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.

Ingen ut over opptakskrav.

A bachelor’s degree in pharmacy or equivalent pharmacy education and Norwegian authorisation as a pharmacist with a bachelor’s degree (reseptarfarmasøyt). Applicants who have taken their education outside the EU/EEA must be able to document four months’ supervised practical training in a pharmacy.

Applicants who accept an offer of a place on the programme must also submit a transcript of police records, cf. the Regulations concerning Admission to Higher Education.

The requirement for admission to the master’s programme is a bachelor’s degree with an average grade of C or better.

Admission is regulated by the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet. For more information about admission to master’s programmes and further education programmes, see: https://www.oslomet.no/studier/soknad-og-opptak/opptak-til-masterstudier-og-videreutdanninger

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

Emnet forutsetter tilstedeværelse i verksteder og aktiv deltakelse i undervisningen. I studiet brukes det arbeidsformer som forelesninger, seminarer, veiledning og faglige diskusjoner. Faglig diskusjon vil handle om hvordan design for bærekraft kan utvikles og praktiseres i motefeltet. Dette har til hensikt å utvikle studentens kunnskaper, idéer, praktiske ferdigheter og faglige forståelse. Det forventes at studenten anvender pensum i emnet, samt innhenter og anvender relevant fagstoff utenfor pensum. Det oppfordres til å bruke universitetsbiblioteket og de ressursene som tilbys der.

Arbeidskrav må være innfridd og være vurdert til godkjent før studentene kan fremstille seg til eksamen.

• Midtveisseminar som viser oppgavens problemområde, inspirasjonsmaterialer, moodboard, kolleksjonsoppbygging, referanse av kilder og en toile som viser silhuett, volum og detaljer.
• Utvikling av to digitale utkast til konstruksjon av plagg

Alle hjelpemidler er tillatt så lenge regler for kildehenvisninger følges.

Gradert skala A-F.

To sensorer. Ekstern sensor brukes jevnlig.

Bestått KDM 1200 faglig fordypning.

5 studiepoeng overlapp mot KDM2010. 10 studiepoeng overlapp mot KDM2010.

Emnet overlapper med KDM 2020 og 2030.