Quick Summary
The healthcare field is constantly changing, and pharmacy courses are leading this progress. A pharmacy course gives students the knowledge and skills to play an essential role in patient care, drug safety, and medical innovation. Whether you want to work in hospitals, community pharmacies, research labs, or the pharmaceutical industry, a pharmacy course opens up various rewarding career paths.
You will study drug formulation, pharmacology, patient counseling, and the latest medical developments. As the need for skilled pharmacists grows in 2025 and beyond, a pharmacy course helps you stay relevant and competitive in healthcare. Ready to positively impact people’s lives and create a stable, respected career? Let’s look at what a pharmacy course can offer!
This is a guide to information about pharmacy courses that you can pursue in the 12th class. We will let you know about the eligibility criteria, duration, and fee structure of the programs in our interest and which we would apply to seek a career in this field of pharmacy. We will also give details about the major career opportunities, entrance exams, and tips to manage course expenses in this course.
Pharmacy courses are some of the most popular career-oriented courses for Science students post-12th grade. Pharmacy courses incorporate many aspects of study with extensive areas of study including Drugs and Medication, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Engineering, and so on.
Below you will find several notable points regarding the details of Pharmacy courses:
| Particulars | Pharmacy Course Details |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Course Level | UG, PG & Diploma |
| Pharmacy Course Duration | 2-3 years |
| Pharmacy Course Eligibility | UG – 50% marks in Class 12 in Physics, Chemistry, and BiologyPG – Any relevant UG degree |
| Pharmacy Course Fees | UG – Merit-Based/Entrance-Based PG – Entrance-Based |
| Pharmacy Course Admission | UG – Merit-Based/Entrance-Based PG – Entrance-Based |
| Pharmacy Course Entrance Exam | UG – NEET, JEECUP, MHT CET, CUET, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, KCET, etc.PG – NEET PG, AP PGECET, TS PGECET, CUET PG, etc. |
| Pharmacy Popular Colleges | Jamia Hamdard, JSS College of Pharmacy, NIPER, AIIMS Delhi, etc. |
| Pharmacy Salary | INR 3.3 LPA – INR 4.2 LPA |
| Pharmacy Jobs | Clinical Research Associates, Pathological Lab Scientists, Pharmacists, Drug Safety Associates, Drug Inspectors, etc. |
| Pharmacy Top Recruiters | Mankind Pharma, Glenmark Generics, Jubilant Lifesciences Ltd, etc. |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
A pharmacy course is an academic course targeted at equipping students with knowledge about medicines: how they are made and how they will interact with the human body. They help students become pharmacists.
Pharmacy subjects encompass a wide range of medicines and health-related issues. The students of the pharmacy sections of the colleges have a clear view of drug chemistry, their preparation methods, and their action in human organisms. They are also conversant with the dos and don’ts of dispensing and advising on medication to patients. The courses often include subjects like pharmacology (the study of drug effects), pharmaceutics (how to make and deliver drugs), and pharmacy practice (how to work in a pharmacy setting).
The subjects that you will study in a pharmacy course include:
Pharmacists are essential members of the healthcare system. They make sure that patients receive the right medicines at the right time and also tell them how to use them safely. They teach them how to manage health conditions and prevent diseases.
Pharmacy courses equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to become competent pharmacists. These pharmacists are crucial for the safe use of medicines and the improvement of public health.
Pharmacy education offers diverse pathways for students after completing 12th grade, opening doors to various roles in the healthcare industry.
In India, several types of pharmacy courses are available after completing 12th grade:
This is a 4-year undergraduate program. Eligibility requires completing 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Mathematics. Pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmaceutics are the subjects covered. After completing B.Pharm, you can work as a pharmacist in pharmaceutical companies or pursue higher studies.
Bachelor of Pharmacy Course is a 3-year undergraduate program with similar eligibility requirements to B.Pharm. It focuses on pharmaceutical sciences, preparing students for roles in the pharmaceutical industry, research, and development.
Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm) is a 2-year diploma course. Eligibility requires passing 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics. The course covers basic pharmacy education and prepares students to work as pharmacy technicians or assistants. After a D.Pharm, you can also pursue a B.Pharm through lateral entry.
Pharm.D has five years of academic study and one year of internship or residency, making it a six-year course. Eligibility requires completing 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Mathematics or having a D.Pharm qualification. The focus is on clinical pharmacy and patient care.
Candidates must satisfy specific requirements for eligibility in the Pharmacist courses. Eligibility requirements have been set up to ensure applicants are appropriate candidates for admission to Pharmacy programs after 12th grade.
Please note that the eligibility may differ slightly based on the course level, course type and institutions.
As there were various Pharmacy courses available at different levels, candidates need to meet the eligibility requirements of the specific course they were looking to pursue.
For detailed eligibility requirements for Pharmacist courses, see the two headings below:
| Pharmacist Course Level | Pharmacy Course Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| UG | Should have completed 10+2 (Class 12) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and Mathematics. Minimum 50% marks (may vary from college to college). Some colleges are required to write an entrance test, GPAT, or state/Institute-level test. |
| PG | Candidates must hold a B.Pharm degree from a recognized university. A minimum of 52–55% marks in B.Pharm is required (may vary by institution). Admission is typically based on GPAT scores. |
| Diploma | Candidates must have finished 10+2 (Class 12) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Mathematics. A minimum of 45–50%, depending on the institution, is required. Depending on the college, candidates may be admitted directly or based on the results of an entrance exam. |
| Certificate | Typically require a 10th or 12th pass qualification. Some short-term certificate courses may not have strict eligibility criteria. Ideal for gaining quick, practical skills in pharmacy-related areas. |
| PhD | Required academic qualification: A Master’s degree in Pharmacy (M.Pharm or equivalent) from an institution with a strong academic reputation. Some institutions might require national-level exam scores, such as GPAT, UGC-NET, or have their own entrance tests. As a general guideline, a minimum of 55% marks is expected in the postgraduation course. |
A general outline of the admissions process for the pharmacist course in India is below for candidates:
| Entrance Exam | Exam Month/Date | Conducting Agency |
|---|---|---|
| NEET 2025 | May ’25 | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| MHT CET 2025 | Apr ’25 | Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell |
| CUET 2025 | May ’25 | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| AP EAMCET 2025 | May ’25 | Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur |
| TS EAMCET 2025 | May ’25 | Telangana State Council of Higher Education |
| KCET 2025 | Apr ’25 | Karnataka Examination Authority |
| KEAM 2025 | May ’25 | Commissioner for Entrance Examinations, Kerala |
| GUJCET 2025 | Mar ’25 | Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board |
| WBJEE 2025 | Apr ’25 | West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board |
| Entrance Exam | Exam Month/Date | Conducting Agency |
|---|---|---|
| NEET PG 2025 | Aug ’25 | National Board of Examinations (NBE) |
| CUET PG 2025 | Mar ’25 | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| AP PGECET 2025 | May ’25 | Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education |
| TS PGECET 2025 | Jun ’25 | Telangana State Council of Higher Education |
| INI CET 2025 | 10 Nov ’25 (January session) | Institutes of National Importance (INI) |
Pharmacist courses have a robust curriculum consisting of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, and clinical pharmacy, preparing students to formulate, dispense and provide care related to medications.
Students studying a Pharmacist course at UG/PG/Diploma/PhD level will be studying the Pharmacy curriculum including specialized pharma components, assignments, projects, industrial training, internship, etc. Furthermore, there is also an emphasis in the curriculum of the Pharmacist courses on developing communication skills, studying environmental science, and ethical practices and regulations outlined by the Pharmacy Council of India.
Candidates can take a look at an outline of the Pharmacy course syllabi at all course levels below:
Candidates can check a general outline of the Pharmacy course syllabus for the UG course level below:
| UG Pharmacy Courses – Semester 1 | |
|---|---|
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I | Pharmaceutical Analysis I |
| Pharmaceutics I | Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry |
| UG Pharmacy Courses – Semester 2 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II | Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry I |
| Biochemistry | Pathophysiology |
| UG Pharmacy Courses – Semester 3 | |
| Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry II | Physical Pharmaceutics |
| Pharmaceutical Microbiology | Pharmaceutical Engineering |
| UG Pharmacy Courses – Semester 4 | |
| Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry III | Medicinal Chemistry I |
| Physical Pharmaceutics II | Pharmacology I |
Candidates can check a general outline of the Pharmacy course syllabus for the PG course level below:
| PG Pharmacy Courses – Semester 1 | |
|---|---|
| Advanced Pharmacology / Pharmaceutics / Pharmaceutical Chemistry (depending on specialisation) | Research Methodology |
| Modern Analytical Techniques | – |
| PG Pharmacy Courses – Semester 2 | |
| Drug Regulatory Affairs | Molecular Pharmaceutics |
| Clinical Research | Elective Subjects |
| PG Pharmacy Courses – Semester 3 | |
| Seminar | Research Project/Thesis Work |
| Specialisation Papers | – |
| PG Pharmacy Courses – Semester 4 | |
| Thesis Submission and Viva-Voce | Dissertation Presentation |
Candidates can check a general outline of the Pharmacy course syllabus for the Diploma course level below:
| Diploma Pharmacy Courses – Semester 1 | |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutics-I | Pharmaceutical Chemistry-I |
| Pharmacognosy | Biochemistry and Clinical Pathology |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | Health Education and Community Pharmacy |
| DIploma Pharmacy Courses – Semester 2 | |
| Drug Regulatory Affairs | Molecular Pharmaceutics |
| Clinical Research | Elective Subjects |
Applications to the various Pharmacy courses could be on the Internet or even at the various sites. For the online delivery of Pharmaceutical admissions, visit the admissions office for details. Pharmacy courses offer several specialities as well as comprehensive courses in different pharmacy-related disciplines. Aspiring students will select to focus on specific specialities in particular areas of the Pharmacy courses. Following are the popular colleges that offer pharmacy courses:
| Pharmacy College | Pharmacy Course Fees |
|---|---|
| Jamia Hamdard | 44,000 – 8.8 Lakh |
| Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai | 1.45 Lakh – 3.48 Lakh |
| AIIMS Delhi | 2,110 – 3,330 |
| Panjab University | 64,430 – 76,020 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | 26,580 |
| Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University | 40,000 – 2.4 Lakh |
| National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar | 96,960 |
| National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati | 1.9 Lakh |
| Jadavpur University, Kolkata | 9,600 – 96,000 |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | 650 – 2,110 |
| Pharmacy College | Pharmacy Course Fees |
|---|---|
| JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty | 1.16 Lakh – 17.07 Lakh |
| Christian Medical College, Vellore | 3,600 |
| JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysore | 40,000 – 15 Lakh |
| Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 1 Lakh – 15.85 Lakh |
| Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | 1.72 Lakh – 22.44 Lakh |
| Lovely Professional University | 49,000 – 9.6 Lakh |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Poonamallee | 1.2 Lakh – 15 Lakh |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham – Kochi Campus | 7 Lakh |
| Amity University, Noida | 2.76 Lakh – 9.6 Lakh |
| Chandigarh University | 3.6 Lakh – 15.95 Lakh |
| Location | Notable Mention |
|---|---|
| Delhi-NCR | Top Pharmacy Colleges in Delhi-NCR |
| Bangalore | Top Pharmacy Colleges in Bangalore |
| Mumbai | Top Pharmacy Colleges in Mumbai |
| Hyderabad | Top Pharmacy Colleges in Hyderabad |
| Chennai | Top Pharmacy Colleges in Chennai |
| Job Profile | Job Details | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | Advises doctors, nurses, and medical technicians on drug usage, dosage, and side effects. | INR 2.7 LPA |
| Pharmacologist | Studies and modifies drugs to meet pharmacy regulation standards. | INR 3.5 LPA |
| Food & Cosmetic Products Development Scientist | Researches and develops food products free from common allergens like gluten or lactose. | INR 12 LPA |
| Clinical Trial Research Associate | Verifies the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations, medicines, medical devices, and other clinical monitoring tools. | INR 3.8 LPA |
| Drug Inspector | Inspects medicines at various stages (research, development, distribution, and sales) to ensure compliance with required standards. | INR 2.8 LPA |
| Indian Recruiters | International Recruiters |
|---|---|
| Lupin | Pfizer |
| Cipla | AbbVie |
| Piramal | GlaxoSmithKline |
| Sun Pharmaceuticals | Johnson & Johnson |
| Aurobindo Pharma | |
| Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories | |
| Serum Institute of India Ltd | |
| Biocon |
The duration of various pharmacy courses in India is:
| Course | Duration |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) | 4 years |
| BSc Pharmacy Course | 3 years |
| Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) | 2 years |
| Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy) | 6 years (5 years academic + 1-year internship) |
The courses and syllabi vary from course to course.
Practical training and internships help in providing hands-on experience, and this is needed to be successful in this field. Students gain valuable insights by applying theoretical knowledge in real-life situations.
Average pharmacy Course Fees for Various Pharmacy Programs are as follows:
| Course | Fees |
| B.Pharm | ₹ 120000 |
| BSc Pharmacy | ₹206000 per year |
| D.Pharm | ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000 per year |
| Pharm.D | ₹2,18,000 |
Many colleges offer scholarships based on academic performance, entrance exam scores, or financial need. Government scholarships and private scholarships are also available. A few scholarships are available:
| Scholarship | Allowance | Eligibility |
| Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship | ₹3000 monthly for BPharm girls and ₹2500 for BPharm boys. | Boys with 65% marks and girls with 60% marks |
| NSP Scholarships for Students with Disabilities | Up to ₹1100 for eligible candidates | Students with at least 40% disability & monthly family income should not be more than ₹15000. |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students | ₹12,000 for the first three years and Rs. ₹20,000 per annum for the fourth and fifth years. | Students with a family income of less than 4.5 lakhs who have completed XII with more than the 80th percentile. |
Pharmacy is an Important Pillar of Healthcare:
As medicine uses pharmacists, they provide safe and proper use of medicines and give crucial health advice while working very closely with other healthcare professionals.
Encouragement:
Take up the challenge of schooling seriously and with diligence because pharmacy careers will provide enough opportunity to make a difference in the life of healthcare.
Choosing a pharmacy course is more than just a career decision. It is a commitment to improving health and well-being in your community. With thorough training in science and patient care, pharmacy graduates are ready to face the challenges of modern healthcare. The opportunities are vast. You can work in clinical practice, pharmaceutical research, regulatory affairs, or even start your own business.
As technology and medicine progress, pharmacists will remain key healthcare professionals. By enrolling in a pharmacy course, you invest in a future full of chances to learn, grow, and positively impact. Take the first step toward a dynamic and fulfilling career. Your journey in pharmacy starts now!
A pharmacy course teaches students about medicines, how to prepare and use them, and their effects on the human body.
Example: A Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) student studies pharmacology and drug formulation.
Tip: Select a course accredited by recognized health councils to improve your career opportunities.
Most pharmacy courses require students to complete 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics.
Example: A student with PCB in high school qualifies for a Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm).
Tip: Check the entrance exam requirements for GPAT, NEET, or state-level tests.
Subjects include pharmacology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy, and clinical pharmacy.
Example: A student learns how antibiotics work and how they affect human health.
Tip: Keep up with the latest pharmaceutical research to improve your knowledge.
Graduates can work as pharmacists, clinical researchers, drug inspectors, or medical writers. They can also pursue further studies like M.Pharm or Pharm.D.
Example: A B.Pharm graduate becomes a hospital pharmacist at a top healthcare chain.
Tip: Internships in hospitals or pharmaceutical companies improve practical skills.
The scope is growing due to advancements in biotechnology, clinical trials, and personalized medicine.
For example, a pharmacist focusing on clinical research works on AI-driven drug discovery.
To stay prepared for the future, gain data analytics and biotechnology skills.
It depends on your career goals. A pharmacy focuses on drugs and patient care. In contrast, courses like MBBS or Nursing emphasize diagnosis and treatment.
For example, a pharmacy graduate works in drug development. An MBBS graduate practices medicine.
Tip: Compare career outcomes before deciding between pharmacy and other healthcare fields.
Authored by, Gagandeep Khokhar
Career Guidance Expert
Gagandeep is a content writer and strategist focused on creating high-performing, SEO-driven content that bridges the gap between learners and institutions. He crafts compelling narratives across blogs, landing pages, and email campaigns to drive engagement and build trust.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
