working while doing a pharmacy degree

hello! i'm pretty much jobless right now and i am going to be doing a pharmacy degree this september. i'm wondering if anyone else who is doing a pharmacy degree and is in 2nd year+ can recommend or discourage working while doing a pharmacy degree (if anyone wants specifics, hopefully it will be at newcastle uni)

Reply 1

McGinger

Original post

by yoomelanie06

You will have placements throughout your MPharm degree - and they may involve daily travel etc - so any paid work would have to fit around that. And your timetable will change each term/semester.

There are always job opportunities at any Uni - regular stuff in cafes etc, and one-off things like working Open Days and graduation ceremonies etc - Finding Work on Campus | Student Services | Newcastle University - and this is often more flexible than a conventional p/time job.

Reply 2

University of Bath

Official Rep

Original post

by yoomelanie06

Hiya! Great to hear you're interested in pharmacy :smile:

I have just finished my 4th year of pharmacy at Bath so hopefully can provide some insight.

Pharmacy is a degree which requires a lot of time commitment, so I would advise against taking up a job which requires you to work a lot of hours. As an estimate, I would suggest no more than 8/ 10 hours a week if you want to keep on top of studying. Some of my friends work in a pharmacy for 8 hours on a Saturday and that seems to be manageable and also might assist with learning on the course.

As mentioned above, the timetable is likely to change every semester (at least it does at Bath), so it would be difficult to commit to working a specific shift in the week. Travelling for placements might also affect your ability to work as it's likely you will be located away from your university at least once, so work would have to be flexible around that.

I also agree that finding a job through the uni is more likely to be flexible around your schedule. For example my work as a student ambassador allows me to choose when I post on platforms like this so it really could not be more flexible. At Bath, a lot of students also choose to help out at open days as it is a very easy way to earn some money.
Here is a link to apply to be a student ambassador at Bath in case you or anyone else is interested and you can find more vacancies on campus here.

Overall, I would definitely recommend finding out what jobs are available at the uni you end up at but advise you to keep the hours you commit to minimal.

Let me know if you have any more questions about pharmacy or studying at Bath :smile:

Lauren, University of Bath

Reply 3

sawanii

Original post

by University of Bath

Hiya! Great to hear you're interested in pharmacy :smile:

I have just finished my 4th year of pharmacy at Bath so hopefully can provide some insight.
Pharmacy is a degree which requires a lot of time commitment, so I would advise against taking up a job which requires you to work a lot of hours. As an estimate, I would suggest no more than 8/ 10 hours a week if you want to keep on top of studying. Some of my friends work in a pharmacy for 8 hours on a Saturday and that seems to be manageable and also might assist with learning on the course.
As mentioned above, the timetable is likely to change every semester (at least it does at Bath), so it would be difficult to commit to working a specific shift in the week. Travelling for placements might also affect your ability to work as it's likely you will be located away from your university at least once, so work would have to be flexible around that.
I also agree that finding a job through the uni is more likely to be flexible around your schedule. For example my work as a student ambassador allows me to choose when I post on platforms like this so it really could not be more flexible. At Bath, a lot of students also choose to help out at open days as it is a very easy way to earn some money.
Here is a link to apply to be a student ambassador at Bath in case you or anyone else is interested and you can find more vacancies on campus here.
Overall, I would definitely recommend finding out what jobs are available at the uni you end up at but advise you to keep the hours you commit to minimal.
Let me know if you have any more questions about pharmacy or studying at Bath :smile:

Lauren, University of Bath

Hello

I'll be starting Pharmacy at the Uni of Bath in September this year. How do you find it? And my main question is what activities are there to do around there, especially for someone who doesn't drink/party?

Thank you!

Reply 4

University of Bath

Official Rep

Original post

by sawanii

Hello
I'll be starting Pharmacy at the Uni of Bath in September this year. How do you find it? And my main question is what activities are there to do around there, especially for someone who doesn't drink/party?
Thank you!

Hiya! Congratulations of your offer, I'm sure you'll have a great time here 🙂

I have found the course very interesting but it has definitely been a big time commitment, just with the amount of content we have to learn (which would be the same at any school of pharmacy). As long as you are willing to spend the time working for it, I'm sure it will be fine for you though.

In terms of things to do, there is a lot going on in Fresher's week even for those who aren't interested in the partying side of it. There are a lot of taster sessions for the sports groups and societies which I'd definitely recommend taking part in. I think those groups are a great way to connect with people with similar interests to you and to make friends you might keep for the whole degree.

Outside of that, some of my favourite places to visit are Lane 7, which is a cool games bar but still would be very fun to go to sober, and the Everyman Cinema which features sofa seating and in-theatre dining - very cosy on a rainy day. I also went pottery painting after exams this year and it was surprisingly therapeutic so that might be a good way to relieve stress - I went to Flourish in Saltford.

There are also a lot of free activities you can do, like visiting the Roman Baths or the Royal Crescent. I'd definitely recommend having a picnic at the Crescent with your friends in the warmer months. I also love just walking around the city - I'm not sure if you've visited yet but it's very beautiful and there are a lot of independent shops and cafe's / restaurants to explore. We also have a lot of markets in the city so keep an eye out for when they are on. The Christmas Market is my absolute highlight of the city.

I really enjoy walking and Bath has some great walks if you're interested in that. My favs are the Skyline Walk, which is perfect if you are on campus in first year as it goes past there, and the Two Tunnels Greenway which is super accessible from Oldfield Park (the main student area). I'd also recommend walking up to Alexandra Park at least once as it has the best views of the city - particularly special on Bonfire Night when you can see the fireworks across the city.

I'd also recommend studying in a cafe in the city when work gets tedious (which it will at some point). My favourite is Silcox Coffee - they just opened up a new room specifically for working in. A lot of my friends also recommended Society Cafe. On that note, I'd also recommend visiting Good Day Cafe - they have some crazy cakes you have to try at least once.

Those are the main activities I have enjoyed doing in Bath but I'm sure you will find your own favourites over the 4 years you are here!

Let me know if you have any other questions :smile:

Lauren, University of Bath

Reply 5

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

Original post

by yoomelanie06

Hi,

Working while doing a pharmacy degree is definitely doable with good time management. The course can be demanding, especially from second year onwards with lectures, workload, and placements.

I’m currently heading into my third year of pharmacy and work five hours a week as a student ambassador, which fits well around my studies. Many students work part-time, often in pharmacy roles like dispensers, which also provides valuable experience and helps build your CV.

I recommend checking if your university has Unitemps or its own jobs service. Working in student-led roles is usually flexible and fits well around your timetable.

It’s important to remember that you may have placement or university commitments Monday to Friday, so if you want to work, a weekend job may be your best option.

Also, to prevent burnout, make sure to do things you enjoy and prioritise self-care. Balancing work and study can be stressful if you take on too much, so find time to relax and recharge. It’s important to find what works best for you.

If you do have any questions about pharmacy, please feel free to ask. Good luck with your studies :smile:

Tayba
Student Rep

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