Bangor University has said it will launch a new pharmacy degree next year as it embarks on developing its medical school to give students more courses to choose from and ensure graduates can “fulfil the workforce needs of North Wales and beyond.”

The degree will start in September 2025 after what Bangor University (pictured) described as “a successful visit” from the General Pharmaceutical Council as part of the accreditation process. The university said that for the time being, the programme will be “provisionally accredited until the accreditation process is complete” and will start recruiting students to the course in the meantime.

The curriculum, it said, will consist of “integrated, multidisciplinary modules where pharmacy practice, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry elements are combined around the focus of the patient and their care.”

Bangor University added: “The MPharm programme will align with the GPhC’s new Standards for Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists and will support the regional health and wellbeing of the population by preparing pharmacy graduates for their roles as part of integrated healthcare teams to facilitate patient care.”

Bangor University’s head of pharmacy programme Stephen Doughty said: “This programme will meet both a local and national need and will ensure that North Wales has a strong base for pharmacy education and research. This will ensure that patients and potential students’ needs are being met for the future.” 

Lois Lloyd, the chief pharmacist at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “I’m delighted with this positive news for North Wales and we look forward to working in partnership with Bangor University to support the programme.

“We now have an opportunity to locally invest in the training of pharmacists in North Wales and to develop the clinically skilled workforce we, and the wider NHS, need for the future.”