Original post by mrlittlebigmanApparently, from what I have read on here, you don't need any pharmacy work-experience to apply to study the MPharm degree.
However, were I going to be paying £37,000 pounds, and setting my future career path by taking this degree, then I would certainly try to obtain at least ONE day in a community pharmacy to see what you are going to be doing for a job in about 6 or 7 years.
Reason being that approx two-thirds of pharmacy degree graduates end up in community pharmacy. If you can obtain a day with a hospital or GP surgery pharmacist then that would be amazing, although I'm not sure these days how easy that would be to arrange. Perhaps your college/school career's tutor may be of assistance here?
At the very least I would try to see if it were possible to book an appointment with some community pharmacists, just for a general chat about the degree, and if they enjoyed it, would they recommend a career in pharmacy, etc. if you are unable to get any work experience in the sector.
It would be interesting if there is anyone here applying for medicine, and just putting pharmacy as a 5th choice, if they could provide any information on what is expected by medical schools, so a comparison could be made.
And to that age old question, No, it matters not at all where you do your pharmacy degree, Boots, Tesco, the NHS, no-one cares as long as you can pass the pharmacy degree, then pass the pre-reg (foundation year) exam and get onto the register of pharmaceutical chemists. I know some students find this rather strange, thinking that if they go to UCL, or Nottingham/Manchester/Cardiff, or any Russell group, then it makes them much more employable, I'm afraid it really doesn't. Pharmacy is a little strange in this respect if you compare to subjects like Law, etc.
Best wishes and Good luck.