Pharmacy

The MPharm is a five-year integrated masters programme that prepares you to work as a registered pharmacist across community, hospital, and industry settings. You study the science behind how medicines work in the human body, how they are formulated and manufactured, and how to use them safely and effectively in patient care. Alongside pharmacology, chemistry, and physiology, you develop clinical and consultation skills through practical laboratory sessions and simulated dispensing environments. In your fifth year you undertake an eight-month supervised placement in a pharmacy practice setting, giving you real-world experience with patients and healthcare teams. Throughout the programme you may also have opportunities for Erasmus exchanges and research projects.

Entry is through the CAO and typically requires six Leaving Certificate subjects including English, Irish, and Mathematics. Higher-level Chemistry is generally required or strongly recommended by all three institutions, and Higher-level Biology or another science subject is usually expected. CAO points are very high, reflecting strong competition for limited places. If you do not qualify directly, a relevant QQI Level 5 or 6 Science or Healthcare award can provide a progression route to some pharmacy or pre-pharmacy programmes, though direct entry to the MPharm via QQI is limited. Mature applicants (aged 23 or over) may apply through the mature-student CAO route, and HEAR and DARE access schemes are available for eligible applicants from socioeconomic or disability backgrounds.

Pharmacy graduates in Ireland enjoy strong employment prospects, with PSI registration giving you a nationally recognised professional licence. Demand for pharmacists in both community and hospital settings remains consistently high, partly driven by extended roles in medicines management, vaccination services, and chronic disease monitoring. The pharmaceutical industry, one of Ireland's largest export sectors, provides additional graduate pathways beyond direct patient care. Starting salaries in community pharmacy typically range from approximately €40,000 to €50,000 gross per annum, with hospital and industry roles offering broadly comparable or higher remuneration as you gain experience.