Master´s Programme in Pharmacy Programme description

The Master’s Programme in Pharmacy is a two-year programme of professional study (120 ECTS credits) and builds on a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy or equivalent. Students who pass the programme are awarded a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy in accordance with Section 3 of the Regulations concerning Requirements for the Master’s Degrees, which forms the basis for authorisation as a pharmacist with a master’s degree (‘provisorfarmasøyt’) in accordance with the Act relating to Health Personnel etc. The master’s degree can also be included in an application for approval as a ‘qualified person’ (QP), who is responsible for certifying the release of batches of medicinal products to pharmacies and industrial enterprises.

The programme description has been drawn up on the basis of the Regulations relating to National guidelines for pharmacy education, bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in pharmacy, adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research, and meets the requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC with subsequent amendments under Directive 2013/55/EU. The programme was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

There is a high and increasing demand for pharmacists with a master’s degree in private pharmacies and hospital pharmacies, the specialist health service, the municipal sector and the pharmaceutical industry. Given the major increase in the number of pharmacies in Norway, candidates with master’s degrees are needed to fulfill the needs of the society. More experts in the field of pharmacy are also needed in the specialist health service and the municipal health services.;Among the Norwegian start-up companies in the health care field, companies focusing on pharmaceutical development currently represent a significant part of value creation, and high-level pharmaceutical expertise is in demand.

The Master’s Programme in Pharmacy is research-based and covers everything from the development and production of pharmaceuticals to clinical use by individuals and groups of patients. The programme will prepare the student for the role of pharmacist (provisorfarmasøyt) and provides a basis for further studies and research.

The master’s programme at OsloMet has a profile where patient-centred follow-up and innovation are important components. The patient-centred aspects can be addressed in many arenas where pharmacists traditionally work, such as interaction with patients in pharmacies or in clinical pharmacy in the municipal health services and specialist health service. An increasing focus on individualised treatment and new possibilities including e.g. biological medicines, mean that in the future, more patients will be able to receive personalised treatment and follow-up.

Pharmaceutical development entails innovative thinking, and greater focus on innovation in education is a national priority area. Pharmaceutical trends have created significant demand and many opportunities for university-based innovation in the field along the whole value chain from lab-based research to patient/next of kin, including both product and service innovation.

The candidates will be able to contribute to correct use of medicines in the best interests of individual patients and society at large, and to systematic development and improvement work, quality assurance, user involvement and patient safety.

According to the UN Agenda 2030, a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development is that everyone is able to live healthy lives. The Master’s Programme in Pharmacy is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, and Goal 4, Quality Education. The programme will educate candidates who can contribute to good health and promote well-being for all, while taking account of sustainability, innovation and lifelong learning.

Relevance to working lifeThe expertise of pharmacists is in high demand in many areas where pharmaceutical expertise and quality development are key. Possible fields of work and career paths after completing the programme include:

• professional and administrative leadership responsibility in pharmacies (with an operating licence)
• work in hospital pharmacies, with various tasks relating to clinical pharmacy and the production and distribution of medicinal products
• the role of pharmaceutical expert in interdisciplinary teams
• in public health management, for example the Directorate of Health, the Board of Health Supervision, the Norwegian Medicines Agency, the Norwegian Poison Information Centre and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health
• in research and development in academia and the pharmaceutical industry

Relevance to further educationCandidates with a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy are qualified to apply for admission to PhD programmes, including the PhD Programme in Health Sciences at OsloMet.

Studiet egner seg for studenter med toårig økonomisk-administrativ utdanning, eller annen relevant fagbakgrunn (for eksempel sosial/helsefaglig profesjonsutdanning) som ønsker å kvalifisere seg for administrative stillinger, personalforvaltning, økonomistyring eller ledelse, særlig i offentlig virksomhet.

Opptak og rangering av søkere skjer i henhold til forskrift om opptak til studier ved OsloMet.;

Krav til utdanning

• 2 års høyere utdanning (120 studiepoeng) med mist 60 studiepoeng innen økonomi, jus sosiologi eller statsvitenskap
• eller fullført bachelorgrad (180 studiepoeng)

Rangering

Dersom det er flere kvalifiserte søkere enn antall studieplasser, rangeres søkerne etter oppnådde konkurransepoeng.

After completing the Master’s Programme in Pharmacy, the candidate should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has advanced knowledge of the effects and use of pharmaceuticals and their role in the prevention and treatment of illness from an individual and societal perspective;
• has in-depth knowledge of the synthesis, isolation, structural elucidation, structure-activity relationship, stability and bioavailability of key active ingredients
• has in-depth knowledge of the formulation and production of various forms of pharmaceuticals
• has in-depth knowledge of quality assurance and control of all stages in the development and production of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical-related services;
• has in-depth knowledge in a field relevant to pharmacy, of scientific methods and key principles and regulations related to research ethics;
• has knowledge of different leadership roles in pharmaceutical businesses

Skills

The candidate;

• can analyse and adapt advanced pharmaceutical therapy and drug administration in cooperation with other health personnel, next of kin and patients
• can carry out analyses and quality control of pharmaceutical ingredients and end products and take a critical approach to the quality of pharmaceuticals
• can discuss and apply relevant principles for the formulation and production of key types of pharmaceuticals
• can apply relevant academic knowledge and use pharmaceutical services to suggest solutions to advanced theoretical and practical challenges in the field of pharmacy
• can analyse and discuss rational use of pharmaceuticals in relation to health economic principles from an individual and societal perspective
• can carry out, under supervision, a limited and independent pharmacy-related research and development project in accordance with the requirements of the applicable research methodology and ethical standards in the field

General competence

The candidate;

• can apply knowledge and skills to contribute to creating the best possible level of health and correct use of pharmaceuticals, both at an individual and societal level;
• can contribute to optimal pharmaceutical treatment for individual and groups of patients through interdisciplinary cooperation with other health personnel
• can actively contribute to quality development and innovation processes in the field and to developing the role of pharmacists in society at the national and international level
• can communicate the importance of scientific and evidence-based documentation;
• can analyse ethical issues in pharmaceutical practice and reflect on research ethics issues in the field of pharmacy
• can discuss pharmaceutical issues, analyses, research results and conclusions with relevant professionals in the field;

En kandidat med fullført Årsstudium i organisasjon og ledelse har følgende læringsutbytte:

Kunnskap

Kandidaten har

·;;;;;;;; brede kunnskaper om ledelse av organisasjoner, spesielt i offentlig sektor

·;;;;;;;; forståelse for utfordringer i administrativt og ledende arbeid

·;;;;;;;; kunnskap om temaer knyttet til organisasjon og ledelse, avhengig av kandidatens valg av fagsammensetning

;

Ferdigheter

Kandidaten kan

·;;;;;;;; formulere, strukturere og analysere problemstillinger knyttet til organisasjon og ledelse, og har ervervet seg et grunnlag for å løse slike oppgaver

·;;;;;;;; finne, vurdere og bruke relevante faglige kilder i tilknytning til slikt arbeid

·;;;;;;;; anvende kunnskap innen tema som er relevante for organisasjon og ledelse

;

Generell kompetanse

Kandidaten

· ; ; ; har utviklet sine forutsetninger for samhandling og samarbeid;på ulike nivåer på bakgrunn av breddekunnskap og helhetsforståelse

·;;;;;;;; kan arbeide selvstendig og sammen med andre om faglig problemløsning

Årsstudium i organisasjon og ledelse består av emner tilsvarende 60 studiepoeng, studentene velger fritt blant de emner som ligger i programplanen.;

Studentenes ansvar for egen læring forutsetter aktiv deltakelse. I studiet blir det i tillegg til forelesninger benyttet ulike studentaktive læringsformer som skriftlige oppgaver, gruppearbeid, muntlig framføring, seminarer etc.

Increasing globalisation of the labour market and rapid social changes make it increasingly important to have international professional experience, language and cultural knowledge. Internationalisation strengthens the academic community on the programme and promotes quality of education through international research collaboration, student and staff mobility and by highlighting global perspectives and challenges in the teaching activities.;

The programme emphasises the use of pharmaceutical expertise in a national and international perspective. From a national perspective, the expertise and communication skills of pharmacists are important in interactions with all patient groups in a multicultural society. From an international perspective, the supply and shortage of pharmaceuticals is a major challenge, and pharmaceutical expertise is important to ensure a sufficient supply of medicinal products to large segments of the population.;Another international challenge is the growing number of elderly people in the population, which also entails an increasing need for treatment involving pharmaceuticals. In this context, pharmacists can contribute their expertise through interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at improving public health.

International specialist and research literature is used extensively in the programme, which gives students access to English specialist terminology and relevant knowledge about international developments in the field.

The staff’s networks and research and development collaboration with colleagues in other countries also contribute to internationalisation. The Master’s Programme in Pharmacy is represented in various international networks.

Internationalisation takes place through activities on the home campus and through exchange programmes between students and staff at OsloMet and foreign educational institutions.

OsloMet has exchange agreements with universities and vocational university colleges in Europe.;Students can take all or parts of the second year of the programme abroad in connection with the work on the master’s degree thesis (50 ECTS credits) and, if relevant, combine this with an elective course (10 ECTS credits). Foreign students can also carry out all or parts of their work on the master’s degree thesis at OsloMet.

Foreign students can also join and participate in the courses MAFAR4300 Development and Manufacturing of Medicinal Products (15 ECTS credits) and MAFAR4100 Innovation within Healthcare (10 ECTS credits), which are both taught in English. The courses can be combined with the master’s degree thesis or other master’s degree courses taught in English at the faculty.

Reference is made to the criteria that apply to student exchanges and the information about stays abroad.

Students can choose whether to write their master’s thesis in English or Norwegian. Outbound exchange students must write their thesis in English if the exchange is in a country outside Scandinavia.

Required coursework means all forms of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for a student to be permitted to take the exam or complete practical training. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. Please see the course descriptions for more information about the coursework requirements that apply to each course.

The purpose of the coursework requirements is to:

• promote progress and academic development
• encourage students to seek out and acquire new knowledge
• facilitate cooperation and communication on pharmacy issues

If a student’s required coursework is assessed as not approved, they will normally be given another attempt before the ordinary exam. Required coursework that is not approved may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

The following applies to requirements for compulsory attendance or activities:;If a student exceeds the maximum limit for absence or fails to attend compulsory activities, the lecturer must assess whether and, if so, how, the student can compensate for the absence through e.g. an individual presentation or other written work. Absence that cannot be compensated for may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

Special requirements and provisions on attendance apply to the practical training.;For more information, see ‘Assessment of practical training’ below.;

Different forms of assessment are used that are adapted to the learning outcomes of the different courses in the programme. The forms of assessment used are intended to support learning and document the students’ level of competence in relation to the expected learning outcomes. The students will receive advice and supervision and have their performance assessed during the programme. It is important and necessary to assess students’ knowledge and skills often, so that they receive feedback on whether their performance is in line with the programme’s requirements and whether they have achieved the learning outcomes.

The assessment of exams and practical training is carried out in accordance with the applicable rules set out in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

The forms of assessment used in each course in the programme are described below. All exams taken and the title of the master’s thesis will be stated on the diploma.

Exams

All courses conclude with an exam. The following forms of assessment are used in the programme:

Home examTaken over a set period of time at the end of the course, normally with a set question/assignment text unless otherwise stated in the course description.

Project examTaken over the whole or large parts of the course, normally with a topic decided by the students themselves unless otherwise stated in the course description.

Oral examCan take place individually or in groups. It can either be an independent form of assessment or used to adjust the grade awarded for another exam.

Supervised individual examTaken at the university’s exam premises over a set number of hours.

Portfolio examA collection of written assignments that the students work on throughout the course.;The students can receive feedback on their assignments once during the work process, provided that they are submitted by the stipulated deadline.;The portfolio is submitted for final assessment at the end of the course.;

Most courses have required coursework that must be approved before the student can take the exam. See the course descriptions for more details.

Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description.

Grades awarded for written exams can be appealed, cf. Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. For a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidates who submitted the appeal. This means that all members of the group do not have to participate in the appeal.

Assessment of practical training

Practical training is assessed as pass/fail. The assessment of practical training is based on the learning outcomes for the course and the formative assessment. The formative assessment, i.e. the assessment of the student’s knowledge, skills, competence and suitability, is carried out during the period of practical training, and summarised half-way through and at the end of the period.

To pass the practical training, the student must have met the compulsory attendance requirement. A minimum attendance requirement of 90% applies to the practical training. The attendance requirement applies both to time spent at the practical training institution and any teaching activities provided as part of the programme. The following also applies to absence:

• Less than 10% absence: The student can complete the practical training course as normal.
• Between 10% and 20% absence: the student can make up for the practical training/teaching activities missed, insofar as this is possible. This must be agreed with the practical training supervisor and the person responsible for the course at the university.
• More than 20% absence: The student must normally retake the whole practical training course. This will result in delayed progress in the programme.

If the student exceeds the maximum limit for absence, the course will be registered as failed and count as one (1) attempt.

Suitability

Diplomas for the completed programme will only be awarded to graduates who are suited to practise the profession. A student who represents a potential threat to the physical or mental health, rights and safety of their patients and colleagues is not suited for the profession.

Suitability assessments are made on a continuous basis throughout the study programme and will be included in the overall assessment of the students’ professional and personal suitability for work as health personnel. Students who demonstrate little ability to master the profession must be informed of this at the earliest possible stage of the programme. They will be given supervision and advice on how to improve or be advised to leave the programme. Special suitability assessments are used in exceptional cases, cf. the Regulations concerning Suitability Assessment in Higher Education.

Alle arbeidskrav fastsatt i programplanen for hvert enkelt emne må være godkjent for at studenten skal kunne framstille seg til eksamen i emnet. Frist for innlevering av arbeidskrav fastsettes av emneansvarlig ved oppstart.

Skriftlige arbeidskrav

Skriftlige arbeidskrav blir vurdert av en faglærer og/eller medstudenter. Studenten får skriftlig og/eller muntlig tilbakemelding på arbeidskravet. Ved ikke godkjent arbeidskrav gis studenten mulighet til å forbedre arbeidskravet innen en fastsatt frist. Dersom det foreligger særlige grunner kan en student etter søknad gis utsettelse på innlevering av arbeidskravet. Studenter som ikke har fått godkjent alle obligatoriske arbeidskrav, har ikke rett til å avlegge eksamen. Når en oppgave ikke godkjennes vil faglærer gi en skriftlig eller muntlig tilbakemelding om hva som bør forbedres. Studenten får så mulighet til å levere på ny innen en gitt frist.

Når det i et arbeidskrav stilles krav om deltakelse i et gruppearbeid, skal gruppen bekrefte at de enkelte medlemmene har fylt dette kravet gjennom en skriftlig erklæring som leveres sammen med arbeidskravet. Samme prosedyre gjelder ved underkjenning av gruppearbeidskrav som ved individuelle arbeidskrav.

Om gruppearbeid

Det forekommer at grupper endrer tema underveis i arbeidet. Det hender også at studenter forlater en gruppe og/eller knytter seg til en annen gruppe. Dersom noe av dette skjer skal studentene informere emneansvarlig faglærer.

Deltagerne forplikter seg til å yte likeverdige bidrag til gruppeoppgaven. Hvis det i løpet av arbeidsprosessen oppstår uenighet i gruppen mht. «likeverdig bidrag» og deltakelse i gruppearbeidet, skal saken umiddelbart tas opp med faglærer/veileder.

Dersom kravet om likeverdig deltagelse og frammøte ikke er oppfylt, defineres dette som «ikke møtt» til eksamen for den aktuelle studenten. I emner der gruppearbeid ikke er valgfritt gis det normalt ikke mulighet til å levere en individuell besvarelse. Ny/utsatt eksamen må da gjennomføres neste studieår.

Obligatorisk undervisning

I emner med obligatorisk undervisning kreves minst 80 prosent tilstedeværelse. Ved fravær utover 20 prosent må det leveres et alternativt arbeidskrav. Fravær utover 40 prosent medfører tap av eksamensrett i det enkelte emnet.

Studentene har selv ansvar for å notere inn sin tilstedeværelse på eget skjema utarbeidet for dette, og få den attestert av ansvarlig faglærer og/eller medstudenter. Studenter som ikke har fått attestert minimum tilstedeværelse får ikke godkjent arbeidskravet.

Det må foreligge helt spesielle grunner dersom en student skal kunne få dispensasjon i form av et alternativt arbeidskrav. Slik dispensasjon blir gitt av instituttleder i samråd med koordinator og faglærer. Med uttrykket "særlige grunner" menes for eksempel egen eller egne barns sykdom. Sykdom må dokumenteres med legeattest. I noen tilfeller vil det ikke være mulig å gi dispensasjon i form av et alternativt arbeidskrav