
Updated on Mar 26, 2025
Iqra Choudhary
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.
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 |
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.
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:
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. |
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 |
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. |
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 |
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.
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.
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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