M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) - Course, Eligibility, Admission, Scope

What is M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy)?

The professionals in the medical field are often known as a pharmacist, chemist or druggists. Each different term recognizes their different work responsibilities in the field of pharmacy. The candidates are required to pursue a M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) to work in a senior role in the pharmaceutical industry. Each of them has the same objective and it is to heal the patients. They advise doctors, medical practitioners, and patients about the use of medicine, adequate dosage, and its side effects. They also instruct on the diet required to consume medicine. A trained pharmacy practitioner decides what kind of medicine requires a mandatory prescription and which medicine will be available on the counter to be bought. A primary degree holder serves many roles from dispensing drugs to the healthcare industry, preparing and carrying lab testings to scientific research on drugs and medicines. The M Pharm course duration is for two years.

The course of M.Pharmacy (Master of pharmacy) is structured in such a way that it provides learning of the entire medicinal industry. It provides the theoretical, practical, technical and research knowledge of pharmacy that involves both traditional and modern practices.

Highlights of Master of Pharmacy

Advantages of Master of Pharmacy

The course of M.Pharmacy (Master of pharmacy) is structured in such a way that it provides learning of the entire medicinal industry. It provides the theoretical, practical, technical and research knowledge of pharmacy that involves both traditional and modern practices. It provides numerous opportunities to individuals to serve various roles from dispensing drugs to the healthcare industry, preparing and carrying lab testings to scientific research on drugs and medicines.

Types of M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy)

M.Pharmacy or Master of Pharmacy is the full form of M Pharm and is offered in both modes of learning such as regular or distance learning. The degree serves a great value to the person as a professional medical practitioner. It signifies that the degree holder has spent years in the industry.

A master’s degree in pharmacy unlocks enormous opportunities in the healthcare industry. A master of pharmacy is not only significant to retailers and distributors of medicinal drugs. The degree is not limited to drug research and experiment, but it expands to sales, marketing, drug regulations, health policy developments and quality controlling with food and drug development administration.

Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharmacy) Eligibility

The candidates are required to possess a B.Pharm degree with an aggregate of 45 percent to 60 percent marks or equivalent to it. The required minimum percentage of marks in B.Pharma to enroll in the M Pharma differs from college to college. For some colleges, the minimum required percentage is 45 percent. While for some colleges, the minimum requirement is the completion of a bachelor's of pharmacy with an aggregate of 60 percent marks or equivalent.

Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharmacy) Admissions

The admission process differs from institute to institute. Many universities accept GPAT scores for providing admissions. While some universities conduct entrance examinations to provide admissions. Some universities also consider work experience in the industry. The admission differs from institute to institute. Few institutes conduct face-to-face interviews to provide admissions in their M Pharm programme. After the final evaluation of all the rounds, the students are offered seats.

Top M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) Exams

The students are provided admissions based on entrance examinations. Some universities accept GPAT scores while some conduct their entrance exam to provide admissions for the M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) programme.

Here is the list of most popular exams to enroll in the M.Pharmacy.

GPAT: Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test or GPAT is a national level entrance exam conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education or AICTE. The questions asked in the exam are from the fields of pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Know more about GPAT 2022

APPGECET Pharmacy: APPGECET stands for Andhra Pradesh Post Engineering Common Entrance Test. It is a state-level entrance exam conducted to provide admissions in postgraduate pharmacy programmes in colleges in Andhra Pradesh.

AIPSSCET: The exam is also known as the All India PG Specialty Common Entrance Test. It is a national-level examination. The exam is conducted by the National Board of Examinations.

BITS HD Pharmacy: The exam is also known as the Birla Institute of Technology Higher Degree Pharmacy. BITS HD pharmacy test is an institute-level examination that provides admission to the institute. The questions asked in the examination are based on the field of pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacognosy.

M.Pharmacy Specializations

There are various specializations in pharmacy. We have listed here several popular specializations.

Pharmaceutics: It deals with the manufacturing process of medicines. The students get to learn how medicines are designed and manufactured in companies. It involves the application of modern techniques in the manufacturing of medicines, drug delivery systems, product development, and modern analytical technique.

Industrial Pharmacy: It is focused on the manufacturing process, patent knowledge, material management and application analytical techniques of various pharmaceutical dosage forms. The course also makes students familiar with the engineering services and warehousing systems of pharmaceutical plants. It involves biomedical ethics surrounding the pharmaceutical industry.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry: It is the chemistry that deals with the designing of drug molecules. The students enrolled in the academic programme of pharmaceutical chemistry are taught designing, synthesis and physicochemical characteristics of the drug molecules. The students learn the implementation of various analytical techniques for statistical treatments involved in experimental results.

Pharmaceutical Analysis: Pharmaceutical Analysis is crucial for GMP manufacturing and chemical development processes. The course is focused to address the regulatory requirements of pharmaceutical development. The objective of the designed course is to ensure drug safety, cut down the development costs, simplify manufacturing and address market demands.

Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance: The specialization deals with the various aspects of quality assurance such as planned and systematic approaches to fulfill quality requirements. It covers all the latest industry trends, Six Sigma and ISO standards, quality assurance of manufacture of food, pharmaceuticals, and services. The students enrolled in the course are made to learn both theoretical and practical skills required to function in the laboratory such as operating with the laboratory equipment during drug analysis.

Regulatory Affairs: The specialization of regulatory affairs deals with the regulatory and quality compliance involved in the pharmaceutical industry. The students enrolled in the course gain theoretical and practical knowledge of pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, national and international drug approvals and bioethics, research methodology, pharmaceutical screening, and modern analytical techniques. The students learn and understand health policies and clinical trials. They get familiar with emerging concepts involved in regulatory affairs and other practices.

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: The specialization deals with biotech pharmaceutical drugs, hybridomas, pharmacogenomics, and pharmaceutical biotechnology products. The students gain theoretical and practical knowledge to better understand the concepts involved in contemporary biology and biotechnology.

Pharmacy Practice: The specialization deals with the practical practices or techniques required to function in the pharmaceutical industry as well as other related industries such as healthcare or patient care services required in clinics. The course focuses on the practices of clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, and drug therapy. The students get familiarise with the standard practices followed in the clinical research and clinical trials. The students acquire the basic knowledge and skill essential to perform in both community and hospital settings.

Pharmacology and Toxicology: Pharmacology is the science that deals with the drug actions on the biological system. It involves the study of the characteristics of chemical agents and their potential toxicity concerning their therapeutic value. An academic programme with specialization in pharmacology aims to teach the students with advanced knowledge in the research, discovery, and characteristics properties of chemicals within the pharmaceutical industry. The students get familiar with the functions involved in the cellular and organismal activities concerning the chemicals. The course also focuses on research-based subjects such as fertility, infertility, anti-fertility, diabetes, and obesity.

Pharmacognosy: The specialization deals with pharmaceutical separation techniques, drug evaluation, environmental toxicology, ethnopharmacology, clinical pharmacognosy and other practices required in the field.

Types of specialized courses for M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy)

The duration of the postgraduate level academic programme M. Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) course ranges from 1.5 to 3 years. The course with a duration of 1.5 years is divided into 3 semesters. While the course with a duration of 3 years is divided into 6 semesters.

M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Pharmaceutics: The duration of the course is 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters, the duration of completion of each semester is 6 months. The admissions are provided based on the GPAT score. The fees for the course ranges from Rs. 2,00,000 to Rs. 8,00,000.

M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Industrial Pharmacy: The duration of the course is 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters, the duration of completion of each semester is 6 months. The admission is provided based on NEET or GATE score. The course fees range from Rs50,000 to Rs3,00,000.

M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Pharmaceutical Chemistry: The course is offered in both modes regular and distance learning. The duration of the course is 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters, the duration of each semester is 6 months. The admission is provided based on entrance tests. The average fees of the course range from Rs30,000 to Rs1,00,000.

M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Pharmaceutical Analysis: The duration of the course is 1.5 years. The course is divided into 3 semesters, each semester with a duration of 6 months. The average course fee ranges from Rs10,000 to Rs.200,000. The admissions are directly provided in some institutes while some institutes conduct entrance exams to provide admissions.

M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance: The duration of the course is 1.5 years. The course is divided into 3 semesters. The average course fees range from Rs.10,000 to Rs2,00,000. The admissions are directly provided. In some cases, admissions are provided considering the score of entrance exams.

M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: The duration of the course is 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters. The admission is provided considering the score of the entrance examination. In some cases, the admissions are provided through personal interviews. The average course fees range from Rs2,000 to Rs2,00,000.

M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Regulatory Affairs: The duration of the course is 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters. The admission is provided on a merit basis. Some institutes consider the entrance exam score. The average course fees range from Rs.72,000 to Rs.5,20,000.

M. Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Pharmacy Practice: The duration of the course is 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters. The admission is provided on the evaluation of candidates’ performance in the entrance exam. The average fees of the course range from Rs.3000 to Rs.1,00,000.

M. Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Pharmacology: The duration of the course is 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters. The admissions are provided on the basis of entrance examinations. In some institutes, admissions are provided on a merit basis. GATE and NET score is usually preferred. The average fees of the course range from Rs. 90,000 to Rs.6,00,000.

M. Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) in Pharmacognosy: The course is offered on both modes of learning i.e. regular and distance learning. The duration of the course is 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters. The admissions are provided on a merit basis. In some cases, the entrance exam score is considered. The average course fees range from Rs.3000 to Rs.100,000.

M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) Syllabus

The syllabus of M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) varies as per the various specialisations. We have listed here the semester wise syllabus of M.Pharmacy in Pharmaceutics.

M.Pharmacy Syllabus for Semesters 1 and 2

M.Pharmacy Syllabus for Semesters 3 and 4

Salary of candidates with M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy)

The salary of the candidates varies as per the field of specialization and the experience. We have listed here the entry-level salary as per specializations offered to students during campus placements.

Salary after Master of Pharmacy in Pharmacology: The starting salary of M.Pharmacy degree holders with specialization in pharmacology is ranging from Rs25,000 to Rs.40,000. The top institutes receive offers from recruiters during campus placement with the highest salaries ranging from Rs.30,000 to Rs40,000.

Salary after Master of Pharmacy in Medicinal Chemistry: The starting salary of candidates with an M.Pharmacy degree in the specialization of pharmaceutical is Rs.20,000-Rs.45,000 per month.

Salary after Master of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutics: The candidates holding an M.Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical bags a monthly average salary of Rs.15000 to Rs.30,000.

Salary after Master of Pharmacy in Natural Products: The candidates after completion of M.Pharmacy in the specialization of Pharmacognosy or natural products are generally offered a starting salary of Rs12,000 to Rs30,000 monthly.

Salary after Master of Pharmacy in Pharmacovigilance: The candidates receive a lucrative starting salary ranging from Rs.20,000 to Rs.40,000 per month.

Starting Salary after Master of Pharmacy in Biotechnology: The postgraduate candidates with M.Pharmacy receive a starting salary ranging from Rs.20,000 -Rs.35,000 per month.

Salary after Master of Pharmacy in Hospital Pharmacy: The starting salary ranges from Rs. 15000 to Rs.25000.

Master of Pharmacy in Research Starting Salary: The students of M.Pharmacy in research receive alluring salary packages ranging from Rs. 3,00,000 to Rs. 4,80,000 per annum. The candidates can find good opportunities in foreign countries as well.

Scope of M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy)

The candidates possessing a master’s in pharmacy get enormous opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.

The M.Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy) is designed in such a way that it enhances the knowledge of candidates with direct exposure to the industry. A pharmacy degree holder does not only have theoretical knowledge but he/she also possesses technical, research and practical knowledge of the field. The degree is considered of great value to work as a medical practitioner who is a way ahead of doctors concerning the complete knowledge of the healthcare industry he/she has acquired spending years in the industry.

The M.Pharmacy programme degree holder is not limited to a single role in the industry. The candidates with M.Pharmacy are involved in the commercial aspect of the industry. The M.Pharmacy candidates are eligible to work in drug research and development, sales, marketing, drug regulations, clinical trial research, and quality and health policy developments with the Food and Drug development Administration.

According to the report of the Indian Brand Equity Foundation, India will be among the top pharmaceutical markets. COVID-19 instances have shown the world that India is a top manufacturer of hydroxychloroquine. Hydroxychloroquine is a drug used to treat malaria and it is also effective on COVID-19 patients. India has served as the global distributor of drugs, amid COVID-19. The medicines manufactured in India are donated to 200 countries. The United States is a major market for Indian medicines.

Career Opportunities after M.Pharmacy

Chemist: A chemist is responsible for developing products that include synthetic fiber, drugs, cosmetics and other products. He or she researches and creates various processes to reduce energy consumption and pollution.

Biochemist: A biochemist is a research professional who studies the structure of molecules and its properties. He or she conducts research to identify how proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, vitamins and hormones in the body function in various internal processes.

Toxicologist: A toxicologist is responsible for investigating the adverse effect of various materials such as chemicals, medicines, natural substances and radiation on the environment and human and animal health.

Molecular Biologist: A molecular biologist stays involved in exploring, understanding and studying the cellular structure, functions and its properties.

Pharmacist: A pharmacist is a professional responsible for managing medications, educating patients on accurate dosage of medicines and side effects of drugs.