you get a reduced offer due to the pandemic I got BCC as an offer (104) points