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University of Nottingham Malaysia
University of Nottingham Malaysia
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Course overview

Pharmacy education has undergone significant changes in the last few years. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of pharmacy and pharmacology within the healthcare industry. It has become an essential component of the healthcare system, playing a vital in the delivery of safe and effective medication to patients.

The BPharm (Hons) is a 4-year degree programme at our Malaysia campus, composed of modules contributing to a specific number of credits. The BPharm (Hons) programme takes integration across therapeutic themes or disease states via a series of “Drug, Medicine and Patient” (DMP) modules. For each topic, you will look at it from the angle of the drug, the medicine and the patient. This will be the emphasis in Year 1 to Year 3 together with a semester-long research project module to develop your research and data analysis skills. In Year 4, you will have extended placements in industrial and community pharmacy.

 

Much of the teaching is case-based, providing real-life examples, bringing together the fundamental science and clinical use of medicines. You will gain patient interaction experience through placements in community and hospital pharmacies. You'll also take part in patient workshops.

Why choose this course?

Our School of Pharmacy is ranked in the top 8 in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology (QS World University Rankings 2023). Through the course, our students become experts in drugs and medicines. This knowledge, tied with the development of effective communication skills to cultivate open relationships with patients, allows for a significant role in improving patient outcomes. Overall, Pharmacy is one of the most promising professions for the future.

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Modules

Examples of DMP (Drug, Medicine, Patient) modules include

  • Bacterial and Fungal Infections
  • Cardiovascular
  • Dyspepsia
  • Gastrointestinal and Liver Disorders

Typical core modules

  • Central Nervous System Disorders
  • Cancer
  • Research Project

Typical core modules

  • Integrated Pharmaceutical and Patient Care
  • Community Pharmacy Placement
  • Industrial Pharmacy Placement

Optional modules are health sciences related and support the pharmacist’s competencies development

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

A Level

 BBB in Biology, Chemistry and Physics/Mathematics. 

IB Diploma

 30 points with 5, 5, 5 at Higher Level including Biology and Chemistry, and 4 points in 1 other science subject at Standard Level. The Standard Level requirement can be waived if applicants have studied Mathematics at Higher Level.

STPM

 BBB in Biology, Chemistry and Physics/Mathematics, excluding Pengajian Am.

UEC

 2As, including Biology and Chemistry, plus grade B3 in Mathematics, Physics and 1 other academic subject, excluding Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese language.

SAM or other Australian matriculations

 ATAR 86, including Biology, Chemistry and Physics/Mathematics. Applicants must have at least grade B in Chemistry. 

Canadian Ontario Grade 12 Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

80% average based on 6 subjects with Biology, Chemistry and Physics/Mathematics above 80%.

Canadian Secondary School Diplomas from other provinces are acceptable and to be assessed based on the University’s requirements.

Advance Placement (AP)

 Not applicable.

Diploma - Other Institutions

 Overall minimum GPA of 3.75 out of 4.0 and above in Diploma in Science (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) or overall minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 in Diploma in Pharmacy from an accredited institution. Applicants must have at least grade B in Chemistry.

Foundation - Other Institutions

 Overall GPA of 3.30 out of 4.0 and above in Matriculation in Science, Medical/Pharmacy Pre-University or Foundation in Science, including at least grade B in Chemistry. The duration of this programme must be a minimum of 1 year from an accredited institution.

University of Nottingham Malaysia Foundation

 Successful completion of the Foundation in Science programme with an average mark of 65%, and a minimum of 60% in all chemistry modules. 

In addition to the entry requirements listed above:

  • Malaysian applicants with Diploma/Matriculation/Medical or Pharmacy Pre-University/Foundation must have 5 Bs (including Biology, Chemistry, Physics and either Mathematics or Additional Mathematics) in SPM or equivalent.
  • Malaysian applicants intending to complete their provisional training (PRP) at government-linked hospitals or healthcare facilities must pass SPM and have at least grade C in Malay Language (Bahasa Melayu) in SPM.

We strongly encourage all interested students to apply. Our students come to us with a diverse range of qualifications and we are also reviewing and accepting grades based on the minimum acceptable (and those who are holding grades with near misses). The only way for us to fully determine eligibility is through the submission of a completed application.

Entry requirements in the prospectus and website may not always apply and individual offers may vary.

 

IELTS (Academic)

 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in each element)

TOEFL (iBT)

 90 (minimum 19 in Writing and Listening, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking)

PTE (Academic)

 71 (with no less than 65 in each element)

SPM

 CEFR level B2

GCSE O-Level

 grade C / 4

IGCSE (first language)

 grade C / 4

IGCSE (second language)

 grade B / 6

MUET

 Band 4.5

UEC

 grade A2

IB English A1 or A2 (Standard or Higher Level)

  4 points

IB English B (Higher Level)

 4 points

IB English B (Standard Level)

 5 points

IELTS, TOEFL and PTE (Academic) test results must be less than two years old and all IELTS must be the academic version of the test. MUET results are valid for five years from the date of the release of results.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops
  • Practical classes
  • Field trips
  • Supervision
  • Lab sessions
  • Computer labs

How you will be assessed

  • Coursework
  • Group coursework
  • Examinations
  • Presentation
  • Research project
  • Essay
  • Poster presentation
  • Practical write-ups

Applying

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for undergraduate courses.

How to apply

Fees

ResidencyFees
Malaysian studentsRM53,000 per year
International studentsRM60,000 per year

Where you will learn

Malaysia Campus

Semenyih Campus is 48km from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and just 45 minutes’ drive from the famous city centre with its iconic Petronas Twin Towers. On arrival, you are immersed in the green jungle backdrop that Malaysia provides with wildlife, sunshine and campus lake.

The campus is home to our business, education, science and engineering schools, which sit alongside a sports centre, library and student accommodation. The University has everything a modern day student could wish for with the added bonus of being located in central Asia allowing you to travel further afield in your free time.

Public transport is plentiful with free shuttle services operating on some routes. Taxi/Grab services in Malaysia are very reasonable and used widely by the student community.

Careers

Once the programme is fully accredited, students who have successfully completed their BPharm programme and their Provisionally Registered Pharmacist (PRP) training, can practice as pharmacists anywhere in Malaysia.

Post registration, you could work as a pharmacist in the community (retail) or in a hospital. Several students also have the option of working in the pharmaceutical industry, for the research and development of new drugs and medicines.

The University has an established Careers Advisory Service (CAS) that provides students with essential resources and guidance for career choices offering many opportunities to develop the skills needed to plan and manage your future. Our Careers Advisory Service will work with you to improve and maximise your employability skills as well as providing essential resources and guidance that will assist you with job/course applications. They will facilitate searches for appropriate work experience placements and connect you to a wide range of prospective employers or training opportunities.

In addition, the School of Pharmacy provides guidance and maintains good connections with both our alumni and prospective employers to facilitate experiential learning and explore career and training opportunities.

Upon graduation, you will need to undergo a minimum one-year pre-registration training called provisionally registered pharmacist (PRP). The contract PRP with the government is placed at a pay grade of UF41. The minimum base salary for UF41 is RM2740 per month.

Graduates with a BPharm degree have the opportunity to work in government and private hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.There is also an opportunity to work in the industrial pharmacy line, doing research and development of new drugs and treatments. Some of the career prospects include:

  • Pharmacist
  • Pharmaceutical scientist
  • Drug therapist
  • Chemical technician
  • Drug inspector
  • Health inspector
  • Analytical chemist
  • Pathological lab scientist
  • Food and drug inspector
  • Medical representative
  • Pharmaceutical sales executive
  • Research officer/clinical researcher
  • Medical writer

Frequently asked questions

At UNM, our course features an integrated course that brings together the fundamentals of science and the clinical use of medicine.  Students will learn pharmacology, medical sciences like cardiovascular and immunology, pharmaceutics, pharmacy practice, and clinical pharmacy. Students will also learn about the healthcare system and how to communicate with patients and other healthcare professionals. In addition to this, students will also be required to undertake a research project in their third year of study.

Individuals who plan to enrol in this course at UNM will need a minimum of BBB in biology, chemistry and physics/mathematics in their A-Level or STPM. For students who have just completed their secondary education, UNM’s Foundation in Science is a direct pathway to this degree. Students are also expected to be proficient in English as all classes are taught in this language.

Upon completing a Bachelor of Pharmacy, one can work as a pharmacist in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies and community pharmacies. You can also choose to pursue postgraduate degrees in this field.

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) degree at UNM typically takes four years to complete.

Yes, the BPharm degree is recognised in Malaysia and is recognised by the Malaysia Pharmacy Board and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. 

This depends on the university’s admission requirements. However, a strong foundation in science subjects such as biology and chemistry will help you to succeed in this programme.

This depends on the university you’re enrolled in. At UNM, the tuition fee is RM53,000 per year for Malaysian students and RM60,000 per year for international students. In addition to the tuition fee, you may also want to budget for accommodation, travel and other living expenses. UNM also offers financial aid and scholarships.

Our BPharm is a full-time course and as such there are no part-time options.

The healthcare sector in Malaysia has experienced a strong growth in recent years. Job prospects for BPharm graduates are good, and there is high-demand for quality pharmacist in various healthcare and research sectors.

This content was last updated on 10 July 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.