Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Essentially, pharmacy is the science of pharmaceuticals (medicines). Pharmacy is an applied science that uses methods taken from chemistry, biology and physics for the study of therapeutically valuable substances, with applications in medicine and all other health-related sectors, and in the food industry.
What
Essentially, pharmacy is the science of pharmaceuticals (medicines). It studies their structure, physicochemical properties, preparation method, dosage and administration, pharmacodynamics (or effects), safe and secure handling of medicines, etc. Our broad study programme focuses on medicines as well as on patients. In recent years, the patient has increasingly come to the fore. Hence, a landscape emerges with two types of pharmacists, as it were: the scientifically trained pharmaceutical care provider, and the expert in the field of drug development, production and control. Pharmaceutical science is an applied science that uses methods taken from chemistry, biology and physics for the study of therapeutically valuable substances, with applications in medicine and all other health-related sectors, and in the food industry.
To be accepted into this study programme (from 2022-23 onwards), you must have taken an admission test.
Remarks
To be accepted into this study programme (from 2022-23 onwards), you must have taken an admission test.
For whom
Are you interested in studying sciences that will benefit people’s quality of life? Are chemistry and biology among your favourite subjects? Do you want to know how medicines work or how to use them to treat diseases? Do you want to be closely involved in helping patients with their illness and the correct use of (their) medicines? Would you like to participate in drug development or promote their safe and proper use? Do you have a critical mind and are you able to work accurately? If your answer to most of the above questions is a resounding “yes, then pharmaceutical sciences might be the perfect choice for you. The Pharmaceutical Sciences programme is a scientific study that focuses on both the practice of the profession and on academic research. In our discipline, we use chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. The necessary aptitude for, and interest in those sciences is important. Ours is a study programme with quite a lot of practical exercises and lab projects. The preparation and written reporting of those practical exercises means a solid investment of time. Therefore, a certain degree of dexterity and perseverance are welcome qualities, both in terms of carrying out laboratory techniques and managing time judiciously.
Structure
- Bachelor’s programme
The study programme is well-geared to later professional practice, and you will already be prepared for your social role as a medical expert. There is an optimal balance in terms of teaching methods with plenty of room for practising basic insights and cross-curricular practicals. At the same time, you will receive progressive training in independently acquiring and critically processing information about drugs. Guidance is also provided in acquiring and practisingbasic insights, the introduction to academic/scientific research and the exploration of the broad pharmaceutical field.
- Master’s programme
In the Master in Pharmaceutical Care, the emphasis is on the safe and secure, and cost-efficient use of medicines. The study programme prepares you well for a role as a medical expert. You can also progress to the advanced Master’s in Hospital Pharmacy, Clinical Biology, Industrial Pharmacy or a doctorate.
The Master in Drug Development focuses on pharmaceutical research and aims to prepare you more specifically for a position in industry and research, whether or not after completing the advanced Master’s programme in Industrial Pharmacy or Clinical Biology or after completing your doctorate.
A Bachelor’s degree also grants access to Master’s degrees other than those listed here. An overview can be found under the ‘ Postgraduate Studies’ tab.
Labour Market
Both the Master in Pharmaceutical Care and the Master in Drug Development lead to the degree of ‘pharmacist’. The versatility of the study programme gives graduate pharmacists a wide range of career options. Recent figures indicate that more than 40% of graduate pharmacists develop a career outside the traditional pharmacy sector. This results in a clear shortage of pharmacists in the labour market.
The demand for licensed pharmacists (responsible pharmacist, deputy or substitute pharmacist) is substantially greater than the supply. Outside the traditional pharmacies, many pharmacists end up working in hospitals (after a two-year specialization, work placement included) and other care institutions where they provide pharmaceutical services. In the pharmaceutical industry, there are countless opportunities for pharmacists in the most diverse positions. We also find pharmacists outside the pharmaceutical industry, such as the food industry (food safety), cosmetics, the animal feed sector, etc., where many people find their way to research and development. Finally, you can also develop a career with the government, in scientific institutions of the government or in education (university colleges).
Personal testimonials from graduates offer a look at the broad field of work:
www.ugent.be/fw/nl/voor-toekomstige-studenten/carrieregids.pdf
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
- Broad and diverse education. The study programme focuses on both the medicines and the patient. It is pre-eminently a multidisciplinary study programme in which knowledge about biology, chemistry, biomedical sciences and medicine are integrated. The students acquire basic pharmaceutical and medical knowledge.
- Applying knowledge. Knowledge, principles and methods from (Bio)chemistry, Biology and Physics are applied to gain insight into the most versatile facets of therapeutically valuable substances.
- Theoretical basis and lab work. The study programme provides excellent theoretical basic knowledge. In combination with many laboratory assignments, the students receive a strong academic education, both fundamental and practical. The curriculum contains many exercises and preparations in which dexterity and perseverance are also important.
- Social relevance. In view of the enormous social importance, the study programme focuses on the opportunities and dangers of medicines for patients worldwide.
- Future perspectives.The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences is a transfer degree: almost all students continue their education by taking the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Care or the Master of Science in Drug Development. The combination of specific pharmaceutical knowledge and broad academic skills excellently prepares students for the labour market.
Strengths
- Education based on excellent research. Our lecturers’ research is internationally highly valued. Choosing our programme means opting for a curriculum that is fully built on highly regarded drug research conducted in the various laboratories of our faculty. The study programme takes into account the role of the pharmacist in the future. The lecturers stay on top of social and legal trends and adjust the curriculum and lessons accordingly.
- Society and future field of work. In order to ensure that the bachelor’s programme is properly aligned with developments in society and the future field of medicine of the pharmaceutical specialist, a great deal of attention is paid to the latest scientific, social and didactic developments. The learning tracks ‘Research and Innovation’ and ‘Industry and Society’ are ideal for activating and project-oriented forms of education.
- Counselling. The programme attaches great importance to good communication with, and support for (future) students. A selection of our information initiatives: summer course in chemistry, faculty information days, learning paths, monitoring sessions for chemistry and physics in groups and tailor-made. Students can contact the learning path counsellor and individual lecturers.
- Our programme boasts a dedicated, experienced and approachable team of lecturers, assistants and supervisors. In addition to the permanent lecturers, the programme calls on many professors from other faculties to train the students optimally. A number of courses and lab assignments are provided by experts from the faculties of Sciences and Medicine and Health Sciences.
Challenges
- Feedback. Due to the many practicals and assignments during the study programme, students need good feedback on their learning process. The study programme tries to standardizse this process, so that every student receives sufficient and unambiguous feedback from both the lecturers and the assistant staff.
- Study load. The workload to pass the study programme is considered ‘heavy’ by the students. The Programme Committee will continue to monitor the study load and, if necessary, make adjustments to the curriculum. The study programme will further focus on clear communication about what basic scientific knowledge it expects from incoming students.
- Diversity and intercultural aspects. When you study pharmaceutical sciences, you do not immediately think of diversity and intercultural aspects. Nevertheless, attention to this is an important social competency, which we want to pass on to the students. Within the renewed study programme space has been created for these themes, and the study programme is committed to making these themes even more explicit.
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here.
This information was last updated on 01/07/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.