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Pharmacy education and training has undergone substantial changes in the past four years, with the introduction of new standards from the General Pharmaceutical Council. However, the roles of pharmacists in every setting are also evolving at pace.
Together with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association, The Pharmaceutical Journal has launched a writing competition inviting pharmacy students and foundation trainees to critically examine the evidence on the practice readiness of pharmacist graduates in light of these changing responsibilities and propose well‐considered changes to the curriculum, placements or foundation training that will better align with the evolving demands of the NHS.
Submissions must be original, evidence-based and aim to stimulate constructive debate on how to improve pharmacy education for future healthcare challenges.
The best entries will be published in The Pharmaceutical Journal and the winner will be invited to spend a day with The Pharmaceutical Journal team to see how we bring the latest news, features and learning content to our readers.
We look forward to your innovative and thoughtful contributions to this important discussion on the future of pharmacy education in the NHS.
Key details
Word count: Approximately 1,200 words (excluding references, titles and captions)
Eligibility: The competition is open to all MPharm students and foundation trainees in the UK.
Focus question: “Examine the evidence on practice readiness of pharmacist graduates and propose changes to the curriculum, placements or foundation training to better align with evolving NHS demands.”
Target audience: Pharmacy professionals with an interest in healthcare policy, pharmacy education and clinical practice innovation
Submission requirements
1. Originality and format:
- Submissions must be entirely original work and must not have been published or submitted for publication elsewhere;
- Articles should follow a structured approach that includes a headline, clear argumentation and a conclusive call-to-action or recommendation;
- Written submissions should be in Microsoft Word.
2. Word Count:
- The main text should be approximately 1,200 words (excluding the reference list).
3. A clear structure that includes:
- Headline: A short, punchy title that captures your argument;
- Introduction: Set out the problem of practice readiness among pharmacist graduates, explaining its significance for patient care and the NHS;
- Evidence review: Provide a balanced discussion of existing evidence, using quantitative data and peer-reviewed sources where possible;
- Analysis: Identify key issues that contribute to gaps in practice readiness;
- Proposals for change: Clearly outline actionable changes. Support your proposals with relevant evidence or successful examples from comparable contexts;
- Counter arguments: Briefly acknowledge alternative perspectives or potential challenges to your proposals and explain why your recommendations are both innovative and feasible;
- Conclusion: Summarise your key points and reinforce the potential positive impact of your proposed changes;
- References: All claims and data should be supported by published evidence. References must be formatted in Vancouver style. Include a numbered reference list at the end of your submission;
- Conflict of interest: All authors must disclose any conflicts of interest.
Additional notes
Tone and style: Submissions should be written in an authoritative yet engaging tone. Aim for clarity and precision in your argumentation.
Authorship and acknowledgement: All individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the submission should be named as co-authors. If any writing assistance or editorial support was received, including the use of AI, this should be acknowledged appropriately.
Judging criteria
Submissions will be assessed by a panel of experts based on the following criteria:
- Relevance and focus: How well does the submission address the central question regarding practice readiness and proposed educational reforms?
- Evidence and analysis: Is the argument underpinned by robust, peer-reviewed evidence? Are claims clearly articulated and supported?
- Innovation and feasibility: Do the proposed changes to the curriculum, placements or training offer realistic, innovative solutions that respond to evolving NHS needs?
- Structure and clarity: Is the piece well-organised, logically structured and engaging from the headline to the conclusion?
- Writing quality: Are the submissions written in a clear, concise and professional manner, free from typographical and grammatical errors?
Submission process
1. How to Submit
Please submit your entry to editor@pharmaceutical-journal.com. All submissions must be in Microsoft Word format.
Ensure that your email subject line is clearly titled with “Future Pharmacists Writing Competition”. Please also include your full name and university.
The judging panel has the final say on the winners of this competition. Entries cannot be revised once submitted.
2. Deadline
The final deadline for submissions is 23:59 on 2 June 2025. Late submissions will not be considered, so please ensure you allow sufficient time for submission.
3. Feedback
All entries will be reviewed, and shortlisted participants may be contacted for further clarification or invited to provide additional information. Apologies, we will not be able to provide feedback on all submissions.
4. Publication
By submitting your work, you agree that the competition organisers may publish your submission in the event of success.
Support and enquiries
For any queries regarding the submission process, content guidelines or technical issues with the submission portal, please contact the competition organising team at editor@pharmaceutical-journal.com.
These guidelines have been developed to ensure that each submission is of the highest standard and contributes meaningfully to ongoing debates in pharmacy practice. We wish you the best of luck in your submission and look forward to reading your evidence-based proposals.
