PhD in Pharmacy

Considered a highly advanced degree program involving heavy research analysis, a PhD in Pharmacy is concerned with the study of clinical therapeutics, toxicology, molecular pharmacology and a host of other medical fields. With a combination of coursework relating to pharmaceutical concepts, research projects, thesis and dissertation and seminars, it aims to provide students with a solid understanding of how to improve drug suitability and trim drug toxicity and its ill effects. In general, PhD courses are pursued by a selective group of individuals who are willing to dedicate their careers to research analysis and experimentation. If you are planning to pursue a PhD in Pharmacy, here is a detailed guide on what a doctoral program in this specialised medical field entails as well as the eligibility criteria you need to fulfill in order to apply for this course.

Also Read: Diploma in Pharmacy

Overview

When it comes to a PhD program, be it PhD in Physics, PhD in Economics or even a PhD in English, a comprehensive blend of heavy coursework with individual research investigation is incorporated in the curriculum. In particular, a PhD in Pharmacy program involves working with patient groups, physicians, pharmacists, biostatisticians, health economists and other researchers to conduct research with the aim of improving efficacy of drugs, optimize therapy and how patients respond to the drugs. Further, students explore topics such as modern diseases and rare deficiencies, microbial resistance, drug side-effects as well as the usefulness of the drug throughout the world. Many professionals in later stages of their careers work alongside public health, policy and governance analysts to resolve problems prevalent in the healthcare industry.

PhD in Pharmacy: Course Structure

As for the course structure of a PhD in Pharmacy, it generally runs for 3-7 years depending on the university you are pursuing it from. It comprises, most importantly, the selection of a field of specialisation by the individual in which his interests and abilities are well-aligned. Furthermore, you can also choose from a highly diverse list of minors which provide much-needed versatility to the programs. On the other hand, to supplement coursework, research techniques and methods support in gathering and analysing the necessary information which is needed for individual research works such as dissertation, thesis and projects. For example, a PhD student may be required to examine healthcare and hospital databases to filter information. During the course, every student is provided with one or two supervisors that guide students throughout the research project. 

Also Read:

• PhD after BTech
• PhD after MTech

Coursework

Typically, a PhD in Pharmacy encompasses topics of scientific analysis as well as multi-disciplinary electives in its coursework depending on the need of the individual. You can also pursue a doctoral degree in Pharmacy with relation to the areas of Policy Analysis, Psychology, Behavioural Analysis. A few more topics generally covered in this course are listed below.

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• Pharmaceutical Economics
• Pharmaceutical Policy
• Social and Behavioral aspects of Pharmacy
• Pharmacy and its Environment
• Principles of Public Health Research
• Statistics
• Pharmaceutical Marketing
• Pharmacoepidemiology
• Hospital Pharmacy Administration
• Hospital Pharmacy Survey
• Social Psychology in Pharmacy
• Social Measurement in Pharmacy
• Experimental Pharmacology
• Anthropology
• Public Health

Joint Degrees

Those students who are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in Pharmacy but with a mix of an inter-related field can go for joint degrees. During a Joint PhD in Pharmacy program, one needs to work on drug utilisation research, patient safety, international medical regulations, transfer of care and organisational systems amongst others. These topics of research traverse many disciplines such as Administration, Public Health, Public Administration, Statistics, Psychology, Global Medicine, Law, etc. 

Top Universities for PhD in Pharmacy

While universities in USA continue to attract a considerably high number of prospective doctoral researchers, pursuing a PhD in Europe is an equally appreciated option as well. The program specifics and application requirements of a PhD in Pharmacy might slightly vary from one university to another. Some of the leading institutions to pursue a doctoral degree in Pharmacy include

• University of Manchester, UK
• University of Washington, USA
• University of Southern California, USA
• University of Minnesota, USA
• John Hopkins University, USA
• Karolinska Institutet, Sweden 
• Utrecht University, Netherlands

Note: Students must peruse individual course offerings of a university, its application requirements and curriculum given at its official website to know more about the nature of the course.

Doctoral degrees are highly specialised study programs focused on building a profound understanding of a relevant subject. They require a defined approach toward career development and goals. However, it is natural to feel unsure of the particular sub-field of the PhD program that you should go for. The first-of-its-kind AI tool at Leverage Edu can help you achieve it organically a based on algorithmic as it suggests specialisations after mapping of your interests and inclinations, thereby helping you take the first step towards a vibrant career.