M. Pharmacy in USA for International Students: Courses, Fees, Best Colleges, Eligibility, and Career Scope
In the United States, a master’s degree in pharmacy is a two-three year program. It is offered at over 50 colleges in the United States, primarily as an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences or MS in Pharmacology. Most of the programs offered by the universities in the USA are funded, so the tuition fees for such programs are usually covered.
The students are eligible for several grants, fellowships, TA positions, and scholarships too in case the tuition fees are not directly covered. Healthcare is one of the biggest industries in the world, pharmacy graduates enjoy a good career scope across wide spectrums of jobs. Studying in the USA also allows students to interact with a bolstering international community of students along with the best medical education in the world.
Overview
| Programs Offered | MS, MSc, MPharma |
| Program Duration | 2-3 Years Master |
| Average Annual Tuition Cost | USD 35,000-50,000 |
| Basic Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor degree in biology, chemistry |
| Entrance Exams | GRE |
| IELTS/TOEFL Requirement | Required |
Why study Masters in Pharmacy in the USA?
- According to several rankings, The United States has the best pharmacy schools and universities in the world.
- Employment in healthcare-related jobs would expand by double digits over the next six to seven years.
- With the pandemic and the rise in medicinal, hygiene, and associated requirements, pharmacy degrees will grow quicker in the mainstream healthcare industry.
- Investments in healthcare and medical research and development are rapidly increasing in the United States, both by public agencies and private businesses.
- Pharmacists can work in various industries, including medical research, pharmaceutical research and retail, hospitals and medical facilities, and others.
- Some of the top Pharmacy Universities in the world are in USA. They provide a holistic educational experience including research, projects, assignments, and studies.
What will you study?
The two years of the master’s program in the USA will be divided into four semesters. The following topics will be covered in those four semesters. Several research and project works will also be a big part of the master’s program.
- Applied Therapeutics
- Clinical Research Methods
- Current Research in Pharmacy
- Pharmaceutical Skills
- Health Promotion for Pharmacists
- Specialised Clinical Practice
- Advanced Diabetes Therapies
- Pharmaceutical Care of Surgical Patients
- Education and Training
- Health Economics
- Leadership and Management
- Medicines Management
- Mental Health
- Paediatrics
- Pharmacy Public Health
- Practical Statistics for Population Health
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Specialist Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics
Popular programs for pursuing a career in Masters in Pharmacy
There are several specializations for students to choose from for their Masters in Pharmacy. They can choose between Clinal pharmacy, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Master In Drug Development & Product Management, MS in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and many others depending on their interest.
Most of the master’s in Pharmacy programs offered in the USA are two years in duration. Those two years are divided into semesters and students are expected to maintain an average acceptable grade in all semesters.
| University | Program | Application deadline |
| University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences | Dec 1 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences | Dec 8 |
| University of California, San Diego (UCSD) | Master In Drug Development & Product Management | Nov 1 |
| Yale University | Biological and Biomedical Sciences | Dec 1 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MS in Integrated Pharmaceutical Sciences | Feb 1 |
| Purdue University | Industrial and Physical Pharmacy | November 1 |
| University of Washington | MS in Pharmaceutics | Mar 1 |
| Columbia University | MS in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics | Dec 1 |
| University of Texas at Austin | MS in Pharmacotherapy | Dec 1 |
| University of Minnesota Twin Cities | MS in Social and Administrative Pharmacy | Feb 1 |
| Duke University | MS in Phamacology | Dec 1 |
| Vanderbilt University | MS in Phamacology | Dec 1 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Master of Biomedical Informatics | Feb 1 |
Best universities in the USA for Masters in Pharmacy
| QS World Ranking for Pharmacy | US News Ranking for Pharmacy | University |
| 7 | 3 | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
| 8 | 2 | Johns Hopkins University |
| 10 | 7 | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) |
| 18 | 59 | Yale University |
| 19 | 27 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
| 24 | 45 | Purdue University |
| 36 | 16 | University of Washington |
| 37 | 46 | Columbia University |
| 41 | 151 | University of Texas at Austin |
| 43 | 60 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
| 46 | 42 | Duke University |
| 47 | 72 | Vanderbilt University |
| 58 | 82 | University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) |
| 60 | 30 | University of Pennsylvania |
Admission Requirements for Masters in Pharmacy in the USA
- A bachelor’s level with academic education in chemical manufacture, biology, apothecary, natural science, or any similar field.
- Minimum GPA required is 3.0
- GRE scores
- Schools usually require TOEFL scores of 80-100. IELTS scores of 6.5-7.0 are still needed.
- Some schools might ask for work experience (including volunteer work, internships, etc)
Tuition Fees
Although the cost of studying medicine in the USA is high, Mpharma is an exception. A Master’s in Pharmacy is mostly paid for by the funding received by the university. Therefore, most universities do not charge any tuition fees to students. Yale University, Columbia University, University of Washington, etc do not charge any tuition fees from the students. The students are eligible for grants, fellowships, and teaching assistant positions.
Some universities like the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) do charge international students with a yearly tuition fee of approx. USD 35,000 to 50,000. However, there are several scholarships available for students.
Career Scope
A degree in pharmacy can take students a long way. Healthcare is the biggest industry in the world. US’s alone national healthcare expenditure reached $4.1 trillion in 2020. Some jobs that pharmacy graduates take are:
- Community pharmacist
- Hospital pharmacist
- Research scientist (medical)
- Clinical research associate
- Higher education lecturer
- Medical sales representative
- Medical science liaison
- Pharmacologist
- Physician associate
- Product/process development scientist
- Regulatory affairs officer
- Research scientist (life sciences)
- Science writer
- Toxicologist
