MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Science is an extremely diversified branch with its roots touching down to almost all professions that are relevant to the modern world. One such subfield of science is Chemistry which has many branches including Pharmaceutical Chemistry. It is a multidisciplinary intersection of Organic Chemistry and Pharmacology and aims to study drug development, absorption and related aspects of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This is a fast-growing career option in today’s world, as it complements the advancements made by the healthcare industry in recent years. Further, since it is a specialised branch, it is mainly offered as a postgraduate degree for those wanting to delve deeper into the study of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Through this blog, we will explore the major features of an MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, top universities, eligibility and career scope it entails!

Related Read: How to Become a Pharmacist?

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Key Details 2023

Particulars	Details
Degree	Masters of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Admission Process	Merit-Based/Based on the performance in the entrance test
Duration	2 years
Average Salary Offered	INR 3 lakhs – 12 lakhs per annum
Average Fees Incurred	INR 1000 – 2 lakhs
Eligibility	BSc completed from a recognized university

Course Overview

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry is mainly offered as a two-year degree course at the graduate level. This course is a conventional degree in the discipline of Pharmaceuticals, making students equipped with knowledge of basic chemistry, specialised chemical knowledge of drugs and medicines, their synthesis, analysis as well as usage. The course is divided into four semesters over its two-year duration, where the students are taught the theoretical subjects for the first three semesters, while the last semester encompasses research and project work. Students who have completed their Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or its related field can apply for this course. Generally, students are admitted on the basis of merit in previous academic endeavours, while some universities also take eligibility entrance exams for the same. 

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Subjects Offered

M.Sc Pharmaceutical Chemistry is a research-oriented course, offering subjects which are directly applicable in the industry. Some of the common subjects offered across various industries are:

Organic Chemistry	Pharmacognosy	Organic Synthesis	Biochemistry
Pharmaceutical Analysis	General Pharmacology	Medicinal Chemistry	Pharmaceutical Technology
Bio Organic Chemistry	Chemical Methods of Drug Analysis	Advanced Organic Chemistry	Enzyme Technology
Computers Applications in Chemistry	Pharmaceutical Quality Control and Quality Assurance	Process Chemistry in Pharmaceutical Industry	Advanced Chromatographic Techniques
Phyto-chemistry	Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry	Analytical Techniques in Chemistry	Principles of Drug Design & Drug Action

Let’s get to know about these subjects under MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry in further detail.

Medicinal Chemistry

Medicinal Chemistry encompasses the various aspects of natural products and chemical biology, enzymology and structural biology, aiming at the discovery and development of new drugs. These drugs are used to provide therapeutic aid to patients suffering from various ailments, making it useful for the healthcare industry.

Also Read: MSc Organic Chemistry

Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry

Pharmaceutical inorganic chemistry is a specialised subject developed by the study of pharmaceutical applications of the inorganic compounds. This subject deals with the study of both non-essential and essential elements, their preparation processes, standards of purity and many such tests. These tests help in determining the quality and the extent of purity, storage conditions and therapeutic uses. 

Also Read: Course After BSc Chemistry

Pharmaceutical Quality Control and Quality Assurance

In the Pharmaceutical Industry, quality is paramount. It is crucial that the drugs are made with standardized processes, and there are no anomalies in the quality of any unit of medicine. Quality assurance is used to ensure that a product satisfies the requirement for “Quality” and covers all matters related to factors influencing quality of a product. On the other hand, Quality Control is a tool of Quality Assurance that uses samples and tests to ensure that product is up to mark. This subject is especially important for those who wish to join the manufacturing industry at management or Quality Expert position.

Chemical Methods of Drug Analysis

Chemical Methods of Drug Analysis is an important part of MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Ingraining Chemistry at its base, this subject deals with identification, synthesis and analysis of medicines using chemical processes. These methods are implemented practically in Laboratories, also used in research organisations.

Process Chemistry

Process Chemistry deals with the synthesis, development and manufacture of compounds that are required for the development of drugs and medicine. A highly specialised subject, Process Chemistry is different from Medicinal Chemistry as Medicinal Chemistry works with early stages of the synthesis of molecules. This is a core subject of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, making students adept at practical work and production of drugs.

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Course Subjects

Below are the yearly course subjects for your understanding: 

	Theory Subjects	Laboratory Subjects
Year I	Advanced Organic Chemistry Pharmaceutical Chemistry – I Chemical and Instrumental Methods of Drug Analysis Advanced Chromatographic Techniques  Pharmaceutical Chemistry – II Bio-Organic Chemistry  Phyto-Chemistry Communicative English	Organic Synthesis Lab Medicinal Chemsitry Lab Pharmaceutical Chemistry Lab
Year – II	Process Chemistry in the Pharmaceutical Industry Medicinal Chemistry Analytical Techniques in Chemistry Computer Applications/Basics  Pharmaceutical Quality Control and Quality Assurance Enzyme Technology Communicative English – II	Phyto-Chemistry Lab Computer Application/Basics Lab Chemical Methods of Drug Analysis Lab Project Work

Why Study MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry?

The following are the top reasons to study MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry:

• This is a fast-growing career option in today’s world, as it complements the advancements made by the healthcare industry in recent years
• It offers lucrative job opportunities to the professionals in the field
• Students can be positioned in various departments including product development, production and quality control
• Studying MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry will provide students with the right balance of theoretical and practical education

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Top Colleges & Universities

There are many renowned universities around the world that offer master’s degrees in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. These universities have advanced and personalised curriculum, as well as unique resources and tools to help students with their research work, providing a prime educational environment on all fronts. Here are some of the prominent universities and colleges that offer MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry:

University	Country	QS World University Rankings 2023
University College London	UK	8
University of Edinburgh	UK	15
University of California, Davis	USA	102
University of Leicester	UK	279
Vilnius University	Lithuania	400
Middlesex University	UK	751-800
Manchester Metropolitan University	UK	801-1000
London Metropolitan University	UK	801-1000
University of South Wales	UK	_
University of Camerino	Italy	_

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Top Colleges in India

Enlisted are the most prominent colleges which can land you in good job opportunities in the future after pursuing MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: 

Colleges	Average Fees
Loyola College, Chennai	INR 5,953
St.Xavier’s College, Mumbai	INR 13,708
Christ University, Banglore	INR 77,500
Fergusson College, Pune	INR 4,698
Hans Raj College, New Delhi	INR 12,327
Miranda House College, New Delhi	INR 14,170
Mount Carmel College, Banglore	INR 42,400
St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata	INR 73,100
Presidency College, Chennai	INR 925
St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad	INR 4,520

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Suggested Universities in India

Here’s a sneak peek of some of the universities:

• Delhi Technological University
• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha Vishwavidyalaya
• Indian Agricultural Research Institute 
• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
• Indian Law Institute

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Entrance exams

The most popular entrance exams are:

• Indian Institute of Technology Joint Admission Test (IIT JAM)
• Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test (BHU PET)
• Calicut University PG Entrance Exam
• Kerala University MSc Chemistry Entrance Exam
• Cochin University of Science and Technology Common Admission Test (CUSAT CET)
• Madurai Kamraj University Entrance Test
• Osmania University Common Entrance Test (OUCET)
• Mahatma Gandhi University Common Admission Test (MGUCAT)

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Eligibility Criteria

Though the actual course requirements might differ as per the program and university, we have enlisted some of the general eligibility criteria that you must know before applying for MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

• The applicant must have completed a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or a related field with the minimum marks specified by your chosen university.
• Many universities in India also conduct their own entrance exams to shortlist the best candidates.
• If you are planning to study MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry abroad, you will need to provide GRE scores along with language proficiency test scores like IELTS/TOEFL/PTE, etc. Further, universities will also you to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Letters of Recommendation (LORs).

Also Read: Masters in Pharmacy in Canada

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Career Scope

M.Sc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry is known for providing individuals with specialised and focussed knowledge, which helps them steer towards a thriving career in Chemistry and related fields. These jobs are often high-paying, especially when complemented with research work. Here are a few prominent career options for those who have completed an MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry:

Research Scientist

One of the most prominent employment areas for MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry graduates,  a Research Scientist deals with analysis and synthesis of chemicals which can help in improving or innovating the process of production in the Pharmaceutical industry. 

Professor

After completion of the M.Sc degree, students can look forward to working in the education industry. The job of an Assistant Professor can be pursued right after completion of a Master’s degree, which equips individuals to teach undergraduate students. This can be coupled with a doctoral degree or research PhD, which upon completion awards the title of ‘Doctor’.

Quality Control & Quality Assurance Head

Quality Assurance Heads are responsible for maintaining and upholding the quality of drugs and other pharmaceutical products that are produced in an organisation, whether public or privately owned. These products are used in the healthcare business, hence special attention is paid to their quality. For certain products, these heads have to work with the Government authorities who overlook the production of special pharmaceuticals.

Scientific Data Entry Specialist

Although Data Entry Specialists are used in various fields, a Scientific Data Entry Specialist holds additional knowledge about Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical nomenclature, along with fundamental information about the same. These are found in commercial Pharmaceutical companies, as well as research laboratories, assisting scientists with their work.

MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Job Prospects and Salary

The average salaries of a few top-most profiles in Pharmaceutical Chemistry are shown below. These figures are only for reference and the actual salaries might differ: 

Job Profile	Average Salary Per Annum
Research Scientist	INR 7 lakhs (approx)
Professor	INR 8 lakhs (approx)
Research Officer	INR 7.5 lakhs (approx)
Assistant Manager	INR 6 lakhs (approx)
Data Entry Specialist	INR 4.5 lakhs (approx)

FAQs

MSc Pharmaceutical chemistry is a specialised degree course, highly beneficial for those who are looking for scholarly and research endeavours in the discipline. If you are planning to study a master’s degree in Chemistry or any of its branches, our Leverage Edu experts can help you find the best course and university and guide you throughout the admission process to ensure that you get successfully shortlisted. So, wait no more and connect with us through a free e-meeting right away!