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Students' corner

 

Andresr/Dreamstime.comWelcome to Students' corner. This section is
all about pharmacy student life.
Read about exciting activities your fellow
students get up to and learn about
interesting events (published in
association with the British Pharmaceutical
Students' Association) 

 

 

Student bloggers

Take a look at our growing list of student bloggers. If you want to write and share your thoughts on pharmacy and pharmacy-related matters, e-mail the editor (benedict.lam@pharmj.org.uk) to find out how you could become a blogger too.

The British Pharmaceutical Students' Association (2011-12)

The British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association is in its 70th year and is the official student organisation of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. It represents undergraduate pharmacy students and preregistration trainees. Ryan Hamilton, MRPharmS, president of the BPSA, explains what the association has to offer.

Ryan Hamilton, president of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association, explains what the BPSA is doing to support students and trainees

Advice published on accepting preregistration offers

Guidance on accepting or rejecting preregistration training offers has been issued

BPSA appoints ambassadors to support its work

Seven ambassadors have been appointed by the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association...

The Orang Asli health education project

Pharmacy students from the University of Nottingham describe a health education project to engage with the Orang Asli community in Broga, Malaysia

What are university students’ views on the self-prescribing of “smart drugs”?

Margit Anne Petersen, Emily Laing and Janine M. Traulsen discuss the results of a small pilot study on students’ experience and social understandings of taking smart drugs

What is the situation with “smart drugs” use among UK university students?

We know that the use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the US has soared over the past few years, but what about in the UK? Adam Rathbone investigates

Boots drops paid summer work for some students

Boots UK is no longer offering five-week paid summer placements for first and second year pharmacy students

Nottingham gears up to launch five-year MPharm degree

A five-year MPharm degree is set to be launched by the University of Nottingham, with its first intake in September 2013

Student news most read on PJ Online in 2012

Student stories dominated the top 10 most read news items of 2012 on PJ Online, with six making the list

Student numbers to be restricted in line with NHS-funded training places

Pharmacy student numbers in England will be restricted to bring them in line with the number of NHS-funded training placements

BNFC added to list of reference sources for registration exam

Preregistration trainees sitting next year’s registration examination will be able to refer to the British National Formulary for Children

University of Lincoln’s planned school of pharmacy appoints head

Pharmacist Paul Grassby has been appointed head of the new school of pharmacy at the University of Lincoln

Research placements: how to find one and what you need to know

Adam Brelsford undertook a research summer placement at Cardiff University last summer. Here, he provides advice on how to find a placement and what you might experience

Reopen the book on pharmacy law

Failing to provide a guidance document on pharmacy law will provide a blanket defence for pharmacists facing fitness-to-practise proceedings for legal breaches

Placing science in the wider context of pharmacists’ professional aspirations

English Pharmacy Board scientist member Rachel Airley explains why an appreciation of science is essential to the practice and profession of pharmacy in the future

Low pass rate in September registration exam

Only 58.2 per cent of 402 preregistration trainees who sat the September registration examination have passed

CUHOP becomes PhSC — the Pharmacy Schools Council

CUHOP (the Council of University Heads of Pharmacy) is now to be known as the Pharmacy Schools Council (PhSC

Using expert patients to improve the expertise of future pharmacists

Margaret Culshaw describes how volunteer expert patients can help pharmacy students prepare for their professional lives in the real world

JMU student given suspended jail sentence after hacking emails

A pharmacy student who hacked the email accounts of academics in an attempt to access upcoming examination questions has been given a suspended jail sentence

Society’s visa sponsorship scheme proving popular

More than 100 non-European Economic Area (EEA) UK pharmacy students have applied for visa sponsorship under the new Royal Pharmaceutical Society scheme in order to complete their preregistration training

Using the coaching approach to communicate with patients

Radha Patel undertook a hospital placement and learnt about the coaching approach method of communicating with patients. In this article, she explains how this works

Student numbers too high say RPS conference participants

Pharmacy student numbers are too high, Royal Pharmaceutical Society conference participants agreed yesterday (9 September 2012) in a straw poll following a lively debate on the topic

Plan for school of pharmacy at Lincoln university

Lincoln university is planning to open a new school of pharmacy and is working towards taking its first cohort of students by 2014

Student trends may have implications for the future of the profession

Ranveer Bassey provides a snapshot of pharmacy education in the UK today

Pharmacy students want guidelines on Facebook and online professionalism

The General Pharmaceutical Council should take the lead in introducing specific guidelines on the use of social media for pharmacists and for pharmacy students

Pass rate over 94 per cent for summer registration exam

Almost 95 per cent of pharmacy students passed this summer’s registration examination

Urgent debate called for on imbalance between undergraduate and prereg places

Pharmacy students may face severe problems completing their professional training unless there is an increase in the number of available preregistration training places, according to the BPSA

Pharmacy students promote health

RPS local practice forum facilitators provide a round up of what LPFs have been doing

RPS visa sponsorship scheme to go ahead

Royal Pharmaceutical Society sponsorship for overseas pharmacy graduates has now been approved by the Department of Health
Vikesh Kakad and Oksana Pyzuik report from the World Health Organization’s 65th World Health Assembly for Tomorrow’s Pharmacist readers

Huddersfield university marks MPharm course accreditation

The University of Huddersfield’s MPharm course was granted full accreditation this week (12 June 2012) by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

MPharm places need managing without a blanket cap

Undergraduate pharmacy places need to be managed without the use of a blanket cap, according to the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association...

Student registration unnecessary and ineffective, says BPSA

Registration of pharmacy students would be "burdensome, unnecessary, untimely, and ineffective"

BPSA announces Vikesh Ka’kad as new president

Preregistration trainee Vikesh Ka’kad is the new president of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association, it was announced today...

Resist digital marshmallows if you want to improve your academic performance!

What better way to distract yourself from revising for your exams than to read this article by Ranveer Bassey on how you could improve your academic performance

Pharmacy schools call for cap on student numbers

Heads of pharmacy schools are calling on the Government to regulate the number of undergraduate places

RPS set to sponsor overseas trainees scuppered by visa changes

Sponsorship is being set up by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society for overseas students who are unable to complete their preregistration training because of changes to UK visa requirements

Making a successful hospital pharmacy preregistration application

Are you hoping to apply for a preregistration placement in hospital? Helen Middleton provides some essential information on the process, plus tips on how to make a successful application

Whether your eye is on a PhD or on a DPharm, is doctoral study for you?

Pharmacists who want to challenge themselves academically beyond master’s level may be attracted by the idea of studying for a doctorate — which can focus on research or an area of professional practice

Team work is the name of the game at the intercollegiate debate championships

University College London took top honours on 31 March when the UK Intercollegiate Pharmacy Debating Championships were once again staged at King’s College London. But that did not deter pharmacy student Adam Ali from the University of Hertfordshire, the runners-up, from sending this report.

Extra registration exam venues unveiled

Eight venues will be used for this summer’s registration examination, an increase from the five venues used last year...

Visa eligibility requirements have been relaxed for non-EEA pharmacy students who wish to carry out their preregistration training in a UK...

Prereg fee cut agreed by GPhC

Fees for entry to this year’s preregistration training scheme and registration examination will be cut, the General Pharmaceutical Council...

Preregistration fee cut being considered by GPhC

Entry fees for the preregistration year and examination will be cut this summer if a set of proposals, due to be considered...

Students praised for role in “Ask your pharmacist” research

Pharmacy students at King’s College London have been praised by England’s chief pharmacist Keith Ridge for getting involved in research into people’s awareness of pharmacy services during last year’s “Ask your pharmacist” week.

Training offers withdrawn over new visa rules

Some preregistration training offers are being withdrawn by community pharmacy employers because of changes to the visa system, according to the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association.

Why pharmacists must teach students

Encouraging practising pharmacists to take up teaching and research positions in universities can help practitioners meet the Government’s wider agenda for pharmacy

Need assistance with revising for the registration exam? TP ONtrack can help

It is only just over four months to the June registration examination and tutors will now be encouraging trainees to plan revision. Start now with TP ONtrack. Benedict Lam explains

University applications drop 10 per cent in England

University applications have decreased by almost 10 per cent this year in England — where tuition fees are due to rise

The reflective portfolio as a means of assessment within the MPharm course

Anne Noott describes how the school of pharmacy at the University of Wolverhampton has been making use of an online reflective portfolio as a means of assessment

Pharmacy and medicine students learning to work together in Cardiff

Pharmacy and medical students will be working together closely at Cardiff University to encourage teamwork from an early stage...

What the RPS offers preregistration trainees

RPS Support can provide tools to ensure the preregistration year goes smoothly

Social mobility is a key priority for the Government. David G. Allison and Julian Skyrme provide data from Manchester that suggest its pharmacy course promotes social mobility

A brief overview of the US pharmacy course from two visiting students

US pharmacy students on an exchange programme gave a local practice forum meeting in West Yorkshire an insight into the DPharm programme. Gill Hawksworth reports

The World Healthcare Students Symposium 2011

From 18–25 November 2011, Prague was the location of the fourth World Healthcare Students Symposium. David Preece reports

Brighton students take on "The Apprentice"-style learning mode

Pharmacy students at the University of Brighton are being set a series of tasks similar to those seen on BBC television show "The Apprentice"... 

Anthony Smith leaving School of Pharmacy for UCL post

Anthony Smith is to leave his post as dean of the London School of Pharmacy when it merges with University College London next month...

Pharmacy law and the registration examination: an open and closed case

Removal of certain texts from the open book pharmacy registration examination raises questions about how preregistration trainees’ knowledge of pharmacy law is to be tested

The physical sciences in a clinical curriculum — a personal perspective

Alexander Florence argues why pharmaceutical science is an integral part of the pharmacy degree, despite recent arguments that it is not important in practice

A glimpse of the pharmacy undergraduate course at the University of Toronto

In this article, Anne Noott describes the undergraduate course at the school of pharmacy, University of Toronto, and compares it with the UK MPharm course

Registration exam resources no longer to include MEP and Drug Tariff

Preregistration trainees taking next year’s summer and autumn registration examinations will no longer have use of the Drug Tariff...

Success rate exceeds 87 per cent for September registration exam

Nearly 88 per cent of preregistration trainees who sat the September registration examination — 500 out of 569 (87.9 per cent) — have passed

Registration exam to be run differently following GPhC-BPSA talks

Recommended changes to the running of the registration examination have been accepted by the General Pharmaceutical Council, following discussions with the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association

Pharmacy students help boost research to ease eye problems associated with cystinosis

Three final-year pharmacy students from the University of Sunderland who helped test a range of drugs to treat eye problems in patients suffering from a rare genetic disease have showcased their results at an international conference.

Moving from “know” to “do” will be a key feature of undergraduate education

New education standards mean MPharm providers will need to balance the adoption of competency-based approaches with the need to educate pharmacists at the highest level

What three young pharmacists believe they gain from membership of the Society

Following the decision by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to establish associate membership for preregistration trainee pharmacists, Jeff Mills asked three young pharmacists about their careers so far and what membership of the Society during their preregistration year meant to them

My gripes with certain patients in community pharmacy 

Having worked in a community pharmacy for six months now, I have noticed first-hand the impatience of some patients when requesting their medicines as though pharmacy is a fast food restaurant.

“Virtual reality world” created for pharmacy students at Keele University

A “virtual reality world” has been created to help teach pharmacy students at Keele University

The Drug Information Association 23rd Annual Euromeeting

Sandeep Lyall, Adenike Oyefeso and Zekiya Berhe’s final-year project was selected by the Drug Information Association in its student poster competition. Here, they describe their experience of travelling to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the Drug Information Association 23rd Annual EuroMeeting conference and presenting their project

Registration exam appeals will be concluded in time for resit

Preregistration trainees who have appealed against their registration examination result will know the outcome of their appeal before the date of the autumn registration exam, the General Pharmaceutical Council has confirmed

Preregistration trainees claim exam conditions affected performance

More than 70 preregistration trainees have complained to their student body because they are concerned that increased stress levels

UCLan’s first MPharm students graduate

The first cohort of students has graduated from the University of Central Lancashire’s MPharm course, which was established four years ago

Full marks for School of Pharmacy in graduate employment survey

The School of Pharmacy, University of London, had one of the top graduate employment records The School of Pharmacy, University of London, had one of the top graduate employment records for any higher education institute in the UK last year

New chapter for the School of Pharmacy

The council of the School of Pharmacy, University of London, recently decided that the school should merge with University College London. Why was this decision made and how will the school work as a part of UCL?
The University of Huddersfield is the top university for pharmacy, according to The Guardian’s university league table

School of Pharmacy announces merger with University College London

The School’s governing body has decided that the long-term future of the school is best secured through a merger with UCL. Its members voted 12 for and 8 against the merger

The BPSA annual conference 2011

Andrew Onariase provides highlights from the British Pharmaceutical Students' Association annual conference, which was held at the University of Portsmouth from 16-23 April 2011

New five-year integrated MPharm degree on course

Two universities may become the first in the UK to offer a new fully integrated five-year pharmacy degree incorporating clinical practice which has traditionally only been available through a separate preregistration training position

The UK Intercollegiate Pharmacy Debating Championships

Teams from the University of East Anglia, the London School of Pharmacy and King’s College London took the stage earlier this month to take part in the first UK Intercollegiate Pharmacy Debating Championships

Most pharmacy students will face maximum fees, latest figures confirm

Most of the universities that offer accredited pharmacy degrees in England propose charging undergraduates the maximum £9,000 in annual tuition fees from September 2012, according to latest figures

Why these students have joined the RPS

Jeff Mills asked students to explain how joining the Royal Pharmaceutical Society will benefit them

GPhC agrees new standards for pharmacy education and training

New standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists have been approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council

The bacteria roadshow

Pharmacy students at the University of Manchester have developed a bacteria roadshow to highlight to primary and secondary school students about antibiotics and bacterial resistance to them. Sally Freeman, Farah Haque and Saambra Lian explain

Six pharmacy schools plan to charge students £9,000 per year

Six pharmacy schools have announced they will ramp up fees to the maximum £9,000 per year prompting concerns from the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association that the move will deter future students from studying pharmacy

Smartphone trailer offers pharmacy graduates a taste of life at Lloydspharmacy

A smartphone trailer and presentation to help pharmacy graduates gain a greater understanding of life at Lloydspharmacy has been launched by the community pharmacy chain

University of Birmingham set to launch MPharm degree

The University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences is looking to start a new MPharm degree, with a first intake of students in October 2013

The British Pharmaceutical Students' Association (2010-11)

The British Pharmaceutical Students' Association has just entered its 69th year and is the official students’ organisation of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. It is the only national body that represents undergraduate pharmacy students and preregistration trainees. Louise Hemmings explains what the BPSA has to offer


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