New MPharm Programme approved for South East Technological University (SETU)

October 9, 2025
Share

A new Master’s of Pharmacy (MPharm) Degree Programme at South East Technological University (SETU) has been accredited by the PSI – the Pharmacy Regulator.  SETU intends to offer the MPharm Programme from next September 2026 at its Waterford campus.   

This is the third new pharmacy programme accredited this year by the PSI. It brings to six the number of MPharm courses that will be available from 2026 to people wishing to study pharmacy in Ireland. 

Having been engaged with universities towards accreditation over the past two years, the Council of the PSI, the pharmacy regulator’s governing board, was pleased to accredit the SETU programme at its meeting on 2 October*. 

This new pharmacy programme is established following the Government commitment to funding for expanded healthcare places, including the creation of three new MPharm Programmes. The MPharm provides the qualification necessary for registration to practise as a pharmacist and is a five-year integrated programme that incorporates clinical and other experiential learning placements. 

Speaking about the accreditation of the new programme, PSI Registrar and Chief Officer, Joanne Kissane, said: “Congratulations to all those involved in establishing the new programme at South East Technological University. The PSI has been pleased to support the expansion of pharmacy programmes through our accreditation role since first proposed by Government through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in 2023. Approval of this new MPharm Programme is positive for SETU, the southeast region, and for students wishing to study pharmacy within Ireland.”

“The availability of a greater number of student places is significant for those interested in this field of study, for the future provision of patient care, and for our evolving healthcare services."

"Today’s announcement is another positive milestone for our ongoing work with the Department of Health and many other stakeholders in relation to workforce planning for pharmacy and for the range of healthcare services and industries where pharmacists can contribute their expertise.”

Joanne Kissane, Registrar and Chief Officer

“Our role as the pharmacy regulator is to maintain and support patient safety and public trust in pharmacy. This includes accrediting and approving educational programmes for pharmacy and for setting the accreditation standards that must be met on an ongoing basis by the approved pharmacy programme providers. Our aim is to ensure that future pharmacists are equipped to meet their professional and clinical obligations, the needs of patients and the health system.”

The President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, said “Accreditation of our MPharm programme represents a major step for SETU in expanding healthcare education and training in Ireland. Our provision of the programme will ensure that students across the southeast can pursue their studies regionally. More broadly, it allows our university to have a direct impact on the development of pharmacy in healthcare, community, and industry settings. The programme supports the need for expansion of the national pharmacy workforce, and the establishment of our new Department of Pharmacy directly responds to these national, regional, and university imperatives. It also builds on SETU’s existing strengths in pharmaceutical science, bioscience, nursing and healthcare, teaching and research. I would like to acknowledge and thank the HEA and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science (DHERIS) for their support in bringing the MPharm programme to fruition." 

Dr Claire Lennon, Head of the Department of Pharmacy at SETU, commented “Our multidisciplinary cross-campus MPharm development team at SETU is very proud to have received Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland accreditation. The team has worked extremely hard to develop an innovative and impactful, future-focused MPharm programme. Pivotal to programme development has also been the collaborative input and support of our pharmacy professional advisory committee, and stakeholders from community, hospital, and industry pharmacy settings across the southeast. This will ensure graduates meet the requirements of modern pharmacy practice and the skills needs of the sector, all the while maintaining a patient-centred focus. We look forward to welcoming our first group of 40 students to the programme in 2026.”

Commending the availability of the new pharmacy programme, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill, said: “I extend my sincere congratulations to South East Technological University on the successful accreditation of its Masters in Pharmacy programme.  This innovative programme will provide students in the South East with the opportunity to pursue a career in pharmacy closer to home and reflects the Government’s strategic investment in regional education and our commitment to expanding access to high-quality healthcare training across all regions of the country.” 

"I look forward to seeing the first group of students begin their journey in pharmacy education in Waterford from September 2026 and to the lasting impact they will have on patient care and public health across Ireland.”

Prospective students for the new MPharm Programme are encouraged to communicate with the relevant universities directly. 

Notes:

 In October 2025, having completed the PSI accreditation process, South East Technological University (SETU) was accredited by the PSI to provide a new Master’s degree in Pharmacy (MPharm), subject to seven conditions being met and subsequently providing for the University to enrol students to an accredited MPharm programme in Autumn 2026.


Accreditation teams may recommend that accreditation is granted subject to conditions in instances where some of the accreditation standards remain to be met in full, but there is confidence that the conditions can be addressed in an agreed timeline. The PSI remains engaged with the University in relation to the remaining conditions as the programme is rolled out. 


Accreditation reports are published on the PSI website.