Pharmacy
Pharmacy (state examination)
Experience the path of science in the Pharmacy degree program: 8 semesters of hands-on lab experiments. Develop, manufacture, and assure the quality of medicines. Let your scientific ambition blossom and become part of a life-changing industry.
- Degree
- State examination (except teaching degree)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 8
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 250-600
- Subject group
- Medicine, Health sciences, Mathematics, Natural sciences
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- with NC (hochschulstart.de)
- Keywords
- Chemistry, Medications, Medicine, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Bioactive Compounds
What is the degree program about?
Pharmacy is a natural science teaching and research subject and deals with the development, production and quality assurance of medicines, the preparation and storage of medicines as well as their effect and safe use. The first forms of pharmacy already existed at the dawn of mankind. This makes it one of the oldest sciences of all.
The study of pharmacy mainly prepares you for the profession of pharmacist. However, it is a broad scientific study, in which many aspects of chemistry and biology (with regard to drugs and humans) are also taught. To a lesser extent, physics and mathematics also play a role. If you like puffing and fizzing, you’re in good hands here. Even though theory takes up a large part of the course, the study program is very practical and many exciting hours in the laboratory await you.
After graduation, you will be able to produce, analyze and evaluate all kinds of drugs. You know how and why drugs reach their target in the human body and know the modes of action of tablets, ointments and others. A number of doors are open to you and you are spoilt for choice as to which direction you would like to take.
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The scientific study of pharmacy prepares students for the work of pharmacists in industry, science, pharmacy and testing authorities.
Pharmacists, who as drug experts are faced with multifaceted and demanding tasks, are responsible for the development, production, testing and dispensing of drugs.
The university course ends after 8 semesters with the 2nd state examination and, together with the subsequent practical year, is considered a necessary prerequisite for licensure as a pharmacist.
For the profession as a pharmacist in science and industry, a (approx. 3-year) doctorate to the degree of Dr. rer. nat. is generally required. Doctoral theses can already be taken up during the practical year.
The study of pharmacy is divided into different areas (basic studies, main studies and practical year).
The basic studies provide a broad scientific education in general, inorganic, organic, physical, pharmaceutical and analytical chemistry (especially inorganic, organic and instrumental analysis), in biochemistry, in biology (especially systematic and pharmaceutical botany), mathematics and physics (especially experimental physics).
The main studies extends and deepens this knowledge in the field of development, extraction and testing of drugs and preparations as well as their biopharmaceutical behavior. In addition, interrelationships between the chemical structure and action of the drugs and mechanisms of physiological-chemical processes, molecular processes and interactions between the components of the various drug preparations are made clear. Students can also choose from various elective courses in the main study period:
- Elective Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Elective Pharmaceutical Technology
- Elective Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Clinical Pharmacy Elective
- Compulsory Elective Pharmaceutical Biology
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- Interest and understanding of chemistry, biology and physics should be present. Knowledge that goes beyond a science-based Abitur knowledge is not required. However, any additional knowledge and practical skills already acquired will make it easier for you to get started.
- Care and reliability are indispensable for the professional handling of pharmaceuticals. You should therefore already get into the habit during your studies of working cleanly and conscientiously in all internships and critically assessing the results.
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The classic field of activity of pharmacists (approx. 85%) is in public pharmacies or hospital pharmacies. However, due to their strongly interdisciplinary education, they are also qualified for other fields of activity, e.g.
- in teaching and research at universities and non-university teaching and research institutions
- in the pharmaceutical industry (research, production, registration, analytics)
- as well as in health authorities and testing institutions (e.g. forensic analytics, environmental protection, narcotics and residue analytics)
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- with NC (hochschulstart.de)
- Admission requirements (higher semester)
- Admission not currently possible
- Application deadline winter semester
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31.05.
- Details and notes
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In contrast to many other fields of study, you do not apply directly to FAU for the study of pharmacy, but to hochschulstart.de. The program is subject to limited admission (Bavaria-wide NC). At FAU, pharmacy can only be started in the winter semester. The application deadline is July 15 (if you graduated in the current year) or May 31 (if you graduated a long time ago).
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.