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.

Bachelor's Programme
3 year 180 credits
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dutch
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About the programme
Programme summary
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Off to a good start
Postgraduate studies

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.

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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.

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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