Pharm.D [Doctorate of Pharmacy]: Course Duration, Fees, Admission, Eligibility

Pharm.D is a six years pre-PhD postgraduate program that deals with the clinical study of drugs and experiments, which further helps in the treatment of patients in Pharmaceutical Science. Pharm.D course duration includes 5 years of academic studies and one year of internship for students of doctorate level. After a long duration of enmeshing skills and aptitude in pharmaceutical science training, job opportunities are available in various fields such as government hospitals, private hospitals, sports authorities, CRPF, academic institutes, drug stores etc. After the completion of the Pharm.D course, freshers can work in various roles such as Drug Advisor, Clinical Pharmacist, Retail Pharmacist, Nutritionist, Lecturer, Medical Writer, Drug Writer, etc.

About Pharm.D

Merriam Webster defines Pharmacy as ‘the art, practice or profession of preparing, preserving and compounding, and dispensing medical drugs.’

Pharm.D is a six years doctorate program that comes under the Science stream. Pharm.D is the only pre-PhD degree that can be pursued immediately after completing 10+2 which includes five years of academic training and one year of internship training. B.Pharm graduates can also pursue a Pharm.D degree as a three-year program which includes two years of academic training and one year of internship training. It includes the learning of the patient healthcare services. The Pharm.D course covers essential topics such as pharmaceutical care, clinical pharmacy, and pharmaceutical practice that provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the working of pharmaceutical science. A Pharm.D course duration is meant to impart knowledge to its students on the use of drugs and their therapy, selection, monitoring, treatment, etc. 

Table of Contents

• Pharm.D Eligibility Criteria
• Pharm.D Admission Process
• Popular Pharm.D Entrance Exams
• Top Pharm.D Colleges
• Fees Structure for Pharm.D
• Syllabus and Subjects for Pharm.D
• Why Choose Pharm.D?
• Preparation Tips for Pharm.D
• Scope of Higher Education after Pharm.D
• Pharm.D Salary
• Career Options After Pharm.D
• Skills to Excel

Eligibility Criteria For Pharm.D

For the Pharm.D admission process, students are required to clear the 10+2 examination from any recognized board or school. The basic Pharm.D eligibility criteria include securing 50% aggregate marks in the 10+2 exam and sound performance in the Pharm.D entrance exams for respective colleges. The minimum age for Pharm.D eligibility is 17 years. For certain Pharm.D colleges, students have to clear the respective entrance exams such as GPAT, BITS HD Pharmacy, UP-CPMT, UPSEE, and AIPSSCET. The aspirants of the Pharm.D course must have Physics and Chemistry as the core subjects with Mathematics and Biology as electives.

How To Get Admission in Pharm.D

For Pharm.D admissions 2021, students must ensure they satisfy the basic eligibility criteria. The basic Pharm.D eligibility criteria for securing admission into the Pharm.D course is passing the 10+2 exams with a minimum of 50% from any recognized board or school. Pharm.D admission 2021 can be based in two ways. For Pharm.D in India, some colleges have a merit-based selection process followed by a personal interview. Other Pharm.D colleges may conduct an entrance exam to ensure they select the best suitable candidate in accordance with their requirements. Students must have Physics and Chemistry as their core subjects with Biology and Mathematics as electives for admission to Pharm.D. Applications for Pharm.D admissions 2021 may be availed by going to the college portal or by directly visiting the college admissions office. Listed below are the details of the Pharm.D admission process in general:

How To Apply?

Pharm.D course information is available on the website of the Pharm.D colleges in India through which the aspirants begin their application process. The applications for the Pharm.D course in India are available to students through both the online and offline modes. Students are required to fill out the applications through their preferable mode among the two and provide valid documents for the same. After the submission of the application, students will receive further correspondence from the college. Before applying for Pharm.D admissions 2021, students must ensure they satisfy the basic eligibility criteria by going through the Pharm.D course details.

Selection Process

The selection process for Pharm.D admissions 2021 is usually based on the candidate’s performance in the 10+2 examinations. In some Pharm.D colleges, admissions are strictly offered to only those candidates who pass a Pharm.D entrance exam of the respective colleges such as GPAT, UP-CPMT, and UPSEE. The admit card and other relevant Pharm.D details for the admissions are published on the college website beforehand. Few colleges for Pharm.D might conduct a personal interview or a counseling session as a part of the admission process. Students can view their entrance results on the college website or receive them personally via email.

Popular Entrance Exams For Pharm.D

For the Pharm.D admission process, the selection of candidates is either based on merit or through an entrance exam conducted by the institution. Candidates must ensure they prepare for the entrance exam of Pharm.D along all the lines of requirements. With the entrance exam process, Pharm.D colleges or universities ensure they select the best student with the desired knowledge and skill set. Listed below are some of the popular entrance exams for the 6 year Pharm.D course duration:

• GPAT
• UPSEE
• NIMS Entrance Exam
• VELS Entrance Exam
• Bharatiya Vidyapeeth Common Entrance Test
• SRMJEEE 
• UP-CPMT
• NIPER JEE

A Quick Glance At The Pharm.D Entrance Exams

Students who wish to appear for the Pharm.D entrance exam should ask the question ‘What is Pharm.D?’ They should adequately study the exam pattern and the syllabus beforehand. This ensures a timely preparation for the candidate before appearing for a Pharm.D entrance. A timely preparation goes a long way to help the students to answer the question of ‘what is Pharm.D course’ and get selected at the best Pharm.D colleges in India. Various entrance exams have different patterns and requirements according to the college guidelines. Listed below is the detailed pattern of the Pharm.D entrance exam:

• The duration of the exam is 180 mins
• It is a computer-based test
• The number of questions asked is 125
• All questions will be asked in an MCQ format
• Each correct answer carries 4 marks
• Each wrong answer have a negative marking of 1

Top Pharm.D Colleges in India

Even though Pharm.D was introduced in 2008, it has come a long way to be recognized as a top-tier career prospect for many students. Pharm.D benefits many students in the job scope area while also acting as a gateway to higher studies. Many top institutions in India have included the Pharm.D course in their curriculum. Listed below are the top Pharm.D colleges in India: 

Pharm.D Colleges in India

Sl no.	Name of the Institute
1.	VELS University
2.	Acharya Institute of Technology
3.	Jaipur National University
4.	Chaitanya Degree and PG College
5.	Smt. Sarojini Ramulamma College of Pharmacy
6.	JSS College of Pharmacy, ooty
7.	SRM University Kattankulathur Campus
8.	MS Ramaish University of Applied Sciences
9.	Sri Ramachandra University
10.	Andhra University

Fee Structure For Pharm.D

The average Pharm.D course fee in India is INR 10K - 50K per annum. The Pharm.D fees per year may vary on various factors such as Infrastructure, teaching facilities, institutional facilities, faculty, etc. Unlike other courses, the Pharm.D government colleges in India do not differ much from the private colleges in terms of the fee structure. The Pharm.D course fee details reveal that it is comparably expensive to other courses offered in India. Below is the list of the Pharm.D course fees for various colleges in India: 

Pharm.D Course Fee

Sl. No.	Name of the Institute	Total Fee Structure
1.	JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysore	INR 15.1 LPA
2.	Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai	INR 7.5 LPA
3.	Dayanand Sagar University, Bengaluru	INR 3.7 LPA
4.	Poona College of Pharmacy, Pune	INR 10.5 LPA
5.	Jaipur National University, Jaipur	INR 6.6 LPA
6.	SRM University, Chennai	INR 15 LPA

Syllabus And Subjects For Pharm.D

The Pharm.D syllabus includes subjects that encompass six years. Pharm.D course duration is usually divided into five years of academic training having 10 semesters and one year for internship. The graduates of B.Pharm have to study for two years and one-year internship training while completing the Pharm.D course. Certain colleges may have specific subjects that provide students with an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical science. The Pharm.D course can be obtained by those who had Physics and Chemistry as their core subjects along with Mathematics and Biology as electives. The six-year course introduces students to the various concepts of Pharm.D in great detail and has enough training classes to answer the question of What is Pharm.D? The various subjects of study that make up the six year Pharm.D duration are pharmacology, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, clinical research, and pharmacokinetics. Below is the subject list of the Pharm.D offered by various colleges in the country: 

• Pharmaceutical Analysis
• Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence
• Clinical Toxicology
• Hospital Pharmacy
• Pathophysiology
• Medicinal Biochemistry
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmaceutical Microbiology
• Community Pharmacy
• Pharmacotherapeutics

Read More About Pharm.D syllabus and subjects

Why Choose Pharm.D

Pharmaceutical and healthcare services are essential parts of a well-oiled welfare society. With newer discoveries and infrastructure development being a continuous course of action, courses such as Pharm.D have gained a lot of importance in the last decade. Although a newer course, Pharm.D has managed to become an essential part of the college curriculum all around the globe. When talking about Pharm.D, the course along with pharmaceutical knowledge also enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills that prepare the candidate to provide professional healthcare service to the people. The job scope for Pharm.D is also a vital factor for students taking up this course which not only promises them a respectable career but also a lucrative pay scale. To understand ‘Why to choose Pharm.D?’, we make it simpler by breaking it down to the following three questions: 

What is Pharm.D All About?

The Pharm.D course duration is of six years that focuses on imparting a variety of key skills to students such as medical writing, therapeutic skills, counseling skills, persuasive skills, technical skills, and business skills. The Pharm.D course's full form is Doctor of Pharmacy. What the Pharm.D course aims is to sculpt the graduates into individuals with pharmaceutical skills to face the industry challenges and provide adequate solutions. When talking about the Pharm.D course in India, the syllabus is divided into 10 semesters of Academic teaching and one year of internship training. After completion of the Pharm.D, the students are also entitled to apply for a Ph.D. program. There are varying job opportunities for Pharm.D freshers after graduation such as Clinical Pharmacist, Retail Pharmacist, Lecturer, Medical Writer, Drug Expert, Nutritionist, Pharmaceutical Advisor, Drug Interaction Specialist, etc. 

What Does a Pharm.D Graduate Do?

Pharm.D careers can be a rich and fulfilling experience for aspirants who want to explore and contribute to the world of pharmaceutics and healthcare. The Pharm.D course is becoming a popular course for students given the variety of jobs available and the lucrative pay scale that is attached to it. There are various Pharm.D benefits available to graduates including job postings such as Nutritionist, Medical Writer, Drug Advisor or work as a community practitioner for prescribing medications to chronic diseases. 

Medical Writer: Medical writer works on creating scientific documents by associating closely with doctors, scientists, and other subject experts to elaborate vividly on the research results and the product’s usage. Medical Writers have become very reputable in the past few years with the industry demand of requiring concise writers that can put medical details clearly on a document. They have specific target audiences and write accordingly to achieve that goal by combining their knowledge of science and research skills.

Reasons Why Pharm.D Can Fetch You A Rewarding Career?

Pharm.D has today become a lucrative career not only because of the advancement in technology and medical research but also because healthcare has become one of the essential and dire human services. Students who do want to immediately enter the job industry after graduation can opt for further studies by taking up Ph.D, MPhil, MBA, MPH, MD, MS, etc. The job opportunities for Pharm.D are varying in nature with different avenues such as pharmaceutical services, hospitals, medical research, drug testing laboratories, etc available after graduation. 

Community Involvement: The need for Pharmacists is growing in the country as they provide legitimacy with their advice and prescriptions. Pharmacists spend years of study and training in understanding the world of Pharm.D courses and their uses. This builds a sense of trust among the patients who may not go to see a doctor for a minor ailment and put their faith in the pharmaceutical advice of the expert. Along with being a very respectable profession, it also offers lucrative pay due to which Pharm.D graduates become more involved with their cause. 

Read More About Pharm.D jobs and opportunities

Preparation Tips For Pharm.D

Students should be well prepared in accordance with the various aspects of the Pharm.D entrance exam. They should do a timely preparation by reading PharmD books and references beforehand. Students should visit the college website and find out all information they can about the PharmD course details in India. This enables the aspirants to cover all the important aspects of the exam adequately. Upon selection, students should continue to read PharmD reference books in order to never lose grip on the Pharm.D course. Some preparation tips for the Pharm.D entrance exam are listed below:

• Effective time management: A candidate should follow an effective timetable that would enable them to do timely preparation. More focus should be put on weaker subjects so as to not lose out marks during the examination.
• Regular practice: Regular practice throughout the whole duration of the preparation process ensures a well revised and ready-for-exam candidate.
• Debunking the exam pattern: Downloading and practicing the question paper from the previous years helps to understand and debunk the pattern in which questions are asked.
• Enrolling in coaching institutes: Attending coaching classes during the preparation process helps the candidate in gaining a clearer path with the help of their mentors. Emphasis on weaker subjects also helps to gain leverage of scoring high in all topics.

Scope For Higher Education

Ample educational opportunities are available to Pharm.D degree holders who do not want to take up jobs immediately after graduation. Higher education experiences ensure a higher pay scale when entering the job industry. Research skills become more polished with higher education experience thus becoming an individual of high demand in various positions. Some of the higher education opportunities available for Pharm.D graduates are listed below:

• MBA
• M.Phil
• Ph.D
• MPH
• NET

Salary of a Pharm.D Graduate

According to payscale, the average Pharm.D salary offered in India is INR 3.6 LPA. The pay range goes higher as the graduate gains experience over time. Higher Studies after Pharm.D course duration also ensures a higher pay scale when entering a workforce. The various industries, their sectors and firms, specialization of research, and other factors influence the pay that a Pharm.D fresher receives after graduation. 

Read More About Pharm.D salary

Career Options After Pharm.D

While conducting research into the Pharm.D course details in India, one should look into the career options that Pharm.D fetches to its graduates. Options vary for students who want to immediately enter the workforce in comparison to those who want to pursue higher studies. Graduates of Pharm.D who are interested in teaching can apply for the NET exam. If any candidate wants to enter the govt civil department, they can apply for exams such as UPSC and state level exams. Higher studies options for graduates are available in the form of MS, MPH, MD, Ph.D., MBA, and M.Phil. Various positions are available to Pharm.D course graduates who can apply for these posts online or by visiting the required organization. Some of the popular roles available to Pharm.D graduates are:

• Clinical Pharmacist
• Lecturer
• Drug Interaction Specialist
• Nutritionist
• Medical Writer
• Pharmaceutical Advisor
• Hospital Pharmacy Director
• Drug Expert
• Retail Pharmacist

Skills That Make You The Best Pharm.D Graduate

Pharm.D course duration is six years not only demands a detailed study into the course but also a certain set of skill sets and knowledge which would enable the student to stand out from the rest. Management and interpersonal skills play a huge role in ensuring the student becomes a top-tier graduate as Pharm.D is not only about having the knowledge about the subject but also providing community service and building relationships. Accuracy in identifying and counseling skills also ensures the student becomes a respected professional in their field. Some of the skills are listed below:

• Interpersonal skills
• Accuracy skills
• Typing skills
• Proofreading skills
• Communication skills
• Counseling
• Multitasking
• Management skills
• Professional étiquettes