Master Pharmacy

This Master programme offers a broad education in pharmacy-related subjects and opens doors to a wide range of job opportunities and career paths in community or hospital pharmacies, in pharmaceutical research and development, and with health authorities. The two-year master's studies in pharmacy build on the three-year bachelor's studies in pharmaceutical sciences. They convey in depth knowledge in various fields of pharma­ceutical sciences as well as patient- and practice-oriented skills.  

The first year of study consists of compulsory subjects and elective courses, independent research in the frame of the Drug Seminar and the Master's thesis. In the second year, students work as interns in community pharmacies (the so-called "Assistenzzeit") and attend practice-oriented block courses at the university:

• Pharmaceutical subject areas such as pharmacology and toxicology, pharmacoepide­mio­logy, and therapeutic proteins
  
• Literature research and presentations on a drug-related topic in the frame of the Drug seminar
  
• Scientific research in the frame of the Master thesis (23 weeks)
  
• Practice- and patient-oriented subjects and case studies, practical trainings in drug compounding, clinical trainings, training in a hospital pharmacy, basic education and training in vaccination techniques
  
• Residency in a pharmacy/hospital pharmacy (29 weeks).

The Master's degree in Pharmacy is the prerequisite for admission to the Federal Exams in Pharmacy, which enable students to work as pharmacists in a community or hospital pharmacies. An independent professional practice, such as running a pharmacy, becomes possible after two years of continued education and acquisition of the title of a pharmacy specialist (FPH). Information on continued education in community or hospital pharmacies is provided by the professional associations Swiss Pharmacists Association (external pagepharmaSuissecall_made) and Swiss Association of Office and Hospital Pharmacists (external pageGSASAcall_made).