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M.Sc. Pharmacology: Syllabus, Admission 2025, Colleges, Jobs, Salary in India

Iqra Choudhary's profile picture

Updated on Mar 26, 2025

Iqra Choudhary

Master in Science (M.Sc.) in pharmacology is a 2-year (or 3 years) postgraduate level degree course dealing with drugs and understanding of treatment procedures.The objective is to equip students with comprehensive theoretical knowledge and hands-on training, enabling them to merge post-genomic molecular biology insights with physiological functions and drug discovery processes.

The basic eligibility required to pursue an MSc in Pharmacology is B. Pharma with 60% marks (with a relaxation of 55% for SC/ST) or MBBS/BDS with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST).

MSc pharmacology provides a wide range of career prospects for graduates like Lab technicians, senior scientists in toxicology & pharmacology, business development executives, and molecular biologists. The scope of this course is not limited to job opportunities. Rather, it also provides extraordinary capabilities and skills to pursue further research in esteemed institutes in India and abroad.

MSc Pharmacology Course Highlights

Here is a quick overview of a 2-year course in the field of Pharmacology: 

Category Explanation
Name of the course MSc Pharmacology
Course Level Post Graduation
Duration 2 or 3 years
Eligibility B.Sc. in Life science with lateral entry for those having MBBS/ BDS/ BHMS/ BUMS/ BAMS or B.P.T. qualification from the recognized institute
Course Fees 30,000 INR - 4 Lakhs (Approx.)
Top Recruiters Pharmaceutical industries, consulting companies, biotech industries, Government and private agencies, research institutes, etc.
Job prospects Lab technician, Senior scientist in toxicology & pharmacology, Business development executive, Molecular biologist

What is MSc Pharmacology? 

MSc pharmacology is a postgraduate degree of 2 years, with some universities providing a 3-year degree course. This course is designed for students interested in the field of drugs and biomedical specialization. This course aims to provide theoretical advanced understanding and practical experience of the nature of business based on bioscience knowledge and research, opportunities for innovation. The core subjects are Medical Anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, drug discovery and ethics, etc.

Eligibility Criteria & Admission Process for MSc Pharmacology

The minimum eligibility for admission in MSc Pharmacology in India is graduation in life silence with a minimum 55% aggregate marks (relaxation is given to SC/ST candidates) or B. Pharma with 60% marks (with a relaxation of 55% for SC/ST) or, MBBS/BDS with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST). If you have completed MBBS/BDS then you are eligible to directly take admission in 3rd semester. 

There are some entrance exams like CUET, GATE, JAM, GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test), and entrance tests conducted by respective universities. If you have qualified for any of these exams, then you are eligible to be admitted to MSc pharmacology based on the merit list provided by the colleges/ universities.

Once you have completed the minimum eligibility criterion, now you can be admitted to MSc Pharmacology by following the given steps:

  1. View the official website of the respective college/university you are interested in and download the brochure to check the list of supporting documents.
  2. From the official websites or by visiting the on-campus admission section, fill out the admission form along with the last degree mark sheet, photos, Government ID, and special category certificate (if any) and submit the form in hard copy or soft copy (as indicated by instructions of the college).
  3. After successful completion of the form, you will be called for a Group discussion or Personal Interview, and the final list of selected candidates will be displayed on the website.
  4. Keep on visiting the website for the notification and complete the admission process by submitting the fees and original documents to the admission section in the college.

MSc Pharmacology Syllabus

The curriculum for MSc Pharmacology for most universities is given in the format of assessment papers comprising four or three theory papers and additional practical examinations. Here is the curriculum followed by AIIMS Delhi.

Theory examination Practical examination
Paper I: General pharmacological principles and allied sciences. Paper II: Systemic pharmacology, chemotherapy and therapeutics. Paper III: Experimental pharmacology, bioassay, statistics, pharmacokinetics and recent advances. One exercise on intact animals, One exercise on isolated organ,  One chemical pharmacology exercise.
Oral examinations
Thesis presentation and discussion, General viva voce.

Top Colleges for MSc Pharmacology in India

In India, an MSc in pharmacology is offered by almost all medical colleges consisting of esteemed private and government colleges. Here is the list of some top colleges and their classification of ownership and fees.

College  Private/ Government Duration Fees
AIIMS, Delhi Government  2 years 27100 INR
GMCH, Chandigarh Government College 3 years 1.05 Lakhs
JSS Medical College, Karnataka Deemed to be University 3 years -
Sharda University,  Private University 3 years 4.3 Lakhs
Santosh Paramedical College, Ghaziabad, UP. Deemed to be University 3 years 2.4 Lakhs

MSc Pharmacology v/s M Pharma

Usually, students get confused between MSc pharmacology and M Pharma because they seem similar to them, whereas both courses are different. A quick comparison between two courses that might be helpful for students to choose the correct course is given below:

Course/ Category MSc Pharmacology M Pharma
Full Course Name Masters in Science Pharmacology  Master of Pharmacy
Degree level Post Graduation Post Graduation
Duration Usually 3 years (some colleges also offer 2 years course) 2 years
Eligibility Bachelor's in Life science with minimum 50% aggregate marks. B. Pharma from any recognized university.
Job prospects Lab technician, Senior scientist in toxicology & pharmacology, Business development executive, Molecular biologist. Retail Pharmacies, Clinics, Quality control officers, Pharmaceutical marketing, etc.

MSc Pharmacology Career Scope

This postgraduate program opens up a wide range of career scope in the private as well as government sector. Here is the list of some potential private and government sector job profiles for MSc pharmacology graduates:

Private sector Government sector
Drug safety officer, medical writer, Clinical Research Associate (CRA), Pharmacovigilance Officer, retail seller, and supply manager. Drug inspector, pharmacologist, Senior scientist in toxicology & pharmacology, molecular biologist, etc.

With several opportunities for an MSc pharmacology graduate, the job roles come with distinct pay scales. Here is the quick tabular data with the pay scale attached to the respective job roles.

Job title Pay scale
Lab technician  1.8 - 3.6 LPA
Senior scientist in toxicology & pharmacology 4 -10 LPA
Business development executive 3.6- 4.5 LPA
Molecular biologist  2.5- 5 LPA
Drug regulatory officer 4.5 - 5.5 LPA

FAQs:

Is it necessary to have a pharmacy background for an MSc in pharmacy?

It is helpful if you have a pharmacy background, but it is not compulsory. You can apply for admission to MSc Pharmacology with a graduation in any science field.

Are MSc pharmacology and M Pharm Pharmacology the same?

No, MSc pharmacology and M Pharma are both postgraduate degree programmes, but they are not the same. Both the programmes are different in their scope, course outcomes, and curriculums. MSc pharmacology is more research-oriented whereas M pharma prepares students to integrate academic knowledge with pharmacy practice.

Is GPAT mandatory for admission in MSc pharmacology?

No, GPAT is not mandatory to gain admission in MSc Pharmacology. Some universities also offer admission based on CUET-PG scores and some universities take admissions based on their respective entrance tests.

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