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Postgraduate pharmacy personal statement example.

I am interested in the Masters of Pharmacy (MPharm) Programme because I am interested in the modules on which it is based. I want to do the MPharm programme so as to extend my knowledge in Medicines. I would like to get a deeper understanding of how to formulate and administer drugs safely.

There is need to continually find new leads to innovative medicines to help combat diseases more efficiently, advancement in drug discovery and finding new technologies to improve drug delivery systems is something that interests me immensely and I would like to advance my education in that direction.

An Mpharm programme would be a rewarding course for me to undertake both personally and professionally. An MPharm programme would give me a wide range of opportunities and carrier options. It would give me professional independence where I can work with autonomy.

I would qualify for the Mpharm programme because I have recently completed BSc in pharmaceutical Science which has given me good understanding of how drugs work. The modules I have undertaken In my BSc Pharmaceutical Science will help me navigate successfully in the MPharm programme.

Modules such as Bioanalytical techniques gave me grounding for analytical techniques. I developed an understanding of the principles and terminology which is used in qualitative and quantitative, absolute and empirical methods, sampling, sample treatments, standards and calibration techniques.

I learnt a range of techniques for determining the amount of an element or compound in a specified sample, describe the theoretical background and instrumental requirements of these techniques.

These techniques included spectroscopic methods such as solution spectroscopy, Mass spectroscopy and the fragmentation for molecular analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy and UV/VIS spectroscopy. Separation methods such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography, gel filtration, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography.

Eletroanalytical techniques such as ion –sensitive electrodes, membrane systems, enzyme sensors and pH electrodes. I gained a better understanding of immunoassays such as radio immunoassays, enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique and ELISA and their application in urine drug tests.

I developed the practical skills needed for sample preparation, instrument calibration and gained experience in handling analytical results. The Bioanalytical techniques modules helped me understand and select the application of appropriate analytical techniques and making valid interpretations of analyses.

Drug delivery systems helped me gain knowledge of the principles which describe and control the effective delivery of drugs from their delivery systems to target sites.

It gave me the understanding of the physicochemical properties- factors involved in the stabilisation of pharmaceuticals such as the kinetics of decomposition and the solubility in polar and non-polar solvents. I gained an appreciation of manufacturing processes and the stability of formulations in the overall development of new products.

How drugs exert their pharmacologic effects, how they get to the site of action and the properties they need to have for them to exert their effects. The drug design strategies that are employed to improve the physiochemical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties of the drugs through chemical transformations.

The ethical issues surrounding drug development and delivery mechanisms. Combination of principles of pharmacology, systems pharmacology gave me prescriptive knowledge into the drugs. They also gave me an understanding of drug actions through chemical mediators on specified organ systems and at cellular and molecular level. They gave me an understanding of drug toxicity and the side-effects the drugs may have on other organs.

Medicinal chemistry I have learnt about the relationships between the structure and the activity of drugs as well as assess critically the methodologies and strategies that govern whether or not a synthetic compound would be a good drug candidate for mass production. I learnt how to assess if differences between research methods and development of organic compounds looking at the whether the processes are economically and environmentally viable for scaling up.

Organic chemistry I have come to understand the interpretation of organic reactions in terms of generic mechanisms neutral, nucleoophilic and electrophilic and the different outcomes which are addition, elimination, substitution and rearrangement. This enabled me to be able to predict the outcomes of complex mechanistic processes making comparisons of the factors influencing one pathway from another.

I also learnt to interpret Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectral data. In my biochemistry modules such metabolic biochemistry and clinical biochemistry module I gained an appreciation of the diversity and the interconnection of metabolic pathways, the use of different metabolites to screen diagnose and monitor diseases.

My project and practical work in my final year gave me valuable practice on how to behave in a laboratory including key areas such as health and safety and a basis for good laboratory practice. I gained valuable practice in advanced synthetic and purification techniques such as fractional, vacuum distillation and solvent extraction.

I also earned some valuable practice in High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Mass spectrum, Gas chromatography. I am able to use and read out different spectra which include UV Visible and NMR.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by ekkasonde1 for application in 2010.

ekkasonde1's university choices University of East Anglia Keele University University of Hertfordshire Kingston University University of Portsmouth De Montfort University

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Degree pharmacy at University of East Anglia

ekkasonde1's Comments

My personal statement shows what i have learnt in the past three years and how the BSc pharmceutical Science has increased my interest in medicines. I would like to enhance my knowledge and an MPharm would give me that opportunity. It shows the modules i have completed and shows that i am well equipped and qualified to undertake the MPharm programme

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

I was reading it and it.

Sat, 26/06/2010 - 20:41

I was reading it and it sounded extremely boring. You are rambling alot and saying stuff which the admissions tutors already know about. Even though I don't know you this statement does not sound genuine because all you are talking about is experience. I can't judge what kind of a character you are or what you like/dislike from this.

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  • Pharmacy School

Best Pharmacy School Personal Statement Examples

Check out top 4 sample statements.

Pharmacy School Personal Statement

Pharmacy school personal statement examples demonstrate that pharmacy school applications require many different documents to adequately assess you as a potential candidate. In addition to looking at your CV , transcripts, letters of recommendation , and any other required materials, most pharmacy programs ask you to submit a personal statement. After gathering so many materials together, a one-page essay may seem like a trivial item to check off on your application to-do list, but beware of treating the personal statement too lightly! Gaining admission to a graduate pharmacy program certainly requires top grades, competitive test scores, and glowing letters of recommendation from referees who know you well, but these aren’t the only components that admissions committees take into account when evaluating your profile. 

Keep in mind that most pharmacy school applicants already have stellar academic records, impressive test scores, and fantastic recommendations. These sorts of accomplishments are important, but are more or less a given in the application process. Furthermore, grades, test scores, and other people’s perceptions of you and the quality of your work are insufficient to determine if you are up for the challenge of the rigors of pharmacy school and the work that follows graduation. With something as serious as pharmacology, it is crucial to determine whether who you are would make you a good fit for the profession. Your knowledge, experiences, and attitudes all play a key role in deciding if you would thrive as a pharmacy student, and eventually, as a pharmacist serving your community. With so many applicants each cycle, admissions officers need some way to gauge these factors in order to narrow the applicant pool down to those they would like to speak to in person, or these days, over the internet. This is where the personal statement comes in! Keep reading to determine what a pharmacy school personal statement measures and how to create one that will make you stand out from other applicants.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 24 min read

4 pharmacy school personal statement examples.

Three days after my thirteenth birthday, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The next twelve months were the toughest in my life, but this experience also gave me something I am forever grateful for—an unwavering passion for pharmacy. I always accompanied my mother to her chemotherapy sessions, where I performed plays for her and the other patients, trying to make them smile. I took an immediate liking to the pharmacist, who returned repeatedly to ask my mother how she was feeling; he explained in detail how these chemo drugs worked and how they interacted with others she had been taking. I listened raptly, entranced by the seemingly magic properties of this medication. It was difficult to watch my mother lose her hair and become frail, but she ultimately made a full recovery, thanks to the wonderful team of medical professionals and to these life-saving drugs. While I lost the naivety of youth that year, I gained a profound new sense of purpose. I was inspired to become a hospital pharmacist and to help patients in times of extreme uncertainty and pain.  

Anyone who has ever faced a challenge has probably heard about the deflating nonexistence of a “magic pill” solution. Want to lose weight? There’s no magic pill for that. Trying to learn a new language? No dice. Hard work is always touted as the solution, and rightly so. As a preteen who struggled with confidence, I desperately yearned for a magic pill solution that would make me the bubbly, carefree girl surrounded by laughter in the cafeteria. Instead, the only bubbly aspect of my lunchtime break was the gurgling, broken faucet inside the girl’s restroom. Though unaware of it at the time, the bathroom was not a refuge from the scary, hormonal social scene of junior high, but from my ever-increasing social anxiety. As for a magic pill to rid me of that affliction? I think you know the answer to that.

Though there may not have been a magic pill to rid me of my mounting social anxiety, hard work seemed like an unlikely solution, too. For months, I put on a happy face, trying to convince myself that there was nothing to fear in locker-side conversations and that my worth was not determined by what a group of gangly middle-schoolers thought of me. Eventually, my parents took me to see a psychiatrist, and after many sweaty-palmed conversations, I was diagnosed with social anxiety and handed a prescription for anti-anxiety medication. Of course, the medication I received was no miracle, but with other coping mechanisms, my world began to seem a little more welcoming. Gradually, I interacted with peers more, who became friends. I still had to work hard in therapy, but the capsules I took in the morning each day removed my constant, debilitating worry.

Without the shadow of anxiety darkening my every social interaction, I felt as though I was beginning to become the version of myself I always wanted to be. Years later, I actually was the girl surrounded by laughter in the high school lunchroom. More importantly, though, I took my first chemistry course and discovered my passion. The ways that elements on the periodic table could combine to create entirely new substances fascinated me. I realized that, just like myself, the world around us is in a constant state of flux, with elements combining, reacting to forces, and continuously changing. As I changed from a high school chemistry novice to a university student, one thing remained constant: my passion for chemistry. Delving into how chemistry can be used as a tool inspired me to pursue it as a major, and I worked in various labs on campus investigating how different combinations could be put to use to solve problems, just like my psychiatrist helped me find ways to deal with my social anxiety.

Through my lab work on campus, I grew close with Dr. Johnson – the principal investigator in a campus lab and a faculty member in the pharmacy program. One evening, as we were locking up the lab, Dr. Johnson asked me if I had ever considered becoming a pharmacist. Initially hesitant, I finally accepted Dr. Johnson’s offer to facilitate a shadowing opportunity with one of his former colleagues. My first day in the pharmacy was overwhelming. The rattling of pills in bottles served as the backdrop to the near-tangible pressure of making sure no life-threatening mistakes occurred. I was intimidated by the responsibility, but excited by the chemical interactions that the pharmacist discussed with me. This was the ultimate problem-solving chemistry I had been seeking! 

After months of shadowing a pharmacist, I was convinced that I wanted to pursue a career in pharmacy. My experiences with Dr. Johnson and his colleague piqued my interest in what seemed like a never-ending field of discovery. Elements combining, reacting to forces, and continuously changing, but in the human body! Figuring out the puzzles of chemical reactions had always been intriguing, but knowing that I could combine that with helping people recover from sickness, manage chronic disease, or even find the strength to leave the middle school bathroom and have lunch with other students was empowering. The medication I took as a preteen may not have been a magic pill for my social anxiety, but there was certainly some magic in it. I look forward to putting in the hard work to bring that magic to others as a pharmacist. (724 words)

‘I want to do more than just counsel on the proper use of Levothyroxine’ was what I told my father when he asked me what kind of pharmacist I wanted to be. He died shortly after, and it saddens me to think that I cannot tell him now how my vision has evolved. Now, besides being someone in charge of educating patients about their medications, I see pharmacists as scientists who design and produce medicines, evaluate lab results and drug interactions for the benefit of the patient, act as a trusted link between doctors and their patients and, ultimately, impact patients’ lives and contribute to their wellbeing. Pharmacists need to be team players, good communicators, detail-oriented problem solvers, and culturally sensitive professionals, and these are some of the characteristics that I have developed through different endeavors.

As the captain of my soccer team in high school, I was put in charge of leading the team both in and outside of the game. On the field, I acted as a mediator between the players, coach, and referee. Successfully guiding players on the strategies dictated by the coach required excellent communication skills. In my team, I was not only a player; I was a key decision maker and a motivator. Making tactical decisions while supporting everyone in their position showed me the true meaning of being a team player and taught me how to handle pressure well. When I look back at those times and think about the titles we won for our school, I know that the characteristics I developed while I led my team to victory will be put to use when I have to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals in the future.

In college, while volunteering at a local pharmacy in my hometown, I helped the pharmacist handle prescriptions and dispense a variety of medications. It became clear to me that following a methodical approach and paying great attention to detail were essential in pharmacy. I made it a point to learn from him, and with time, I found myself being thorough, accurate, and organized not only at the pharmacy but at school as well. I also sought to understand both the cause and the effect of a situation, which is an ability that has guided everything I have done since then, including my research work and my academic activities as a Biology major. Seeing the pharmacist interact with patients was truly rewarding. I watched as he explained the treatment, potential side effects, and desired outcomes to them while evaluating the interactions between the drugs they were taking in order to avoid any harm. This showed me that, besides being a problem-solver and having analytical abilities, pharmacists need to be empathetic and care for their patients. Very soon I found myself interacting with people who visited the pharmacy and exercising the same skills the local pharmacist possessed.

This interaction with people helped me refine different characteristics that I bring with me to this new journey. One of the most significant is, perhaps, the cultural awareness that I developed in my shadowing work at the university hospital. Having a patient who does not speak the language, calming them down, and finding a translator, for instance, or understanding how different cultures view certain health practices and looking for ways to respectfully adapt to them has allowed me to learn and practice cultural sensitivity, which is crucial in a multicultural society, such as in Canada, where the population is becoming more diverse. By seeing pharmacists in action in the university hospital setting, I gained insight into the every-day lives of healthcare professionals who work with patients from every background imaginable. Moreover, I also came to realize the pressure to which pharmacists are exposed when the correct medication has to be provided with extreme urgency. Working under pressure is something I do well since my soccer days, so instead of deterring me, this motivates me.

If anyone were to ask me today about the kind of pharmacist I want to be, I would have a much stronger answer than the one I gave to my father many years ago. I want to be the kind of pharmacist that uses their knowledge, skills, and compassion to improve their patients’ health and one that works with other health care professionals to maximize health outcomes. Furthermore, I want to have patients trust me enough to let me become involved in their lives as I guide them on their medications and help them improve their quality of life. Besides all this, and on a much more personal level, I want to be the kind of pharmacist that will make my father proud. (781 words)

“Why would you want to be a pharmacist?” was the question my father asked me when I shared my decision to pursue pharmacy school. This was a question I had asked myself many times as I solidified my decision to pursue this dream. I shared my experience standing in line at a local pharmacy to fill a prescription. This was something I did every month, and not an experience that I had given much thought, however; when I saw the person in line in front of me experience great distress at learned the price of her daughter’s prescription, I realized that not all patrons had the same experience as me. To many, a trip to the pharmacy may be filled with questions over how their medications will affect their body or their ability to afford groceries for the month. The woman in line was worried about the high prescription price in light of other expenses in providing for her family. As I saw the pharmacist assist her in finding a less costly alternative, and the ease come over the woman as she learned that her family would be alright, I had my first glimpse into my future profession as a pharmacist. 

This day sparked my interest in attending pharmacy school, but also a desire to further explore what it meant to be a pharmacist. While donating blood to the Red Cross, I learned of the growing need for pharmacist volunteers, with many underserved communities necessitating additional support. As I was giving blood, I talked with a current pharmacist volunteer, ‘Samantha,’ who recounted her responsibilities to me when I expressed an interest in wanting to learn more. ‘Samantha’ explained why she felt pharmacists made wonderful volunteers in the community. She reflected that pharmacists have the knowledge to make an impact and valuable experience conversing daily with people of all backgrounds. As I talked with ‘Samantha,’ I thought about my own capacity to strike up a conversation with people I had not met before. I recalled that my friends often joke about how I could talk to anyone about anything, a trait I admire in myself. Everyone is skilled in different ways, but my ability to talk to anyone I come across will be an asset to my future as a pharmacist. I look forward to new experiences every day and speaking with new patrons to get to know their needs and concerns. In addition, I hope to volunteer in my community as a pharmacist to expand the number of people I can impact with my loquacious disposition as I guide them towards safe medication use. 

With the personality to be a efficacious pharmacist, I looked to build my experience in the healthcare profession. I secured a volunteer position aiding a hospital pharmacist in educating health professionals on drug side effects. I was responsible for designing educational posters for use in counseling patients about their medications. I was eager to use my artistic talents to help people seeking to understand their prescriptions, like the woman in line ahead of me at the pharmacy. As I designed posters, I asked my friends and family to look at my drafts and provide feedback. I asked if the information was conveyed in a clear, approachable way and I learned that what is clear to one person – such as myself – can be viewed differently by another person with a different background or set of life experiences. As a pharmacist, I will utilize educational materials that have gone through arduous testing to ensure they can deliver the necessary information, but I will also aim to understand community members’ experiences and how this may impact their understanding and outlook towards their medication.   

I explained to my father that, to me, pharmacy is about conversation. As patrons share with you why they have come in to the pharmacy that day, or what is troubling them, it is important to truly listen. This is the starting point for the conversation needed to understand their concerns, provide appropriate medication, and educated them as to how best proceed. Although my friends joke about my ability to talk to anyone, this is a trait that will go far in serving my community as a pharmacist. (702 words)

Here're some more tips for your interview:

Pharmacy school personal statements are a crucial aspect of your application because they help to separate you from the crowd of other accomplished applicants. After all, grades, test scores, and letters of recommendation only go so far in presenting who you are and your talents and strengths. Even a CV does not reveal enough about you and your experiences to adequately reflect your ability to succeed in pharmacy school and beyond. Imagine trying to measure a candidate’s level of motivation or ability to persevere through adversity by looking at his or her GPA! Luckily, you have the power to present the strengths and qualities that would make you an incredible future pharmacist and make your case for admission through your personal statement.

Essentially, this short essay asks you to reflect upon who you are, what led you to want to study pharmacology specifically, and why you would be great at it. Most pharmacy programs in the United States use a central application portal called PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Service) to distribute application materials like transcripts, test scores, and personal statements to individual university programs. Personal statements for PharmCAS must be 4500 characters or less, including spaces. It is crucial to draft a personal statement that is within the character limit because the online portal will not allow you to save or submit a personal statement that exceeds 4500 characters. As you prepare to write your personal statement, be sure to verify that your program(s) of choice use PharmCAS for receiving application materials. If you find that your university does not utilize PharmCAS, check the program’s website for specific instructions regarding the character or word limit for personal statements.

Canadian pharmacy program application expectations differ from school to school. The University of Toronto’s PharmD program, for example, does not require a personal statement of any kind.  

A common mistake that pharmacy school applicants make is relying upon cliches to discuss their motivations for pursuing a career as a pharmacist. Cliches read as tired and don’t reveal anything meaningful about an applicant. Moreover, many personal statement cliches like expressing a desire to “help people” are so vague that they fail to address an applicant’s desire to study pharmacology precisely. There are a multitude of careers that help people: teachers, doctors, non-profit workers, and more. Similarly, a fascination with science applies to any number of medical professions, researchers, scientists, and so on. In your personal statement, you must clearly express why you want to go to pharmacy school specifically.

Additionally, admissions officers want to ensure they admit only those applicants who demonstrate their capability of handling the demanding course work as well as possess the correct attitude and motivation to pursue a career in pharmacy. You’ve probably heard that past behavior is one of the best predictors of future behavior, and for good reason. For instance, if you have already persevered and exhibited your resilience, work ethic, and determination in past experiences, chances are you will exhibit those same skills in a pharmacy program, no matter the challenges you may face. Showing your skills through relevant anecdotes and relating them to core attributes you possess that will ensure your future success as a pharmacist goes a long way to separate you from an already qualified pool of applicants.

Pharmacy personal statements also assess the value you will add to your matriculating class, the program, and the institution overall. You want to prove you are a mutually beneficial fit for your pharmacy program of choice. As you craft your personal statement, you will likely need to create several versions that cater to each of the institutions to which you plan to apply, highlighting the attractive elements of each program that motivated you to apply and explaining how you would thrive in such an environment and contribute to the program’s culture and mission. Prove that the school would be missing out on an exceptional candidate if you were not offered admission!

How Are Pharmacy Personal Statements Structured?

Although each program has different requirements, pharmacy personal statements are generally around a page long, or 4500 characters for most applications in the United States, and should be structured similar to a traditional, academic paper. Your personal statement should have a clear introduction, a body composed of about 2-3 paragraphs, and a marked conclusion. It is important that you transition well among each of these elements to enhance the flow and overall readability of your statement. The logical progression of your ideas should also be well-defined so that admissions officers can easily follow your train of thought. Keep in mind that each individual reading your personal statement will be looking at many, many personal statements in any given sitting, which can get exhausting. Make their jobs easier by ensuring that your statement is easy to read and makes your points both concisely and clearly. Given the myriad personal statements each admissions officer must review, your statement must be quite unique and engaging in order to stand out and be memorable.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the best choice to start your statement at the beginning by working on the introduction. Part of the reason you should avoid starting with the introduction is because an introduction typically sets the stage for what you discuss in the body of your statement. If you don’t have the content of the body prepared, it is unlikely that you will be able to craft an appropriate introduction. Rather, you want to plan out the body of your statement first by creating a rough outline of the topics you wish to address in your statement to give the reader an overview of what led you to pursue pharmacy school, as well as the experiences and qualities that would make you an excellent addition to the program of your choice, and ultimately, a great pharmacist. Utilizing an outline to plan out your response also takes a bit of the pressure off of you as a writer so that you are not focused on making every single sentence perfect until you have a general idea of where you are going with your statement. After you have the “bones” of your statement planned out via an outline structure, begin to add the “meat” little by little, gradually expanding your outline with more substantial content, including anecdotes that serve as evidence or justification for the claims that you make.  

Pharmacy personal statements are an opportunity to show the admissions committee your personality, values, and goals. With this in mind, think carefully about which experiences you want to emphasize and the skills and values you want those experiences to illustrate. “Illustrate” is a key word here; be sure to show your readers what you mean instead of telling them. For example, don’t just say you are a lifelong learner. Show your readers evidence that demonstrates you are a lifelong learner by narrating and reflecting upon experiences in which you were continuously eager to learn new information. One of the most important tips to remember as you plan the outline for and later write your pharmacy personal statement is to be true to yourself. When applicants communicate what they believe admissions committees want to hear, or in this case read, their inauthenticity is blatantly evident. Being genuine not only serves you in the short-term by creating a personal statement that reads as truly authentic, which is always more convincing and impactful, but it is to your benefit in the long run as well. After all, pharmacy school is 4 years long, which isn’t exactly an insignificant time commitment. You should aim to gain admission into a program that wants you for who you truly are and the potential you’ve demonstrated, and the only way of guaranteeing this is to show who you truly are through your personal statement.

Once you have crafted a full outline, begin to write a rough draft of your body paragraphs. At this point, you still do not need to worry about choosing the best words or making sure that the stylistic elements of your body paragraphs are top notch. Focus on getting your thoughts out on paper in a way that makes sense and flows well in terms of a logical progression of ideas. So, how many experiences should you write about in your personal statement? While there is no concrete number you should aim for, do be selective about which experiences you choose to include. Think quality over quantity. Essentially, as you answer the question “Why do you want to be a pharmacist?”, trace the origin of your interest in studying pharmacy through each stage of its development. Given the 4500-character limit, at least for most pharmacy programs in the United States, you will have to limit your discussion to two to three experiences, depending upon the level of depth of your discussion of each experience.

Which kinds of experiences work best? Keeping in mind that the experiences you decide to address and the way in which you write about them should be authentic to you, aim for experiences that involve exposure to the field. Of course, exposure to pharmacy can come in many forms! Perhaps you were exposed to pharmacy and the positive impact it can make in people’s lives through your own use of prescribed pharmaceuticals to treat a chronic illness, which inspired you to learn more about how medications work. Or, maybe you were considering a career in either medicine or pharmacy, decided to shadow physicians and pharmacists alike to accrue more knowledge about the day-to-day responsibilities of each profession, and found yourself enamored with your pharmacy shadowing experience. In any case, make sure that you are specific about which aspects of your experience were particularly influential in your developing desire to study pharmacy and what convinced you that you would make a great pharmacist yourself!

Once you have completed your rough draft, take a day or so away from your statement so that you can achieve mental distance from your writing in order to review it with fresh eyes the next time you read it. With this new perspective, revise your body paragraphs, choosing the strongest vocabulary possible to convey your meaning. Remember, though, that it is important to be authentic, so don’t abuse your thesaurus! Work on strengthening the wording of your statement and try reading it out loud to see how well each sentence fits together. Rinse and repeat.

Tip #1: Be authentic.

The personal statement should explain why you want to study pharmacy, so your discussion of this should be true to your experiences. Instead of writing what you think would be appealing to admissions officers, present a genuine account of why you want to be a pharmacist and the experiences that led you to that conclusion. Inauthenticity is actually quite easy to detect, so it is always preferrable to be authentic.

Tip#2: Start early.

The strength of your personal statement is crucial, and with limited space to show the admissions committee who you are and why you are passionate about becoming a pharmacist, you will likely go through many drafts before you arrive at the final product. In order to accommodate multiple rounds of edits and give yourself time to gain mental distance from each draft before revising again, you must start early.

Tip#3: Get expert feedback.

Notice that we suggest expert feedback, not just feedback in general. Everyone can give you an opinion on the strength of your pharmacy school personal statement, but only a select few can give you constructive criticism that will actually serve to improve your statement. Trusted professors, pharmacist mentors, or admissions experts like the ones at BeMo are all great choices to give you informed and insightful advice.

Tip#4: Be concise.

Since you have limited space to convince your reader that you are passionate about pursuing pharmacy and would make an excellent future pharmacist, every word counts. Recount your experiences in a succinct manner so that you can maximize your character count and include valuable reflections that will demonstrate how strong of an applicant you are!

Tip#5: Avoid cliches.  

While it can definitely be tempting to rely upon commonly used motivations for pursuing pharmacy school like “to help others” or “to give back,” leaning upon these cliches will only hurt your application. Even though part of your motivation for becoming a pharmacist may genuinely be to help others, you need your statement to stand out. If hundreds of other applicants express the same sentiment, your sincere altruism may be lost in the crowd of other personal statements communicating the same thing. Further, helping others and giving back can be achieved in various careers. Your job is to convince the reader that you want to make that impact through pharmacy.

If you are applying to pharmacy schools in the United States, check out PharmCAS’ website to see if your program utilizes this application service.  If so, your personal statement will be restricted to 4,500 characters, including spaces.  If not, check out the program’s website to discover that school’s specific personal statement requirements.

On the other hand, if you are applying to pharmacy schools in Canada, you will need to go directly to that school’s website to see its specific requirements.  Some programs don’t require a personal statement at all.

No, some schools like the University of Toronto don’t require a personal statement or essay of any kind.  Double check the website(s) of your program(s) of choice to see what the specific requirements are.

Unless directed otherwise by your program of choice, your pharmacy personal statement should be structured like a traditional academic essay.  Include an introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.  Please see above for further details.

Overall, your personal statement should answer the question “Why do you want to be a pharmacist?” or “Why do you want to go to pharmacy school?”  Your answer to this question should show your reader why you want to pursue this career instead of telling them.  Show your desire to become a pharmacist by discussing key experiences that sparked your interest in pharmacy and developed that interest into a true passion.  Include experiences that exposed you to the profession, whether that is as a patient, working as a pharmacy assistant, or shadowing a pharmacist.

Although it may seem illogical, your introduction should be one of the last things that you write.  The introduction of your personal statement must introduce the content that appears in your 2-3 body paragraphs, so it makes sense to write your body paragraphs first in order to know which content you are introducing.  In order to capture your reader’s attention from the very beginning of your personal statement, the first sentence of your introduction should employ an opening hook that uses some sort of creative element to generate interest in your statement.  Opening hooks often use relevant quotes, pieces of dialogue, or vignettes of a particularly impactful experience to “hook” the reader and make them more invested in the document before them.  Following your opening hook, you should discuss the significance of it, whether that is how a quote relates to your life or an explanation of the significance of the situation described in your vignette.  Finally, your introduction should establish your interest in pharmacy and set the stage for the more substantial content that will follow in subsequent body paragraphs.

The conclusion of your personal statement should not just be a summary of the content covered.  Rather, it should be comprised of reflections upon the experiences you’ve described, draw connections among your experiences, and/or discuss future goals in the field of pharmacy.  Make sure that the last sentence of your conclusion leaves the reader wanting to know more about you.  How memorable your statement is depends heavily on your last sentence, so you should use a creative approach as you did with your opening hook.  Some applicants find it useful to refer back to their opening hook in a creative way.  Try out different endings and see which works best with the statement you’ve written!

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personal statement for postgraduate pharmacy

Pharmacy Postgraduate Personal Statement

Example Pharmacy Postgraduate Personal Statement

Strong academic background, work experience, ambition, passion for medicine and health care, I believe I am a strong candidate for this course. My goal is to attain a higher level of knowledge of theoretical and practical applications associated with drug processes and analyses, to become a successful and active participant in the future of pharmaceuticals.

From a young age I have been incredibly interested in biology and chemistry, inspiring me to become a part of the pharmaceutical world. Clinical pharmacy plays an important role in contemporary society and our future, where the research and discovery of new vaccines and drugs can prevent and cure evolving diseases.

BSc Pharmacy has given me a firm grounding of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and pharmacy practice. Key topics in which have studied I include toxicology, pharmacodynamics and therapeutics. Formulation of medicines design, dispensing medicines, cell and molecular biology, systemic physiology, disease pathology and pharmacology are areas of interest. Studying pharmacy, I have learned that my strength lies in clinical and analytical pharmacy.

I understand that this course will provide me the opportunity to undertake research in a specified field and enhance my knowledge and skills in modern and traditional medicinal analysis. I look forward to working with likeminded peers to discover, develop and challenge the boundaries of medicine and drugs for our future.

I have carried out independent research to ensure my knowledge and understanding of therapeutic techniques and medical technology is up-to-date. The British National Formulary gives me an idea about the new therapeutic drugs and formulary changes. Reading clinical and analytical pharmacy journals and magazines allows me to review current practices and methods.

Diligent, responsible, high attention to detail and extremely motivated to succeed, are qualities which I believe make me an ideal candidate for this course. Carrying out research projectsrequire close analysis, thoroughness and organisation to ensure medicines and drugs are analysed and evaluated with due care. I enjoy meeting new people, allowing me to gain a greater understanding their ideas, theories and perceptions.

Applying my knowledge and skills from my Pharmacy degree, I undertook a work placement in a pharmacy as part of my course. Here I dealt with different drugs, trade and scientific names, doses, instructions, side effects and contraindications. This gave me practical experience within a pharmacy, learning from experienced pharmacists. Working within a close environment, I developed team skills and was given various responsibilities during my placement. I also developed excellent communication skills for dealing with a variety of patients.

I am currently a dispenser in Boots Pharmacy, where I am able to apply and develop my knowledge, skills and experience within a pharmacy team. To become familiar with Over the Counter Drugs, I passed the Sale of Medicine exam, which covers the basics in pharmacy. I have also completed a NVQ2 Dispensing Assistant Course, which enables me to work proficiently in the dispensary. My responsibilities in Boots include giving advice to customers, preparing, labelling and checking drugs and prescriptions.

This role has greatly increased my confidence, respect, discipline and confidentiality with patients and colleagues. My experience within the pharmacy has propelled my desire to discover and learn more in this field.

Along with my current knowledge, skills and experience which I can bring to your School of Pharmacy, I believe this course provide the relevant principles and practical applications associated with drug, medicine and pharmaceutical sciences. Undertaking work-based self-development and research assignments, I will be able to manage my own projects, which can contribute to the field of pharmacy, working in a laboratory, clinic or hospital environment.

This example Pharmacy Postgraduate Personal Statement is intended to provide a good point of reference when you are writing your own personal statement.

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How to Write a Compelling Pharmacy School Personal Statement

Written by Kelly Jeroski

July 12, 2022

How to Write a Compelling Personal Statement for Pharmacy School

If you’re applying to any higher education program, you’re most likely going to run into something called a “personal statement”. Pharmacy school is no exception, and learning how to write a compelling and unique personal statement is a key part in getting accepted to school. Read on to find out how to write one that stands out! 

What is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement serves as a way to highlight your skills, interests and experiences. Personal statements tend to be somewhat autobiographical, but it is not just a lengthy personal essay of your entire life story. 

Personal statements are also not a regurgitation of all the information you’ve already included in your application and cover letter. Think of your personal statement as more of a narrative, but still keep it informative. 

In writing a personal statement, you’re aiming to give the school or program you’re applying for a snapshot of who you are and why you want to be considered for whatever position. They are as much about how you write as what you write. Schools will receive hundreds of personal statements– make sure yours stands out!  

What is the Difference Between a Personal Statement and a Cover Letter? 

A cover letter generally serves as a means to sell yourself to a company or school. It introduces your resume and all your relevant school and employment history. A personal statement, however, is meant to be more creative and introduce the school to you as a person in an engaging format. 

While an application can come off as just a list of what you’ve done, a personal statement frames all your accomplishments in a way that connects your real-life influences with the dates and degrees on your application. 

What is the Best Format for a Personal Statement for Pharmacy School?

Think of your personal statement as a narrative essay outlining how you got to where you are today, as well as where you want to go next. Within this story, relate back to pharmaceuticals and medicine and healthcare fields in an organic way. You’ve chosen this path for a reason, what are the steps that got you here? 

What Questions Should I Answer in my Personal Statement? 

Some helpful questions to aim to answer throughout your personal statement are:

✅ Why do I want to be a Pharmacist?: Think through the times where you have admired pharmaceuticals or where they have most impacted you. Or, think about when you fell in love with medicine and helped people through pharmaceuticals.

✅ What different pharmaceutical paths would I be interested in pursuing?: Are you interested in nuclear pharmacy? What about private pharmaceutical production? If you have a specific niche in mind for a career path, use this space to talk about your interest.

✅ What makes me an excellent and unique candidate for this program?: Have you taken any specialized courses that make you uniquely qualified for this program? Have you had any outstanding internships or positions within the healthcare world?

✅ What are my strengths?: Where do you excel? What specific strengths could you bring to the program and the team you work with? Use this space to highlight your gifts.

✅ Are there any gaps or inadequacies in my application? How can I explain them here?: If you have anything on your application that may confuse someone not familiar with your life circumstances, try to concisely explain it here. Admissions counselors want to be able to give you the best shot possible at being accepted, and sometimes this requires you being up-front about gaps or missing pieces to your work history. 

What Should I Avoid in My Personal Statement? 

❌ Don’t just repeat what you’ve said in your application. There’s a place for a more sterile, list-based amalgamation of your achievements, but your personal statement is not this place. Admissions staff will learn a lot more about you if you’re creative with your personal statement.

❌ Don’t steal someone else’s work. Plagiarism will disqualify you from admission to pharmacy programs, and it’s also just bad practice for life in general.

❌ Avoid cliches throughout your writing. It may have been a dark and stormy night when you were born, but that is neither relevant nor original. Find fresh ways to tell your story and engage your readers.

❌ Avoid grammar and spelling mistakes. These can be avoided through several rounds of revision

What Are Admissions Counselors Looking for in a Personal Statement? 

What makes a good candidate may vary from program to program, but there are some general things that admissions counselors look for when reviewing personal statements from applicants:

  • How have you grown over the years?
  • Is your personal statement well-written? Does it show care, consideration and edits?
  • Are you up for the challenge of Pharmacy school?
  • Do you fit our program? 

What Are the Steps to Form a Compelling Personal Statement?

The creative process for a piece like this may vary form applicant to applicant, but the general steps are as follows

1. Brainstorm

This step can be messy, and is generally the most customizable of the process. To start your brainstorming process, think about all the reasons you’re considering pharmacy school and why this program should consider you. This is also a good place to start thinking about what makes you stand out from other candidates, as well as beginning to organize your education and work history. 

Since personal statements are more narrative than list-based, start to think about how pharmacists have influenced your life and family. Compelling stories from your own experiences will help admissions counselors see you have a full-bodied connection to the program and career field.  

As part of your brainstorming, look at successful personal statements. Websites like Studential and ApplyToUni can give you a good idea of what spelled success for past applicants. Or, if you know anyone who went to pharmacy school already, you can ask them for their best tips. 

2. Outline and Draft

How do you make sense of all the information you just brainstormed out? One of the best ways to sort through your thoughts is by looking for natural connections between events in your life. Be sure to highlight the aspects of your career and schooling that will make you stand out the most. 

Make sure you’re outlining your statement in a way that makes the most sense for both your story and your reader. Linear outlines with clear progressions through your life story usually work best, but that’s not to say you can’t jump around in the story a bit, especially if pharmacology has played a lot of different roles throughout your life and you’re looking to highlight its effect on you over time. 

There are different types of personal statements, generally prompted or unprompted, but they all tend to be between 400-1,000 words long. 

Check your personal statement for basic grammatical and spelling mistakes, as well as making sure your tone is both professional and friendly. Make sure your organization makes sense. A good way to ensure this is to have someone else read it and suggest edits. The more sets of eyes you can have on your personal statement, the better chance you’ll have of submitting a flawless piece. 

Running your personal statement through a program like Grammarly or Hemingway is another good way to weed out mistakes and make sure your statement is clear.

4. Final Revisions and Submission

Do some final checks of your personal statement. Try to read it as if you’re reading it for the first time, with no context as to your own story. An early start in the writing and drafting process is key for this step, so you can take a few days away from your statement before this final revision if necessary. 

If your personal statement was one with a prompt, use this check to be sure you have answered all the questions as fully and uniquely as possible. This is another great place to ask for a second set of eyes to review your statement. 

Finally, submit your personal statement with your application to pharmacy school. Be sure that you’ve submitted it before the deadline! 

How Do I Close a Personal Statement?

In closing your personal statement, include one last push for yourself and why you’re a good fit for the program. Try to naturally conclude and wrap up all that you’ve said about yourself and your story. Be sure to highlight your interest in the program specifically and give a quick “thank you” for their consideration of your application. 

What Now?  

Now that you know how to write a great personal statement for pharmacy school, you should narrow down the schools you want to apply to. If you haven’t already, consider NEOMED’s College of Pharmacy ! Our program will prepare you to make an impact on those around you for the better, whether locally or globally. Graduates from our programs boast high NAPLEX test scores, excellent network connections and a deeper understanding of the communities they serve. Apply to NEOMED ! 

Want to learn more about pharmacy school at NEOMED? Our pharmacy program guide will help you determine if pharmacy school is the right path for you, and how NEOMED can help you begin your future.

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Kelly jeroski.

Assistant Director of Admission

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Tips for Writing a Pharmacy School Personal Statement

Like in any other field of education, a pharmacy statement is a way of selling yourself to the admission tutors by showing them why you are a great pharmacy candidate. A personal statement is an opportunity to detail your skills, strengths, and career objectives in pharmacy. A personal pharmacy statement allows you a maximum of 4000 characters. It would be best to discuss why you are interested in pursuing a pharmacy degree in as few words as possible while ensuring you stand out from the crowd of prospective students. 

  • 1 Why is a personal statement important?
  • 2 What makes a good personal statement?
  • 3 Common mistakes to avoid
  • 4 What to include in your statement 
  • 5.1 1. Preparation
  • 5.2 2. Proper grammar
  • 5.3 3. Proper structure
  • 5.4 4. Connect with your reader
  • 5.5 5. Include only Pharmacy relevant achievements
  • 5.6 6. Avoid plagiarism
  • 5.7 7. Avoid controversial topics
  • 5.8 8. Proofread your work

Why is a personal statement important?

Statistics show that at least 50% of pharmacy school applications get rejected. These applications are not always denied because of poor scores. These students typically have scored just as good as their accepted counterparts. A personal statement is essential because it is what makes or breaks your application. This is because admission tutors are keen to welcome candidates who are genuinely passionate about and dedicated to the profession. 

What makes a good personal statement?

An excellent personal statement uses evidence. Support all your claims. It would be best if you remembered that the admission tutors already know you are trying to convince them that you are a suitable match, as are all the contenders. Sure, you can go on and on about how willing you are to learn, but it would be more effective if you backed such claims with real-life examples. 

Please use a personal statement writer service to get professional custom help in writing a good pharmacy personal statement. As a matter of fact, CustomWritings is considered to be one of the most reliable services on the market currently.

Common mistakes to avoid

It is important to remember that the perfect pharmacy personal statement does not have to follow a specific format. Remember that the admission tutors will only review your pharmacy statement for 10-30 minutes, no matter how much time you spend on it. This is not to say that you should rush through it but focus on capturing and maintaining the tutors’ interests. The tutors will review your statement from different angles, meaning you cannot afford to leave room for misinterpretation. 

Please resist the urge to follow a predetermined formula you acquired online or from your friends, regardless of how they scored on it. You may easily be tempted to borrow ideas from successful pharmacy students, but this will compromise your authenticity. The admissions tutors have likely seen numerous personal statements so do not embarrass yourself by submitting a copied statement. Besides, you want to show how passionate you are about pharmacy, don’t you?

Read Also: How to Become a Chemistry Problem Solver

What to include in your statement 

  • Pick a specific pharmacy area you are most interested in and explain why you are interested in that area. Show that you are passionate about that subject (it helps if you are passionate about the area you choose to write about). 
  • Highlight your motivations for studying pharmacy. When did you realize you wanted to pursue pharmacy? Why? Are you able to support this with evidence from your life?
  • Describe your hobbies and extracurricular activities (especially if they are related to pharmacy). The goal is to highlight the skills you have gained from these activities and how they will benefit you in your studies as a pharmacist. 
  • Include any work experience placements in related fields such as nursing or medicine. Talk about what you learned from these experiences. 
  • Talk about your traits and qualities that you feel make you a good pharmacy student. 
  • Please demonstrate that you are a good reader by talking about recent related reads and how they have shaped your thinking. Feel free to respectfully share any views and opinions, always remembering to support them with solid evidence. 

How to Write a Good Pharmacy School Personal Statement

Below are a few tips to make sure your statement makes your application stand out and increase your chances of getting accepted into your program of choice:

1. Preparation

Preparation is key. Start early so that you do not end up rushing and producing a mediocre statement. Start planning early as you don’t want to be pressed for time.

2. Proper grammar

Use proper grammar and punctuation. Poor grammar makes for a wrong first impression. Polish your basics on grammar and avoid submitting a statement riddled with error.

3. Proper structure

Structure your statement correctly. Ensure the first statement captures your reader’s attention and then has a few supporting paragraphs. You have a tiny window of grabbing your reader’s attention, so use it wisely. Finally, have a conclusion that ties it all together. 

4. Connect with your reader

Connect with your reader, even if it means sharing a few personal stories. The goal here is to make sure you communicate who you are. A personal statement is a monologue to the admission committee, and if they can connect with you, they will like you.

Show the admission tutors that you are aware of the challenges that await you and that you are committed regardless. Talk about how rewarding you think this path will be for you, your family, your community, your patients, and the pharmacy practice itself. 

5. Include only Pharmacy relevant achievements

If you have lofty achievements outside the pharmaceutical field, do not include them in your statement. Include only pharmacy-related experiences.

6. Avoid plagiarism

Committee members can always see through plagiarized works, so avoid this at all costs. This will only destroy your credibility in the field.

7. Avoid controversial topics

The personal statement is not a discussion ground for questionable topics. Do not alleviate issues that disagree with the overall subject in question.

8. Proofread your work

Sometimes people miss tiny mistakes by not proofreading their work. Have friends and family check your work and act on the comments. Inadequate proofreading can be catastrophic, so ensure you correctly use your language before sending the statement to the admission committee.

As now you are well acquainted with the components of writing an impeccable pharmacy personal statement , you should have no trouble in getting admitted into Pharmacy school. Pharmacy school is about honor and prestige, and you need the best of luck in this noble endeavor.

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Writing the Personal Statement for Pharmacy School: A Checklist

You’ve likely written a personal statement at some point in your life. Perhaps while applying to your undergraduate program, some of your schools required you to include an essay describing your achievements, yourself, and what you hope to accomplish in your time at their university. Similarly, many pharmacy programs will require you to write a personal statement for their application. 

This, however, is different. You will be able to highlight your relevant accomplishments and address why you want to become a pharmacist to stand out truly . With so many applicants during each cycle, admissions officers use this personal statement to gauge whom they wish to speak with for an in-person interview.

At this phase of the application journey, you've narrowed down the pharmacy schools you’re applying to. Your transcripts are in, letters of recommendation are ready, and it’s time for your pharmacy personal statement. The good news is that, unlike undergraduate applications that sometimes have different prompts, you must answer for various schools; your one pharmacy school personal statement will be sent to every program through your PharmCAS application . That also leaves an exciting challenge: Even if you have a favorite, you must consider how you want to write this personal statement, as it shouldn’t be tailored toward one specific school. 

Determining the Narrative

When it comes to writing a pharmacy school personal statement, the most common pitfall students experience is the need for more effort placed into their writing. While your grades may be exceptional, and your letters of recommendation prove that your student-teacher relationships are healthy and you are a pleasure to have in class, having a generic pharmacy personal statement doesn’t differentiate you from other qualified applicants. If all applicants have already covered the first two things, the personal statement may be the shining piece of the application. For most students, writing this statement will be the most challenging part of the application process. 

Begin to formulate your narrative. Lay out the structure and the different sections. There’s no specific format that pharmacy schools are looking for, so make this personal statement unique to yourself. As mentioned, the “cookie cutter” approach to this part of the application is where most students stumble. Use your time wisely and start early . Additionally, you can easily find a sample personal statement on various websites to help structure your thoughts. However, remember that these should be used only as samples and that you shouldn’t rely on them to format your own statement.

Crafting a Unique Story

Each pharmacy school program wants students who demonstrate tenacity, which will help them succeed in their respective programs. One way to approach writing your pharmacy school personal statement is from the point of view of the admissions committee. Anyone charged with reading thousands of applications will focus on specific questions that signal a level of quality about the rest of the personal statement.

First, what's the reason that this student is choosing pharmacy as their career? Are they doing this for income or genuine interest in providing the best care for patients? Does the applicant demonstrate thoughtful understanding of their strengths and weaknesses? Do their ideals align with the mission statement of the school of pharmacy? Each reviewer may concentrate on different questions, but they want to see you feel a personal drive for a career as a pharmacist. Place yourself into the seat of an application reviewer and formulate different questions that you could potentially ask students. Try answering these questions and see how genuine your answers are. How you answer may decide if you want to continue to pursue this pharmacy school path.

Focus on Your Opening

One universal method many writing courses teach you is always to have a solid opening statement. Use this as an opportunity to begin with a personal story about why you decided that pharmacy is the right career for you or maybe an inspiring quote that has always resonated with you. The reviewer may have already gone through several applications, so your first few sentences should stand out. You want to be able to make an impression from the beginning while showing an earnest drive to spend a career as a pharmacist.

Once you’ve effectively engaged the reviewer, it’s time for the “meat” of the personal statement. What do pharmacy application committees truly want to hear? 

Getting to Know You

They want to learn more about you before meeting in a live interview. Tell your own story succinctly but without cutting corners. Briefly describe how you learned to overcome obstacles like that to better yourself and those around you. Sure, you can write about your most relevant academic accomplishments. But go beyond that.

Discuss how certain clubs and organizations have helped you progress through your undergraduate experience and how those organizations may have led you to pursue the path of pharmacy school. Highlight the different leadership positions you may have held in college that have helped mold you into the leader you see yourself as today. After setting those up, discuss the skills you’ve acquired to help you in pharmacy school and how they’d make you a better pharmacist.

When you mention your relevant academic studies, please don't forget to keep repeating the pharmacy college admission test (PCAT) scores or the 4.0 GPA that you achieved. The committee has this information before them as they read; they don’t need to be reminded.

Talk in detail about your relevant work experiences, such as research or a part-time job in a pharmacy. Discuss how these different work experiences furthered your commitment to the profession. Identify what aspects of the pharmacy setting may have attracted you and what you ultimately have learned from these experiences. Some students come into this part of the application process without work experience. That’s okay. You can highlight any volunteer work related to healthcare or pharmacy. 

Close with Confidence

Finally—and we can’t stress this enough—keep your writing professional. You’re making an impression on a professional committee, and as much as you want to make your statement sound lighthearted, keep in mind that the reviewers’ time is at a premium for reviewing the essays and interviews in the next round.

Be succinct, direct, and human.

Remember to keep our advice top of mind:

The goal of your personal statement is to showcase why you would be the ideal pharmacy student and why your traits/qualities reflect those of a pharmacist.

Be as authentic as possible when detailing why you want to be part of the PharmD program. 

GPA and PCAT scores can only get you so far. Your personal statement is a chance for you to stand out in front of the other applicants who apply to the same pharmacy program as you. 

Remember, perfecting the personal statement takes time and your admission may depend on how much effort you ultimately put into your writing.

portrait of Hong Chen

Hong Chen, PharmD

My name is Hong Kui Chen and I am a graduate of The Ohio State University Pharmacy Class of 2022. I am currently working as a clinical research associate at Medpace, Inc, a contract research organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio. My work mainly consists of traveling to various sites around the country and providing protocol training on new clinical trials or monitoring data. While I enjoyed the traditional pharmacy role of working in retail or hospital, I wanted to expand and pursue this non-traditional role to see how clinical trials operate. I have a passion for being able to impact patients in a grand scale and even though I don’t have the 1-on-1 patient interaction, the work that I do can have long lasting contributions to overall patient health. 

Opinions and information published by the author here on PharmDDegree.com are of my own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of my employer.

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The College Application

The Pharmacy Personal Statement Guide w/Prompts & Examples

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The Importance of Writing a Great Pharmacy Personal Statement

To become a pharmacist anywhere in the UK, you’ll need to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and have, at minimum, a master’s degree from an accredited university. This requires you to enter into a graduate-level programme for pharmacology. When applying to these types of programmes, it’s very important that you have a strong pharmacy personal statement.

When it comes to applying to a pharmacy programme at the graduate level, there are many requirements to meet. Many of these come in the form of prerequisites you need before you can be considered for grad school.

Pharmacy Programme Prerequisites

The  common prerequisites  for applying to university for pharmacology mostly involve classes you should’ve taken before applying to the programme. These classes include three (3) A-levels in the following subjects:

  • and various Maths

You must receive a grade of B or higher in each of these for it to meet the prerequisite.

You must also take five (5) General Certificates of Secondary Education, otherwise known as GCSEs, in the following subjects:

  • Various Maths
  • English/Language

For these courses, you must have received a grade of C or higher.

There are a few alternate routes you can take if you don’t meet the above listed prerequisites. These include having a foundational degree in the field of pharmacy, having an HNC, HND or BTEC with a science focus, having earned the equivalent qualifications at an Irish or Scottish university and a few others. Having work or internship experience with a pharmacist also helps.

Depending on the particular Uni you plan on attending, you may have some additional institutional requirements. These will be listed on the university’s website and/or in the admissions packet for the school.

Steps to Obtaining Admission

Once you’ve covered all your prerequisite courses, it’s time to start the actual process of admissions. Do your research first; find the best Uni for you and check the website to see what types of admissions requirements they have in place. Some universities require you to take the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) and earn a certain score before they’ll consider you for admission.

If you’ve not already taken the PCAT, though, check the admissions requirements for your particular Uni to see if you need to do so. Several universities across the country are eliminating the PCAT requirement, and there’s no reason to take it if it isn’t a requirement for your specific school. The next step is to fill out and submit an application to the school.

Applications require a lot of personal information, including your name, contact information, educational history, professional resume, personal and professional references, and a pharmacy personal statement, which is one of the most important parts of the application packet. Some universities require you to pay a fee or provide them with a fee waiver when submitting your application.

After you’ve submitted your application, it’ll be reviewed by the university’s admissions team. At this point, they may call you in for  an interview . After that, you should be ready to enter the pharmacy programme.

But how do you make sure you get to the interview stage? Aside from having good grades and an impressive personal resume, writing an exceptional and memorable pharmacy personal statement is the best way to make sure you’re called in for that final step.

What is a Pharmacy Personal Statement?

personal statement for postgraduate pharmacy

A pharmacy personal statement is a personal essay you write about yourself. Many unis will give you a specific prompt to help guide your writing. For those few that don’t, there are  several things you’ll want to include , such as why you want to pursue pharmacology, what about that particular university’s programme appeals to you, any achievements or awards you’ve received, any relevant internship or work experience and why you’d make a good candidate.

There are also  attributes about yourself  you’ll want to mention in your personal statement. These are things you can’t simply write out in sentences. Instead, you’ll want to discuss relevant topics and tell personal stories that show that you have these qualities without you directly saying, “ I work well with others and have good communication skills. “

These important attributes include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Excellent people skills
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Honesty and integrity
  • Good communication skills
  • The ability to work on a team
  • Leadership skills
  • Strong organisational skills
  • Highly motivated to succeed
  • A strong sense of responsibility and professionalism

All of these qualities make you a good candidate for a pharmacy programme. The more of these you can show you have, the more likely you’ll be called for an interview.

What is a Prompt, and Why Should You Follow It?

If your specific university provides you with a prompt, they’re simply giving you a question to help focus what you write about in your personal statement. There are several different prompts unis use, and we’ll discuss some of the most common of those later.

No matter what the prompt is, it’s important you answer it completely. Most universities use prompts relative to your interest in pharmacology, your educational history, or attributes that would make you a good candidate for their programme. There will occasionally be a prompt that surprises you though. In those cases, still, answer the prompt.

Be as honest and as thorough as you can, and remember, even if the prompt is something strange or unusual, there are usually still ways to work in stories that show you in your best light. You may just have to be a little more creative.

Below, you’ll find a few of the most common prompts for writing your pharmacy personal statement on your admissions applications.

Pharmacy Personal Statement Prompts

Prompt 1: tell us about yourself (kings university london).

Many universities use a very vague prompt that just instructs you to talk about yourself. As Kingston University London puts it, “You are the main topic of this essay.”

This is a great, easy prompt to get. Don’t be afraid to be honest and really talk yourself up in this kind of statement.

For this particular prompt, you’ll want to cover everything we mentioned above, particularly why you’re interested in pursuing a career in Pharmacy, what education you’ve had that qualifies you for the programme, any relevant work or leadership experience that would make you a good candidate and anything that showcases the attributes we listed above.

Again, be honest and as thorough as possible. Remember, the goal of this statement is to make you memorable and desirable. As a result, talking about all the great accomplishments or achievements you have isn’t bragging or boasting. It’s what’s required if you want to stand out from the other applicants.

Prompt 2: Demonstrate your commitment to pursuing a career in Pharmacy, and tell us why you’re better suited to the programme than other applicants (King’s College London).

This prompt is quite similar to the above “Tell us about yourself” prompt. In it, you’ll cover much of the same things, especially when you start talking about why you should be chosen for the programme over other applicants.

Just remember that there’s a direct question about why you want to work in pharmacology. Because it’s being asked directly, you want to spend a bit of time giving a complete answer. You can talk about why you became interested in pharmaceuticals in the first place. Was there a specific event in your childhood that inspired you to want to help take care of sick people? Have you had a strong love of chemistry for as long as you can remember? What inspired you to choose this field over all the over available career fields?

This prompt also allows you to talk about your career goals. What do you want to do with your MPharm once you get it? How is this degree going to help you in those goals, and how are you going to use your skills and your degree to make the world better once you do get a job? It would also benefit you to talk about the classes you’ve already taken and the work you’ve already done to work towards your goals.

Prompt 3: What benefits do you expect to gain from admission into our programme? (Cardiff University)

For this prompt, you can still talk a little about why you chose pharmacology and what you hope to do with your degree once you’ve earned it. More importantly, though, you’ll want to answer the actual question the prompt asks. What are you hoping to gain from this particular programme that sets it apart from all the other pharmacy programmes you could have chosen instead?

Talk about specific courses or labs for which this programme is well-known. This is a great way to showcase that you’ve done your research and really looked into what this university has to offer. By highlighting particular aspects of the programme, you prove to the admissions team you didn’t just pick this university on a whim or because it was the closest one to your flat. Instead, you did some reading and compared the programme to those at other schools and decided this one was the best fit for you because…  You fill in the blanks!

Proving to a school that you know something about the school and that you hope to gain the actual knowledge and skills they’re famous for providing to students is a huge point in your favour. This specific prompt allows you to do that.

Prompt 4: Tell us about any work experience, internships, leadership positions you’ve held or outside activities that would support your application for admission (The University of Manchester).

This prompt is another one that’s similar to the “ Tell us about yourself ” prompt. In answering this prompt, you’ll be able to talk about yourself, your history, your past accomplishments, your interest in pharmacy, and more. You’ll want to put your largest focus, though, on the actual work you’ve done to prepare you for entrance into this programme.

This could include any of the following:

  • Working in an actual pharmacy or closely related field
  • Internships, volunteer experience or other placements within a pharmacy or related field
  • Any work experience you’ve had where you were part of a team or, even better, the leader of a team
  • Educational experience that would prepare you for the programme
  • Any honours you’ve received that show you to be exceptional in any relevant field

These are only a few examples of things you could discuss in response to this prompt.

Standard Pharmacy Personal Statement Format

No matter the specific prompt you’re given, there’s a general format you’ll use for most personal statements. Occasionally, a university will provide you with specific formatting instructions. If they do, you always want to follow those instructions exactly. If you aren’t provided with instructions, this is the general format preferred for most UK unis and their US counterparts for essays and/or personal statements:

  • MLA formatting guidelines
  • One-inch margins on each side of the page
  • (For the UK) Any professional font as long as the italics are noticeably different – most students use Times New Roman, Arial or Courier
  • (For the US) Times New Roman or Arial font
  • Font size – 12 pt.
  • Double-space, but add no extra lines between paragraphs
  • Indent the first line of each paragraph

Additionally, you’ll use the standard Intro-Body-Conclusion format that most MLA essays utilise.

Step 1. Introduction

Depending on the specific prompts people are given, each introductory paragraph will be a little different for each student. Generally, though, this is where you’ll introduce yourself and talk a little about why you’re interested in studying pharmacology in general and why you’re interested in studying at that university specifically. You’ll also want to catch the reader’s attention immediately, in the opening line if possible, but without using gimmicks or something overly dramatic.

According to a how-to guide on the  Birmingham City University website , “The most effective opening sentences are simple, to the point and personal to you.”

You’ll also want to  avoid writing in cliches  or using overused phrasing that everyone else uses. Be original. Be specific. Really help the admissions team understand your drive and passion for pharmacology.

Step 2. Body Paragraphs

Your body paragraphs are where you’ll put the majority of your information. These are the paragraphs where you’ll really dive into answering the question(s) the prompt asks. Unless you’re asked to write an abbreviated personal statement of just a couple hundred words, you should never have less than two body paragraphs, and it’s better to have between three and six.

You want to be comprehensive in your writing; include everything the admissions team might need to hear to sway them in your favour. This generally takes more than a couple of short paragraphs. Remember to indent the first line of each paragraph, and make sure they’re written in an order that makes sense. Don’t jump around from paragraph to paragraph. Make sure each transitions smoothly into the other.

Step 3. Conclusion

In the conclusion of your pharmacy personal statement, you’ll want to bring your entire essay to a smooth, sensible close. Don’t use your conclusion to restate everything you’ve already written. Instead, use it as a place to briefly touch on how entrance into the programme will help you succeed in your future goals.

Also, if it feels appropriate and doesn’t detract from the overall feel of your personal statement, take the time to thank the admissions team for reading it and considering you for application into their school’s pharmacy programme. Be aware that this isn’t always appropriate. If, after adding in the thank you, it seems forced or like it was written just to add more words to an essay that was a little too short, take it out.

Examples of Pharmacy Personal Statements

Example personal statement 1.

“I have gained valuable knowledge studying Chemistry, Biology and Maths which will be beneficial for the Pharmacy course. In Chemistry, I have done a series of experiments which require analytical and evaluative skills such as accurate reading when using burettes. I find the organic Chemistry module rather interesting as I enjoy studying the different reactions of aldehydes and ketones and how these reactions and organic products differ due to the different functional groups present in each compound. Another aspect of chemistry I enjoy is the purification of organic compounds.”

– Read the rest  here

This is the second paragraph of a pharmacy personal statement, and it’s a great example of how to answer a prompt that wants you to discuss any relevant experience you’ve had that could help you in the programme.

This student mentions many of the different science and mathematics courses she’s taken in pursuit of her pharmacy degree, but she doesn’t just list them. She goes into great detail about some of the things she’s done in those classes.

This is excellent for a few reasons. First of all, it’s evident in her writing that she greatly enjoyed the classes she took. This shows that she has a passion for the work she’ll have to do to obtain her MPharm. Universities much prefer to have students on campus who are truly invested in and enjoying the work they’re doing.

Additionally, she uses specific terms – “ketones,” “burettes,” “aldehydes” and more – which shows she has actual knowledge and understanding of the field. We can tell that she’s a knowledgeable, hard-working student who has, thus far, retained the information she learned in her undergraduate courses. Everything about this personal statement was done well.

Our Verdict:

Image of a smiling face with heart-shaped eyes emoji

Example Personal Statement 2

“I am interested in the Masters of Pharmacy (MPharm) Programme because I am interested in the modules on which it is based. I want to do the MPharm programme so as to extend my knowledge in Medicines. I would like to get a deeper understanding of how to formulate and administer drugs safely.

I would qualify for the Mpharm programme because I have recently completed BSc in pharmaceutical Science which has given me good understanding of how drugs work. The modules I have undertaken In my BSc Pharmaceutical Science will help me navigate successfully in the MPharm programme.”

This personal statement is a little less impressive than the first one. First of all, there’s not really an opening line. When writing a pharmacy personal statement – or a personal statement of any kind, for that matter – you want to have a nice first sentence that breaks the ice and starts the statement off in a fluid manner. This student just jumps right in and answers the question being asked. There’s no lead-in, no story being told.

The grammar in this particular sample isn’t great either. There are randomly capitalised words (“undertaken In my BSc”) and missing words (“given me good understanding”) and a few other problems that could have been addressed by good editing. This is a testament to why you should always  proofread and edit  your papers before submitting them. It’s even better to give them to a new set of eyes to edit for you if possible.

The two most bothersome things about this sample, though, is that it’s vague, and the sentences are choppy. The student mentions things he’s done (“ recently completed BSc in pharmaceutical Science “) and why he wants to be in the programme (“ because I am interested in the modules on which it is based “), but he gives absolutely no specifics.

He doesn’t talk about anything he learned in his BSc courses that furthered his love of pharmacology, and while he says he’s interested in the programme’s modules, he doesn’t mention a single specific module or why it interests him. We’re just given the bare minimum with no detail – the burger without the cheese and veggies. It’s boring.

Image of a burger joke saying "Be honest. Is this too much Lettuce?"

Finally, his sentences are horribly choppy. With the exception of one single sentence, each of his sentences starts with the word “I” – “I am,” “I want,” “I would.” There is no variation at all to his writing. It’s boring and makes the reader lose interest. You’ll want to change up the flow and style of your sentences regularly. It adds a little flair and makes your personal statement less monotonous.

Image of a yawning face emoji

Example Personal Statement 3

“Pharmacy has the ability to change people’s lives. Whether it is at the level of the community pharmacist offering the best advice possible to common illnesses, to high-level research into drugs that could cure a range of chronic or life-threatening diseases, the role of the pharmacist cannot be overestimated. As a motivated and hardworking individual, with a desire to understand the fascinating human body along with a joy of helping other people, I strongly believe that studying pharmacy will give me one of the final and most important step towards a rewarding career in the developing field of pharmacy.”

This is another stellar example of what a pharmacy personal statement should be. The writer begins strong with a unique and memorable opening sentence. He tells us, right from the first sentence, one of the reasons he wants to work in the field of pharmacology, but he does so without monotonously and obviously saying, “ I want to be a pharmacist because I think pharmacy can change people lives .” Instead, he simply and concisely says, “ Pharmacy has the ability to change people’s lives. “

It’s a great opening line, and it gives us insight into his reasons for going into the pharmacy field as well. He follows that up with a sentence that shows he’s knowledgeable about different career opportunities in the field of pharmacology.

Then he smoothly transitions into why he, himself, would do well in this field. He tells us he’s hardworking and motivated, but he does so in a way that doesn’t just state those facts outright without context.

He then once again tells us about his interest in the field and also shows us he is someone who enjoys working with and helping others. Finally, he sums up his introduction by leading into what he hopes to gain from the programme.

Although the next paragraph isn’t listed here, it, too, is a smooth transition into the educational and work experiences he’s had that prepared him to do well in the programme. Everything about this personal statement is well-organised, with each paragraph flowing smoothly into the next, and the whole thing covering everything that should be covered in a personal statement.

Image of a star-struck grinning emoji

Example Personal Statement 4

“I am interested in studying chemistry and biology because I would like a career that plays crucial role in public’s health.

I was previously working as a retail assistant and the experience has led me to deal and understand different kind of people. I learnt to keep myself calm, whilst working under pressure environments.

This job has also taught me to work in a fast-paced environment to meet the customer`s demands. This skill will be useful to meet the deadlines while doing my course and working as a pharmacist will enable me to provide good customer services.”

This personal statement is another example of  what not to do  when writing your own statement for admission into the pharmacy programme.

First of all, the introduction paragraph, shown here in its entirety, is much too short. You have to be an excellent writer to turn one sentence into a paragraph and make it work, and this writer didn’t do that. Your introduction should never be only one sentence. It needs to be fleshed out and thoroughly written. There are some glaring grammatical errors as well.

The next problem with this statement is that the work experience the student writes about isn’t really relevant to the programme she’s trying to enter into. She does an admirable job of trying to make it relevant, by talking about how it helped her learn to work with a multitude of different people and taught her to work quickly, but it doesn’t really work.

Most unis want to know that you have relevant work experience. If you don’t, it’s better to mention placement experiences or internships you’ve had that are relevant as opposed to irrelevant work experience. Even if you only worked in a pharmacy for a day as part of a class project, that’s okay. You can learn a lot in a day, and you can make that work in your writing.

Unless you’re really good at making non-relevant experience seem like it has actual relevance to the programme, it’s better to leave it out altogether. That’s not to say you can’t mention having retail or fast food experience, but you have to make sure that you meticulously explain how that experience is relevant to the pharmacology field.

Image of face with rolling eyes emoji

Example Personal Statement 5

“The enthusiasm I have for the sciences – specifically Chemistry – encouraged me to think about my future career and how a chemistry-related degree could be a possibility for me. I have always enjoyed maths and science throughout my education and I have recognised that I can combine both in a career in pharmacy. I believe pharmacy to be a fast-developing profession and recognise that pharmacists are heavily involved in the introduction of new medicines for all kinds of illnesses, and I find the prospect of working in this field inspiring.”

While this isn’t the best example of a personal statement, it’s far from being the worst. This is considered an average statement. The writer does a good job hitting all the points he should cover in his introduction – why he became interested in the field of pharmacy, a basic knowledge of the job description of a pharmacist and why he wants to work in the field in the future – but doesn’t do it in a way that’s incredibly memorable.

It isn’t the strongest introduction paragraph to a personal statement, but at the same time, it’s fair; it isn’t bad. It’s well-organised; the grammar is mostly as it should be, and the subject of why he wants to enter the programme is well covered. It doesn’t grab our attention and make us want to read more though. In short, this is an introductory paragraph that could go either way.

Although not shown here, the rest of this statement turned out pretty good. The writer found his flow and dived into the subject with an appropriate amount of detail, good grammar and a few memorable points. The strength of his body paragraphs and conclusion made up for his less-than-exceptional introduction, and that’s okay.

We included this sample to show that sometimes you get off to a bit of a slow start and can still finish well. It’s better to start strong, but introductions can be tough. As long as the intro isn’t bad and you make up for the average intro in your body paragraphs and conclusion, you’ll usually be okay.

Image of a slightly smiling face emoji

A Few Final Notes

hile it’s certainly true that grades and work experience are important when applying to uni to work on your MPharm, your pharmacy personal statement is equally important. Universities get huge volumes of applications for their pharmacy programmes. They get so many applications that many of them have a “Due to the large volume of applications we receive…” disclaimer on their websites.

Your personal statement is where you can be creative and ensure your essay stands out from the rest. Be sure you check out the formatting requirements ahead of time and stick to them exactly.

Also, make sure you read the personal statement prompt well and understand it before you start writing. Finally, make sure you edit your paper several times before submitting it.

Have a friend, loved one, mentor or former professor look over it as well. Where possible, get a  reputable online personal statement review service to help ( me shamelessly plugging in our services page lol )  Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes can find mistakes your own eyes can’t.

Be honest and thorough in your response to the prompt, and never try to plagiarise someone else’s work. It never works. It helps to  run a plagiarism checker  on your final draft- just to be sure!

Finally, be sure you stick to the length requirements. If the statement is supposed to be between 500 and 750 words, make sure that’s what it is. Don’t stop at 490 words and assume it will be enough, and don’t go over an extra 50 words and assume the admissions team will be okay with it. These people read a lot of personal statements; they set a maximum word count for a reason.

Most importantly, do your best, and fill your personal statement with passion. If an admissions team can tell that you’re passionate about your education and your subsequent career in pharmacy, you’ve already won half the battle.

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Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »

PgDip Clinical Pharmacy

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  • This programme is designed to support pharmacists to develop the knowledge, clinical skills and behaviours required to provide patient-centred care as part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams
  • Benefit from outstanding facilities including Clinical Skills Resource Centre
  • Flexible study options and opportunity to personalise learning to your career and professional interests
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Entry requirements

Normally a minimum 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.  A personal statement, detailing your reasons for seeking to undertake this subject, will be required. Relevant clinical or professional experience may be taken into consideration as evidence of equivalency.

Home students will typically be registered pharmacists with the General Pharmaceutical Council, working within a clinical pharmacy setting. There is no requirement for minimum time since registered, however, we advise that you feel established in your current role.

International students will typically be experienced pharmacists who wish to undertake further study in the UK in order to gain a perspective on UK-pharmacy practice. Please note that completing this course does not allow you to register as a pharmacist in the UK. Before applying, please note that there are significant differences in pharmacist roles and responsibilities, and drug licensing, dosage and usage between countries. Our programme focuses on UK-based clinical pharmacy practice rather than pharmaceutical science. Applicants will need to have access to a clinical pharmacy environment for practice-based learning, either through employment or work experience, and will need to attend face-to-face teaching on the St Luke’s campus of the University of Exeter.

Please note that students applying for the Independent Prescribing module must be registered with the GPhC or Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and must meet the required eligibility criteria. More information .  

Please download and complete the  Clinical Pharmacy expression of interest form . You will need to upload this with your online application form when you apply.

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our   entry requirements section   for equivalencies from your country and further information. International students will typically be experienced pharmacists who wish to undertake further study in the UK in order to gain a perspective on UK-pharmacy practice. Please note that completing this course does not allow you to register as a pharmacist in the UK. Before applying, please note that there are significant differences in pharmacist roles and responsibilities, and drug licensing, dosage and usage between countries. Our programme focuses on UK-based clinical pharmacy practice rather than pharmaceutical science. Applicants will need to have access to a pharmacy environment for practice-based learning, either through employment or work experience, and will need to attend face-to-face teaching on the St Luke’s campus of the University of Exeter.

Please visit our     international equivalency pages  to enable you to see if your existing academic qualifications meet our entry requirements. International students are normally subject to visa regulations which prevent part-time study. It is recommended that international students apply for the level of the final award you intend to complete i.e. PGCert, PGDip or Masters, due to the associated cost and requirements for a Tier 4 student Visa.

Undertaking the Independent Prescribing module as part of the Clinical Pharmacy programme?

If you choose the Independent Prescribing module as one of your optional modules, you will also need to complete the ‌ Independent and Supplementary Prescribing Course Application form and send to:   [email protected]

Accreditation of prior learning for Masters courses in Healthcare and Medicine

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is a process whereby students, who have already gained relevant skills and knowledge prior to the start of their course, may be granted a partial credit exemption from their programme instead of unnecessarily repeating work. Find out more about APL

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements .

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2 . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

Our Masters in Clinical Pharmacy is designed to support pharmacists develop the knowledge, clinical skills and behaviours required to provide patient-centred care as part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams.  Increase your professional expertise and status and enhance your career prospects with Patient case-based activities that reflect the challenges of current clinical practice.  

Flexible study options, including individual modules, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or full MSc. The Practice Certificate in Independent and/or Supplementary Prescribing can be included as a module or taken as a standalone qualification (eligibility criteria apply).  

Compulsory modules include ‘Applied Therapeutics’ and ‘Skills for Patient-centred care’.  

Learn with other health professionals through multidisciplinary optional modules to personalise your learning, covering topics in minor illness, care of the older adult and long-term condition care.   

Course structure

This MSc course can be studied on a full time basis over 1 year or over 2 or 3 years (part time), which may suit applicants who are already working full time. The programme is also divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. To gain a Masters qualification, you will need to complete 180 credits at level 7. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with one credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work, a 15 credit module being equivalent to 150 hours of work and a full Masters degree being equivalent to approximately 1,800 hours of work.

It is also possible to exit with a PGCert after completing 60 credits of taught modules or a PGDip after completing 120 credits of taught modules. The list of modules below shows which are compulsory.

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View draft timetable for Clinical Pharmacy 2023-24

( Please note: dates are subject to confirmation with timetabling ).

The last contact day and assessment deadline for the programme will be earlier than the actual end date of your registration with the University, to allow a period of time at the end of your active studies for further support and mitigation, if needed.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

MSc Clinical Pharmacy Modules

To qualify for the  Master's (MSc)  you must complete the two compulsory 15 credit modules ( Applied Therapeutics  and  Skills for Patient-Centred Care ), optional modules of 90 credits in total (6 x 15 credit modules), and complete an Independent Research Project (60 credits).  Each 15-credit module has two workshop days that are delivered at St Luke’s Campus, Exeter.

PgDip Clinical Pharmacy Modules

To qualify for the  PG Diploma  you must complete the two compulsory 15 credit modules ( Applied Therapeutics  and  Skills for Patient-Centred Care ) and further optional modules of 90 credits in total (6 x 15 credit modules). This is completed part time over 2 years.

PgCert Clinical Pharmacy Modules

To qualify for the  PG Certificate  you must complete the two compulsory 15 credit modules ( Applied Therapeutics  and  Skills for Patient-Centred Care ) and a further two optional modules of 15 credits. This is completed part time over 1 year.

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Fees are subject to an annual increment each academic year.

UK fees per year:

  • MSc:  £11,600 full-time 1 year, £5,800pa part-time 2 years, £3,900pa part-time 3 years
  • PgDip:  £3,900pa part-time 2 years
  • PgCert : £3,900 1 year
  • Standalone module fees: UK/EU: £1,100 per 15-credit module

International fees per year:

  • MSc: £27,500 full-time 1 year, £13,750pa part-time 2 years, £9,350pa part-time 3 years
  • PgDip:  £9,250pa part-time 2 years
  • PgCert : £9,250 1 year
  • Standalone module fees: £2,500 per 15-credit module

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Details of scholarships, including our  Global Excellence scholarships  for international fee paying students, can be found on our  dedicated funding page .

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Teaching and research

Our purpose is to deliver transformative education that will help tackle health challenges of national and global importance.

With the support of our enthusiastic and clinically active tutors, this blended course involves online learning via ELE plus minimal face-to-face contact days. It makes use of contemporary education methods such as case-based learning, small group work and development of communities of practice.

Teaching methods on the Master's programme include:

  • Interactive e-learning activities
  • Masterclasses from highly experienced clinical teachers and researchers
  • Small group simulated learning tasks
  • Patient case-based discussions
  • Practical workshops for clinical skills development
  • Opportunities for practice and receiving feedback

Teaching is supported by extensive online University library resources, personal tutor systems, University pastoral support structures and a clinical pharmacy virtual learning platform.

We excel at working with members of the public and our partners in the health service to ensure that our research addresses the most important questions, so we can quickly translate our findings into accessible treatments and care.

Our research is globally recognised and our partnerships with healthcare providers, industry and above all, the public, mean that this work is constantly at the cutting-edge of innovation in improving lives.

Explore some of the many highlights of our research on our   research impact page.

This programme is based at the St Luke’s campus in Exeter, just a 15 minute walk from the city centre and just over a mile away from the Streatham Campus. The campus is close to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and RILD building, which is home to the NHS funded Exeter Health Library. Students have studied at St Luke’s campus for over 150 years and the campus enjoys a vibrant atmosphere set around the lawns of the quadrangle.

Facilities at St Luke’s campus include:

  • Life Sciences Resource Centre
  • Clinical Skills Resource Centre (Heavitree Hospital site)
  • Medical Imaging suite
  • Medical Sciences Laboratory

personal statement for postgraduate pharmacy

Dr Rob Daniels

Senior clinical lecturer.

personal statement for postgraduate pharmacy

Jess Miller

personal statement for postgraduate pharmacy

Dr Bharat Pankhania

Senior clinical lecturer (e&s).

personal statement for postgraduate pharmacy

Kate Emblin

Programme lead for the msc clinical pharmacy.

Rob is a GP and Senior Clinical Lecturer in the College of Medicine & Health. He is module lead for:  Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision-Making Skills ,   Acute Presentations in Practice  and  From Theory to Practice to Quality  and module Co-Lead for   Independent Prescribing .

In addition to general practice he works in Ear, Nose and Throat medicine and urgent care, and has an interest in expedition medicine and global health, being one of the faculty on the International Principles of Primary Care course and an academic tutor on the MSc in Extreme Medicine.

Jess is a hospital pharmacist at the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital, specialising in renal pharmacy.  She is module lead for the  Long Term Conditions 1 and 2  modules on the MSc Clinical Pharmacy, and also contributes to teaching on the  Independent Prescribing  module.

Bharat took up his post as head of Public Health Medicine teaching at the University of Exeter Medical School in 2017. He has worked in Public Health Medicine for over 25 years. Bharat has widespread experience of advising on national communicable disease control action plans at national and international level. He worked as a Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, for local authorities, the newly created Health Protection Agency and subsequently Public Health England, where he was the training lead for Health Protection in the South West Region. Image: APEX

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Kate is a Pharmacist Teacher Practitioner. She is programme lead for the MSc Clinical Pharmacy and module lead for a number of modules within this programme. Kate has been involved in pharmacy and clinical education for over 12 years.

Kate works part time at the university and part time as a Community Services Pharmacist for the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

Click for details about Dr Rob Daniels

Our masters programme focuses on UK-based clinical pharmacy practice rather than pharmaceutical science. Applicants will need to have access to a clinical pharmacy environment for practice-based learning, either through employment or work experience.

Who is this course for?

Home students will typically be registered pharmacists with the General Pharmaceutical Council, working within a clinical pharmacy setting. There is no requirement for minimum time since registered, however, we advise that they feel established in their current role.

International students will typically be experienced registered pharmacists who wish to undertake further study in the UK in order to gain a perspective on UK-pharmacy practice. Completing this course does not allow a student to register as a pharmacist in the UK. Before applying, applicants should note that there are significant differences in pharmacist roles and responsibilities, and drug licensing, dosage and usage between countries. Applicants will need to have access to a clinical pharmacy environment for practice-based learning, either through employment or work experience.

Employer-valued skills this course develops

Acquiring this qualification will boost your professional status and enhance your ability to extend your clinical pharmacy role. You can also benefit from our Communication and clinical skills training within our  Clinical Skills Resource Centre .

Career paths (graduate destinations)

Applicants will already be registered pharmacists in the UK or their home country if international. This programme will boost their professional status and enhance their ability to extend their clinical pharmacy role.

UK registered pharmacists may take the Practice Certificate in Independent and Supplementary prescribing (if eligible) which makes them eligible for annotation as an Independent Prescriber. This will enable pharmacists to seek extended roles in clinical practice as a non-medical prescribing practitioner.

Careers support

This programme will enhance your opportunity to take on more demanding roles or management roles within healthcare.

All University of Exeter students have access to  Career Zone , which gives access to a wealth of business contacts, support and training as well as the opportunity to meet potential employers at our regular Careers Fairs.

Related courses

Practice certificate in independent and supplementary prescribing.

St Luke's Campus

Environment and Human Health MSc

Penryn Campus

Healthcare Leadership and Management MSc

Clinical education msc, master of public health (mph).

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Streatham Campus in Exeter

The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.

Find out more about Streatham Campus.

St Luke's Campus in Exeter

Located on the eastern edge of the city centre, St Luke's is home to Sport and Health Sciences, the Medical School, the Academy of Nursing, the Department of Allied Health Professions, and PGCE students.

Find out more about St Luke's Campus.

Penryn Campus near Falmouth, Cornwall

Our Penryn Campus is located near Falmouth in Cornwall. It is consistently ranked highly for satisfaction: students report having a highly personal experience that is intellectually stretching but great fun, providing plenty of opportunities to quickly get to know everyone.

Find out more about Penryn Campus.

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Examples

Pharmacy School Personal Statement

personal statement for postgraduate pharmacy

Personal statements. A lot of undergraduates and postgraduates go through this. They are the kinds of getting-to-know-you in an educational way for the majority of university admissions. However, not everyone is fully aware of their uses and importance. When a student plans to take up a course in a school or university of their choosing, they would always go through the same if not the common requirements that are given to the school or university of their choosing. As students, it is their responsibility to be able to write a good pharmacy school personal statement or at least get the hang of writing a good personal statement regardless of what their choice of course they are going to be taking up. With that being said, here are your examples of pharmacy school personal statements below. Enjoy!

5+ Pharmacy School Personal Statement Examples

1. pharmacy school personal statement template.

Pharmacy School Personal Statement Template

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2. School of Pharmacy Personal Statement

School of Pharmacy Personal Statement

Size: 112 KB

3. Pharmacy School Application in PDF

Pharmacy School Application

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4. Medical School Personal Statement

Medical School Personal Statement1

5. Pharmacy School Personal Statement Example

Pharmacy School Personal Statement Example

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6. Basic Pharmacy School Personal Statement

Basic Pharmacy School Personal Statement

Size: 40 KB

What Is a Pharmacy School Personal Statement?

A pharmacy school personal statement is a kind of essay that a student whether an undergraduate or a postgraduate is asked to write about. This is the type of requirement that a lot of medical schools or schools in general ask their student applicants to write. The pharmacy school personal statement consists of the following: a short introductory statement that is mostly about who you are and the course you are taking; the body which states the reason why are you taking the course or what made you choose it; and lastly, the conclusion which would be an explanation of why they should be adding you to the list of students taking the same course. The personal statement, as the term suggests, is made to explain to the committee your purpose. 

How to Write a Pharmacy School Personal Statement?

When you hear the word personal and statement, you would immediately think of an essay, which is not wrong. You are supposed to be writing an essay about why you are taking the course and how it affects you personally. But when is personal writing too personal? What can you do to make it more professional but at the same time touching the personal side? Here are tips to get you started on that.

1. Ask Yourself What You Want Them to Know About You

Brainstorming and drafting are some things that people often take for granted. What they don’t realize is how helpful that step is as well. The best way to begin is to always think about what you want to talk about. Give the committee something that they may want to read. Give them something about you.

2. Add Some Personal Experience to Your Personal Statement

To make a good personal statement and a good first impression, add some short personal experiences. These personal experiences would give the committee an overview of why you chose the occupation you are planning to pursue as well as it would give them a good chance to get to know you through it. 

3. Avoid Being Too Personal and Too Boring

However, just because this is considered a personal statement does not necessarily mean that you are going to be too personal or very personal. There is a very good line between sharing experiences as a personal reason for your statement and making it too much. In addition to that, make your personal statement something to read. Avoid being too boring or too dull. 

4. Make Your Statement Clear and Concise

Just as writing an essay or a report, your statement should also follow the rule to be clear and concise. Never assume that the committee would be able to understand or follow through with what you are saying if it does not make any sense. Make your statement clear. If you cannot understand what you plan to write, you should at least know that the next person would not either.

5. Avoid Erasures as Much as Possible

Avoiding too many erasures would seem like an impossible task. However, it is really not as daunting or impossible as it sounds. This is why when you are able to draft your work first, you get to see through the mistakes and the erasures and be able to avoid them. Your final output should at least have little to no erasures and little to no mistakes. 

What is a pharmacy school personal statement?

A pharmacy school personal statement is a kind of essay that a student taking up the course is asked to write.

What is it about?

The personal statement consists of the reasons, purpose, and explanation as to why the student should be accepted into the program.

How long should a personal statement be?

A single page long is the required length, along with 700 words in total. Above that is still acceptable but the committee often expects their applicants to write only a page and 700 words maximum.

A lot of students are required to write something about themselves. This is what a personal statement does. It gives the student an opportunity to talk about why they should be accepted into the program. To make your statement stand out, share a story or an experience you had that made you want to take up the course. The more sincere and true it is, the more likely you would be believed. Avoid writing a story that is not true as a lot of members of the committee can tell between a real and genuine story over something being fabricated.

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What to include in a Personal Statement

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Personal statement example pharmacy personal statement.

Submitted by Erin

Pharmacy Personal Statement

From the science behind the design and production of medicines to the practical role of working with patients, medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies, it is this variety that attracts me to a career in pharmacy. Over the course of my A-Level studies, I have developed a passion for Chemistry and Biology; I enjoy how these sciences complement each other, for example, through studying molecules and their structures. I thoroughly enjoyed my work experience and through this I was able to confirm that pharmacy is the career that would allow me to combine my interest in the chemical composition of medicines with their clinical application, to ultimately improve the quality of individuals' lives.

I completed work experience in both a hospital and community setting. Whilst in a local pharmacy, I helped the pharmacist process prescriptions and dispense a range of drugs. It was evident that a methodical approach and attention to detail are key attributes required for this profession. These are skills I believe I am already developing through my lab work such as the preparation of serial dilutions in Biology. I also enjoyed engaging with members of the public and by the end of the placement, under the pharmacist's direction, I was advising customers on how to treat a range of minor ailments from indigestion to the common cold. I gained a deep appreciation of the importance of the role of the pharmacist in delivering primary care to all sectors of the community whilst working within legal and ethical guidelines. The positions of responsibility I hold in school, including prefect and peer mentor, my participation in extra-curricular activities and work experience to date, show that I am a trustworthy individual. I also possess the skills that allow me to communicate effectively with a range of people; from parents with young children through to the elderly and those with learning difficulties. An additional part of community pharmacy that appealed to me was the business side of the role. Successful completion of Business Studies at GCSE helped me understand concepts such as supply, demand and stock management.

I also spent time work-shadowing in Antrim Area Hospital where I gained insight into the role of a pharmacist in an alternative setting. I realised the pressurised conditions that pharmacists often work under, for example, the urgency of getting the correct medication to patients who were often very unwell. On consideration of my own ability to work under pressure, I am confident that this is an aspect of the career I would have the resilience to cope with. I currently hold a part time retail position and often deal with large numbers of customers whilst maintaining professionalism and providing good customer service. I also successfully balance my academic studies, my job and other commitments such as working towards my Grade 5 piano. I realised the importance of collegiality and the role that pharmacists play in multi-disciplinary teams in a hospital environment, all with differing backgrounds, but with the ultimate goal of providing the best care for the patient. I have personal experience of successful teamwork including playing for the school netball team, as well as being a member of the charity committee, where I hold the role of secretary.

I have been a member of the Girls' Brigade for almost ten years and I am training to be a Sub-Officer. I also have three years of voluntary experience in a local Oxfam shop. These activities, alongside my commitments both in and out of school, further illustrate my leadership skills, ability to prioritise and manage my own workload and my desire to work with people. I am truly passionate about studying pharmacy at university. I am excited about the prospect of a highly varied career that allows me to further my interest in chemical and biological sciences in a practical role, whilst ultimately improving the life of others.

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  2. Pharmacy School Personal Statement Examples

    Updated: Jan 01, 2024. Pharmacy school personal statement examples demonstrate that pharmacy school applications require many different documents to adequately assess you as a potential candidate. In addition to looking at your CV, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and any other required materials, most pharmacy programs ask you to submit ...

  3. Example Pharmacy Postgraduate Personal Statement

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  4. How to Write a Compelling Pharmacy School Personal Statement

    As part of your brainstorming, look at successful personal statements. Websites like Studential and ApplyToUni can give you a good idea of what spelled success for past applicants. Or, if you know anyone who went to pharmacy school already, you can ask them for their best tips. 2. Outline and Draft.

  5. Pharmacy Personal Statement Examples

    Your Pharmacology personal statement doesn't need to be War and Peace, but it should be a clear and concise picture of you and who you are. Don't worry about the character count, you can easily write 4,000 words once you get into the swing of things. One quick tip from us, is when you're writing your Pharmacology personal statement, we ...

  6. Tips for Writing a Pharmacy School Personal Statement

    Include only pharmacy-related experiences. 6. Avoid plagiarism. Committee members can always see through plagiarized works, so avoid this at all costs. This will only destroy your credibility in the field. 7. Avoid controversial topics. The personal statement is not a discussion ground for questionable topics.

  7. Writing the Personal Statement for Pharmacy School: A Checklist

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    Postgraduate Info on postgraduate study. Student Finance Advice on managing finance. Student Health Physical & mental health advice. ... A Pharmacy personal statement should be a list of reasons that a university should like you and should also be a chance to show off your passion for Pharmacy. Your Pharmacy personal statement should include ...

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    A personal statement, detailing your reasons for seeking to undertake this subject, will be required. Relevant clinical or professional experience may be taken into consideration as evidence of equivalency. Home students will typically be registered pharmacists with the General Pharmaceutical Council, working within a clinical pharmacy setting.

  13. Pharmacy School Personal Statement

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  18. Pharmacy Personal Statement

    Use your statement to reflect on: your perceptions of what the profession is about, and where you can see yourself within it. the skills and qualities that will be required, both to study pharmacy and to practice it as a profession. evidence of situations or activities where you've displayed some of these skills and qualities yourself.

  19. Personal Statement For Postgraduate Pharmacy

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