100 year anniversary of Aston Pharmacy School
100 years of pharmacy education and research.
Pharmacy education at Aston University traces back to the 1890s. However, it wasn't until 1923 that the Birmingham Municipal Technical School began offering pharmacy courses to the public.
Since then, the University has graduated over 2700 pharmacy professionals from diverse backgrounds in the past 20 years. Aston University’s Pharmacy School is a leading UK institution, renowned for its scientific advancements. Its researchers developed the $16 billion drug Temozolomide, a groundbreaking treatment for brain tumours. Additionally, the School pioneered the UK's first programme for hospital pharmacists.
In 2016, Aston Pharmacy School received a rare honor: a Regius Professorship from HM Queen Elizabeth II. This marked the first time a pharmacy school had been so recognised, highlighting the School's exceptional research. Keith Wilson, the inaugural Regius Professor of Pharmacy, significantly influenced pharmacy education globally.
Dr Joe Bush, Dean of Aston Pharmacy School, said: "100 years of pharmacy education is a major milestone. We are immensely proud of all our achievements, from producing exceptional graduates who make a significant contribution to the professional workforce in a variety of near-patient settings, to our research discoveries and developments which have positively impacted patient healthcare and the high quality of this research having been recognised via the award of the first ever Regius Chair for Pharmacy. It is an honour to be a part of Aston Pharmacy School, whose humble beginnings have grown to produce world-class research and exceptional graduates.”
You can watch a special edition of the Aston Originals podcast featuring Dr Joe Bush, Professor Afzal Mohammed and Professor Gavin Woodhall, in which they reflect on key moments in the history of Aston Pharmacy School and shed light on what makes it a truly exceptional place to study and undertake research.
Aston Pharmacy School Research
Aston Pharmacy School houses a leading research community focused on pharmaceutical and clinical pharmacy, pharmacology, and translational neuroscience. Our goal is to drive innovation in healthcare policy, education, and practice through cutting-edge research, which is integrated into our programmes of study.
Discover our suite of pharmacy courses
Aston Pharmacy School , part of Aston University’s College of Health and Life Sciences, offers a diverse range of pharmacy education programmes. Our courses offer routes into pharmacy and continued professional development with programmes accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), and College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP), as well as a range of specialised postgraduate degrees.
Studying pharmacy can offer you a diverse and rewarding career. Our range of programmes are designed to enable you to work as a pharmacist in the community, providing clinical advice and a range of frontline healthcare services, or to work alongside general practitioners and other healthcare professionals within a primary care setting. Alternatively, you may choose to be part of a team of healthcare professionals overseeing the prescribing and administration of complex and specialised medicines in hospitals, or conducting innovative research in the pursuit of new or improved medicinal treatments.
We equip our graduates with the key skills, knowledge and capabilities needed to succeed in whichever area of this exciting and rewarding field you choose.