Graduates of pharmacy degrees hold a vital part in human survival. They work at the heart of the healthcare industry, taking on roles related to prescription and care management, advising on the vast medical options available, and at the forefront of designing and developing new treatments.
Europe is one of the leading regions when it comes to pharmacy degrees. If you are curious about how to start your dream of becoming a pharmacist, check out our list of some of the best pharmacy schools in Europe that constantly contribute to the pharmaceutical field.
What is Better, Dentistry or Pharmacy?
More often than not, students who want to pursue medical degrees outside of medicine find themselves at a crossroads trying to choose between dentistry and pharmacy. Although Pharmacy is not conventionally a medical field, it is a discipline that’s closely related to medicine. If you are naturally drawn to chemistry and aspire to solve problems in controlled environments like laboratories, then pharmacy is the field for you. If, however, you’re passionate about anatomy, then you might want to consider Dentistry. As far as the job market is concerned, pharmacy tends to be more competitive; thus, lending a job is relatively harder. This could be something that may sway your decision if you’re thinking about your career prospects. Sadly, we currently don’t have any pharmacy courses available on our website, but you can definitely check out our Open Courses Page for related programs.
Top Pharmacy Schools in Europe
1. University of Nottingham
Recognized as one of Europe’s best pharmacy schools, the University of Nottingham is the home of almost 50,000 students from over 150 countries. It also has campuses outside the UK, particularly in China and Malaysia. This extension in other parts of the world leads the university in earning the utmost global partnerships that amplify collaborative research projects.
In the UK, Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy was superseded by a Master’s in Pharmacy degree to transform the country’s educational offerings fully. The four-year undergraduate study now qualifies students with an MPharm even without first obtaining a Bachelor’s degree. However, an MPharm degree is still not considered equivalent to a standalone postgraduate Master’s degree. For this change in pharmacy training, graduates from the UK are being recognized globally.
Given that it focuses on medical treatments, Nottingham’s pharmacy degrees require intensive research and vocational training. Professional skills are instilled in the students’ minds to make them learn about ethical and legal issues and how to interact with patients.
Its Pharmacy Department continuously garners awards and has already built a strong reputation in the field. As a matter of fact, the department topped the podium on the quality of research for pharmacy schools in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework.
Nottingham offers pharmacy degrees from undergraduate up to postgraduate. Its Ph.D. projects also provide funding opportunities for both EU and international students, which is why graduates highly anticipate vacancies in the program.
2. University College London (UCL)
University College London is one of the most highly-rated pharmacy schools in Europe and worldwide. With over 179 years of experience, it has already retained its identity as a specialist institution in teaching and research in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
As future pharmacists, students are trained to have adequate knowledge of various medications and prescriptions to serve patients in the future properly. The university’s educational training is designed to help students meet all the necessary characteristics and skills of a proficient pharmacist.
Years one and two are focused on the scientific basis of pharmacy and the translation of medicines from laboratory to patients. Then, students must pick from a wide range of advanced specialist options during their third year. In year four, students will then embark on a research project, which will take part either within the school or in another institution.
3. University of Manchester
University of Manchester‘s pharmacy teaching is focused on providing state-of-the-art modern facilities for students to prosper in their future career goals. Specialized aseptic facilities and simulated patient rooms in the pharmacy department allow students to incorporate theory with application. Practical classes, research projects, and computer and team-based learning sessions are also utilized for pharmacy programs.
Even during their early years, students are exposed to pharmacy departments in order for them to go beyond theoretical knowledge and take a glimpse into the actual industry. It is also an advantage that the university has close links to local NHS hospitals, which gives students the chance to learn in a very comprehensive environment.
These placements are the backbone of every Manchester pharmacy graduate. The setup made the students more skilled and wiser in applying university learning to real-life situations in the field.
The University of Manchester is one of the top-ranking universities in the United Kingdom in terms of pharmacy education. Throughout the years, the institution has continued to produce excellent graduates that contribute to the community. Manchester is also one of the limited institutions that were granted a Royal Pharmaceutical Society Foundation School accreditation.
4. Utrecht University
Utrecht University is considered among the best pharmacy schools in Europe. The institution is equipped with an excellent faculty that directly supervise pharmacy students. These lecturers are active in pharmaceutical research and industry, which means that students consistently gain insights from actual pharmacists who are updated on the current happenings in the field.
In addition, the university is keen on linking education with practical experience in order to train students for the full breadth of the pharmaceutical field. With that, students are given the opportunity to get exposed to their specific field of interest and delve further into their future professional careers.
Also, the pharmacy degrees in Utrecht have an intensive tutoring program so that students get to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share the same passion as them. Various activities and honors programs are also available to enhance every student’s learning experience profoundly.
5. King’s College of London
King’s College of London combines pharmaceutical science with actual practice. As future experts in medicine, students learn from world-renowned researchers, scientists, and pharmacy practitioners to develop their professional skills.
King’s already has a fantastic reputation for inter-professional learning, making it one of the first selections for aspiring pharmacists. More than excellent education, students also benefit from international research exchanges and clinical placements, which could boost their career prospects.
As part of King’s mission, the institution works closely with London’s major teaching hospitals to provide incredible training grounds for the students. This type of practical learning aid students in improving their diagnostic, patient education, and consultation skills which are essential requisites of an outstanding pharmacist.
In recent years, King’s College of London has been consistent in being one of the top universities for pharmacy and pharmacology. To date, the institution already has 14 Nobel Laureates and over 29,00 students from more than 150 countries in the world.
We hope that you found this article on the best pharmacy schools in Europe informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
