PHARMACY UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME HANDBOOK

2020-2021

Division of Pharmacy and Optometry

School of Health Sciences

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

WELCOME TO PHARMACY

Welcome to the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry at the University of Manchester. May we take this opportunity to offer our congratulations on your success in the recent examinations and wish you well during your time with us? We hope that your stay in Manchester will be rewarding, not only in the academic areas but also as a result of your participation in the extra-curricular activities associated with the University, the City, and the North West region.

The purpose of this handbook is to bring together information to help you to answer queries that you might have about the programme and to provide some general information about the Division. We have tried to answer all the questions which have been asked by students in previous years, but if you feel that any important information has been omitted, please let us know.

As with any publication of this type, all the information contained was correct at the time of compilation. Although not anticipated at this stage, it may be necessary to make changes as the year progresses. Where there is such a need, you will be informed.

Professor Jayne Lawrence – Head of Divison

Dr Ruth Ledder – Programme Lead for Pharmacy

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Staff List and contact details

ACADEMIC STAFF
Name	Email address
Professor Leon Aarons	Leon.Aarons@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Darren Ashcroft	darren.ashcroft@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Alison Gurney	Alison.gurney@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Jason Hall	Jason.Hall@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Jayne Lawrence Head of Division	Jayne.Lawrence@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Andrew McBain	Andrew.Mcbain@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Jo Neill	Joanna.Neill@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Anna Nicolaou	anna.nicolaou@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Amin Rostami-Hochaghan	Amin.Rostami@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Ellen Schafheutle	ellen.schafheutle@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Ian Stratford	Ian.Stratford@manchester.ac.uk
Professor Kaye Williams	Kaye.Williams@manchester.ac.uk

Dr. David Allison Reader	David.Allison@manchester.ac.uk
Mr. Ihab Ali Clinical Tutor	ihab.ali@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Harmesh Aojula Lecturer	Harmesh.Aojula@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Jill Barber Reader	Jill.Barber@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Elena Bichenkova Reader	Elena.V.Bichenkova@manchester.ac.uk
Lisa Blackburn Clinical Tutor	lisa.blackburn@uhsm.nhs.uk
Dr. Richard Bryce Reader	Richard.Bryce@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Cyril Bussy Lecturer	cyrill.bussy@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Sam Butterworth Senior Lecturer	sam.butterworth@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Richard Campbell Senior Lecturer	richard.campbell@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Li-Chia Chen Senior Lecturer	Li-Chia.Chen@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Susan Cochran Senior Lectuer	susan.cochran@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Costas Demonacos Senior Lecturer	Constantinos.Demonacos@manchester.ac.uk
Holly Devine Senior Clinical Tutor	holly.devine@srft.nhs.uk
Dr. Katie Finegen Lecturer	K.G.Finegan@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Sally Freeman Reader	Sally.Freeman@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Aleksandra Galetin Reader	Aleksandra.Galetin@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Lynda Harris Senior Lecturer	lynda.k.harris@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Mike Harte Senior Lecturer	Michael.Harte@manchester.ac.uk
Mrs. Jenny Hughes Senior Lecturer	Jenny.k.hughes@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Gavin Humphreys Lecturer	gavin.humphreys@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Sally Jacobs Lecturer	sally.r.jacobs@manchester.ac.uk
Harun Juwale North West Pre-registration Pharmacy Training Lead	harun.juwale@manchester.ac.uk
Sonia Kauser Lecturer	sonia.kauser@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Richard Keers Lecturer	richard.keers@manchester.ac.uk
Ms. Sarah Knighton Lecturer	sarah.knighton@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Ayse Latif Lecturer	ayse.latif@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Ruth Ledder Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead	ruth.ledder@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Andrew Leech Lecturer	andrew.leach@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Penny Lewis Lecturer	penny.lewis@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Esnath Magola Lecturer	esnath.magola@manchester.ac.uk
Andrew Mawdsley Senior Lecturer	andrew.mawdsley@manchester.ac.uk
Diane Mitchell Senior Clinical Tutor	diane.mitchell@cmft.nhs.uk
Kara Morgan Lecturer	kara.morgan@manchester.ac.uk
Kate Oates Senior Clinical Tutor	kate.oates@cmft.nhs.uk
Dr. Kayode Ogungbenro Lecturer	kayode.ogungbenro@manchester.ac.uk
Harsha Parmar Senior Lecturer	Harsha.Parmar@manchester.ac.uk
Nina Paton Honorary Clinical Lecturer	nina.paton@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Jeff Penny Senior Lecturer	Jeff.Penny@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Denham Phipps Lecturer	denham.phipps@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Alain Pluen Lecturer	Alain.Pluen@manchester.ac.uk
Graham Pollock Lloyds Teacher Practitioner	graham.pollock@manchester.ac.uk
Sadia Qayyum Lecturer	sadia.qayyum@manchester.ac.uk
Mary Rhodes Lecturer	Mary.Rhodes@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Daniel Scotcher Lecturer	daniel.scotcher@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Victoria Silkstone Reader	victoria.silkstone@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Jenny Silverthorne Reader	Jennifer.Silverthorne@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Doug Steinke Senior Lecturer	douglas.steinke@manchester.ac.uk
Victoria Tavares Lecturer	Victoria.tavares@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Annalisa Tirella Lecturer	annalisa.tirella@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Mary Tully Reader	Mary.Tully@manchester.ac.uk
Caroline Wheeler Senior Clinical Tutor	caroline.wheeler@uhsm.nhs.uk
Anita Wilczynska Honorary Clinical Lecturer)	anita.wilczynska@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Sarah Willis Senior Lecturer	sarah.willis@manchester.ac.uk
Kirsty Worrall Teaching Practitioner	kirsty.worrall@manchester.ac.uk

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Sandra Humphries UG Programmes Support Manager	Sandra.humphries@manchester.ac.uk
Nicola Drinkwater UG Assessment Administrator	Nicola.drinkwater@manchester.ac.uk
Victoria Hindle UG Placement Administrator	Victoria.hindle@manchester.ac.uk
Joanne Cohen UG Administrator	Joanne.Cohen@manchester.ac.uk
Sarah Izett UG Administrator	sarah.izett@manchester.ac.uk
Julie Teague Divisional Operations Manager	Julie.Teague@manchester.ac.uk
Paula Rosson Academic Group Administration Manager	Paula.M.Rosson@manchester.ac.uk
Glenys Barber Academic Group Administrator	Glenys.barber@manchester.ac.uk
Sarah Bellis Academic Group Administrator	Sarah.bellis@manchester.ac.uk
Bryony Quick Divisional Administrator	bquick@manchester.ac.uk
Michelle Riddehough Academic Group Administrator	Michelle.riddehough@manchester.ac.uk
Alyssa Piasecki Academic Group Administrator	Alyssa.piasecki@manchester.ac.uk

TECHNICAL STAFF
Audrey Bibby	Audrey.bibby@manchester.ac.uk
Technical Manager
Karen Purcell	Karen.purcell@manchester.ac.uk
Senior Technician (Teaching)
Sara Evans	sara.evans@manchester.ac.uk
Technician (Teaching)
Mark Oldfield	mark.oldfield@manchester.ac.uk
Instrumentation Technician
Mr Anthony Steel	Anthony.steel@manchester.ac.uk
Technical Manager
Nicola Steel	nicola.steel@manchester.ac.uk
Deputy Technical Manager
James Baldwin	james.baldwin@manchester.ac.uk
Technician
Nicholas Day	nicholas.day@manchester.ac.uk
Technician
Patricia Steel	patricia.steel@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
Alice Crutchley	aclie.crutchley@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
Eunkyung Baratta	eunkyung.baratta@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
Mrs Dawn Rearden	dawn.rearden@manchester.ac.uk
Deputy Technical Manager
Mr Philip Bond	Philip.bond@manchester.ac.uk
Deputy Technical Manager
Mr David Garvey	david.j.garvey@manchester.ac.uk
Teaching Technician
Miss Natalie Smith	Natalie.smith@manchester.ac.uk
Teaching Technician
Jade Maynard	jade.maynard@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
Edward Thomas	edward.thomas@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
David Robson	david.j.robson@manchester.ac.uk
Technician
Jeremy O’Donovan	Jeremy.o’donovan@manchester.ac.uk
Technician
Susan Cullinan	susan.cullinan@manchester.ac.uk
Technician
Anne Wilkinson	anne.m.wilkinson@manchester.ac.uk
Technician
Qing (Kathy) Zhang	qing.zhang@manchester.ac.uk
Technician
Colette Connor	Colette.connor@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
Venus Muscat	venus.muscat@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
Debra Doyle	Deborah.doyle@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
Christopher Baker	Christopher.baker-2@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician
Joseph Sullivan	joseph.sullivan@manchester.ac.uk
Assistant Technician

1.2 Key Dates for 2020-2021

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/key-dates/

1.3 Examination and Teaching Timetables

1.3.1 Examination Timetables

Normally the examination timetables are managed and published by the central Exams Team within the Student Services Centre (not the Division). They are produced using dedicated software for which the overarching factor is the production of a timetable with no, or as few as possible, student clashes.

While attempts are made to ensure that students have a spread of examination dates throughout the examination period, in many cases this is not possible given the institutional constraints on the numbers of examination venues that are available, the number of examinations that are scheduled to take place and the options available to students on any particular programme of study. Therefore you should expect to have some exams on consecutive days where this is unavoidable.

1.3.2 Teaching Timetables

A master timetable will be uploaded to the UG Pharmacy Community Space on Blackboard. This provides an overview of each semester. You are advised to check these at the commencement of each semester and read them in conjunction with course unit level timetables that can be found in the course unit folder in Blackboard. Whilst it is not anticipated that major changes will be made during the year, minor alterations may need to be made from time to time. Every attempt will be made to notify you of such changes as soon as possible in advance either verbally or by written notice, or both.

You will be split into groups for certain classes and this information will be uploaded to the timetable folder on Blackboard.

Please note: at present we DO NOT use the personalised timetables on My Manchester.

You will have classes in lots of different building across the campus so please familiarise yourself with the locations Campus Map.

The following lecture theatres, laboratories and tutorial rooms are located within the Stopford Building. Please note that you will need your student ID card to gain entry to the Stopford Building:

Lecture Theatres 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Interprofessional Education Suite (IPE Suite) (Room G.183)

Clinical Skills Suite (Room G.123)

Professional Skills Suite (Room G.229)

The Pharmaceutics Lab (Room G.226)

The Training Room (G.223)

The Project Room (G.382)

Teaching labs: 1SUGT (1^st Floor) and 2SUGT (2nd floor)

1.4 Religious Observance

The University’s Policy on Religious Observance can be found here:

The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health has produced guidance for healthcare students on fasting and caring: Fasting and Caring – Looking after yourself and your patients during Ramadan: guidance for health care students.

1.5 Learning Resources

1.5.1 Library

The University of Manchester Library provides you with the resources and support you need throughout your MPharm programme. The Main Library and Stopford Library house all of the essential text books whilst the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons provide a 24/7 learning environment in addition to study skills workshops. The Library also has an extensive collection of eBooks, databases and journals available online.

You can check the service availability here: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/help-and-support/service-availability/

The My Library tab in My Manchester has quick links to all of the Library’s resources and services available to students.

Getting Started You will need your student card to access all library sites around campus. Many of our services and resources also require you to confirm that you are a registered student. This authentication can be your student card, the ID number on the card, your Library PIN, the central username and password you use to log on, or a combination of these.

There is a library guide for Pharmacy students giving all of the latest information on resources and learning and research services available. This is a good starting point if you are looking for any library resources or information related to your course.

Each course module in Blackboard includes an online reading list, so you can quickly check availability and directly access e-books, digitised chapters and e-journals or articles.

The Main Library

The Main Library holds the principal collection of Pharmacy books and journals. Pharmacy textbooks are located on Floor 2 of the Blue Area, together with books in other related subjects such as Biology, Chemistry and Social Sciences. Pharmacy journals held in print are on Floor 1 of the Green Area in the Clinical Sciences sequence; further relevant periodicals are shelved in other areas of the Main Library. The library search facility will let you know what items are available and where to find them, including eBooks and online journals.

The Main Library offers group study rooms, individual study space options and computer clusters. Wi-Fi is available throughout the building and a cafe lounge can be found on the ground floor. The Library has long opening hours and extends these during exam periods. Please check Locations and Opening Hours for full details on opening hours and facilities.

The Stopford Library

The Stopford Library is a smaller site library for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Biological Sciences and holds multiple copies of all new editions of core and useful texts. Full details of what is available can be found using library search or asking a member of customer service staff. In addition to books, Stopford Library also has half skeletons and iPads available for loan.

The Stopford Library also has a computer suite, Wi-Fi and 6 group study rooms with a large table and 14 chairs, a 32 inch LCD monitor and a large “sqwiggle” board. Bookings can be made via My Manchester or at the customer service desk in the Stopford Library.

Please check Locations and Opening Hours for full details on opening hours and facilities.

1.5.2 The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons

The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons is a state-of-the-art learning environment with 24/7 opening hours throughout term-time. The Learning Commons has flexible open learning spaces with multimedia facilities, computer clusters and 30 bookable group study rooms with whiteboards and media screens.

There is a series of training workshops covering a variety of academic and transferable skills hosted in the training room at the Learning Commons. These workshops include training on revision/study skills, note-taking and other topics and have been developed by Learning Commons staff in partnership with other teams across the University. Full details of training sessions are available in the My Learning Essentials Calendar.

1.5.3. The Stopford Common Room

There is a shared Common Room in Stopford Building that is available to members of the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, which provides a place where you can relax between lectures and practical classes. This is based on the first floor of the Stopford Building.

1.5.4 Email

Information is sent to students via e-mail, so please check your university e-mail account daily.

When sending emails to members of staff please bear in mind that your e-mails may need a different style and tone to those you would address to a friend. Always quote your student ID in your email. The following tips are intended to ensure your e-mails are positively received:

Use a formal tone when you initially contact a member of staff, if they respond informally you can assume that your future e-mails to them can match this tone.
Include your full name and what year of the programme you are on.
Pay attention to the spelling of the recipient’s name and their title (e.g. Prof, Dr, Mr, Miss / Ms; Mrs).
Don’t address someone by their first name unless you are on quite familiar terms with them. If they sign off with just their first name in their reply, they are probably inviting you to call them by their first name, but if in any doubt, use the more formal form of address.
Open with a polite address, i.e. ‘Dear Dr. Smith’, ‘Dear John’, etc. and avoid overly familiar or bizarre-sounding openers, e.g. ‘Hey John’, ‘Hiya’, etc.
Similarly, don’t sign off in an overly familiar way, e.g. ‘Laters!, Jonno’, ‘Jonno xx’, etc.
Be polite and respectful in your communications.
Don’t send e-mails that sound curt, abusive, or demanding, or make unnecessarily personal remarks.
Please allow at least 3 working days for staff to reply to your email. If they are not available they will have an automatic reply. If your query is urgent attempt to see/contact another member of staff. Alternatively you can visit or email the Programmes Support Office (G.121, Stopford Building, email: pharmacy.students@manchester.ac.uk).

1.5.5 Blackboard

Blackboard is the University eLearning delivery system. You can view course material for any units that you are taking that have an online space; complete and submit coursework and monitor your progress using quizzes and assignments. You can communicate and collaborate with your lecturer or other students using discussions, chat or email.

There is also a UG Pharmacy Community Space that contains general information relevant to all four years of the Pharmacy programme, such as the programme handbook, timetables, groups etc.

You can access Blackboard via MyManchester.

1.5.6 Social Media

Please follow us on social media:

Twitter handle is @UoMMPharm

Instagram is @manchester_mpharm

1.6 Brief History of Pharmacy at the University of Manchester

Although classes in Pharmaceutical Chemistry were being conducted in the Medical School at Manchester by John Dalton as early as 1824, and courses in pharmaceutical subjects were for a time available to Owens College around 1869, the present Pharmacy School of the University was not established until 1883[1]. In that year a pharmacist, W. Elborne, was appointed Assistant Lecturer in Materia Medica and Pharmacy, working under D.J Leech, then Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics. The prospectus for 1884 offered full-time day courses extending over two academic years in addition to part-time evening courses in preparation for the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society. In 1904, Pharmacy was added to the list of subjects which could be presented for both honours and ordinary degrees, and the July 2004 graduation celebrated 100 years of Pharmacy graduates from Manchester.

During the period from 1904 up to the Second World War, the number of students taking the degree was small, the majority registering for the shorter courses for the qualifying examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society. In 1928 the University purchased the Manchester College of Pharmacy, a very successful privately owned Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, and amalgamated it within the University. Mr. Harry Brindle, who had been the Principal of that private school, became in 1946 the first Professor of Pharmacy at Manchester. This appointment was co-incident with the recognition of an independent Department of Pharmacy.

The growth in the proportion of degree students increased, and by 1959 all undergraduates were reading for a Pharmacy Degree. In 1962, the Pharmacy Department transferred from the Faculty of Medicine to the Faculty of Science. In 1970, a thorough review of the undergraduate syllabus was undertaken, and a three-year honours BSc programme introduced with the cessation of the four-year programme. The first year group of students to take the new BSc programme graduated in 1974. New laboratories for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, and some areas of Pharmaceutics were provided, together with seminar rooms, and a common room.

Further developments in the undergraduate curriculum and the refurbishment of lecture theatres and laboratories have taken place in the period since 1974. In 1997 the 4-year MPharm programme started with the first group graduating in July 2001. In 2000 the School transferred back to the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences (formerly the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Pharmacy). In October 2004 the Victoria University of Manchester and UMIST merged to form The University of Manchester.

In 2006/07, the School moved into a refurbished part of the Stopford Building. Constant change is required if the School is to maintain its place as a leader in the field of undergraduate and postgraduate pharmaceutical education.

In August 2016 the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences merged with the Faculty of Life Sciences to form the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, which you are now a member of. The creation of the merged Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health is a key component of the University’s mission to be among the top 25 research universities in the world by 2020.

[1] 1. Robinson, B. The History of Pharmaceutical Education in Manchester, Robinson (1986)

1.7 Safety in the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry

Policy

Health and Safety at the University of Manchester is subject to the provisions of the “Health and Safety at Work Act.” As a responsible body the University actively promotes good practice in all areas relating to health and safety and it is a policy to do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for staff, students and any other person who may visit to Campus. All schools in the University must conform to policies which are agreed by the University Health and Safety Policy Committee. These policies are published in a series of documents which cover different aspects of health and safety and are obtainable, if required, from the Health and Safety Services unit or from the web: –

http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=654

Many issues of health and safety are specific to a school or an area of the University. Responsibility for ensuring that proper procedures are in place to provide a safe and healthy working environment for staff and students is devolved to the Head of School who has appointed a safety committee and safety advisors to manage this responsibility and formulate local policy on all health and safety matters.

Your Obligation

By Law, it is the duty of every student whilst on University premises to:

Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of all other people whose health and safety may be affected by their actions or omissions.
Co-operate with members of staff who have responsibility for specific safety duties so that University can meet its obligation to comply with health and safety legislation and implement health and safety policies.
Not interfere with or misuse, intentionally or recklessly, anything provided in the interest of health, safety and welfare.
Use any protective equipment issued to you which will reduce the risk of an accident and promote a safer environment.

Division of Pharmacy and Optometry

It is the policy of the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry to promote awareness of health and safety issues for all activities related your course and student experience. Information relating to safety will be given to you in a lecture at the start of the semester. You will also be required to complete satisfactorily an online health and safety course and will receive a sheet titled “Statement to all undergraduate students from the Divisional Health and Safety Committee.” This gives general guidelines on health and safety together with other related information. You will be asked to sign a return slip stating that you have read and understood this information, undertake to work within these guidelines and comply with any safety instructions given to you. Some key safety points are given below for reference and to act as a reminder that health and safety issues must be given the highest priority at all times during the programme.

There is a need for continuous safety awareness and the importance of implementing health and safety measures, e.g. the wearing of safety glasses, must be stressed at all times. At the commencement of each undergraduate practical class, information about the particular safety hazards associated with the exercises will be made available to students together with the appropriate preventative measures. Some classes are exempted from the need to wear safety glasses and the class organiser will inform you of this fact.

Timetabled practical classes are arranged as part of the Pharmacy degree programme. To ensure that a safe working environment is maintained undergraduate students are not allowed to work in laboratories outside timetables class hours unless they have permission from the class organiser.

During their programme undergraduate students may be expected to carry out project work in recognised research laboratories. This work will be supervised by a named member of staff who will discuss with the student all aspects of safety relating to the project. At the commencement of the project and at all stages of the work, the particular safety hazards and appropriate preventative measures must be the subject of discussion between the student and the supervisor.

During laboratory-based practical work students must ensure that they:

Are aware of the known properties of material and /or equipment being used.
Know what to do in case of an accident.
Are compliant with safety rules and regulations.
Provide clear information about the action to be taken if equipment is left in operation unattended.
Have taken all possible precautions to reduce hazards to a minimum.

If you fail to comply with any health and safety instructions you will not be allowed to enter laboratories to continue with your laboratory work until you undertake to comply consistently with all health and safety requirements.

Points of Information

Students should be appropriately dressed to be in the laboratory (No shorts, open-toe shoes, baseball caps or low-necked tops) and laboratory coats must be worn at all times during practical classes. They should NOT be worn outside the laboratory or in the common room.

Outdoor coats, large bags etc. are not allowed in laboratories. They should be stored in a locker. In the interest of safety and security any items left unattended in the Division will be removed.

Eating and drinking is strictly forbidden in all laboratory areas, lecture theatres, tutorial rooms and CAL laboratories.

The use of mobile phones is not allowed during any classes. Please turn them off before entering a class.

A copy of the School “Safety Code” is available for reference in all undergraduate teaching laboratories.

First Aid

Staff trained in First Aid are available and will respond in the case of an accident. On every occasion an accident form must be filled in and sent to the University’s “Health and Safety Services” department.

Fire Alarm

If the fire alarm sounds YOU MUST evacuate the building as quickly as possible. DO NOT re-enter the building until told to do so by a member of staff.

Fire alarm systems in the Stopford Building are tested every Tuesday at 8.30am. Fire alarm test times are different in other University buildings and information relating to these can be found on fire notices which are usually posted next to fire extinguishers. These notices also contain information about designated assembly points outside the building in the event of an alarm. You are advised to familiarise yourself with the escape route and assembly points for each building in which you attend lectures, tutorials and practical classes.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide general information so that students work in as safe an environment as possible and the risk of an accident is reduced to a minimum. However, it should be stressed that no system is foolproof and students must assure themselves that they are aware of the likely risks involved in any practical work and gain the necessary proficiency to minimise the possibility of an accident. There is no substitute for common sense, care and attention.

Pregnancy and Maternity

If you become pregnant during your studies it is vital that you speak to your Academic Advisor as soon as possible. The purpose of the discussion is a) to provide you with appropriate support and guidance and b) consider any health & safety risk assessments. Within the Division we have an Advisor who is a member of the Health & Safety Group (Dr. Mary Tully), and after your discussion with your Academic Advisor, he/she will approach the relevant person to arrange a risk assessment.

1.8 Communication and Dress Code for Pharmacy Students

All health and social care professionals are bound by the guidance and rules of conduct set out by the Department of Health and the relevant regulatory or representative body, e.g. the General Dental Council (GDC), General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). These in turn define the standards for health and social care education in the UK in settings in which a student is interacting with patients, clients or service users.

The following is guidance on the standards of communication and dress code deemed appropriate for all health and social care students while in a learning environment, and have been informed by guidance provided by a number of Trusts in the North West for health and social care professionals. Students should be aware that during placements, they will need to seek out and comply with the standards as defined by the respective Trusts where they are based.

Communication, both verbal and non-verbal, including dress code, is an important element in ensuring that professional standards are maintained.

1.8.1 Communication

All health and social care students should adhere to the following principles (similarly defined within the General Medical Council’s, ‘Good Medical Practice’ document) when communicating and in other skills training, discussion and assessment:

listening to patients, clients and service users, taking account of their views, and responding honestly to their questions;
giving patients the information they want or need to know in a way they can understand, ensuring that arrangements are made, wherever possible, to meet patients’ language and communication needs;
being considerate to those close to the patient and sensitive and responsive in giving them information and support;
being readily accessible to patients and colleagues seeking information, advice or support when you are on duty.

1.8.2 Dress Code

It has been shown that non-verbal communication is at least as important as verbal communication, so how a student or health and social care professional appears to patients, clients, service users, relatives, professionals or colleagues may communicate as much as what is said. Extremes of dress compromise communication channels between health and social care students and other patients and professionals, regardless of either party’s gender, or cultural or ethnic background.

Styles of dress or articles of clothing that introduce barriers to communication or that compromise, or could potentially compromise, hygiene must be avoided. Students should avoid displaying tattoos where possible as visible body art may not be permitted in Trusts during placements. Therefore, efforts should be made to cover them up. Where tattoos are located on the hand, wrist or forearm, careful consideration must be given to the maintenance of appropriate hand hygiene.

Styles of dress should inspire confidence and add to, not detract from, effective and sensitive communication. The wearing of items of cultural or religious significance will be permitted, providing that the health and safety and security of patients are not compromised. In general, students should be clean and smartly dressed. Thus the following are not permitted in settings in which a student is interacting with patients, clients or service users:

T-shirts with slogans;
Nail varnish or extensions;
Extremes of hair styles;
Body and face jewellery (except small stud earrings and wedding rings);
Wrist bands/string;
Revealing clothing;
Open-toed sandals (all footwear should be low-heeled and well-fitting round the ankles);
Trainers;
Clothing that covers most of the face i.e. peaked caps and hoods
The Niqab is also an example of unacceptable clothing when interacting with patients, clients or service users as it covers the face; however the Hijab (only obscuring the hair and the top of the head) is acceptable. This applies not only in clinical settings but also in educational elements of the programme where communication skills are relevant, such as some types of group work and role-play exercises. While the University reserves the right to check the identity of students who wear clothing that covers most of the face (as defined above) on key occasions such as examinations, it should be noted that this is done sensitively and by a member of the same gender;
Strong odours, perfumes or aftershaves.

For cross-infection reasons, NHS Trusts may not permit healthcare workers (including students) to wear wristwatches and ties other than bow ties.

The following are examples of good practice:

Wearing approved clothing;
Wearing identification badges or University/Trust identity passes;
Tying back of hair if it interferes with, or adds risk, to a clinical interaction.

When on NHS premises such as a hospital Trust or a Primary Care Trust, a community setting such as a GP practice, or in the homes of patients, clients and service users, students should dress according to both the University’s and the appropriate local guidelines and regulations.

1.9 Health clearance

As part of the admissions process you were required to complete a health questionnaire. The details from this will determine whether you need to attend an appointment with our Student Occupational Health Service to ensure you are fully immunised against Tuberculosis (which is a requirement for your hospital Integrated Professional Practice placements in 2nd year). If an appointment is required, this will be arranged for you either by the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry or directly by Occupational Health. A certificate of health clearance will be sent to the Division as soon as you have passed these checks and this will be kept on your student file. Without this clearance you will NOT be permitted to attend the compulsory hospital placements.

1.10 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Records Check

In addition to completing the disclosure of criminal convictions section on your UCAS form and signing a Division of Pharmacy and Optometry Code of Conduct Declaration during the application process, first year students will be required to submit to a criminal records check during the first semester of the MPharm programme. This takes the form of an Enhanced Level search by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Division will assist students in the completion of this check, however it is your responsibility to ensure that this is completed on time and that you complete all the actions requested of you within the timeframe allocated.

You are required to provide the Division with information relating to any reprimands, cautions or convictions which you may have received either in this country or in other countries. Any information provided is treated in the strictest confidence and may not necessarily lead to a reconsideration of your position on the programme. However, failure to disclose any information at this stage, which may be provided to us at a later date by the Disclosure and Barring Service through its enhanced disclosure, will be viewed most seriously and will result in a reconsideration of your suitability to practise. You should declare all reprimands, cautions or convictions, including any that will be filtered from the Police National Computer, even if they have already been declared on your UCAS form.

Failure to complete the DBS check will prevent you from attending the compulsory hospital placements and will affect your progression on the MPharm programme.

1.11 Annual GPhC Standards and Criminal Record Declaration

Students are required to complete an annual declaration stating they are aware that they must meet the General Pharmaceutical Councils’ Standards for pharmacy professionals at all times and that they must declare all ongoing investigations, reprimands, cautions or convictions (including any that will be filtered from the Police National Computer). All students must complete this satisfactorily each year in order to commence the Integrated Professional Practice (IPP) placements. The declaration will be via an on-line survey on Blackboard and will be linked to the relevant IPP unit.

1.12 Additional costs

The Division works hard to ensure that this programme can be completed without significant additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for the programme. The two areas where additional costs can be incurred are travel and reading. In both of these situations the Division seek to ensure that additional costs are kept as low as possible. The University defines low cost as an annual cost which is no more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee.

Where possible the Division will attempt to make core readings accessible to students via the Library, either digitally or for loan. There are a limited number of core texts that may be required by students. The Division have attempted to keep this list to a minimum including only those texts which are used extensively in more than one unit or in more than one academic year and that are not available electronically. This list is reviewed annually by the Teaching Governance Committee.

A great strength of the Manchester programme is the number of placements that are provided and we believe this invaluable experience in community and hospital pharmacy will benefit students in the long term. Students will have to travel to placements in Greater Manchester as part of this programme and students will be responsible for meeting these travel costs.

Students experiencing financial hardship (in excess of that expected of a typical student, supported by evidence), may apply in confidence. A small level of financial support may be available towards placement travel costs (with receipts), on a case by case basis.

1.13 Whistle blowing

The Standards for Pharmacy Professionals directs students to ‘speak up where we have concerns or when things go wrong’. Whistle blowing involves informing others if you believe poor practice could impact on the safety or care of others. All health care professionals have a duty to take action if they believe the safety of others could be comprised as a result of poor practice. If you believe you have witnessed poor practice of a healthcare team or a student, which could impact on the safety of others then you should follow the flowchart below.

Have you witnessed bad or poor practice with the potential to lead to harm to a patient, a member of the public, a fellow student or a member of staff? If you have, you should present the information to the appropriate person depending on where it happened (see below).

If it occurred in an acute trust? (e.g. Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust or The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. You should report to the clinical tutor and the Division Clinical Placement Lead

If it occurred in the University, a community pharmacy or another practice setting? You should report it to either the Head of Division, the Director of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning or the Practice Placement Lead

2. PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

2.1 Programme Aims and Objectives

Aims

The purpose of this programme is to produce pharmacy graduates committed to life-long learning who, having sufficient understanding of the principles and techniques of pharmaceutical sciences and after appropriate pre-registration training, are able to communicate and deliver pharmaceutical care in the community and hospital setting and are also able to take professional responsibility for the manufacture and testing of medicinal products.

Objectives

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) accredits the MPharm degree. In this process they list a range of criteria that our degree has to fulfil. The requirements are detailed below, which have been taken directly from the GPhC website (http://pharmacyregulation.org) document titled, Accreditation of Pharmacy Degrees.

Processes

The student…

Is inculcated with a concern for a patient, normally above other considerations
Gains first-hand structured experience of practice, including contact with patients and practitioners of other healthcare professions
Is required to communicate with individuals and audiences
Is structured in the use of, and required to apply, library and other information resources
Is required to apply routinely, word-processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail and information retrieval computer applications
Has brought to his/her attention the continuing professional development opportunities open to practising pharmacists
Is made aware of the advantages of, and encouraged to undertake, employment or attachment for vacation experience in pharmacy practice
Is encouraged both to be a participating member of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (BPSA) and to attend local RPSGB branch or regional meetings, or equivalent meetings in Northern Ireland. (Information on joining the BPSA will be available in Welcome Week.)

The degree programme…

Is planned with reference to the indicative syllabus and as an integrated programme. The inter-relationships of its component parts must be considered and made explicit
Seeks to develop students’ skills of self-management, team working and peer assessment
Has the features of positioning knowledge, understanding and skills in a pharmaceutical context and with reference to pharmacy practice
In the processes of curriculum development, benefits from the academic staff properly taking account of major advances and developments potentially impacting on pharmacy
Features a variety of approaches to achieving and assessing learning appropriate to its stated objectives, including lectures, practical classes, seminars, workshops, tutorials, computer-based/aided learning, clinical visits, problem-solving exercises, essays, projects, dissertations and other assignments and examinations
Includes significant staff-led or supervised time devoted to the topics of pharmacy law and professional requirements, and their applications in practice, this being in addition to the assimilation of legal and professional requirements into a substantial proportion of a dispensing practical course
Where appropriate and possible, has the student taught and learning alongside and together with students of other healthcare professions
Has pharmacy undergraduate teaching taking place alongside and with reference to research and other postgraduate activities

At the end of the MPharm degree, the GPhC expects the graduate to:

Take personal responsibility for his/her learning, developing a foundation for subsequent continuing professional development
Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with his/her teachers and peers, as a sound basis for future interaction with patients, carers and other healthcare professionals
Have undertaken structured problem-solving
Recognise ethical dilemmas in healthcare and science, and understand ways in which these might be managed by healthcare professionals, whilst taking account of relevant law
Appreciate and have an understanding of main sources of drugs; ways in which drugs are purified, characterised and analysed; their physico-chemical properties; and properties drugs display as biologically active molecules in living systems
Have an understanding of the design, manufacture and performance of drug dosage forms, and be able to critically appreciate the inter-relationship between formulation, drug delivery and therapeutic effectiveness
Understand how medicines are developed, manufactured and brought to the market place
Have proven him/herself capable of performing pharmaceutical calculations accurately
Have the capability to prepare extemporaneously any medicine for which this would be regarded as the normal means of provision, including by aseptic technique
Be able to interpret and evaluate, for safety, quality, efficacy and economy, prescriptions and other orders for medicines, and to advise patients and other healthcare professionals about medicines and their usage.
Be aware of and understand systems for the quality assurance of products and pharmaceutical services. This includes the management of risk
Be able to design, improve and operate within standard operating procedures, including Patient Group Directions
Be able to supply medicines in accordance with legal and professional requirements
Undertake critical appraisal of information or conjecture in all forms of presentation
Apply appropriate research approaches and methods to manage scientific and practice problems
Have a foundation of knowledge, understanding and skills for promoting good health, diagnosing disease, and prescribing medicines
Understand and explain concepts of medicines management and pharmaceutical care.

2.2 Programme Specification

The MPharm programme specification can be found in the UG Pharmacy Community space on Blackboard. This is updated annually.

2.3 Programme Structure

The MPharm degree is organised on a modular basis in accordance with the principles for modular degree programmes approved by Senate. Each course unit has a credit rating and students are expected to study and pass 120 credits each year of the programme. The credit rating system and assessment procedure is detailed in Section 4 of this document.

All students take the same units in each year of the programme, with the exception of the foundation course unit in Communication Skills for Pharmacy (PHAR10010). Enrolment on this unit is determined according to entry qualifications and an English skills test early in semester one. Although Communication Skills for Pharmacy is taken by those assigned to it as not-for-credit, a pass in this unit is required for progression to Year 2 of the MPharm.

2.4 Changes in Curriculum

In order to ensure that we are delivering an up-to-date curriculum that meets the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council and prepares students for current pharmacy practise, the Division occasionally has to make changes to the programme content and structure. These changes can be minor or major.

Students who interrupt their studies or are unable to progress from one academic year to the next within the same calendar year may face consequences if there have been curriculum changes. There may be occasions where students are required to complete units or parts of a unit in a different order to other students or to complete units or parts of a unit from an earlier academic year if teaching content has moved. The Division of Pharmacy and Optometry will deal with these situations on a case-by-case basis.

2.5 MPharm Course Units

Below is a list of the current course units for the MPharm programme. Course unit outlines will be available in the relevant course unit space in Blackboard at the start of the academic year.

First Year

PHAR 10000 Health & Safety

PHAR 10010 Communication Skills for Pharmacy*

PHAR 10100 The Medicine

PHAR 10181 SWAPS Academic Advisor Tutorials

PHAR 10200 The Pharmacist

PHAR 10300 The Patient

PHAR 10400 The Public

PHAR 10500 Integrated Professional Practice (1)

PHAR 10600 Integrated Professional Practice (2)

*Selected students will take this course as advised by the 1^st year tutor.

Second Year

PHAR 20010 SWAPS Academic Advisor Tutorials

PHAR 20100 The Medicine

PHAR 20200 The Pharmacist

PHAR 20300 The Patient

PHAR 20400 The Public

PHAR 20500 Integrated Professional Practice (1)

PHAR 20600 Integrated Professional Practice (2)

Third Year

PHAR 30100 The Medicine

PHAR 30200 The Pharmacist

PHAR 30270 SWAPS Academic Advisor Tutorials

PHAR 30300 The Patient

PHAR 30400 Integrated Research Skills

PHAR 30700 Integrated Professional Practice

PHAR 30902 Healthcare Leadership

Fourth Year

PHAR 40010 SWAPS Academic Advisor Tutorials

PHAR 40101 Advanced Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHAR 40202 The Pharmacist

PHAR 40300 The Patient

PHAR 40400 Integrated Project

PHAR 40600 Integrated Professional Practice

2.6 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

What is CPD?

The aim of CPD at undergraduate level is to improve your capacity to understand what and how you are learning and to review, plan and take responsibility for your own learning. This will help you to:

Become a more effective, independent and confident self-directed learner
Understand how you are learning and relate your learning to a wider context
Improve your general skills for study and career management
Articulate your personal goals and evaluate progress towards their achievement
Develop a positive attitude to lifelong learning

How will the CPD scheme operate?

At least one assessment per year throughout your 4-year programme will be devoted to your CPD where you will be able to receive feedback on your work. You will be prompted to reflect upon your own progress and development, identify your own strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement and decide upon a plan of action which can achieve those improvements. Additionally, you will need to make another three CPD records per academic year, that you may wish to discuss with your academic advisor. Over the period of your degree you will be building up a portfolio of your development which will be very useful in helping you develop your CV for job applications and for the interview itself. As it is a requirement of the GPhC that you make at least nine CPD records per year as a pharmacist, you need to be able to confidently record CPD during the MPharm programme. In your fourth year of the programme, you will be asked to submit all 16 of your CPD records as you would have to do every five years as a pharmacist.

For each CPD record, you should follow the 4-stage CPD cycle of reflection, planning, action and evaluation. For some learning, you may need to start your record at action; please refer to your Integrated Professional Practice handbook for more information on completing a CPD record. Use the example CPD records provided and discussion within your academic advisor and clinical placement groups to help you become familiar with the process of recording CPD.

2.6 Book Lists

The books required for each year of the programme are listed in the course unit outlines on Blackboard.

Reading matter is classified as either directed reading and it is deemed essential that you read those texts to gain a full understanding of the subject, or recommended texts which contain additional information that you will find useful in your studies.

Directed reading material listed for each course unit is potentially examinable. Students should therefore endeavour to make sure that they read and familiarise themselves with the selected material. Recommended reading is for additional information only and will not be examined unless specifically stated.

We do not expect students to purchase all books listed in the directed reading lists. All of these books are available in the University Library and many of the books are available electronically via the library. We would advise students to consider purchasing those books not available electronically that are either used extensively in a single unit or are used in more than one unit.

The PASS Scheme holds a second-hand book sale in semester 1 although care should be taken to ensure that the edition being sold is appropriate.

2.7 Integrated Assessment

The MPharm programme in Manchester is divided into five main strands (or units), which are:-

The Medicine

The Pharmacist

The Patient

The Public

Integrated Professional Practice

The first four of these themes represent the main disciplines of pharmacy.

The Medicine – chemistry and pharmaceutics
The Pharmacist – law, dispensing, communication
The Patient – physiology, pharmacology and therapeutics
The Public – public health

When pharmacists are practicing it is vital that they can apply their knowledge and skills from the different units. The Division have introduced integrated examinations in Year 1 and 2 of the MPharm to promote the integration of material from across the four strands. To support students mastering the integration of material the Division have introduced Team Based Learning (TBL). The TBL sessions will provide students with the opportunity to work in teams to integrate and apply knowledge and skills and to receive instant feedback from staff.

What is TBL?

Team Based Learning (TBL) has been in use for over twenty years. Most of its use has been in the US in medical schools and pharmacy schools. TBL offers a number of advantages over traditional didactic teaching. There is some evidence that it encourages greater student participation in learning at a much earlier stage in the process as well as encouraging the application of concepts.

TBL involves students learning together in small groups. It encourages students to prepare before the class because they are tested individually and as groups at the start of the process. The learning activity focuses on the application rather than memorisation of facts.

The essential elements of TBL are:

Groups – properly formed and managed

Students are organised into teams. Team members must be assigned and groups should be as diverse as possible. Five to seven members are ideal. Team members are assigned rather than self-selected to help avoid cliques forming

Accountability – must be accountable for individual and group work

Students are allocated pre-reading prior to the RAP – readiness assurance process. They are tested individually and as teams during the RAP.
1. iRAT – individual readiness assessment test
2. tRAT – team readiness assessment test
Accountability -students must be accountable for their own work and also for their contribution to the team effort. Group members must have the opportunity to provide feedback to their fellow group members on their contribution during the peer assessment.

Feedback – must be frequent and timely

Students receive immediate feedback on the tests and are able to appeal against any of the test items. The final stage of the RAP is a lecture which is usually brief and should address any areas of difficulty identified by the IRAT.

Full details of the different assessments can be found in the course unit outlines on Blackboard.

2.8 Pharmaceutical Calculations

During each stage of the MPharm programme, you will be introduced to a variety of calculations that are regularly undertaken by pharmacists, linked to the units that you are studying at the time. The overall aim of calculations in the MPharm is that by the time you graduate you will be able to competently deal with calculations that you may come across in practice. Most of the calculations that you will come across in practice you will have seen similar examples of during the MPharm, however this may not always be the case. So it is important that you also develop your numeracy skills to be able to confidently deal with any new types of calculations that you may have to perform.

Although most students enrolled on the MPharm will already have very good mathematical skills we recognise that there will be quite a wide variation in ability. Therefore, your existing skills will be assessed at the beginning of the course and regularly throughout the programme. You will be provided with a pharmaceutical calculations self-study pack each year with an associated self-test on Blackboard. This is in addition to all the unit-specific calculations you will be undertaking.

You will also undertake a calculations assessment each year, in which you will be required to achieve a minimum mark of 80%. These assessments will sit in the Integrated Professional Practice units (although it is likely that you will have other calculations assessments in other units). There will be one opportunity to re-sit the IPP calculations assessment each year; any subsequent attempts will be at the discretion of the Board of Examiners.

3. REGULATIONS FOR THE MPHARM DEGREE

3.1 Interruptions and restarting the year

Interruptions

You will not be allowed to interrupt full-time study except with permission from the Division. Applications to interrupt study must be made in writing and where possible in advance of the period of interruption. Application forms can be found in the UG Pharmacy Community Space on Blackboard. Supporting evidence may be required if the interruption is on medical grounds.

You are advised to discuss the implications on an interruption with a member of staff (academic advisor, year tutor, programme lead or programmes support office staff) before you submit an application. If you are an international student and are here on a visa, you are also advised to contact Student Immigration Team at: visa@manchester.ac.uk

http://www.studentsupport.manchester.ac.uk/immigration-and-visas/changes-during-your-studies/changes-to-your-studies/

Your application will be considered by a panel of relevant staff and you will be notified in writing of the outcome. Applications should be submitted to the Programmes Support Office (G.121) or via email: pharmacy.students@manchester.ac.uk

Further guidance for students on interruptions can be found at the following link:

http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=4780%20%20

The University’s Policy on Interruptions can be found at the following link:

http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=26092

Restarting the year

During an academic year you may apply to restart the year if your ability to study has been adversely affected (e.g. medical/personal/family/financial problems). Application forms can be found in the UG Pharmacy Community Space on Blackboard. Supporting evidence will be required.

You are advised to discuss the implications of a restart with a member of staff (academic advisor, year tutor, programme lead or programmes support office staff) before you submit an application. Please note that repeat years will incur full tuition fees so you are also advised to contact whoever provides your funding. If you are an international student and you are on a visa, you are also advised to contact Student Immigration Team at: visa@manchester.ac.uk

http://www.studentsupport.manchester.ac.uk/immigration-and-visas/changes-during-your-studies/changes-to-your-studies/

Please note that you cannot submit an application to restart the year after the June Examination Board or the September Examination Board has published the examination results. If you wish to restart the year after publication of the June or September exam results you must submit an academic appeal to Faculty (see section 3.15).

3.2 Withdrawal from the Programme

Should you feel that you want to withdraw from the programme please speak to your academic advisor or year tutor in the first instance for guidance. You will need to complete a withdrawal form, which is available in the UG Pharmacy Community Space on Blackboard. Please submit your completed form to the Programmes Support Office (G.121) or via email: pharmacy.students@manchester.ac.uk

3.3 Submission of Coursework

3.3.1 Submission

Coursework may only be submitted once the annual academic malpractice online learning and declaration have been completed. The deadline for completion of the online learning is week 6, semester 1.

All assessed work must be handed in by the deadline given. In the majority of cases you will be asked to submit work via Blackboard. However, if you are required to hand in a hard copy this will be done via the Post Box on the ground floor student corridor. You are strongly advised not to leave submission until the last few minutes before the deadline in case uploading times are slowed. Material submitted at 12.01 for a 12.00 deadline will be classed as late.

3.3.2 Deadlines

A summary of deadlines for each year will be produced by the relevant Year Tutor and placed on Blackboard.

You should be aware that submission deadlines are in UK local time and it is your responsibility to ensure that you check relevant time zones.

3.3.3 Extending deadlines

Where approved mitigating circumstances apply, deadlines may be extended in accordance with the Policy on Mitigating Circumstances.

If you need to request an extension you must do so before the deadline and provide full details of why the extension is required and where possible provide evidence (e.g. medical note).

The link to the extension request form can be found in the UG Pharmacy Space on Blackboard.

Any application for an extension submitted after the deadline will not be considered without a credible and compelling explanation as to why it could not have been submitted beforehand.

You must not assume you have been granted an extension until you receive official confirmation of this.

3.3.4 Penalty for late submission

According to the University’s Policy of Submission of Work for Summative Assessment, there is a standard penalty for all work that is submitted late.

Definition of late submission

Any work that has been submitted after a deadline has passed is classed as late except in cases where an extension has already been agreed via mitigating circumstances procedures and DASS extensions. There should be no discretionary periods or periods of grace. A student who submits work at 1 second past a deadline or later will therefore be subject to a penalty for late submission.

Penalty

The standard penalty relates to first attempts only. Students who submit referral (resit) assignments after the deadline will be automatically subject to a mark of zero. There are no further resit opportunities for referred assignments that are submitted late, unless there is approved mitigation.

The mark awarded will reduce by 10% of the maximum amount available per 24 hours (e.g. if the work is marked out of 100, this means a deduction of 10 marks per 24 hours late. If the work is marked out of 20, the deduction would be 2 marks each 24 hours late.) The penalty applies as soon as an assignment is late; a 10% deduction would be issued if an assignment is submitted immediately after the deadline, and the work would continue to attract further penalties for each subsequent 24 hours the work was late, until the assignment is submitted or no marks remain.

If you submit work late and the penalty imposed results in a mark below the pass mark, you may be set an additional piece of work in order to gain the credits required to pass and progress.

3.4 Monitoring Attendance and Wellbeing of Students

Regulation XX – Monitoring Attendance and Wellbeing of Students

1. The University records and monitors the attendance of all students to:

a) support academic attainment and progression;

b) ensure student wellbeing; and

c) satisfy external reporting/accreditation requirements

Attendance at scheduled classes is not viewed by the University as a matter of choice and the expectation is that you will attend ALL the classes for which you are enrolled. There is a considerable body of evidence to show that students who do not attend do not perform as well as those that do and the teaching and learning on each unit will have been designed with your participation in mind.

Matters relating to the regulations concerning work and attendance are administered on behalf of the Division by a sub-committee of the School of Health Sciences Fitness to Practise Committee. The remit of the Work & Attendance Committee is to ensure that you comply with the programme level requirements. The Division will monitor attendance at practical classes, tutorials, workshops (this includes completion of virtual exercises in units that are delivered online) and course tests over the course of the academic year.

Certain professional or clinical units have stricter attendance requirements than others (see individual course unit outlines on Blackboard). For example, attendance at your hospital tutorials is mandatory and there is a clear procedure for non-attendance that must be followed. If you are unable to attend a hospital placement you must inform your Clinical Tutor by phone or e-mail at the earliest opportunity and no later than 11am on the day of the placement. If you fail to attend and do not provide a reason by 11am, you will be asked to explain your absence to the Division’s Work and Attendance Committee or the School of Health Sciences Fitness to Practise Committee.

If your work and/or attendance, at any stage of the programme, is deemed unsatisfactory you may be sent a warning letter or asked to explain your high absence rate in person. Failure to satisfy the Division’s requirements for Work & Attendance (without an acceptable explanation) or failure to attend a Work and Attendance Committee meeting when requested or deliberate non-attendance following a warning, can result in a referral to the School of Health Sciences Fitness to Practise Committee.

The Division Examinations Board may use attendance data and performance in course tests and other formative assessments when determining your eligibility for a resit of an assessment. Whilst attendance at lectures is normally not recorded, you are reminded that it is in your best academic interest to attend as fully as possible.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that you are marked as present on the class register for each teaching activity where attendance is monitored.

3.5 Absences due to illness

When you are ill and absent from a compulsory class you should complete an online student absence form. The link to the absence form can be found in the UG Pharmacy Community Space on Blackboard. There may be other classes, such as hospital tutorials that have additional absence reporting requirements – please ensure you check.

COVID-19 reporting: if your absence is as a result of testing positive for covid-19 or having to self-isolate please report this to the University by completing a simple online form here, and also emailing pharmacy.students@manchester.ac.uk

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/coronavirus/self-isolation/

It is a requirement of your registration with the University of Manchester that you register with a local general practitioner. A list of GP practices can be obtained from the Student Health Centre, any University Hall of Residence or a local Pharmacy. You can also search using this link. According to guidance issued by the General Medical Council it would not be regarded as good practice for a family member to be the registered GP or to offer treatment except in the case of emergency.

You should always consult your GP if your illness is severe, if it persists or if you are in any doubt about your health. You should only attend A&E if it is an emergency. You should also consult your GP if illness keeps you absent from the University for more than 7 days including weekends. If you do consult a GP and they consider that you are not fit for attendance at the University, then you should obtain a note from the doctor to that effect or ask them to complete Part III of the University form ‘Certification of Student Ill Health’ copies of which are available at local GP surgeries. You should hand this certificate into the Programmes Support Office at the earliest opportunity.

If you are unwell and feel unable to attend an assessment or examination then you must seek advice by contacting the Programmes Support Office immediately. This is to ensure that you understand the implications of being absent and any consequences for your academic progression, which might be quite serious. You must do this as soon as possible so that all options can be considered and certainly no later than the day of your assessment or examination. If you do not do this then you will normally be considered as having been absent from the assessment/examination without good reason. If you are absent from an examination/assessment you must complete and submit a Mitigating Circumstances Form (see section 3.6 below).

If you are unwell but are able to proceed with an examination but feel that your performance will have been impaired, you must complete and submit a Mitigating Circumstances Form (see section 3.6 below).

Summary: –

If you are absent from normal classes for less than 7 days you must complete an online Absence Form.
If you are absent from classes for more than 7 days you must complete a Student Absence Form and provide medical evidence (a Certification of Student Ill Health which your GP must sign, or a Doctor’s Note will suffice).
If you are absent from an examination/assessment or feel that your performance has been affected you must inform the Division immediately and complete a Mitigating Circumstances Form with independent supporting evidence.

Notes

All above the mentioned forms are available in the UG Pharmacy Community Space on Blackboard.
If you are found to have been deceitful or dishonest in completing the Certification of Student Ill Health form you could be liable to disciplinary action under the University’s General Regulation XX: Conduct and Discipline of Students.
The use of the Certification of Student Ill Health forms by GPs as described above has been agreed by the Manchester Local Medical Committee. A GP may make a charge for completing the form.

3.6 Mitigating Circumstances

3.6.1 Mitigating Circumstances for assessed team-based learning workshops:

Where approved mitigating circumstances apply, an alternative assessment may be set in accordance with the Policy of Mitigating Circumstances. If you miss an assessed team-based workshop or tutot marked assessment you must provide full details of why you were absent and where possible provide evidence (e.g. medical note). You must ensure that you also complete the absence form, where it has not been possible to provide external evidence.

The link to the online form can be found in the UG Pharmacy space on Blackboard. Applications will be reviewed by a member of the SWAPS team to determine:

a. whether a student has presented substantiated evidence of circumstances eligible for mitigation;

b. whether the circumstances could have had an adverse effect of the student’s performance;

c. how significant the effect of any mitigating circumstances would likely have been.

You must not assume you have been granted an alternative assessment until you have received official confirmation of this.

3.6.2. Mitigating Circumstances for all other assessments, including examinations:

The Division’s Mitigating Circumstances Panel meets prior to every Examination Board to consider the effect of mitigating circumstances (e.g. medical/personal/family problems) on assessment performance. Applications can only be considered if presented in time for the Panel meeting unless there is good reason why it was submitted late.

If you wish to submit an application you can do so by completing an online Mitigating Circumstances Form by the deadline given. Applications may be submitted before the evidence if the evidence is not available before the deadline. You should not delay submitting an application because you are waiting for evidence. Waiting to receive the evidence will not be accepted as a good reason for late submission of a mitigating circumstances application. All applications must be supported by strong third party evidence. All information will be treated in strict confidence.

The link to the mitigating circumstances form and supporting advice can be found in the UG Pharmacy Community Space on Blackboard.

NB: In accordance with General Medical Council guidance the Division does NOT accept GP certification where the GP is a relative of the student concerned.

Late submissions will not be considered without a credible and compelling explanation as to why the notification was not made at the appropriate time.

The Mitigating Circumstances Panels will determine:

Whether a student has presented substantiated evidence of circumstances eligible for mitigation;
Whether the circumstances could have had an effect on the student’s performance;
How significant the effect of any mitigating circumstances would likely have been.

The Mitigating Circumstances Panels will make a recommendation to the Examination Board for proposed mitigation for an accepted request. The Exam Board has the final say.

Further details on Mitigating Circumstances can be found here.

3.7 Progress Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee

The Progress Committee considers the progression of all students. Students that are in danger of not satisfying the MPharm/BSc assessment regulations, as detailed in Section 4 of this handbook, may be called up for interview following the January examination period. The student may choose to be accompanied by a current member of the University, which includes staff, fellow students or a member of the students union. The purpose of the Committee is to provide a fair and transparent mechanism for considering such matters, and to reach a decision based upon evidence presented to it.

The School of Health Sciences Fitness to Practise Committee considers matters of health and/or conduct for students registered on undergraduate programmes in the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry. The purpose of the Committee is to provide a fair and transparent mechanism for considering such matters, and to reach a decision based upon evidence presented to it. The membership of the Committee will be drawn from academic staff within the School of Health Sciences. For each meeting, the Committee will normally comprise at least four academic staff and an administrator. Initial referrals to Health and Conduct Committee will be made to the Programme Lead who will decide whether a formal referral is required. If a formal referral to the Health and Conduct Committee is made, the student will be informed in writing as soon as possible. Students will normally be given at least ten working days notice of the date and time of the meeting and will be invited to attend in person. The letter will clearly state the reason(s) for the referral and inform student that they can submit a written statement beforehand if they wish. Papers sent to the student will include a summary of the case, highlighting any previous relevant matters and any additional documentary evidence. The set of papers sent to the student will be identical to those sent to the committee members.

3.8 Sharing your information

The University may share appropriate information relating to your health and/or conduct with external organisations such as your professional employer(s) (for example, relevant NHS Trust, Professional and Statutory Regulatory Bodies), placement and training providers and/or regulator (General Pharmaceutical Society). This may occur where concerns in relation to your health and/or conduct arise and the University considers it necessary for them to be disclosed to one or more of the above organisations. The University’s Privacy Notice for Registered Students (which is accessible via this link: www.regulations.manchester.ac.uk/data-collection-notice/) includes further information about how the University may use and process your personal data, including the legal basis and conditions which may be relevant to such processing (see section 6 of the Privacy Notice). The University will only disclose special category data (such as data relating to your health) to a third party organisation where one of the additional conditions are satisfied (see section 9 of the Privacy Notice), including where processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest.

3.9 Paid or Voluntary Employment

How many hours can I work each week?

It is important that work experience does not affect your academic study. We recommend that you work for no more than 15 hours a week during term-time. The weekend usually provides a good time to undertake work experience that does not affect your coursework.

3.10 Obtaining a Reference

Students will require references when seeking vacation employment and when seeking pre-registration training positions. Students should approach their academic adviser in the first instance to request a reference. Other University staff should only be approached for a reference after approaching their academic adviser (e.g. if a position required two academic referees). Academic advisers are normally very happy to act as referees for students applying for work experience relevant to their future careers, for students applying for pre-registration places and for students seeking appropriate further training.

It is University policy that staff do not provide references unless students have requested that they do. This is because unauthorised third parties (credit-rating agencies etc.) may seek information about students. Students must approach staff before giving their names as referees.

3.11 Professional Behaviour/Fitness to Practise/Standards for Pharmacy Professionals

The Standards for Pharmacy Professionals published by the General Pharmaceutical Council applies to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students.

You should be aware that this code covers behaviour on the course and in your personal life. Your behaviour on and off the course could have an impact on your fitness to practise as a pharmacist. This means, for example, that you have a duty to report to the University any criminal convictions, cautions or penalty notices for disorder. Criminal offences, particularly those involving dishonesty, or the use of drugs or alcohol, are likely to raise questions about an individual’s fitness to practise as a healthcare professional.

You should note that the Standards cover not just behaviour, but also your own health. This means that you have a duty to seek and follow advice from a suitably qualified professional about your health, and you should not rely on your own or another student’s assessment of the risk posed to patients (in particular, but also staff and fellow students) by your poor health. This is particularly important if you have, or suspect you have, a serious condition that could be passed on, or if you are receiving treatment that could affect your judgement or performance. Students should be willing to seek medical or occupational health advice, or both, and be referred for treatment and to engage in any recommended treatment programmes.

If you have any concerns about the Standards or your fitness to practise you should either discuss this with your academic advisor or access one of the support mechanisms listed in this handbook (see section 5).

The Standards are reproduced below. They are also available on Blackboard and the General Pharmaceutical Council website:

https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/sites/default/files/standards_for_pharmacy_professionals_may_2017_0.pdf

General Pharmaceutical Council Standards for pharmacy professionals, May 2017

Introduction

1.‘ Pharmacy professionals’ (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) play a vital role in delivering care and helping people to maintain and improve their health, safety and wellbeing. The professionalism they demonstrate is central to maintaining trust and confidence in pharmacy.

2. Patients and the public have a right to expect safe and effective care from pharmacy professionals. We believe it is the attitudes and behaviours of pharmacy professionals in their day-to-day work which make the most significant contributions to the quality of care, of which safety is a vital part.

3. The standards for pharmacy professionals describe how safe and effective care
is delivered through ‘person-centred’ professionalism. The standards are a statement of what people expect from pharmacy professionals, and also reflect what pharmacy professionals have told us they expect of themselves and their colleagues.

4. At the heart of the standards is the principle that every person must be treated as an individual. Pharmacy professionals have an important role in involving, supporting and enabling people to make decisions about their health, safety and wellbeing. For example, what is important to one person managing their short or long-term condition may not be important to another.

The standards for pharmacy professionals

5. There are nine standards that every pharmacy professional is accountable
for meeting. The standards apply to all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. We know that pharmacy professionals practise in a number of sectors and settings and may use different ways to communicate with the people they provide care to. The standards apply whatever their form of practice. And even when pharmacy professionals do not provide care directly to patients and the public, their practice can indirectly have an impact on the safe and effective care that patients and the public receive, and on the confidence of members of the public in pharmacy as a whole.

6. The standards need to be met at all times, not only during working hours. This is because the attitudes and behaviours of professionals outside of work can affect the trust and confidence of patients and the public in pharmacy professionals.

7. The meaning of each of the standards is explained, and there are examples of the types of attitudes and behaviours that pharmacy professionals should demonstrate. The examples may not apply in all situations.

8. The standards include the term ‘person- centred care’ and refer to a ‘person’ throughout. This means ‘the person receiving care’. The term may also apply to carers or patients’ representatives depending on the situation.

The standards and pharmacy students and trainees

9. The standards for pharmacy professionals are relevant to all pharmacy students and trainees while they are on their journey towards registration and practice. The standards explain the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours that will be expected of students and trainees if they apply to join the register.

10. They should be interpreted in the context of education and training and used as a tool to prepare students and trainees for registration as a pharmacy professional.

11. Pharmacy students and trainees should consider the standards as they move closer to registration and professional practice, and should read them alongside other relevant documents that are provided by initial education and training providers.

The standards and registration

12. The standards are designed to reflect what it means to be a pharmacy professional. They are also at the heart of initial education and training, registration and renewal as a pharmacy professional, and continuing fitness to remain registered.

Applying the standards

13. Pharmacy professionals are personally accountable for meeting the standards and must be able to justify the decisions they make.

14. We expect pharmacy professionals to consider these standards, their legal duties and any relevant guidance when making decisions.

15. The standards and supporting explanations do not list the legal duties pharmacy professionals have, as all pharmacy professionals must keep to the relevant laws. Relevant guidance is published by a number of organisations, including professional leadership bodies, other regulators, the NHS, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, as well as by the GPhC.

16. There will be times when pharmacy professionals are faced with conflicting legal and professional responsibilities. Or they may be faced with complex situations that mean they have to balance competing priorities. The standards provide a framework to help them when making professional judgements. Pharmacy professionals must work in partnership with everyone involved, and make sure the person they are providing care to is their first priority.

Standards for pharmacy professionals

All pharmacy professionals contribute to delivering and improving the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public. Professionalism and safe and effective practice are central to that role.

Pharmacy professionals must:

1 provide person-centred care

2 work in partnership with others

3 communicate effectively

4 maintain, develop and use their professional knowledge and skills

5 use professional judgement

6 behave in a professional manner

7 respect and maintain the person’s confidentiality and privacy

8 speak up when they have concerns or when things go wrong

9 demonstrate leadership

1 Provide person-centred care

Applying the standard

Every person is an individual with their own values, needs and concerns. Person-centred care
is delivered when pharmacy professionals understand what is important to the individual and then adapt the care to meet their needs – making the care of the person their first priority. All pharmacy professionals can demonstrate ‘person-centredness’, whether or not they provide care directly, by thinking about the impact their decisions have on people. There are a number of ways to meet this standard, and below are examples of the attitudes and behaviours expected.