Considering a pharmacy course? We unpack the degree requirements needed for both in-year and Clearing pharmacy courses at UK universities.
Updated: 23 Jan 2026
Pharmacists are healthcare experts who focus on the safe use of medications. They understand the principles of medicine, their design and how to use them. A pharmacy degree will equip you with the medical knowledge and clinical skills to treat patients, whether working in hospitals or retail pharmacies. To become a pharmacist, you’ll need to study for a four-year master’s degree in pharmacy (MPharm).
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The UCAS points needed to study a pharmacy degree range from 112 points (BBC at A-level; DMM at BTEC level) to 136 points (AAB at A-level; DDD at BTEC level). Pharmacy degree entry requirements will vary between universities, bit aiming for over 112 UCAS points is a good place to start.
A-levels
A-levels needed for pharmacy courses will usually revolve around of science subjects. Students will need to have studied chemistry and usually one other science such as biology, maths or physics. General studies and critical thinking won’t be accepted as part of your points total.
BTECs
BTEC students will usually need to have studied applied science or have this accompanied by one or two science-based A-levels.
GCSEs
You’ll need at least five GCSEs, with a grade C/4 or above, including English and maths. Similar to A-levels, GCSEs needed for pharmacy courses will often also include a science-based subject. Some courses will require your GCSEs to be at a grade B/6 or above.
International Baccalaureate
A Higher Level in chemistry with a grade 6 is needed for most pharmacy courses. Some courses will ask that you have another science subject at Higher Level. Top universities will want you to have a 6, 6, 5 at Higher Level.
Alongside grades, universities will look at how well you can demonstrate your understanding of the subject and your willingness to work as a pharmacist. Express this through your personal statement. Mentioning any work experience that you’ve had in pharmacy will boost your application.
Our sister site, the Complete University Guide, publishes university league tables every year ranking UK unis nationally and in 70+ subject areas. Check out the latest rankings to see the best UK unis for pharmacy.
What’s important when choosing an MPharm course, however, isn’t whether it’s one of the above universities, but if it’s fully accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. This is an indication that the university’s teaching is up to the high standards set by the Society and you’ll be able to register as a pharmacist after you’ve graduated.
You should also take into consideration the following:
Module choices
Pharmacy degrees will equip you with the same overall skills and knowledge but will go about this in their own way. Module choices vary from uni to uni, so pay attention to what modules each degree offers before applying.
Methods of teaching and assessment
Most pharmacy degrees will teach you through a variety of theoretical and practical methods but they might differ in time spent on each. Some universities also offer you the chance to undertake a supervised research project in your final year, whereas others don’t. Work placements are included in some courses, but not all. To choose the ideal course, think carefully about how you want to learn and be assessed.
Pre-reg or no pre-reg
Pharmacy degrees are typically four years in total. Once you’ve finished your degree, you’ll then need to apply for a one-year pre-registration period under supervision in a real pharmacy. Some universities offer a five-year pharmacy degree with a pre-registration year included, which means you’ll be a fully-fledged pharmacist upon graduation.
Comparing pharmacy degrees is easy with Whatuni’s Find a Course tool. By searching ‘pharmacy’, you can see a full list of available courses.
You can personalise your search based on UK location, university, course type and what courses you meet the pharmacy degree requirements for. Browse through the course information pages once you’ve set your filters. For each course you’ll see an overview, their ranking, employment rate, dropout rate and module choices.
Once you’ve compiled a shortlist of courses, begin your research by ordering each university’s prospectus. This will give you an overview of learning facilities, accommodation, social activities, support and much more.
Book yourself onto university open days too. You’ll get to take a closer look at the campus and speak to both current students and tutors.
Reading student reviews will offer you an honest insight into what you can expect from your student experience. You can filter reviews based on university, course and even search for keywords.
You can apply for a pharmacy degree through Clearing when the service opens in early July. You can search, save and compare any courses using Whatuni’s Clearing tool.
Some universities will lower their entry requirements for Clearing courses. Whatuni will update these entry requirements throughout Clearing. By entering your grades when you search for courses, you’ll see your chance of acceptance onto each course.
In the meantime, pre-register for Clearing. You’ll receive regular advice leading up to Clearing, have access to Whatuni’s Clearing guide and be able to save and compare pharmacy courses once Clearing begins.
There will be other options to consider:
Study a pharmacy foundation year: A growing number of universities offer a pharmacy foundation year. This is designed to equip you with the knowledge needed for degree-level study. The entry requirements are much lower, but be aware of the extra time and cost the foundation year will add to your degree.
Study a foundation degree in pharmacy: These courses are designed for students who lack the qualifications required for an MPharm. The two-year course combines all of the content included in year one of an MPharm degree with work experience placements. Once completed, you can apply to enter directly into the second year of an accredited MPharm degree.
Study a similar subject: If you want to study the elements of pharmacy but aren’t dead set on working as a pharmacist, another good option is to study pharmacology or pharmaceutical science. These courses typically have lower entry requirements, around 96 to 104 points, and take three years to complete. You can also decide to transfer to a pharmacy degree after your first year, subject to your academic performance and an interview.
Take a gap year and resit your exams: One final option is to take a year out, resit your exams next summer and apply for pharmacy courses starting in that academic year. During the year you could get some work or volunteering experience to improve your application.
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