Apply To Pharmaceutical Science Courses
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Table of Contents
1. What Is Pharmaceutical Science?
Pharmaceutical Science combines the knowledge of chemistry, biology, pharmacology and medicine to achieve drug design, drug development, testing, and drug regulation. These are the key responsibilities of a pharm-scientist:
- Study how drugs interact with the body (pharmacodynamics), how drugs are processed in the body (pharmacokinetics), and how drugs are delivered effectively (formulation science).
- Make drugs more effective, safer, more stable, and resolve issues involving drug production, quality control, and compliance with regulations.
Why It Matters To The World?
- Pharmaceutical Science plays a role in pioneering and developing new drugs that are capable of treating a variety of disease conditions, ranging from minor ailments such as the flu to deadly conditions including cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
- Formulating vaccines and medicines that can stop or curb infectious diseases from spreading. The COVID-19 vaccine development, for instance, was accelerated directly due to developments in pharmaceutical science. Pandemics would cause far more harm to society if these advancements didn’t exist.
- Pharmaceutical Science allows the creation of individualized medication, where therapies are based on each patient’s unique constitution. With this, scientists are able to devise more efficient therapies with fewer adverse effects by grasping how drugs interact with genes, proteins, and other biological components.
- There are various global health challenges facing the world, including antibiotic resistance, new and re-emerging diseases, and aging populations. Pharmaceutical Science addresses these challenges by creating new drugs and approaches to treat new threats as well as enhance the treatment of long-term conditions.
This video sheds some light on the process of drug development and testing, which is what you will go through as a Pharmaceutical Scientist:
Pharmaceutical Science vs Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Science is focused on research and development, discovering new drugs, studying drug mechanisms, and improving drug formulations. Work settings are usually at research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and universities.
Pharmacy is patient-centered; dispensing medications, providing consultations, and ensuring safe and effective use of drugs. Work settings are typically at pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and community health centres.
2. Where To Study Pharmaceutical Science Courses In Malaysia?
Here are our recommendations of top universities to study Pharmaceutical Science courses in Malaysia.
| University | Course |
| 1. Monash University Malaysia | Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science |
| 2. IMU University | Bachelor of Science (Hons) Pharmaceutical Chemistry (IMU) |
| 3. Mahsa University | Bachelor of Science (Hons) Pharmaceutical Technology |
| 4. University of Nottingham Malaysia | Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences BSc (Hons) |
| 5. Taylor’s University | Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science (Honours) |
| 6. PSB Academy | Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology and Pharmaceutical Science), La Trobe University, Australia (PSB Diploma Pathway) |
3. Pharmaceutical Science Course Pathways & Entry Requirements
There is generally one pathway towards a Pharmaceutical Science qualification.
Pathway: SPM/O-Levels ➔ Pre-University/Foundation ➔ Pharmaceutical Science Degree
As an SPM / O-Level leaver, the entry requirement is 5 credits including Bahasa Melayu, English and two Science Subjects to enter Pre-U or Foundation, if you want to study Pharmaceutical Science.
A Pre-University course or Foundation in Science typically takes 1 to 2 years to complete and will qualify you to enter into a Degree in Pharmaceutical Science.
A Pharmaceutical Science Degree will take 3 years to complete. Here are the general requirements to enter with qualifications from popular pre-university courses or a foundation course:
| Qualifications | General Requirements |
| A-Level | 2D |
| AUSMAT/SACE | ATAR 60 |
| CIMP | 60% |
| STPM | 2C / CGPA 2.50 |
| UEC | 5B |
| Foundation | CGPA 2.50 |
Note: Actual minimum requirements will differ between different universities. Generally, these qualifications also require you to have taken at least 2 subjects in Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics and achieved the minimum results.
In total, this pathway generally takes 4 years to complete.
4. What You Learn In A Pharmaceutical Science Course
These are the essential subjects you need to pick up to be a well-equipped Pharmaceutical Scientist:
- Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Biopharmaceutics
- Cell Biology
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Drug Discovery and Development
- Ethics in Pharmacy
- Herbal Medicines and Phytochemistry
- Immunology and Immunotherapy
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Organic Chemistry
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmaceutical Analysis
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Pharmaceutical Management
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology
- Pharmaceutics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy Law
- Physical Chemistry
- Quality Control and Assurance
- Regulatory Affairs
- Research Methodology
- Statistics
- Toxicology
How Can Uni Enrol Help?
Uni Enrol’s experienced counsellors help you compare the pros and cons of studying a Pharmaceutical Science Course at different universities and different locations.
5. Why Should I Study Pharmaceutical Science?
If you are considering between Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, these are some reasons to pick the latter:
- Direct Impact on Healthcare Solutions – Unlike many scientific fields, pharmaceutical science offers a direct pathway to contributing to tangible healthcare solutions. You are involved in creating, improving, and ensuring the safety of medications that directly impact patients’ lives.
- Interdisciplinary Opportunities – Pharmaceutical science sits at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and medicine, providing a uniquely broad knowledge base. This interdisciplinary nature allows graduates to work in diverse roles, from drug discovery to regulatory affairs, offering varied and engaging career paths.
- Innovation and Discovery – The field is constantly evolving with new technologies and scientific breakthroughs. Studying pharmaceutical science means you’re at the forefront of medical innovation, contributing to the discovery of new therapies and approaches to combat diseases.
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6. RIASEC Compatibility To A Pharmaceutical Science Course
The John Holland Theory of Career Choice states that in choosing a career, people will choose one similar to their personality to ensure job satisfaction, job performance, and career success. The test generates 6 different personality types:
- Realistic (R)
- Investigative (I)
- Artistic (A)
- Social (S)
- Enterprising (E)
- Conventional (C)
With the RIASEC Test, the 6 personalities can generate up to 720 combination possibilities to provide career compatibility. You can try the test yourself here.
Top 3 RIASEC traits that one should have for studies in Pharmaceutical Science:
INVESTIGATIVE
- Individuals with a strong investigative interest enjoy delving into complex problems, conducting research, and analyzing data. Pharmaceutical Science involves extensive experimentation, data interpretation, and critical thinking to understand drug mechanisms and develop new therapies.
REALISTIC
- The realistic trait indicates a preference for hands-on, practical work and a comfort with using tools and equipment. Pharmaceutical Science includes laboratory work, drug formulation, and quality control processes, requiring a practical and detail-oriented approach.
ENTERPRISING
- While perhaps less obvious, an enterprising spirit is valuable in Pharmaceutical Science. This trait reflects an interest in innovation, leadership, and taking initiative. The pharmaceutical industry needs individuals who can drive innovation, manage projects, and navigate the regulatory and business aspects of drug development.
7. Career Opportunities For Pharmaceutical Science
| Areas of Opportunity | Types of Roles |
| Drug Discovery & Research | Pharmaceutical Research Scientist, Medicinal Chemist, Toxicologist, Clinical Research Associate |
| Drug Manufacturing & Quality Control | Pharmaceutical Production Manager, Quality Control Analyst, Good Manufacturing Practice Auditor |
| Regulatory Affairs & Compliance | Regulatory Affairs Officer, Pharmacovigilance Specialist, Medical Affairs Specialist |
| Hospital & Community Pharmacy | Hospital Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist |
| Biotechnology & Personalized Medicine | Biopharmaceutical Scientist, Genomics & Precision Medicine Specialist, Stem Cell Researcher |
| Sales, Marketing & Medical Writing | Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Medical Science Liaison, Medical Writer |
| Academia & Teaching | University Lecturer / Professor, Training & Development Specialist, Pharmaceutical Consultant |
| Entrepreneurship & Innovation | Pharmaceutical Entrepreneur, Nutraceutical & Supplement Developer, Online Health Consultant |
| TCM Clinic | TCM Clinic Owner, Online TCM Consultant, Health & Wellness Influencer |
Recommended Course Guides
Looking for other related courses? Here are various medical and health sciences-related course guides you should check out:
If you’re still not sure what to study, we have many other Course Guides that will provide more guidance on the subject matter. Share with your friends!
We also took the liberty to compile all our University Guides and Course Fees Guides so you don’t have to go anywhere else!
About the Author:
Ken Hoong is the co-founder of Uni Enrol and a contributing writer. Drawing on his close work with Uni Enrol’s counsellors, he brings keen insight into Malaysia’s evolving private higher education landscape and the shifting preferences of students in learning and career choices.
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