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The narrowing of the ethnicity awarding gap for UK pharmacy graduates seen during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been sustained, according to an analysis by The Pharmaceutical Journal.
Analysis of the latest data submitted by pharmacy schools to the Higher Education Statistics Agency suggests that the ethnicity awarding gap for graduates from MPharm degrees in the UK was 11 percentage points in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 — an increase from 8 percentage points in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.
Although the proportion of white MPharm graduates being awarded a first or upper second-class degree in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 remained the same as in the previous two years, the proportion of graduates from ethnic minority backgrounds receiving this classification fell, widening the gap.
A previous analysis by The Pharmaceutical Journal found that the awarding gap had narrowed in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 compared with the previous two years, which some heads of pharmacy schools attributed to the move to online assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest data from 4,595 students who graduated with an MPharm degree from 28 schools of pharmacy in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 — with a recorded ethnicity and degree classification — show that 94% of white pharmacy graduates were awarded a first or 2:1 degree compared with 83% of ethnic minority pharmacy graduates.
The ethnicity awarding gap was particularly pronounced for black graduates, of which 77% were awarded a first or 2:1 degree.
The analysis does not account for other potential confounding factors, such as socio-economic background, degree choice preference, gender, qualification on entry and international student schemes.
Amandeep Doll, head of professional belonging and engagement at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), said the widening of the ethnicity awarding gap — particularly for black students — is “deeply concerning”.
“These disparities are inequitable and have lasting impacts on individuals, their careers and the wider profession.”
The RPS has set up a working group to tackle the awarding gap experienced by black pharmacy students and foundation trainees.
Sam Appiah-Anane, president of the UK Black Pharmacist Association, said: “We will continue to work and lobby to narrow this gap and provide black pharmacy students the best opportunities to excel, flourish and exceed their potential.”
Barrie Kellam, chair of the Pharmacy Schools Council (PhSC), said that the PhSC’s student success group remains “steadfast in its commitment to equity in pharmacy education”.
“Tackling these inequities is essential to achieving equity in pharmacy education, and schools of pharmacy are focused on addressing systemic barriers and ensuring all students have equal opportunities to succeed,” he said.
Emeka Onwudiwe, president of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association, said he believes students with lower income backgrounds were disproportionately affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to limited access to IT resources, compromising their ability to participate fully in remote learning.
“Financial insecurity during the pandemic forced many students, particularly from lower income backgrounds, to take on additional part-time work. This reduces the time and energy that would be placed in enhancing their learning,” he added.
Louise Edwards, chief strategy officer at the General Pharmaceutical Council, said the regulator is continuing to work closely with schools of pharmacy and the PhSC to address awarding gaps.
“Our standards require all accredited MPharm schools to routinely review student progression and achievement data against protected characteristics, including ethnicity, and to take action to understand and address any differences that are found.”
The findings for pharmacy graduates mirror the picture for all UK graduates. The latest report on equality in higher education, published in November 2023 by charity Advance HE, revealed that 83% of white first degree undergraduate qualifiers received a first or 2:1 degree in 2021/2022 compared with 72% of black, Asian and minority ethnic qualifiers, representing an awarding gap of 11 percentage points.
Advance HE noted that 2021/2022 was the first year since 2014/2015 that the ethnicity degree awarding gap had widened, and “by a substantial amount compared with the smaller, incremental decreases in the gap noted over the last decade”.
