It comes as the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) revealed it has written to universities to “highlight the increased demand” for the programme – as well as launching a review into international routes to registration.

A Kingston University spokesperson told C+D earlier this month (December 7) that it had stopped offering OSPAP courses “due to decreasing applications”.

But they said the university would “continue to monitor demand and keep this situation under review” due to “the resurgence in interest in this course at a national level”.

Read more: ICB planning overseas pharmacist recruitment project to address staffing issues

Meanwhile, the University of Sunderland told C+D that it took on “a greatly increased number of students” for its OSPAP course in 2021/22, after “a large increase in applications” meant “demand massively exceeded” the number of spots available nationally.

The university – one of the four offering OSPAP courses in the UK – said it “will continue to take this increased number of students”.

However, a spokesperson added that “this number is limited by placement capacity so we can currently take no more, nor offer an additional intake beyond the one we have in September".

"Interest in the OSPAP is currently unprecedented and this is possibly due to the change in eligibility for post-study visas,” the spokesperson said.

The GPhC told C+D that it has written to universities “to highlight the increased demand from overseas pharmacists and to identify whether any have plans to increase the number of places available”.

However, the spokesperson said that “ultimately, that is a decision for the universities themselves”.

They added that while the GPhC will continue to process applications for OSPAP courses, it has “made [candidates] aware that there are currently limited places available at universities and [is] recommending that they check with universities before applying”.

 

GPhC reviews international registration routes

 

The regulator separately revealed that it has begun a “review” of its international routes to registration. 

“The purpose of the review is so that we can continue to provide assurance to patients and the public that overseas pharmacy professionals seeking to work in the UK have met the necessary standards and have up-to-date knowledge of practise in the UK,” the spokesperson said.

They added: “We also want to ensure that the requirements for overseas pharmacy professionals are proportionate so that those who do meet the necessary standard can register and begin work in the UK as soon as practicable.”

The review – which was due as part of the regulator’s cyclical review of its standards - is expected to be completed in spring 2023, the spokesperson said.

Read more: 'Oversubscribed': Training places for overseas pharmacist courses full for next two years

The regulator also mentioned the review in its most recent council papers, noting that “regulatory reform should support a more flexible approach to the registration of international applicants”.

It said: “The GPhC is currently undertaking work in this area, which will be brought to Council early in 2023.”

And it highlighted recently-passed legislation creating a new framework for recognising professional qualifications and experience gained overseas, as well as a recent government consultation on making it easier for dental and nursing and midwifery regulators “to adapt their requirements for registering overseas applicants”.

Last month, C+D reported that OSPAP courses in starting in 2023 and 2024 were already full.