Bachelor’s Programme in Pharmacy Programme description

The Bachelor’s Programme in Pharmacy is a three-year programme of professional study (180 credits). Students who complete the programme are awarded the degree of Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, which forms the basis for authorisation as a prescriptionist in accordance with the Act relating to Health Personnel etc.

The title of pharmacist covers both the Norwegian titles reseptarfarmasøyt (pharmacist with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy) and provisorfarmasøyt (pharmacist with a master’s degree in pharmacy). It is only the pharmacies’ pharmaceutical personnel who are independently entitled to dispense prescription pharmaceuticals or pharmaceuticals on requisition, which in accordance with applicable distribution regulations, must be subject to control by a pharmacist, cf. the Pharmacies Act Section 4-4.

The programme description has been drawn up on the basis of the National Regulations relating to a Common Curriculum for Health and Social Care Education and the Regulations on national guidelines for pharmacy education adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research. 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.

Bachelor’s Programme in Pharmacy – vocational competence and work tasks

The task of a pharmacist with a bachelor’s degree is to provide pharmaceutical services to the public in the form of advice and guidance, thereby helping to ensure correct and rational use of pharmaceuticals by individuals and in society at large.

The programme helps students to develop into responsible and reflected professionals who are qualified and in demand in their field of work. The students are expected to acquire the knowledge, skills and competence necessary to be granted authorisation as a pharmacist with a bachelor’s degree, and thereby also be entitled to dispense pharmaceuticals in Norwegian pharmacies.

Knowledge of pharmaceuticals and their application is a crucial basis for practising the profession. Pharmacists have knowledge of and skills in the production of pharmaceuticals, knowledge of the effect of pharmaceuticals on the body, and about the use and misuse of pharmaceuticals. Pharmacists must have basic theoretical knowledge attained from different topics and approaches in the field of pharmacy, and an understanding of good problem-solving in cooperation with users of pharmaceuticals, colleagues and other partners.

The pharmacy is an important supplier of pharmaceuticals to hospitals, nursing homes and home-based care services. The tasks undertaken by a pharmacist require contact and cooperation with other health personnel, such as doctors, dentists, nurses and veterinarians. Pharmacists are increasingly becoming part of an interdisciplinary team, where different healthcare professionals arrive together at the best pharmaceutical treatments for patients/users of pharmaceuticals. Relational and communication skills, including good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian, are thereby an essential part of a pharmacist’s expertise and are used daily in their work.

Relevance to working life

OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University educates bachelor’s degree candidates in pharmacy, most of whom go on to work at pharmacies. Authorised pharmacists with a bachelor’s degree can work in middle management or management positions at pharmacies. The candidates may also be suitable for a variety of positions in the primary and specialist health service, in public administration and in the pharmaceutical industry.

Relevance to further education

Students who complete the Bachelor’s Programme in Pharmacy are qualified for admission to several master’s degree programmes. Master’s degree programmes in pharmacy offered at Oslomet – Oslo Metropolitan University, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and UiT the Arctic University of Norway are particularly relevant. The Master’s Programme in Health and Technology at OsloMet may also be relevant.

A candidate who has completed his or her qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of the physical, chemical and pharmacological properties of key active ingredients
• has broad knowledge of the structure of the human body, its functions and disease development
• has broad knowledge of the composition and production of important types of pharmaceuticals, along with their physical, chemical and biopharmaceutical properties
• has broad 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 broad knowledge of the health service’s structure, division of responsibilities, cooperation and the significance of pharmaceuticals in the health services and society at large
• has broad knowledge of how system and patient-oriented pharmaceutical services can contribute to quality assuring treatment with pharmaceuticals and maintaining patient safety
• has basic knowledge of the quality requirements, quality assurance and quality control of pharmaceuticals and related products
• has knowledge of the significance of cooperation and interprofessional interaction
• is familiar with the history of pharmacy and the pharmacy profession

Skills

The candidate

• can dispense prescription pharmaceuticals, assess prescription instructions, identify and handle drug related problems, provide information about pharmaceuticals and facilitate user participation in a way that ensures proper medication use
• can stay up-to-date and apply professional knowledge that ensures rational drug use and responsible medicine administration
• can communicate pharmaceutical knowledge with professional confidence, both in writing and verbally, to all relevant groups, and can document the healthcare provided
• masters relevant techniques used in the production of pharmaceuticals
• can apply systems for quality assurance and control
• can make use of research-based knowledge, plan and carry out a project in the pharmacy discipline independently, or in cooperation with others, in accordance with generally accepted requirements that apply to the field
• can make use of research results in professional practice and critically reflect on his/her own professional practice

General competence

The candidate

• has insight into and an understanding of how drugs work and contribute to creating the best possible level of health, both at an individual and societal level
• can reflect on his/her own professional practice, and contribute to the development of the academic field and profession
• can work independently in accordance with acts, regulations and professional ethical guidelines
• has insight into and can identify, reflect on and handle ethical issues in pharmaceutical professional practice, showing respect for users of pharmaceutical services and providing guidance that safeguards their integrity and rights
• can plan and implement pharmacy-related laboratory tasks and projects that take place over time, alone or as part of a group
• can obtain and summarise relevant scientific documentation and distinguish between documented and undocumented information
• is familiar with innovation processes, and can contribute to service innovation, entrepreneurship and systematic and quality-improving work processes
• has insight into and an understanding of how pharmacovigilance, quality systems and quality and preparatory work contribute to safe use of medicines and increased patient safety

The programme is divided into 17 compulsory courses and incorporates both practical and theoretical teaching at the university and external practical training at pharmacies. Each year of the programme has a scope of 60 credits.

First year of the programme: The students are introduced to the pharmacy profession and the basic chemical and biological subject areas on which the field of pharmacy subjects is based. In addition, they will become familiar with the development and production of pharmaceuticals.

Second year of the programme: The students will learn what pharmaceuticals consist of, how they work and how they are used in key therapy areas.

Third year of the programme: The last year focus on application of knowledge and skills. The students will undergo practical training at pharmacies, where the focus is on handling prescriptions, customer service and communication. The students will also complete a Bachelor’s degree project in groups.

The courses that make up the study programme build on each other with gradual progress both in terms of theoretical and practical knowledge. All courses conclude with a final assessment.

The academic year is 40 weeks long, and the expected workload is 40 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, students’ own activity, required coursework and exams.

Courses taught jointly with other programmes at OsloMet

The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Pharmacy includes the following joint courses that also form part of other programmes at the university:

• FARB1050 Public Health and Health Management, 5 credits
• FARB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits
• FARB1070 Technology and Society, 5 credits

In the courses FARB1050 Public Health and Health Management (5 credits) and FARB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care (5 credits), different academic environments at the Faculty of Health Sciences join forces to provide the students with a common competence in line with national guidelines. In FARB1050, focus is among other things on the health services’ organisation, health legislation and administration, and preventive and health promoting work. In FARB1060, students learn about the rationale for evidence-based practice, with focus on critical thinking and shared decision-making. For more details, see the individual course descriptions.

The course FARB1070 Technology and Society is part of most bachelor's degree programmes at OsloMet. The course provides a basic understanding of the digital world and how technology influences people's lives and the way in which we work, and will help the students to enter the labour market with a basic understanding of technology. The Department of Computer Science at OsloMet is responsible for the practical implementation of the course. For a more detailed description, see the course description.

Study progress

• In order to start the second year, the student may lack a maximum of one passed course from the first year*
• In order to start the third year, the student must have passed all courses from the first year and may lack a maximum of one passed course from the second year.

*Exception from the progress requirement:

The partial exam 1 Drug Calculations in the course FARB1400 Pharmaceutics and Drug Calculations is exempt from the progress requirement. If the student only lacks a pass in the drug calculations exam in FARB1400, and the other two partial exams in this course have been passed, the student can begin the second year even if one additional course in the first year has not been passed.

Any further delay in the study progression will result in a delay in the study.

Internationalisation improves the quality of education and strengthens the academic community pertaining to the programme, at the same time as it prepares the students to become global citizens. The increasing globalisation of the labour market also makes international professional experience, language skills and cultural knowledge more and more important.

The study programme boasts a multicultural student environment and focuses on multicultural and global issues. This contributes to greater understanding and improves the students’ ability to work in a professional capacity in a multicultural society. The students gain access to specialist terminology in English through the use of an English syllabus, which comprises both textbooks and international research literature. Some courses will also be taught in English.

The staff’s network, research collaboration and cooperation with colleagues in other countries contribute to internationalisation. The programme is represented in international pharmacy education networks.

OsloMet has exchange agreements in place with universities and university colleges in Europe. The programme is adapted for study abroad during the entire or parts of the fifth semester, in connection with the courses:

• FARB3100 Social Pharmacy, Epidemiology and Statistics (10 credits)
• FARB1070 Technology and Society (5 credits) and
• FARB3900 Bachelor's Thesis (15 credits)

Students can only go on an exchange if the partner institution offers courses in subject areas corresponding to those covered at OsloMet in the semester the exchange applies to. Reference is otherwise made to the criteria that apply to student exchanges and the information about stays abroad.

In the fifth semester, the institution will also receive students from foreign educational institutions.; For incoming students, the programme might for instance offer the following course combinations:

• NVHIN Supervised research project in the life sciences (15 credits) and FARB3900 Bachelor's Thesis (15 credits).
• FARB1070 Technology and Society (5 credits) and FARB3100 Social Pharmacy and Epidemiology and Statistics (10 credits) + FARB3900 Bachelor's Thesis (15 credits)

In addition, FARB1300 Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology (15 credits) in the second semester is offered to incoming students, alternatively in combination with other courses offered at OsloMet in the spring semester.

The courses FARB1300 Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, FARB1070 Technology and Society and FARB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care are taught entirely in English. Teaching in other courses can be adapted to English for international students as needed.

The students can decide whether they wish to write their bachelor’s thesis in English or Norwegian. Students who go on exchanges must write their thesis in English if the exchange is in a country outside Scandinavia.

Required coursework is all types of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for being permitted to take the exam. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the respective course descriptions.

The primary purpose of coursework requirements is to contribute to the students' progress and academic development, and to stimulate the students to master the subject matter. The programme has coursework requirements in the form of compulsory attendance and laboratory assignments. Other coursework requirements may apply; see the course descriptions for more information.

Compulsory attendance

Attendance is compulsory for teaching activities that cover subject matter that the student cannot acquire on his or her own, or in teaching activities where cooperation with fellow students is a precondition for carrying out the activities.

A minimum attendance of 80% is required at seminars and compulsory scheduled and supervised group work. A minimum of either 80% or 90% attendance is required for skills training (laboratory courses and practical handling of prescriptions). Other activities may also be subject to compulsory attendance requirements. Detailed provisions on compulsory attendance are set out in the course descriptions and teaching plans.

The attendance requirements must be met before the student can take the exam in the course. Students will be contacted if they are at risk of exceeding the maximum limit for absence. If it emerges that a student has exceeded the limit for absence, the lecturer must assess whether and how the student can compensate for the absence. Whether or not it is possible to compensate for absence depends on the extent of the student's absence and which activities they have missed. Absence from compulsory teaching activities that cannot be compensated for may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

Laboratory reports

In certain laboratory courses, the student must document his/her laboratory work through written reports (lab reports).

Reports that are not approved after the first submission must be improved and re-submitted.

Different forms of assessment are used in the programme that are adapted to the learning outcomes of the different courses. The forms of assessment used are intended to support learning and document that the students’ competence is adequate in relation to the applicable 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.

Exams and practical training are assessed 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 are described in the individual course descriptions. All exams taken will be stated on the diploma, along with the title of the student's bachelor's thesis.

Exams

All courses conclude with an exam. The assessment is based on the learning outcome descriptions for the course, and it is assessed whether the student has achieved the stipulated learning outcomes. The grades pass/fail or letter grades from A to F are used, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade. The grade F means that the student has failed the exam.

In some courses, the exam consists of more than one part. The student's performance in each part of the exam is assessed by a separate grade, before a final overall grade is awarded. For courses that use exams consisting of more than one part, the course description will state how the final grade for the course is arrived at on the basis of the separate grades awarded for the different parts of the exam.;

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.

For exams where a percentage of the exam papers are selected for assessment by an external examiner, the external examiner's assessment must benefit all the students. In such cases, one external and one internal examiner will first grade the selected papers. The internal examiner then continues grading the remaining papers together with another internal examiner. The assessments from the first part are summarised to serve as guidelines for the assessments carried out by the two internal examiners.

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. In a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidates who have submitted the appeal. This means that all members of the group do not have to participate in the appeal.

Assessment of external practical training

Supervised external practical training is assessed as pass/fail. The assessment is based on the course’s learning outcomes, the assessment criteria and the continuous suitability assessment conducted throughout the practical training period.

To pass the practical training, the student must have met the compulsory attendance requirement. The student must attend at least 90% of the scheduled time. The attendance requirement applies both to time spent at the practical training establishment 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 10–20% absence: The student can make up for the practical training/teaching missed, if this is doable. 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 practical training course will be registered as failed and count as an attempt.;Other criteria for passing the practical training are set out in the manual for practical training at a pharmacy and the programme’s own practical training compendium.

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 pharmacist 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.