Preparing students for a successful transition and first year studying a pharmacy degree: Preparing for Pharmacy - a first year student’s perspective

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56433/q2ygxg82

Keywords:

pharmacy, First year experience, access, widening participation, student transition, university preparation

Abstract

This vignette explores the lived experience of a first-year pharmacy student from a widening participation background and the impact of the University of East Anglia’s Preparing for Pharmacy (PfP) programme (Harrington & Norton, 2024). It briefly introduces PfP and the BECOME model we developed to build around the programme. The vignette’s main focus is combining student narrative with academic reflection to illustrate how targeted support initiatives can transform access, transition, and belonging in education. 

The student's journey highlights a non-traditional path - facing academic setbacks and ultimately discovering pharmacy through PfP. The programme’s outreach activities, exposure to professional tools, hands-on workshops, and sustained staff mentorship shaped both academic confidence and career identity. These elements reflect wider themes of inclusion and student retention. 

The article interweaves personal accounts with literature-informed academic commentary, creating a reflective dialogue between student voice and academic practice. This hybrid approach provides insights into how programmes like PfP scaffold first-year success and break down systemic barriers. The contribution complements wider discussions within the EFYE community around belonging, identity, and transition, offering both practical and emotional resonance. 

 

Author Biographies

  • Dr Carl R Harrington, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA, United Kingdom

    Dr Carl Harrington is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences and a Widening Participation Academic Lead at the University of East Anglia. 

  • Dr Rosemary Norton, School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA, United Kingdom

    Dr Rosemary Norton is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology leading on student transitions. 

  • Akshika Yogarajah, School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA, United Kingdom

    Akshika Yogarajah is a dedicated first-year pharmacy student and Vice President of the UEA Pharmacy Society, passionate about widening access to education. 

References

Araujo, N., Carlin, D., Clarke, B., Morieson, L., Lukas, K., & Wilson, R. (2014). Belonging in the First Year: A Creative Discipline Cohort Case Study. The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education, 5(2), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.5204/intjfyhe.v5i2.240

Fellingham, A., Shuwara, T. H., Amand, T. S., Gunawan, F., Elbediwy, A., & Gould, S. (2024). Investigating the Transitional Barriers University Students Face When Moving from Further Education; What Are the Potential Issues They May Meet? New Directions in the Teaching of Natural Sciences, 19(1). https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=aad75980-a6c9-3619-a067-fb690d40eb95

Harrington, C. R., & Norton, R. (2024, January 23). What we learned from a pilot study aimed at getting first-generation students into pharmacy. THE Times Higher Education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/what-we-learned-pilot-study-aimed-getting-firstgeneration-students-pharmacy

Leese, M. (2010). Bridging the gap: supporting student transitions into higher education. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 34(2), 239–251. https://doi.org/10.1080/03098771003695494

Mulaudzi, I. (2023). Challenges Faced By First-Year University Students: Navigating the Transition to Higher Education. Journal of Education and Human Development, 12(2), 79-87. https://doi.org/10.15640/jehd.v12n2a8

Veza, I., Ismael, M. A., & Mohamad, T. I. (2024, June 23). To build resilience, we need to embrace failure in the classroom and beyond. THE Times Higher Education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/build-resilience-we-need-embrace-failure-classroom-and-beyond

Worsley, J. D., Harrison, P., & Corcoran, R. (2021). Bridging the Gap: Exploring the Unique Transition From Home, School or College Into University. Frontiers in public health, 9, 634285. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.634285

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Published

2026-06-09

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (part 1) (2026): EFYE Special Issue

Section

Vignette

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Dr Carl R Harrington, Dr Rosemary Norton, Akshika Yogarajah

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