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ATU Accredited to Offer New Master of Pharmacy Programme
Atlantic Technological University has been formally accredited by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) to deliver a new Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) programme, which will commence at its Sligo campus in September 2025.
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has been formally accredited by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) to deliver a new Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) programme, which will commence at its Sligo campus in September 2025. The development marks a significant milestone for pharmacy education in Ireland and represents a major boost for higher education and healthcare for the Northwest region.
The accreditation of the MPharm programme places ATU among a small number of universities offering pharmacy education in Ireland. It is expected to have a transformative effect on the Northwest by attracting students, fostering industry collaboration, and producing graduates ready to contribute to healthcare at regional, national, and European levels.
Welcoming the news, ATU President Dr Orla Flynn said:
“The accreditation of ATU’s Master of Pharmacy is a milestone achievement for our university and for pharmacy education in Ireland. It builds on ATU’s long-established strengths in pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and clinical sciences. The programme will provide vital opportunities for students in the Northwest and will help address the national shortage of pharmacists at a time when their role in healthcare is expanding significantly. I want to thank the Higher Education Authority and the PSI for all their support throughout the development process, and also recognise the work of our own team in ATU.”
The five-year, Level 9 integrated programme leads to professional registration as a pharmacist in Ireland and across the EU/EEA. Graduates will have a wide range of career options, including clinical roles in community and hospital settings, as well as opportunities in the pharmaceutical and MedTech industries, regulation, policy, research, academia, and management.
The MPharm programme was first announced in October 2024 by the then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, as part of a government investment to expand healthcare education. The creation of new pharmacy, medicine, and dentistry programmes nationwide is backed by €130 million from the National Training Fund, aimed at addressing critical workforce shortages across Ireland’s health system.
Speaking on the regional importance of the programme, Dr Thomas Smyth, Head of the School of Life Sciences at ATU, commented:
“This accreditation is the result of years of work by colleagues, led initially by the former Head of Faculty, Dr Jerry Bird. With ATU’s long-standing track-record as a leader in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sciences education and research, and state-of-the-art facilities, ATU is uniquely positioned to deliver a modern, future-focused programme. Through this new MPharm programme, ATU is meeting a critical need of students across the Northwest and beyond.”
Marita Kinsella, Head of ATU’s Department of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, underlined the impact on the profession:
“Ireland has, for a long time, experienced a shortage of pharmacists. ATU’s MPharm graduates will help strengthen pharmacy services across the Northwest region and will be ready to take on expanded pharmacist roles within our health services, improving access to care and enhancing services for patients. This programme is an investment in both our students and our healthcare system.”
The course includes two work placements in the 4th and 5th years, giving students the opportunity to learn from pharmacists, clinicians, and others across the healthcare system. An initial intake of 32 students will be accepted through CAO Available Places, opening at 12 noon on 28 August. Applications are open to both existing CAO applicants and new applicants until 11am on 4 September.
For more comprehensive details on the MPharm programme and specific information on how to apply, interested individuals are encouraged to visit ATU’s dedicated programme page at atu.ie/pharmacy.
