Updated October 18, 2022
PhD in Pharmacology or Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology is a research-based doctoral course that lasts three to five years, and the candidates’ performance determines the course duration. The program studies sources, chemical properties, biological effects, and therapeutic uses of drugs. Its objective is to allow students to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.
Candidates with a Master’s degree in Pharmacology with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks are eligible for the course. Since admission to the program is entranced based, they will have to qualify for the national level, State Level, or university level entrance test. Some relevant entrance tests for the course are UGC NET, UGC CSIR NET, GATE, SLET, etc.
Major PhD in Pharmacology Course Details
Some key highlights of the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology course are tabulated below.
| Course Name | PhD in Pharmacology |
| Course Level | Doctorate |
| Full-Form | Doctor of Philosophy Pharmacology |
| Course Duration | Three to five years, 3 years will be the shortest duration while five years will be the prolonged one |
| Minimum Eligibility | Masters in Pharmacology with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks. |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exam followed by Interview. |
| Top Entrance Exam | UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET, etc. |
| Top Colleges | Jamia Hamdard, NIPER, Institute of Chemical Technology, Annamalai University, etc. |
| Average Course Fees | INR 2 to 4 Lakh |
| Average Initial Salary | INR 4 to 15 LPA |
| Top Employment Areas | Drug Manufacturing Companies, Public Health Entities, Blood Service, Industrial Laboratories, Cancer research institutes, Research Departments, Educational Institutes, etc. |
| Top Job Profiles | Analytical Chemist, Biomedical Scientist, Healthcare Scientist, Clinical Pharmacologist, Clinical Research Associate, Forensic Scientist, etc. |
Ph.D. Pharmacology Admission Process
Admissions to the Ph.D. Pharmacology programs are done mainly through an Entrance Test followed by a personal interview conducted by the respective institute/university.
Qualified candidates in National Level Entrance Tests such as NET JRF / NET LS are exempted from the university-level entrance exam. Still, they will have to qualify for personal interviews before locking an admission seat in the program.
Some institutes also select students for the course based on the Merit obtained in the qualifying examination (master’s degree).
Entrance-Based Admission
Significant steps involved in entranced-based admission are as mentioned below.
- Candidates must register on the official website with their email id, mobile number, and password.
- On submission of the application fee and form, candidates can download the form for future reference.
- Based on their information, eligible students are issued admit cards.
- Admission seats are allocated to candidates based on the marks obtained by them and institutes cut off.
Merit-Based Admission
Significant steps involved in Merit-based admission are mentioned below.
- The Selection Committee calls candidates satisfying the minimum educational qualifications for an interview.
- Candidates found suitable for admission based on their academic record and performance in the selection interview are accepted.
Ph.D. in Pharmacology Eligibility Criteria
Mentioned below are the minimum eligibility criteria that must be fulfilled by the candidates aspiring to pursue Ph.D. Pharmacology.
- Candidates must be a Master’s Degree holder in Pharmacology, Biology, Pharmacy, or Biotechnology from a recognized university or institution.
- Those who possess degrees in MSc, MTech, MD, M Pharma, or equivalent degrees are also eligible for the course.
- They should have also secured a minimum aggregate of 55% marks or equivalent grade B in the UGC 7-point scale or equivalent in the Master’s Degree for admission.
- Candidates of reserved categories are given a relaxation of 5% marks or equivalent grade as per UGC guidelines.
- Candidates qualified for NET JRF / NET LS are exempted from appearing for the university-conducted entrance written test but have to appear for the personal interview round.
- No specific age limit is determined; candidates of any age can apply for the course.
Top Ph.D. in Pharmacology Entrance Exams
Since admission to the Ph.D. pharmacology program is entranced based, candidates need to qualify for the entrance exam conducted by UGC, State, or university to secure an admission seat in this course. Below is a list of some popular and mandatory national and state-level entrance exams.
- SLET
- GATE
- UGC NET
- UGC CSIR NET
Top Ph.D. Pharmacology Colleges in India
Per NIRF Ranking 2021, some top Pharmacy colleges in India offering Ph.D. Pharmacology courses are listed below.
- Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
- Nirma University, Ahmedabad
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Pune
- Annamalai University, Chidambaram
- Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
- Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune
- Sri Adichunchanagiri College of Pharmacy (ACCP), Mandya
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali
- Andhra University, College of Pharmaceutical sciences, Visakhapatnam
Syllabus for Ph.D. Pharmacology Program
The course lasts for three to five years, depending on the performance of the candidates during the program. The syllabus incorporates various papers on areas related to the discipline of pharmacology. Below are the different papers involved in the course curriculum of the program
Particulars of PhD in Pharmacology Syllabus
| Papers | Topics/practical works |
| Paper I | Drug Elimination |
| General Pharmacology | |
| Adverse Reactions to Drugs | |
| Routes of Drug Administration | |
| Basic Principles of Drug Action | |
| Factors Modifying Drug Response | |
| Drug Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism | |
| Paper II | Local Anaesthetics |
| Skeletal Muscle Relaxants | |
| Neurohumoral Transmission | |
| Autonomic Nervous System & Peripheral Nervous System | |
| Sympathetic Nervous System – Sympathomimetics, Sympatholytics | |
| Parasympathetic – Cholinergic, Anticholinergics, Ganglion stimulants, and Blockers | |
| Paper III | General Anaesthetics |
| Central Nervous System | |
| Pharmacotherapy of Pain | |
| General Principles – Neurotransmitters: Definition and Common Transmitters | |
| Drug Therapy of Various CNS Disorders like Epilepsy, Depression, Parkinson’s Disease, Schizophrenia, Neurodegeneration etc. | |
| Paper IV | Autacoids |
| Substance P, Bradykinin | |
| Histamine and Antihistamines | |
| Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, Thromboxane and PAF | |
| Paper V | Diuretics |
| Hypo-Lipidomics | |
| Cardiovascular System | |
| Renin-Angiotensin System | |
| Coagulants and Anticoagulants, Antiplatelet Drugs | |
| Drug Therapy of Hypertension, Shock, Angina, Cardiac Arrhythmias | |
| Paper VI | Autacoids |
| Substance P, Bradykinin | |
| Histamine and Antihistamines | |
| Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, Thromboxane and PAF | |
| Paper VII | Hormones |
| Thyroid Hormones | |
| Drug Therapy for Diabetes | |
| Drugs for Arthritis and Gout | |
| Reproductive Hormones – Testosterone, Estrogen, Progesterone, Contraceptives |
.
Scope after Ph.D. Pharmacology Course
Ph.D. Pharmacology has a vast scope and offers diverse career options regarding specializations. Pharmacology integrates medicine, biology, and pharmaceutical sciences. The field’s integrative nature creates a wide range of career opportunities in scientific study, business, government and regulatory affairs, technology transfer, patent law, science policy, and many more.
After completing the program, candidates are employed for different job roles with a handsome salary package in government and private workforces—the areas of employment for Ph.D. Pharmacology graduates include Drug Manufacturing Companies, Public Health Entities, Blood Services, Industrial Laboratories, Cancer research institutes, Research Departments, Educational Institutes, Environmental Pollution Control, Agriculture and fisheries, Forensic Science, Hospitals, Public Health Laboratories, Cosmetic Industries, etc.
Pharmacology provides a rewarding and satisfying career—graduates of Ph.D. Pharmacologist can also conduct their own research and earn a DSc degree in the future.
PhD in Pharmacology Jobs and Career Options
Pharmacology graduates get a wide range of employment opportunities in Research and Development Laboratories of Pharmaceutical Companies, Non-Lab based Pharmaceutical-Related Fields, Clinical Trials, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, Patenting, etc. Listed below are some popular job positions available after graduating with Ph.D. Pharmacology.
- Chemist
- Clinical Scientist
- Research Scientist
- Clinical Laboratory
- Research Assistant
- Pharmacology Professor
- Medical Research Scientist
- Pharmaceutical Sales Manager
- Medical Pharmacology Technician
Graduates of PhD in Pharmacology Salary in India
Graduates of Ph.D. Pharmacology’s initial salary in India ranges from INR 15 to 15 Lakh Per Annum depending on their job profiles and recruiters. Their salary increases with the candidate’s experience and skill sets. Below are some popular job profiles after Ph.D. Pharmacology with average salary trends.
- Chemist:- INR 7 Lakh Per Annum
- Clinical Scientist:- INR 4 Lakh Per Annum
- Research Assistant:- INR 4 Lakh Per Annum
- Clinical Laboratory:- INR 5 Lakh Per Annum
- Research Scientist:- INR 15 Lakh Per Annum
- Pharmacology Professor:- INR 10 Lakh Per Annum
- Medical Research Scientist:- INR 5 Lakh Per Annum
- Pharmaceutical Sales Manager:- INR 11 Lakh Per Annum
- Medical Pharmacology Technician:- INR 10 Lakh Per Annum
Scope after Ph.D. in Pharmacology Course
Ph.D. Pharmacology has a vast scope and offers diverse career options regarding specializations. Pharmacology integrates medicine, biology, and pharmaceutical sciences. The field’s integrative nature creates a wide range of career opportunities in scientific study, business, government and regulatory affairs, technology transfer, patent law, science policy, and many more.
After completing the program, candidates are employed for different job roles with a handsome salary package in government and private workforces—the areas of employment for Ph.D. Pharmacology graduates include Drug Manufacturing Companies, Public Health Entities, Blood Services, Industrial Laboratories, Cancer research institutes, Research Departments, Educational Institutes, Environmental Pollution Control, Agriculture and fisheries, Forensic Science, Hospitals, Public Health Laboratories, Cosmetic Industries, etc.
Pharmacology provides a rewarding and satisfying career—graduates of Ph.D. Pharmacologist can also conduct their own research and earn a DSc degree in the future.
PhD in Pharmacology Jobs and Career Options
Pharmacology graduates get a wide range of employment opportunities in Research and Development Laboratories of Pharmaceutical Companies, Non-Lab based Pharmaceutical-Related Fields, Clinical Trials, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, Patenting, etc. Listed below are some popular job positions available after graduating with Ph.D. Pharmacology.
- Chemist
- Clinical Scientist
- Research Scientist
- Clinical Laboratory
- Research Assistant
- Pharmacology Professor
- Medical Research Scientist
- Pharmaceutical Sales Manager
- Medical Pharmacology Technician
Graduates of PhD in Pharmacology Salary in India
Graduates of Ph.D. Pharmacology’s initial salary in India ranges from INR 15 to 15 Lakh Per Annum depending on their job profiles and recruiters. Their salary increases with the candidate’s experience and skill sets. Below are some popular job profiles after Ph.D. Pharmacology with average salary trends.
- Chemist:- INR 7 Lakh Per Annum
- Clinical Scientist:- INR 4 Lakh Per Annum
- Research Assistant:- INR 4 Lakh Per Annum
- Clinical Laboratory:- INR 5 Lakh Per Annum
- Research Scientist:- INR 15 Lakh Per Annum
- Pharmacology Professor:- INR 10 Lakh Per Annum
- Medical Research Scientist:- INR 5 Lakh Per Annum
- Pharmaceutical Sales Manager:- INR 11 Lakh Per Annum
- Medical Pharmacology Technician:- INR 10 Lakh Per Annum
FAQs on Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology Course
Ans:- The graduates can work in employment areas surrounding the study of drug action and drug disposition, such as Research Centers, Healthcare Centers, Colleges and universities, Hospital Chemist Shops, Pharmaceutical Companies, etc. Some popular job options available after graduating with Ph.D. Pharmacology is Chemist, Clinical Scientist, Research Scientist, Clinical Laboratory, Research Assistant, Pharmacology Professor, etc.
Ans:- Some best Global Universities for Pharmacology and Toxicology are as follows:
· Harvard University, US
· Monash University, Australia
· Johns Hopkins University, US
· University of Nottingham, UK
· University College London (UCL), UK
· University of California, San Diego, US
· University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, US
Ans:- Yes, you can do a Ph.D. in pharmacology after M Pharm. In fact, some Ph.D. Pharmacy colleges in India only accept students who have earned an MPharm from a recognized institute with a minimum aggregate grade of 55 percent.
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