Are you a pharmacy professional from India or the Middle-East aspiring to practice in the UK? If yes, the UK’s Overseas Pharmacist Assessment Programme or OSPAP is a great opportunity to upgrade your career internationally. This is a one-year postgraduate diploma (PgDip) for pharmacy professionals with at least one year of experience, which prepares them for UK practice and entry to foundation training. It is offered via various universities such as the University of Sunderland, University of Hertfordshire, Aston University, and the University of Brighton and is accredited by the UK’s General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
The OSPAP is a recognised qualification designed for qualified pharmacists outside the European Economic Area or hold an EEA pharmacist qualification, which is not a ‘relevant’ qualification, other than a UK-recognised pharmacist qualification, who are looking to become registered pharmacists in the UK.
Entry Requirements
Before you can apply to study the OSPAP course, you must first apply to the GPhC and pass their adjudication process which is a component. You must also hold a pharmacy degree that is comparable to a UK pharmacy degree along with a registration or eligibility to register as a pharmacist in your home country.
If you experience any issues with the adjudication process you must contact the GPhC directly as the University itself cannot help with this. An experienced overseas education consultant can professionally assist you in this regard. When you apply to the GPhC, you will choose a preferred institution at which you wish to study the OSPAP – so make sure you have done your research to see which university and course suits you the best. You can choose more than one.
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Steps Involved
The GPhC may contact you for additional information or clarification. Be prompt in responding to any such requests to avoid delays in the processing of your application. If your application is successful, the GPhC will provide you with an eligibility decision. If you meet the criteria, you will be able to proceed with the next steps toward registration, such as completing any additional training or assessments required. Wait for the GPhC to assess your application, and if successful, you will receive a letter of eligibility to undertake the OSPAP.
The GPhC will then send your form onto the institutions for whom you have shown a preference for further assessment. And once you’ve been interviewed, if successful you will be sent an updated offer letter removing the condition for interview. If you have any outstanding additional conditions at that point, please send these to us as soon as possible to complete your application and secure your place. If you have passed your interview, your place is only secured once all conditions of your offer are met, after which the university will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS), following which you will be able to apply for a visa.
Course Structure
This is a full-time course and teaching on the OSPAP takes place on campus. You’ll learn through a wide variety of teaching and learning methods which include lectures, seminars, simulated pharmacy sessions and clinical skills, as well as simulations in the University’s mock hospital wards. Teaching will also include opportunities to collaborate with students from other healthcare disciplines such as medicine, nursing and occupational therapy.
You will undertake placements throughout the course along with on-campus learning. You will experience placements in hospital pharmacies, in the community, at GP surgeries and in primary and secondary care. Your placements are an excellent way to discover what kind of pharmacist you want to be and where you want your career path to take you.
Employment Prospects
Our graduates go on to work as pharmacists in a wide variety of places, including hospital pharmacies, community pharmacies and in primary and secondary care. Some graduates choose to stay in academia, either going into research or teaching. OSPAP graduates have promising employment prospects in the UK. Upon successful completion, many find roles in community pharmacies, where they serve as vital healthcare providers, advising on medications and supporting public health. There are also rewarding opportunities within hospitals, where pharmacists work alongside medical teams to manage patient medications and specialise in areas like oncology or cardiology.
The pharmaceutical industry is another appealing sector, with graduates working in roles such as regulatory affairs, clinical trials, and research and development. Some graduates choose positions in primary care settings, assisting GP practices with medication management and chronic disease reviews. Regulatory roles with agencies like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are also accessible to OSPAP graduates, leveraging their expertise in compliance and safety. With experience, OSPAP graduates can pursue pharmacy management or independent prescribing, which enhances their responsibilities and salary potential. Those interested in academia may transition into teaching or research, contributing to pharmacy education.
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Top Benefits of OSPAP
OSPAP offers numerous benefits for international pharmacy graduates and practitioners to work in the UK, such as:
- It provides a pathway for international pharmacy practitioners to get licensed in the UK.
- It provides robust training in clinical practice, pharmacology, law, and ethics.
- Make use of state-of-the-art facilities, labs and learning resources at UK universities.
- Earn global recognition with a UK registration and practitioner’s license.
- Network with pharmacy professionals across Europe for continued career support.
Upon completing OSPAP and registration, pharmacists in the UK enjoy competitive salaries, with potential growth based on experience and specialisation.
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