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Study Pharmacy in the Czech Republic

Study Pharmacy in the Czech Republic
Shishant KumarMar 24, 2023

A guide to study pharmacy in the Czech Republic

As a leading medical study destination, the Czech Republic offers some of the best pharmacy courses. The top benefits of studying in Czechia include the low cost of living, the quality of education offered, and the cultural vibrance of the country. Aspirants can study pharmacy in the Czech Republic after completing high school or a bachelor’s degree. Doctoral programs are also available for those interested in research. With the rise of the global pharma industry, several career opportunities are expected to open up by 2030. This forecast has led to pharmacy being among the most sought-after medical programs globally. 

A degree from the top medical universities in the Czech Republic can prove to be an invaluable asset. Moreover, enrolling in pharmacological or pharmaceutical courses here is relatively less expensive than studying pharmacy in the USA or the UK. For your convenience, here’s an overview of the pharmacy programs available in the Czech Republic.

Pharmacy in the Czech Republic- Overview

Programs  Offered Long-cycle Masters, Masters, Doctoral
Language of Instructions English
Duration 2-5 years
Admission requirements  Certificate of completed university education with an updated CV and all other publications. 

The topic of the doctoral project should also be presented. 

Other university-specific examinations or interviews may also be conducted. 

English proficiency tests Not required
Average tuition fees  EUR 7,000-7,600 per year. 

Doctoral programs, which are available at Charles University, require no tuition fees.

Job prospects  Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacist, Bioanalyst, Researcher, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Specialist, Consultant, etc. 
Median salary  872,000 CZK or 38,880 USD annually

Top Pharmacy Programs in the Czech Republic

Pharmacy programs are available in two universities: Masaryk University and Charles University. Both of them are among the best medical universities in the Czech Republic.

Students can enroll in these programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral levels. The table below provides an overview of the available programs.

Faculty/University Program(s) Offered Level of Study Duration
Masaryk University Pharmacy Long-cycle Master’s 5 years
Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University Pharmacy Long-cycle Master’s 5 years
Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University Pharmaceutical Sciences Master’s (post-bachelor) 2 years
Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University Bioanalytical methods, Bioorganic Chemistry, Clinical and social pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Analysis/Chemistry/Technology, Pharmacognosy and Nutraceuticals, Xenobiochemistry and Pathobiochemistry Doctoral 4 years
First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Pharmacology and Toxicology Doctoral 4 years
Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Pharmacology and Toxicology Doctoral 4 years
Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Pharmacology and Toxicology Doctoral 4 years
Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University Medical Pharmacology Doctoral 4 years

Masaryk University

The pharmacy program at Masaryk University is available as a long-cycle master’s program. Students can apply for this program after high school. 

Master’s in Pharmacy at Masaryk is five years long. The curriculum involves the study of

  • Preparation and production of drugs
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacotherapy
  • Legal, economic, and ethical principles of pharmacy
  • Disposal of bio-active substances

Students must complete two periods of practical training. The first internship is two weeks long and performed in the third year. During the final semester, students must complete a six-month internship. This internship can be completed in Czechia or abroad. But at least two weeks must be in the Czech Republic. The 6-month internship trains students in the general responsibilities of a pharmacist. The degree ends with a final state-level examination. Students must also defend their diploma thesis.

Admission requirements 

Masaryk University states the following admission requirements.

  • Secondary school certificate
  • Curriculum Vitae in English
  • E-application (with an application fee of CZK 800)

The university does not need students to prove their English language skills. However, admission to the program will depend on the student’s performance on the entrance test.

Entrance test 

Masaryk University requires students to take an entrance test to study pharmacy. Details of the entrance test are listed below.

  • Online exam
  • Subjects include Biology and Chemistry
  • Each subject carries 40 marks
  • Maximum marks are 80
  • The total time limit is 1 hour
  • The minimum pass percentage is 50% (student must score at least 40 in both subjects combined)

Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University

Charles University has a faculty dedicated to the pharmacy in the historic city of Hradec Kralove. The faculty of pharmacy offers a master’s in pharmacy in two formats.

  • Master’s program after high school (long cycle masters) 
  • Master’s program after bachelor

Long-cycle Master’s in Pharmacy

Long cycle master’s in Pharmacy is a five-year program. The course language is English. According to the EU directive 2005/36/EC, the program follows the below curriculum:

  • Preparation of pharmaceutical form of medicines
  • Manufacture and testing of medicines
  • Testing of medicinal products in a laboratory
  • Storage, preservation, and distribution of medicines at the wholesale stage
  • Preparation, testing, storage, and supply of medicines in public pharmacies
  • Preparation, testing, storage, and dispensing of medicines in hospitals
  • Provision of information and advice on medicinal products

This long-cycle program prepares students for generalist roles. It does not include any specializations. 

Admission requirements 

The primary eligibility criterion is the completion of high school. Admissions are based on an entrance test. The format of the entrance test is as follows.

  • Multiple-choice questions
  • Subjects include Biology, Chemistry, Botany, and English
  • Chemistry has 50 questions
  • Biology has 30 questions
  • Botany and English have 20 questions each
  • Candidates get 1 point for each correct answer in Chemistry, Biology, and Botany.
  • Candidates get 0.5 points for each correct answer in English
  • No negative marking
  • The Dean determines the minimum pass percentage

Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences

This two-year master’s program trains students in 

  • Pharmaceutical chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical analysis
  • Drug research
  • Pharmacology, 
  • Natural drugs and drug forms

This program does not cover any specializations. Students gain enough training to take up any role in the pharmaceutical sector. 

Admission requirements

To be eligible, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. 

Relevant fields include

  • Pharmacy
  • Biomedicine
  • Life Sciences
  • Biology (Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology)
  • Chemistry (Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry)

Students must sit for the entrance exam conducted by the university. The test format is similar to the one for a long-cycle master’s program

  • Multiple-choice questions
  • Subjects: Pharmaceutical Botany, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, Biochemistry and Pathological Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, English
  • Each subject (except English) contains 10 questions
  • English subject has 20 questions
  • 0.5 points for each correct answer in the English and 1 point for other subjects
  • No negative marking
  • The Dean decides the minimum pass percentage

Doctoral programs in Pharmacy

Graduate-level students can specialize in pharmacy through doctoral programs. Ph.D. programs in pharmacy are available only at Charles University.

  • Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
  • Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University
  • Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University

Students can study any of the following doctoral programs per their interests.

  • Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • Medical Pharmacology
  • Bioanalytical methods
  • Bioorganic Chemistry
  • Clinical and social pharmacy
  • Pharmaceutical Analysis
  • Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical Technology
  • Pharmacognosy and Nutraceuticals
  • Xenobiochemistry and Pathobiochemistry

Admission requirements

The admission requirements mentioned below are a guideline only. They may be slightly different for each faculty.

  • Certificate of completed university education
  • Curriculum Vitae with previous professional experience
  • Published works
  • The topic of the doctoral project
  • Oral exam/interview to assess knowledge in Pharmacology and Patho-biochemistry
  • English exam conducted by the university

Cost of Pharmacy Programs in the Czech Republic

Medical education in the Czech Republic is generally considered affordable compared to the US, UK, and Canada. The cost of pharmacy programs is way less than general medicine or dentistry. Pharmacy programs in the Czech Republic range between EUR 7,000-7,600 per year. 

Doctoral programs, which are available at Charles University, require no tuition fees.

Program Name University Annual Tuition Fee in EUR Annual Tuition Fee in USD*
Master’s in Pharmacy Masaryk University 7,000 7,478
Master’s in Pharmacy  Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University 7,600 8,226
Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University 7,600 8,226

*Tuition Fees in EUR are converted to USD at 1 EUR = 1.07 USD. Current exchange rates are subject to change from time to time.

Admission Requirements to study Pharmacy in the Czech Republic

Students can apply to Czech medical universities online. The application fee for pharmacy programs is roughly CZK 800. 

Students must take entrance tests for pharmacy courses. Masaryk University mentions that students must secure at least 50% on the test. Charles University does not state such cut-offs. The dean determines the minimum acceptable score.

The general admission requirements for international students are summarized below.

  • High school diploma (for long-cycle master’s programs)
  • Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, Biomedicine, Life Sciences, and study disciplines related to Human Biology (for post-bachelor master’s programs)
  • Official academic transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Satisfactory score in admissions test

Career Prospects After Studying Pharmacy in the Czech Republic

Pharmacy graduates in the Czech Republic are trained to work in various job positions. Some typical roles pharmacists take on are

  • Pharmacist in care facilities
  • Clinical Pharmacist in hospitals
  • Bioanalyst in laboratories
  • Researcher in laboratories
  • Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Specialist
  • Researcher in academia
  • Consultant in the non-profit sector

With multiple job opportunities in various sectors, pharmacists earn lucrative salaries in the range of 872,000 CZK or 38,880 USD annually. 

Conclusion

Several renowned universities in the Czech Republic offer long-cycle master’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in the pharmaceutical sciences. To apply to such English-taught programs, international students must submit all past academic transcripts, language proficiency test scores, and a few letters of recommendation. Masaryk University and Charles University are the most popular choices for foreign applicants who are interested in studying pharmacy in Czechia. They are encouraged to take up career roles such as bioanalysts, researchers, and pharmacists in clinical or laboratory settings. For more information on pharmacy courses in Czechia, contact Gyanberry at Gynaberry.

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FAQ’s

There are two universities in the Czech Republic offering pharmacy courses. Masaryk University and Charles University offer pharmacy at the undergraduate and graduate levels. International students can apply to these programs.

Yes. Long-cycle master’s in pharmacy is available at Masaryk and Charles Universities. Students can apply to these programs after high school. Selection is based on an entrance test.

Master’s programs in pharmacy cost in the range of EUR 7,000-7,600 (USD 7,373-8,005*) for one academic year. This range only includes tuition fees. International students have to bear accommodation, insurance, and living charges.

* Tuition Fees in EUR are converted to USD at 1 EUR = 1.05 USD. Current exchange rates are subject to change from time to time.

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