Pharmacy courses are professional degrees that enable a person to work with drugs and
medicines, and in the preparation and dispensation as well. According to India Brand Equity
Foundation (IBEF), India holds the record as the largest drug producer in the world,
catering to 40% of the USA’s generic drug needs and 20% of the UK’s needs. The duration for
Pharmacy courses ranges from 3 months to 7 years, depending on the academic level. The
studies are primarily conducted in classrooms, however, there are certain certificate and
Diploma courses that offer opportunities for both online and offline modes. The eligibility
criteria to apply for Pharmacy courses is to pass a higher secondary exam with 55% marks in
aggregate. Some of the pharmacy courses like Diploma in Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Diploma in
Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Diploma in Drug Store Management, and Diploma in Pharmaceutical
Marketing can be pursued after completing Class 10.
Candidates who graduate from a pharmacy course are deemed responsible for checking medicines’
side effects, reactions, allergies, etc. They play a much larger role in the healthcare
industry than one can realize. Aspirants have to appear for entrance exams such as West
Bengal Joint Entrance Exam, BITSAT, Central Universities Common Entrance Test, GLA
University Entrance Test (GLAET), NIPER Joint Entrance Exam, BITS Higher Degree Admission
Test, Manipal University Online Entrance Test, and more to get admission into different
pharmacy courses.
Top renowned colleges such as Jamia Hamdard, Panjab University, BITS, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Chemical Technology, JSS College of Pharmacy, and more grant aspirants admission into pharmacy courses. The course fees can vary between INR 20,000 to INR 20,00,000. Pharmacy courses have emerged as one of the most popular career paths because of the rising demand in the medical sector. Some of the most popular careers that graduates can opt for our pharmacist, drug inspector, clinical research associate, drug safety associate, Scientific Writer, Pathological Lab Scientist, etc. Interested candidates may also check out Pharmacy course subjects to get a better idea of the course structure.
Candidates planning to take admission in pharmacy courses should have knowledge and information about each aspect of courses. Candidates can get a quick overview of the pharmacy courses below.
|
Particular |
Details |
|
Industry |
Pharmaceutical |
|
Duration |
UG- 4 years PG- 2 years |
|
Admission Process |
Entrance Exam or Merit Based |
|
Entrance Exam |
MHT CET, UPSEE, WBJEE, NIPER |
|
Top Colleges in India |
|
|
Top Colleges in Abroad |
|
|
Fees |
INR 4 LPA to INR 10 LPA |
|
Salary |
INR 2 LPA to INR 5 LPA |
|
Job Options |
Clinical Research, Pharmacist, Drug Inspector, Pharmacologist, Medical science liaison |
There are various reasons to choose pharmacy courses. Many of the candidates opt for pharmacy because they hold an interest in health and medicine and want to make a career in it. A significant reason you should select pharmacy courses is the variety of professional paths that a pharmacy study might provide. From nuclear pharmacy, which uses radioactive medications to treat diseases such as cancer, to veterinary pharmacy, which deals with medication for animals, one can easily choose a vocation that suits them. Qualifying in pharmacy can lead to a range of work options, many of which offer strong professional advancement. In addition to becoming a pharmacist, you may use your medical skills to work as a research scientist, pharmacologist, medical science liaison, or toxicologist, among other things.
There are several kinds of pharmacy courses in India like diplomas, certificates, undergraduates, postgraduates, etc. Candidates can opt for the pharmacy courses as per their career plans. Pharmacy courses can be divided into the following types:
Below you can find the different pharmacy courses available under each head.
Some of the online pharmacy courses that are provided to students by several institutions as well as online platforms are:
| Course Name | Course Fee |
| Udemy- Become a pharmacy technician | INR 700 to INR 1200 |
| Coursera- Drug Discovery | INR 3000 to INR 6,500 |
| Udemy- Top Drugs 1: Medications you NEED to Know Pharmacy | INR 700 to INR 2000 |
| Coursera- Drugs, drug use, drug policy, and health | INR 2,500 to INR 4000 |
| Udemy- Your Guide To the Pharmaceutical Industry | INR 1000 to INR 3000 |
Certificate courses can be done both online and offline mode. Various online platforms also provide free certificate courses in pharmacy. Some of the certificate pharmacy courses are given below with their fee structure.
| Course name | Course fees |
| Industry Certificate in Pharma Product Management | INR 50,000 |
| Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Technology Transfer | INR 50,000 |
| Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Packaging | INR 50,000 |
| Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Process Engineering | INR 50,000 |
| Industry Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Technology | INR 50,000 |
| Industry Certificate in Pharmacovigilance | INR 50,000 |
| Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry | INR 50,000 |
| Industry Certificate in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship | INR 50,000 |
| Industry Certificate in Pharma Sales and Marketing Management | INR 50,000 |
| Professional Certificate In Pharmacovigilance | INR 15,000 |
| Your guide to the pharmaceutical industry- udemy | INR 740 |
| Become a pharmacy technician – udemy | INR 700 |
| Top Drugs 1 - Medications you NEED to Know – Pharmacy- udemy | INR 700 |
| Drugs, drug use, drug policy, and health – cousera | INR 3650 approx. |
| Drug discovery – courser | Free |
The duration of most of the pharmacy courses vary between 1-3 years. Candidates who want to start their career early can opt for the diploma pharmacy courses. Some of the best diploma courses in pharmacy are listed below.
| Course name | Course duration |
| Diploma in pharmacy | 2 Years |
| Diploma in ayurvedic pharmacy | 2 Years |
| Diploma in Pharmaceutical Marketing | 2 Years |
| Diploma in Drug Store Management | 2 Years |
| Diploma in Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance | 1-3 Years |
| PG Diploma in Drug Store Management | 1-3 Years |
| PG Diploma in Principles of Clinical Pharmacology | 1-3 Years |
| PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Management | 2 Years |
| PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance | 2 Years |
| PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 2 Years |
| PG Diploma in Herbal Products | 1-3 Years |
Candidates who want a proper degree in pharmacy should opt for undergraduate pharmacy courses. Some of the most popular ug pharmacy courses are given below in the following table.
| Course name | Course duration |
| B Pharma ( bachelor of pharmacy) | 4 Years |
| B Pharm (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) | 4 Years |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy in Pharmacognosy | 4 Years |
| Bachelor of Ayurvedic Pharmacy | 4 Years |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) | 4 Years |
| B Pharm (Pharmaceutics) | 4 Years |
| B Pharm + MBA | 5 Years |
| Course name | Course duration |
| M Pharmacy ( master of pharmacy) | 2 Years |
| MSc (Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Clinical Pharmacy) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Industrial Pharmacy) | 2 Years |
| MSc (Pharmacology) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Pharmaceutics) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Biopharmaceutics) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Biotechnology) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Medicinal Chemistry) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Drug Discovery and Drug Development) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Cosmeceuticals) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance) | 2 Years |
| M Pharm (Pharmaceutical Market and Management) | 2 Years |
Candidates who want to secure a doctorate degree in pharmacy can apply for the Ph.D. programmmes in pharmacy. The duration of doctorate pharmacy courses is 3 years. The kinds of doctorate pharmacy courses are
| Course name | Course duration |
| Doctor of pharmacy | 3 Years |
| PhD (Pharmacology) | 3 Years |
| PhD (Pharmacognosy) | 3 Years |
| PhD (Pharmaceutical Biotechnology) | 3 Years |
| PhD (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) | 3 Years |
| PhD (Pharmaceutical Sciences) | 3 Years |
| PhD (Pharmaceutical Medicine) | 3 Years |
| PhD (Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry) | 3 Years |
| PhD (Pharmacy Practice) | 3 Years |
| PhD (Phytopharmacy & Phytomedicine) | 3 Years |
There are several types of pharmacy courses available in the form of various specializations. Candidates can choose the desired pharmacy courses after completing their 12th Standard as per their interest in the field, subjects liking, and career plans. Following the popular specialization available in the pharmacy.
Before applying for the pharmacy courses, candidates should make sure they fulfill all the factors of the eligibility criteria like educational qualification, subjects, minimum passing marks, etc. Candidates can check the various types of pharmacy courses eligibility criteria given below.
| Course level | Eligibility criteria |
| Certificate courses | Candidates should have completed class 10th (in some cases) or class 12th with science subjects i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. |
| Diploma courses | Candidates should have completed class 10+2 with science subjects i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics |
| Undergraduate courses | Candidates must have passed class 10+2 from a recognized board and studied Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology, and English subjects. |
| Postgraduate courses | Candidates who have a BPharm degree with minimum qualifying marks as required from a pharmacy college that is approved by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). |
| Doctorate courses | Candidates must have completed higher education from any recognized board and studied Physics, Chemistry with Mathematics or Biology as optional subjects. Candidates with a diploma in pharmacy degree are also eligible for PharmD course. |
Candidates who have a zeal for health care and medicine should pursue pharmacy courses. If you are interested in the pharmaceutical industry and wants to work towards developing medicine, finding a cure, doing experimentation, research then pharmacy is for you. In addition to this, if the science stream and subjects like biology, and chemistry, interest you then you can opt for pharmacy courses.
Candidates are often confused between pharmacy courses and medical courses. There is a huge difference between them in terms of duration, knowledge, fees, etc.. To get a clear idea go through the different table given below.
| Basis of difference | Pharmacy Courses | Medical Courses |
| Approach | The pharmacy course improves knowledge of pharmacology, drug use, and side effects. | Other medical courses, other than pharmacology, are primarily focused on diagnosis and therapy approaches. |
| Duration | Pharmacy programmes are shorter in duration. | Medical courses are quite longer in duration. |
| Fees | The average course fee ranges from Rs 3 lacs to Rs 6.2 lacs. | Medical courses begin at Rs 8 lacs and can cost up to Rs 50 lacs or more, depending on the course. |
| Scope | All Pharmacy Courses involve the study of medications and their medical applications by doctors and other health practitioners, but not the treatment and diagnosis of patients. | After completing subsequent medical courses, the student usually becomes a health practitioner who treats patients using medications and other therapeutic methods. |
The admission process for the pharmacy courses depends upon the type of course you are opting. The pharmacy courses admission process is different for each programme like UK, PG, diploma, etc. Candidates can check the pharmacy courses admission process given below.
Admission to pharmacy programmes is done via an entrance examination. Most of the entrance examinations are conducted at the state level. Candidates need to sit for the pharmacy entrance examination and scored a rank in it to get admission into pharmacy college. Some of the top B.Pharm and M.Pharm entrance exams in India are given below:
WBJEE- WBJEE (West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination) is a state-level exam administered by WBJEEB. The exam serves as a gateway for individuals seeking admission to B.Tech and B.Pharma programmes at West Bengal's universities, government colleges, and self-financing engineering and technical colleges.
BITSAT- BITS Pilani administers the Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test at the national level. Every year, BITSAT is organized to give admission to B.E., B.Pharm, M.Sc, and other courses offered at BITS campuses.
MHT CET- The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test, also known as MHT CET, is an entrance exam used to shortlist candidates for admission to undergraduate Engineering and Pharmacy programmes at various Maharashtra colleges.
NIPER JEE- The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Joint Entrance Test, or NIPER JEE 2024, is a computer-based exam for postgraduate programmes in MPharm, MTech (Pharm), MBA (Pharm), and PhD in pharmacy.
BITS HD- BITS (Birla Institute of Technical Science) Pilani administers the BITS HD online entrance exam. Birla Institute of Technical Science Higher Degree is the full name of BITS HD. This entrance exam is for individuals who want to apply for admission to BITS' higher degree programmes leading to M.E./M.Pharma, which is available at all three campuses like Hyderabad, Pilani, and Goa.
OJEEE- Odisha Joint Entrance Exam (OJEE) is a state-level entrance exam for admission to B.Pharm, MBA/PGDM, MCA, and M.Tech programmes administered by the OJEE Cell. Candidates can apply for admission to a variety of programmes provided by OJEE-affiliated colleges. OJEE is also used to get into Lateral Entry B.Tech, MCA/Lateral Entry MCA programmes.
In India, there are many colleges that offer admission for pharmacy courses. One can choose the colleges as per liking, fee structure, specialization they want to pursue, placement rates, NIRF rankings, etc. Some of those top pharmacy colleges in India are listed below-
|
College Name |
Location |
|
Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University |
Ahemdabad |
|
Chandigarh |
|
|
I. S. F. College of Pharmacy |
Moga |
|
Udupi |
|
|
Institute of Chemical Technology |
Mumbai |
|
Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research |
New Delhi |
|
Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute |
Chennai |
|
New Delhi |
|
|
Poona College of Pharmacy |
Pune |
|
Ranchi |
|
|
Pilani |
|
|
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research |
Hyderabad |
Studying pharmacy overseas sharpens your skills in dealing with consumers from diverse backgrounds and who speak a range of languages. There are various other benefits of studying pharmacy abroad-
The abroad universities also offer pharmacy courses in various disciplines. Candidates who want to get global exposure and are able to afford the high fees can take admission to the abroad colleges. Some of the top pharmacy colleges abroad are
|
College Name |
Location |
|
Harvard University |
US |
|
National University of Singapore |
Singapore |
|
University of Cambridge |
UK |
|
Karolinska Institute |
Sweden |
|
University of Oxford |
UK |
|
Monash University |
Australia |
|
University of Tokyo |
Japan |
|
Imperial College London |
UK |
|
University of Michigan |
US |
|
. University of Melbourne |
Australia |
The fees of pharmacy courses vary as per the degree and the college you are opting for. The pharmacy fees of top-tier colleges. if you are taking admission in top tier private colleges the fees will be high and if you are taking admisison in the government college the pharmacy courses fees will be low. The pharmacy courses fees are as follows
|
Type of course |
Fees (approx) |
|
Bachelors in Pharmacy Fees |
INR 4 LPA to INR 10 LPA |
|
Masters in Pharmacy Fees |
INR 2.5 LPA (average) |
|
Doctorate in Pharmacy Fees |
INR 6 LPA to INR 20 LPA |
|
Diploma in Pharmacy Fees |
INR 2.5 LPA (average) |
A pharmacy course is quite different from another course as it involves research work, keen observation, advanced level computer skills. Some of the skills required for pharmacy courses are:
The course curriculum of the pharmacy courses depends on the type of degree. If you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy it will be 4 years long and consist of 8 semesters. The pharmacy course curriculum of a bachelor’s degree will include foundation subjects like Pharmatecual Analysis, Pharmacognosy I, Anatomy, Physiology & Health Education (APHE), etc.
Whereas, if you are pursuing a master’s degree in pharmacy the duration of the course will be 2 years long and includes 2 semesters. The pharmacy course curriculum of a master’s degree will include subjects like Pharmaceutical Validation, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology, Clinical Pharmacy Practice, etc.
A student pursuing a Pharmacy course will be studying communication skills development, environmental science studies, ethical practices, and regulations of the Pharmacy Council of India apart from important pharmacy courses subjects.
Below we have provided a list of pharmacy course subjects that a student may encounter while pursuing a pharmacy degree. However, it must be noted that the syllabus and curriculum vary from course to course and college to college.
|
Subject name |
Subject description |
|
Human Anatomy and Physiology |
class="information" It involves studies related to the human body and its structure. |
|
Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry |
Studies related to chemical aspects associated with drugs and medicines are included in this subject. |
|
Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry |
Uses of inorganic substances in pharmaceuticals including preparatory methods, properties, etc. are covered in this subject. |
|
Pharmaceutical Microbiology |
Microorganisms that contribute towards the development and scaling up of pharmaceuticals are studied in this subject. |
|
Pharmacology |
The influence of drugs on living beings is studied in this subject. |
|
Computer Applications in Pharmacy |
The use of computers in retail pharmacy along with CADD (Computer -Aided Design of Drugs), data storage, computer-based learning, etc. are included in this subject. |
|
Pharmaceutical Analysis |
How to identify, separate, purify, and determine pharmaceutical products are explained in this subject. |
|
Industrial Pharmacy |
Marketing, development, manufacturing, and quality assurance activities are covered in this subject. |
|
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry |
Concepts related to modern Pharmacognosy and the development of Phytochemistry are to be studied in this subject. |
|
Pharmaceutical Engineering |
It covers topics related to quality control, discovering, manufacturing, and analysing drugs and their formulas. |
|
Remedial Biology/ Remedial |
How to use biological agents to eliminate contaminants from the water or any other medium is explained in this subject. |
|
Mathematics |
Measurements and methods of calculations used to determine, prescribe, and develop medication are covered in this subject. |
|
Physical Pharmaceutics |
Concepts of Chemistry and Physics that are associated with Pharmacy are covered in this subject. |
|
Biochemistry |
It involves studying concepts related to living organisms and chemical processes happening within their bodies. |
|
Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics |
Drugs and their physicochemical characteristics are covered in this subject. |
In India, pharmacy is a popular career choice since it allows you to work in a variety of settings, including research labs, pharmacies, hospitals, the armed forces, government institutions, and the pharmaceutical industry. In the evolved pharmacy industry, a professional must have management capabilities and computational skills along with core technical knowledge. The pharmacy industry is rapidly moving towards being a high technology-driven one and scientists are using more and more technology to predict the future of healthcare and thus the pharmacy industry ought to move along.
There is no doubt about the fact that the scope of pharmacy is very bright across the globe. The situation is such that one can live without food for a day or two. But in case of illness immediate relief is needed to survive. A pharmacist can be a distributor or a wholesaler. In this, the investment and the returns both are high and thus is a very booming area. Some good companies also provide loans for investment purposes. Other jobs that a pharma graduate can take up are as follows:
Students easily find jobs at hospitals, industries, and research laboratories. In hospitals, private & government, their job entails preparation, procurement & stocking, and dispensing of medicines and health accessories. In addition, if one wishes, he/she can come up with his/her own pharmacy store setup.
After completing the pharmacy course candidates can secure jobs in government as well as the private sector. Candidates can get their pharmacist licenses and start their own businesses. Following are some of the job options after the pharmacy courses.
|
Job profiles |
Job description |
|
Clinical Research Associate |
CRAs are responsible for coordinating and overseeing the execution of studies and clinical trials. |
|
Pharmacist |
They ensure that the medicines prescribed to patients are suitable. |
|
Drug Safety Associate |
They are responsible for assessing the safety of pharmaceuticals drugs once they are on the market. |
|
Drug Inspector |
They monitor drug’s safety, utility performance, and consistency from the time it is manufactured until it is sold in a retail outlet. |
|
Pharmacy Business |
A business carried on at a pharmacy and includes the business of providing pharmacy services. |
|
Scientific Writer |
They write and edit scientific news, articles and features, for business trade and professional publications, specialist scientific and technical journals and the general media. |
|
Pathological Lab Scientist |
They work to analyze a variety of biological specimens. |
Salaries for B.Pharmacy graduates in India vary according to qualification, experience level, and employer type. A pharmacist's annual income ranges from INR 2 to 5 Lakhs. The salary after pharmacy courses depends on the job profile also. Candidates can check the pharmacy salary as per the job profile given below.
|
Job profiles |
Average salary |
|
Clinical Research Associate |
INR 3-4 lakhs |
|
Pharmacist |
INR 2-5 lakhs |
|
Drug Safety Associate |
INR 3.5-5 lakhs |
|
Drug Inspector |
INR 6-8 lakhs |
|
Pharmacy Business |
INR 8 lakhs |
|
Scientific Writer |
INR 3 lakhs |
|
Pathological Lab Scientist |
INR 3.25 lakhs |
The demand for jobs in the pharmacy sector is very high. Candidates can find jobs in India as well as abroad. Some of the top pharmaceutical companies that hire candidates who have degrees in pharmacy courses are
| Indian recruiters | International recruiters |
|
|
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