About Pharmacy Courses

Medicines go through a series of tests in labs to evaluate the dosage & any possible side effects and the prescription guidelines are formed accordingly. All the medicines go through tests, clinical trials and approval before they are made available to the public. This entire process is associated with the field of Pharmacy. Therefore, pharmacy is a field that is closely linked to health science. This field goes beyond medicine dispensing and includes services related to healthcare like providing information on drugs, reviewing medication and more. It focuses more on the production, manufacturing, effective use and disposal of all kinds of medicines. The practice of pharmacy involves the development of different types of medications, improvement of the use of medicines, and promotion of health-related campaigns & awareness programs. Students taking up subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Biology can take a pharmacy course. A pharmacy course teaches students about the correct use of medicine, managing them in terms of dosage and guiding the patients. A pharmacy course also provides expertise in drug therapy and teaches students to optimise the use of medicines for the betterment of patients. By doing a pharmacy course, students can find many career options like pharmacist, drug therapist, drug technician, health inspector, and more.

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Who can opt for a Pharmacy course?

For students who want to pursue medical programs, pharmacy is one of the available options. Students who have chosen the subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Biology in their 12th standard can opt for a pharmacy course. The different pharmacy degree courses offered are undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. There are different branches of pharmacy like forensic pharmacy, industrial pharmacy, medicinal pharmacy, pharma practice and more. Students can choose their branch in the pharmacy course. Doing a pharmacy course will open doors to many career options for the students like pharmacists, medical sales representatives, drug therapists, toxicologists and more. Students can make a rewarding career by taking up a pharmacy course.

Pharmacy Course Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility for Pharmacy degree courses differs as per different levels and the institute. However, the general eligibility criteria for the different levels are as follows:

Eligibility for UG courses

The undergraduate course is called Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm). The duration of this pharmacy course is 4-year full-time. The students can pursue this pharmacy course after 10 + 2 in the science stream. The subjects required are Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics. Taking a pharmacy course will help students get various career options like pharmacists, drug therapists, health inspectors, and more.

Eligibility for PG courses

The postgraduate course is called Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm). The duration of this pharmacy course is 2-years full-time. Students completing their undergraduate degree in pharmacy are eligible for this course. Students completing a pharmacy course can find career options as scientists, research officers, health inspectors and more.

Eligibility for PhD courses

Students can pursue a doctorate course after completing their postgraduate degree in pharmacy.

**Note: The eligibility for the different courses under pharmacy differs across institutes. Therefore, students should check the eligibility requirements at the time of applying though ‘Courses’ tab.

Pharmacy Courses

Pharmacy courses are offered at three levels: Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Ph.D.

UG level

Bachelor of Pharmacy is a 4-year full-time course. On completing this pharmacy course, students become pharmacists, drug therapists, drug technicians and more. They also become eligible for higher studies and can opt for a master's course.

PG level

Master of Pharmacy is a 2-year full-time course. There are different branches of pharmacy offered and students can choose their branch. Upon the completion of this pharmacy course, students will have expertise in drug therapy and their main work will be to optimise the use of medicine for the patients.

PhD level

A Ph.D is the highest degree in the field and students need a master’s in pharmacy to be eligible.

Pharmacy Branches

The field of pharmacy deals with the production, manufacturing and effective use of medicines. It controls the use of medicines and drugs in patients. This branch is best for students who wish to make a career in a medical-related field. The students opting for a pharmacy course receive good knowledge about medicines and drugs. Pharmacy degree courses are designed as per the latest trends and the demands of the industry. Students can also opt for higher studies in pharmacy. The field of pharmacy has several branches and students can select their branch of study. The different areas of specialisation in pharmacy are as follows:

Forensic Pharmacy	Industrial Pharmacy	Medicinal Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Analysis	Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology	Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Pharmaceutics	Pharmacology	Pharma Practice
Quality Assurance	Pharmacognosy	Pharmaceutical Technology

Pharmacy Subjects & Syllabus

The subjects covered in a pharmacy course deal with the usage of medicines and drugs. The curriculum as per different levels is as follows:

UG Level:

The main subjects covered in a UG pharmacy course are as follows:

Anatomy & Physiology
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Pharmaceutics
Medicinal Chemistry
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Drug Interactions

PG Level:

The subjects covered in a PG pharmacy course are as follows:

Modern Analytical Techniques
Drug Delivery System
Pharmaceutical Production Technology
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Computer-aided Drug Design
Advanced Pharmaceutical Analysis

Admission process for Pharmacy courses in India

Students aspiring to make a career in Pharmacy can pursue the courses across three disciplines by applying. The step-by-step process to apply is:

First, students need to fill out the registration form. Following the registration, students are provided with login credentials that they need to save for future reference.

Once registration is complete, students will have to fill out the Study in India Application which is divided into three parts: Basic Information, Academic Information and Choice Filling.

Although the students have to fill all three sections carefully, it is the Choice Filling that is the most important part. They are required to give and rank a minimum of three preferences for pharmacy courses and Indian institutes they are interested in taking admission to.

Lastly, they are required to fill out the declaration form and submit their respective applications. Students can find a detailed explanation for filling out the Application here.

Most Popular Courses in Pharmacy

Some of the most popular branches in pharmacy offered by Study in India partner institutes are as follows:

A. Pharmaceutics

This field of specialisation deals with the study of how new compounds are created and converted into drugs that can be consumed safely by the patients. It also covers research & development of new dosage forms of existing medicines and new ways of dispensation in a patient’s body. This field of specialisation is about the processing of final medicines from pure compounds.

B. Pharma Practice

This field covers clinical interventions, pharmaceutical care, communication skills and patient care. Clinical intervention is where pharmacists can intervene in the use of medicines that can cause problems in patients. Pharmaceutical care is a type of medicine-based therapy practised to cure specific diseases.

C. Pharmacology

This field deals with the research of drug/medicine action. It involves the study of biochemical reactions between living organisms and chemical compounds. Students are also taught about the process of delivering medicines and their effects on the human body.

D. Medicinal Chemistry

This field plays an important role in the development of new medicines. It is a multidisciplinary field and covers several topics like organic chemistry, biology and pharmacology. Students get to study the synthesis of potential medicines, their effect on metabolism, side effects on the human body and their healing properties.

E. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

This is a new field of pharmacy and involves the application of the concepts of biotechnology to the synthesis of medicines. It covers the use of DNA technology to manufacture medicines and treat diseases. Pharmaceutical biotechnology has led to the development of antibiotics, nucleic acid-based medicines, and vaccines.

Popular Pharmacy UG courses in India

The undergraduate course in pharmacy is called Bachelor of Pharmacy. The duration of an undergraduate pharmacy course is 4-years full-time. This pharmacy course gives students knowledge about drugs, their interactions, side effects, and more. Students taking up a pharmacy course will find multiple career opportunities. The popular UG courses in pharmacy are as follows:

Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Technologies

Popular Pharmacy PG courses in India

The postgraduate course is called Master of Pharmacy. The duration of this postgraduate pharmacy course is 2-years full-time. Students can choose their branch of study. These courses give students knowledge about drugs, treatment, and other skills required for their branch. A pharmacy course opens the door to various career options like pharmacist, drug therapist, drug technician and more. The popular PG courses in pharmacy are as follows:

Forensic Pharmacy	Pharmacology	Pharmaceutics
Pharmacognosy	Pharmaceutical Chemistry	Pharmacy Practice
Quality Assurance / Quality Assurance Techniques	Drug Regulatory Affairs / Regulatory Affairs	Pharmaceutical Analysis
Medicinal Chemistry	Pharmacology and Toxicology	Pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical Technology	Industrial Pharmacy	Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

**Note: Before applying for these courses, students must confirm if the concerned pharmacy course of their choice is offered in the current academic year or not.

Career Options in Pharmacy

Students who take up pharmacy degree courses can make a career as follows:

Drug Therapist	Pharmacist	Medical Sales Representative
Health Inspector	Research Officer	Toxicologist
Hospital Drug Coordinator	Scientist	Drug Technician

Pharmacy Course: Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is Pharmacy?

The pharmacy discipline is concerned with the production, manufacturing, effective and safe use, and disposal of all kinds of drugs or medications.

2. What is the eligibility of Pharmacy courses?

The eligibility criteria for pursuing Pharmacy courses differ across various institutes. For undergraduate Pharmacy courses it is the completion of 10+2 (in the Science stream), for pursuing a postgraduate degree, you must have a bachelor's degree and for a PhD degree, you must have completed your master's. However, you are advised to check the specific eligibility criteria for different Pharmacy courses at the time of applying.

3. Are there any branches of Pharmacy?

Yes, there are several branches of Pharmacy and some of them are mentioned below:

Pharmaceutics
Pharmacology
Pharmacy Practice
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Medicinal Pharmacy
Quality Assurance
Pharmacognosy
Pharmaceutical Technology
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Forensic Pharmacy
Industrial Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Analysis

4. What is the duration of Pharmacy courses?

The duration of pharmacy courses depends on different program levels. For undergraduate courses, it is four years, for post-graduate courses, it is two years and for PhD courses, it is 3-4 years.

5. Career opportunities after completing Pharmacy courses?

Top career opportunities after completing Pharmacy courses are:

Drug Therapist
Pharmacist
Health Inspector
Toxicologist
Research Officer
Hospital Drug Coordinator
Scientist
Medical Sales Representative
Drug Technician
Work in Pathological Lab

6. Is Biology needed for a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy?

Yes, many Study in India partner institutes require you to have 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. However, please check the eligibility for different Pharmacy courses at the time of applying.

7. Is it worth pursuing a pharmacy course?

Yes, it is worth pursuing a pharmacy course because huge developments take place in the pharmaceutical industry regularly and there are many career opportunities available too. Moreover, as a pharmacist, you are able to play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of diseases.

8. Can I pursue graduation in Pharmacy after completing 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics?

Yes, you may pursue graduation in Pharmacy after completing 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Still, you are advised to check the eligibility set by different institutes at the time of applying.

9. Are there any additional exams required to take admission in Pharmacy courses?

Some of the Study in India partner institutes may require additional exams to take admission in Pharmacy courses namely, SAT (Level 1) or GRE. However, you are advised to check and confirm the same at the time of applying.

10. What are the subjects taught under Pharmacy?

Main subjects taught under Pharmacy include, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, etc.

11. Skills required to pursue a career in the Pharmacy field?

Skills that would be helpful if you pursue want to pursue a career in Pharmacy include:

Inclination towards exploring the field of medicine
Scientific aptitude
Determination and consistency
Persuasive skills, etc

12. Is a PhD in Pharmacy a good option after MPharm?

Yes, opting for PhD in Pharmacy is a good option after completing an M.Pharm if students are interested in doing research work and gaining insight into the field of Pharmacy.

13. What is M.Pharm all about?

Master of Pharmacy is a postgraduate course of 2-year duration and provides specialization in the field of pharmaceutical science. Students opting for M.Pharma learn how to prepare medicines and how to advise patients on the usage and dosage of medicines, etc.

14. Is there any additional exam required to take admission in pharmacy courses?

Some of the Study in India partner institutes may require you to take additional exams (such as SAT Level 1, GRE or GATE) to take admission in pharmacy courses. You are advised to check the specific eligibility set by various institutes at the time of applying.