A unique Pharmacy degree course in which students split their studies between The University of Nottingham’s Malaysia campus and the UK campus in Nottingham is celebrating its first graduation.
The School of Pharmacy’s innovative 2+2 programme enabled 33 students to spend the first two years of their course at the University’s campus near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, transferring to Nottingham for their final two years of study. This first cohort was among a total of 135 MPharm students who received their degrees at a graduation ceremony on University Park last week.
This 2+2 Pharmacy masters course is fully accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, which means that, after a pre-registration training year, graduates may work as pharmacists in the UK and in Malaysia, where the Nottingham degree is also recognised.
Head of the School of Pharmacy Professor Saul Tendler said: “It is an absolute pleasure to see so many Pharmacy students graduating this year. For the students who were our 2+2 pioneers, this is an extra special achievement.
“It is one that marks the culmination of many years of effort by colleagues both in Nottingham and Malaysia who have been involved in setting up the programme, and, of course, by students themselves. We wish all our students the very best for successful careers as pharmacists, and we hope they will keep in touch with us in the future.”
One of the pioneer graduates, Ruby Kassam, said: “It was an exciting opportunity to be part of such a ground-breaking new Pharmacy course. I received a top quality education and the experience of a lifetime. I’m leaving the University with some wonderful memories of the four years I spent studying pharmacy and with a lovely memory of the final day where I received my award at the prestigious graduation ceremony in Nottingham.”
The first two years of the modular Pharmacy course involve the development of core pharmacy skills and knowledge. After transferring to the UK for the final two years of the course students continue their studies of the pharmaceutical sciences and learn more about the clinical and legal aspects of the Pharmacy profession. In the final year students are given the opportunity to be involved in pharmaceutical research by selecting a research topic and working under the supervision of an academic staff member.
Potential students in Malaysia interested in applying to join this innovative course can find details of an open day on August 7 at The University of Nottingham’s Malaysian Campus here: http://www.nottingham.edu.my/faculties/science/pharmacy
