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The University of Suffolk has confirmed that it will launch an MPharm degree from September 2026.
In a statement published on 23 September 2025, the university said it was launching the degree “as part of efforts to address the skills shortage in the industry”.
In November 2024, The Pharmaceutical Journal exclusively reported that the university was seeking to develop a pharmacy degree and was working through the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) accreditation process.
“The programme will be provisionally accredited until the accreditation process is complete, upon the graduation of its first cohort in 2030,” the statement added.
The four-year programme will accommodate around 40 students for the first year.
NHS England’s ‘Long-term workforce plan’, published in June 2023, said that workforce plans would need an increase in the annual number of pharmacy students to almost 5,000 by 2031.
“To support this level of growth, we will expand training places for pharmacists by 29% to around 4,300 by 2028/2029, starting with initial growth in 2026/2027 when places will increase by 15%,” the plan said.
In its statement, the university said: “The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board has recognised the significant need for training of more pharmacists in the east of England, and included a commitment to supporting the University of Suffolk in developing the business case for a pharmacy school.
“Currently, just two universities in East Anglia offer MPharm courses in a region with a population of around 6.3 million people, compared to areas such as the East Midlands, where four universities offer the course for a smaller population of 4.8 million.”
Georgina Marsh, head of pharmacy at the University of Suffolk, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate a successful outcome from the GPhC Step 2 accreditation event, marking a major milestone in our MPharm launch journey and our progression towards full accreditation.
“There is a recognised need for more pharmacists in the region and the UK, and the University of Suffolk’s Master of Pharmacy course will prepare students with all the skills they need to be future pharmacy leaders, confident prescribers upon registration and collaborative healthcare professionals.”
A spokesperson for the Pharmacy Schools Council said: “We look forward to engaging with the University of Suffolk as it develops its new pharmacy programme.
“New schools of pharmacy become eligible to join the Pharmacy Schools Council as associate members upon successfully completing Step 2 of the GPhC’s accreditation process for new Master of Pharmacy degrees,” they added.
Applications for the course are now open.
