Pharmacy courses in Ireland are completed on a minimum of a five-year program, as we explained in our a previous post. The new PSI-accredited Master degree (Level 9) involves practical placement of students throughout the five years of study, and is not restricted to final year.
The placement is managed by APPEL (Affiliation for Pharmacy Practice Experiential Learning). It involves placement in community and hospital pharmacies during the second, fourth and fifth year and placements in industry and other practice areas (health service, regulatory etc.) in the fourth year.
The Mpharm degree is now the requirement to practice as a pharmacist in Ireland. There is also Continuing Professional Development for practising pharmacists.
To apply for admission into pharmacy schools in Ireland, Irish and EU students apply through CAO. It should be noted that the EU states also include EEA members (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland.
In the admission process, students from the EU have more advantage in both the number of admitted applicants and the cost of tuition. UK students are also considered as part of EU in the admission process.
Ireland citizens who qualify do not pay tuition fees, as the Free Fees Initiative by the Government covers the fee. They only pay non-tuition costs. However, those who do not qualify pays the same tuition fees as the EU students.
Fees for applicants offering pharmacy courses in Ireland are determined by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Different Entry Routes to Study Pharmacy in Ireland
There are many routes through which applicants can get the chance to study pharmacy courses in Ireland. Each route has its basic requirement. They are:
- CAO Applicants
- Mature Entry Route
- Graduate Entry Route
- International Entry Route
Requirement for Different Entry Route to Study Pharmacy in Ireland
This data is from Trinity College, and may differ in other pharmacy schools in Ireland
1. CAO Applicants: Points 2020: 590 (subject to changes yearly)
Special Entry Requirements: O4 or H6 Mathematics, H4 Chemistry or Physics and Chemistry, H4 in one of Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Geography, Geology, or Agricultural Science or Computer Science
GCSE: Grade B /6 Mathematics
ADVANCED GCE (A-LEVEL): Grade C Chemistry, Grade C in one of physics, biology, mathematics,
geology, geography, computer science or further mathematics.
2. Graduate Entry: Minimum second class honours grade result in an honours’ bachelor degree (NFQ level 8) in any discipline.
Special Entry Requirements: LEAVING CERTIFICATE O4 or H6 Mathematics, H4 Chemistry or Physics and Chemistry.
3. Mature Entry Route: Special entry requirements: a Leaving Certificate, or equivalent, in the following subject areas is required: O4 or H6 Mathematics, H4 Chemistry or Physics and Chemistry.
4. International Students (non-EU: Final second level qualification results IELTS, Cambridge Advanced/ Proficiency, TOEFL scores, for applicants whose first language is not English,
- Academic transcripts for each year of third-level study and all third-level qualifications awarded,
- SAT, AP or ACT scores (US and Canadian applicants only)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Passport
- Application fee (non-refundable) and application fee payment form
Universities offering pharmacy courses in Ireland
Three universities offer pharmacy courses in Ireland (Mpharm). They are:
- Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- University College Cork
Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin
The Five-Year Pharmacy (Integrated) Programme is offered here, leading to the awarding of the MPharm degree. This university is the highest ranked university in Ireland (QS ranking)
The pharmacy school offers postgraduate pharmacy courses such as M.Sc./Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences, M.Sc./Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology (Online), M.Sc. in Hospital Pharmacy, Cardiology in Clinical Pharmacy Practice Module, and CPD in Pharmaceutical Innovation.
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Student Slots per session: 80 places (70 EU, 10 non-EU). Further breakdown: Mature Entry Route: 5 places, Graduate Entry Route: 5 places.
Website: https://pharmacy.tcd.ie
Location: The School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences Panoz Institute, Trinity College, Dublin
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
RCSI is a University of Medicine and Health Sciences. They are an independent and not-for-profit university. Pharmacy degree is offered at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, leading to the award of B.Sc. (Hons) Mpharm after five years.
No of admitted candidates per session: 50 (European Union), 25 (non-European Union states)
Fees: Total fees for a session (Irish/EU students who do not qualify for Free Fees) – €8,782
Website: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin
University College Cork
The school of pharmacy in UCC is one of the five schools in the College of Medicine and Health. Others are Schools of Dental School and Hospital, School of Clinical Therapies, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Other postgraduate Diplomas/Masters are MSc in Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology & Quality Systems and Research Masters, and PhD degrees.
They offer both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in pharmacy. The school is open to international students who make the basic requirement as specified by the university.
The school reserves 12 slots for mature students (applicants over 23 years) each academic session.
Fees: EU students (capitation fee: €130, student contribution fee: €3,000, tuition fee: €4,340, total = €7,470). For international students, the total fee is €20,500 payable in two instalments. An initial deposit of €1,500 must be made, and it is part of the first instalment.
Location: Cavanagh Pharmacy Building Room UG06 University College Cork
Web: www.ucc.ie
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Ireland
Pharmacy technician study in Ireland is a two-year course leading to the award of a Higher Certificate in Science.
- The Technological University of the Shannon
- Technological University Dublin
- Institute of Technology, Carlow
- The Institute of Technology Tralee (IT Tralee)
- Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT)
- Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) Academy
Pharmacy Assistant Schools in Ireland
- Drogheda Institute of Further Education
- Blackrock Further Education Institute
- International Career Institute
- St. Johns College
- Killester College
- Galway Community College
- Waterford College of Further Education
- Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education
