New Veterinary Pharmacy courses

Posted 9 February 2010

Harper Adams University College is delighted to have signed a partnership agreement with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain to deliver new postgraduate qualifications in Veterinary Pharmacy.

Candidates from pharmaceutical or animal health backgrounds can study over two or three years to obtain a University Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate or Masters Degree in Veterinary Pharmacy. All levels involve a variety of taught modules, and Masters students have to complete an independent research project in Year 3.

The partnership between HAUC and the RPSGB will also provide opportunities for closer collaboration, the sharing of expertise and joint proposals for research and outreach activities.

Dr Steven Kayne Director of the RPSGB Veterinary Pharmacy Programme (VPEP) said: "The society has offered veterinary pharmacy education to its members for more than 25 years but has never found a partner with whom it could work to secure accreditation.

“I am delighted that we have now signed a formal collaborative agreement with HAUC with whom we have had a very successful working relationship since we brought our residential study week here in the late 1990s. The VPEP team greatly value the expertise that Harper can bring to the programme and look forward to establishing a variety of new courses up to Master's level for both pharmacists and their support staff.”

The course will be managed and taught by the by the Veterinary Pharmacists Group (VPG) of the RPSGB and accredited by Harper Adams, which already offers animal health, bio veterinary science and veterinary nursing undergraduate programmes, as well as a postgraduate veterinary physiotherapy course.

The University College has also worked for more than two decades with the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority, and now delivers the training and examinations legally required to achieve Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) status for the sale of animal medicines.

Chloe Whitehouse from the Harper Adams Animals Department Development Office, said: “Particularly applicable for the non-pharmacist candidates, is the fact that the proposed award has been designed to map across and include all the required elements in order for successful candidates to gain any one of the seven AMTRA SQP qualifications and professional recognition from a further organisation in the animal healthcare sector. This may lead to employment within agricultural merchants, equine/pet healthcare retail and veterinary practices.

“We very much look forward to welcoming the first cohort of MSc Veterinary Pharmacy students to Harper Adams in autumn 2010.”

For more information see www.harper-adams.ac.uk/postgraduate.