Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, announced the launch of Atlantic Technological University’s (ATU) new Master of Pharmacy programme. This significant development expands ATU’s educational offerings in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
Pending accreditation by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the new Master of Pharmacy programme will begin in September 2025, initially offering 36 places in the five-year, full-time course. The programme will provide graduates with the qualifications required to register as practising pharmacists in Ireland.
The announcement by the Minister in Limerick today, is part of a major increase in healthcare places in Ireland through the creation of six new programmes.
Funding of €130 million unlocked from the National Training Fund will support the growth of key healthcare disciplines, addressing critical workforce shortages and enhancing healthcare education across the country.
As part of this initiative, following recommendations from the Higher Education Authority (HEA), several universities will establish new programmes in areas of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry.
At an event to mark the announcement in UL today, Minister O’Donovan said: “I am excited to see the impact these new projects will have on the health sector and those who avail of their services.
“They truly have the potential to revolutionise our higher education landscape and provide more opportunities for students to follow their passions in healthcare and medicine.
“University of Limerick will introduce a direct entry medicine programme, the Royal College of Surgeons will receive support for their Dental Surgery programme, University of Galway will introduce a Rural and Remote Graduate Entry Medicine stream, and three new pharmacy programmes will be introduced in Atlantic Technological University, South East Technological University, and University of Galway.
“This will double the number of pharmacy programmes in Ireland and make pharmacy education available in new regions.
“And I’m pleased to say we are not finished: this is only the first round of development.
“My officials are working with the HEA and the higher education sector to progress further expansion to meet the needs of the public sector and the nation.”
HEA CEO Dr Alan Wall said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates the ability of the higher education and research system to respond swiftly and effectively to evolving national priorities and skills needs.
The new programmes announced today reflect the commitment of institutions to meeting society’s needs and to enhancing the range of programmes on offer to prospective students.”
ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn, welcomed the announcement, stating, “The establishment of a pharmacy programme is a natural progression for ATU, building on ATU’s long-established track record in the delivery of programmes across the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, clinical and MedTech sciences. In addition, the Master of Pharmacy will advance ATU’s leadership in delivering clinical and science programmes. We thank the Minister and the HEA for their support, and we are confident that this programme will deliver significant benefits for both our students and the region.”
Dr Thomas Smyth, Head of the Faculty of Science at ATU, added, “The announcement by Minister O’Donovan marks another step in the development of the Master of Pharmacy programme at ATU. This process, originally led by recently retired Head of Faculty, Jerry Bird, builds on our track record of educational programmes in the pharmaceutical and clinical sectors. With the completion of our new STEM building, students will have access to state-of-the-art teaching facilities, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession in the Northwest region and beyond.”
The new Master of Pharmacy programme is designed to be future-focused, integrating clinical pharmacy practice with cutting-edge healthcare and pharmaceutical sciences research. It will develop graduates with the expertise required for contemporary pharmacy roles and to take on the expanded responsibilities that pharmacists now have in patient care. The programme will also include 12 months of structured work placements, offering students practical experience across community, hospital, and industrial pharmacy settings.
Speaking on the impact the new programme will have, Marita Kinsella, Head of ATU’s new Department of Pharmacy, highlighted its potential to address the growing shortage of pharmacists in Ireland, “In a time of significant advancement for the pharmacy profession, as pharmacists take on expanded roles to enhance health services and patient care, ATU is keen to play its part. A new Master of Pharmacy programme will help to address the significant shortage of pharmacists in our health services and will offer students a new opportunity to study pharmacy in the Northwest.”
Kinsella also emphasised the importance of collaboration within the pharmacy sector, noting that ATU will work closely with the pharmacy profession, industry leaders, healthcare professionals, and other academic institutions to ensure the programme meets the highest standards of education and practice. With the introduction of this new course, ATU is set to play a vital role in shaping the next generation of pharmacists in Ireland.
The programme’s focus on cutting-edge research and its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession position ATU as a leader in pharmacy education. Once accredited, the Master of Pharmacy programme will not only provide students with access to a high-quality education but also contribute to the development of pharmacy services across the Northwest region and the country as a whole.
The new programmes are part of a broader government strategy to expand veterinary and healthcare education and ensure a steady pipeline of qualified professionals to meet the needs of Ireland’s growing population and follows the announcement in September of a new veterinary programme at ATU.
L-R: Marita Kinsala, Head of Department of Pharmacy, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, Dr Thomas Smyth, Head of Faculty of Science, ATU, Sligo Campus.
