Infection Management for Pharmacists - MSc | PG Dip | PG Cert

Entry for 2013 is now open.

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The programme is a part-time course organised by the Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity in conjunction with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and the Health Protection Agency. 

Students can complete a
- PG Certificate (8 months)
- PG Diploma (16 months)
- MSc (2 years)

After completion of the PG Certificate students will be offered the option of going on to complete a PG Diploma over the following 8 months, or complete a Masters (including a research project) over the following 16 months.

The primary objective of the course is to:

• promote the role of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists nationally and so enhance prudent antimicrobial prescribing to tackle the problems of resistance.

The academic links and valuable health services research expertise of the Centre for Medication Safety and Service Quality and Health Protection Agency, together with Hammersmith's international reputation for clinical research, offering a potentially unparalleled range of lecturers for those attending the course. As such, graduates of the course can expect to have obtained a full understanding of key issues surrounding the management of infection today.

View the PG Cert, PG Dip and MSc handbooks for the full details.

Entry requirements

Minimum of a first degree in Pharmacy (BSc, BPharm, MPharm) and at least 2 years postgraduate experience in hospital pharmacy, an NHS pharmacy advisory role or in the pharmaceutical industry.

You should have an interest in antibiotic prescribing practice and the management of infection and must have written support from both your local consultant in Microbiology or Infectious Diseases and chief pharmacist (or management if non-NHS).

Career opportunities

The course will develop a strong cohort of practising pharmacists who will be able to apply their new found knowledge and skill to enable them to work more effectively with clinicians promoting the best use of antibiotics at their base hospitals/practices. They will be able to cascade their knowledge to better inform the practice of their other pharmacy colleagues to increase the organisational effectiveness of pharmacists. The course also provides an opportunity for networking between specialists in this area. The pharmacists who graduate from this course will be uniquely skilled to take forward the key roles required of them in addressing the urgent need to improve infection management as has been identified by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology and the Department of Health.

Imperial College works closely with employers and industry, including NHS Trust staff and employees from the Department of Health to design Master’s courses which provide graduates with technical knowledge, expertise and transferable skills. All Master’s courses are designed with employer needs in mind with some Master’s courses accredited by Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies. During this Master’s course, we encourage students to complete a piece of research in their own NHS Trust, however for those not employed in the NHS or where a project is not feasible we offer an opportunity to carry out research projects in Imperial College London or with an industry partner.

Course fees

2012 Entry Fees

• Postgraduate Certificate - £2250
• Postgraduate Diploma - £3510 (an additional £1260 after completion of the PG Cert)
• MSc - £4500 (an additional £2250 after completion of the PG Cert)

2013 Entry Fees

• Postgraduate Certificate - £4500
• Postgraduate Diploma - £7020 (an additional £2520 after completion of the PG Cert)
• MSc - £9000 (an additional £4500 after completion of the PG Cert)

View the registry website for the most up to date course fees

Scholarships

The Faculty of Medicine is offering one-year Master’s degree scholarships covering partial or full tuition fees, to start in October 2013. 

• Application deadline 20 June 2013
• Offers made by 10 August 2013

Applications are invited from talented candidates from Imperial College London, the UK and worldwide.  There are no restrictions on nationality.  One scholarship will be ring fenced for an Allied Health Professional employed by the NHS. 

For more information, please click on this link.

Katie Hatton (MSc IMP 2010-2012 graduate)

 

Graduates in MSc in Infection Management for Pharmacists

Katie Hatton graduated from MSc in 2012 and has since gone on to win the poster prize at the 8th HIS/FIS conference. When asked about her views on the course she said:

Just over two years ago I embarked on the MSc Infection Management for Pharmacists at Imperial College London.  I was aware of the general outline of the course, but had not considered in detail how fortunate we would be to receive lectures from such enthusiastic, expert professionals in their fields.  In the first year, after coming to Hammersmith on the Tuesdays for lectures, I returned to work on Wednesday motivated and enthusiastic to make changes or implement something we had been discussing on the Tuesday.  The course facilitated the development of my own personal knowledge and skills to support and improve antibiotic stewardship at my local hospital. 

The research project which I undertook in the second year allowed me to develop in depth skills and experience in population pharmacokinetic modelling which has resulted in a change in gentamicin dosing in the burns unit at my local hospital.  Since finishing the MSc I have moved trusts, and my role now involves working in the Emergency Department.  I feel confident to drive forward the antibiotic stewardship agenda within the department and the MSc has given me the skills to do this.

To see more information on our graduates, please refer to our Alumni page.