So have you been planning to study Pharmacy in Malaysia for your degree?
Wondering if Pharmacy is the right one for you?
Let’s talk about Pharmacy together in this entry.
What is Pharmacy?
Pharmacy is the clinical health science which connects medical science and chemistry.
It is related to discovery, production, disposal, safety, consumption, and control of medications as well as drugs. With that being said, this industry requires excellent knowledge regarding the mechanism of action, side effects, interactions, mobility and toxicity of drugs, including knowledge of treatment.
What do Pharmacists do?
Pharmacists are experts in medication that help patients get well using their knowledge in the field. The general pharmacist responsibilities include:
Why study Pharmacy?
- Contribute to people
First and foremost, pharmacists play the role of making patients feel better and make them recover within a short duration.
If you find the utmost satisfaction in finding solutions to help sick people get better — pharmacy is for you. After all, patients need pharmacists as part of their healthcare teams in order to be prescribed the most suitable medication as pharmacists are the specialists.
- Variety Career Opportunities
Not only that, pharmacists also have numerous healthcare environments for them to jump into.
This includes hospitals, nursing homes, managed care organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, colleges and schools, and the federal government.
Since pharmacists are known to be one of the key leadership roles in all aspects of the healthcare system, it is acknowledged that a pharmacy degree opens the door to countless possibilities for you to explore the fields that interest you most.
- High Demand
Last but not least, pharmacists are constantly needed in every country all around the world and there is always a demand.
There will always be new diseases, new viruses every now and then, therefore pharmacists are the ones responsible to discover new medicines and new prescriptions for the society.
Fret not, pharmacy graduates will be able to find employment after graduation in no time.
What are the Career Opportunities if I study Pharmacy in Malaysia?
- Retail Pharmacist – Works in a pharmacy store (e.g. Guardian, Watsons, etc.) and is responsible for dispensing controlled medication according to legal and ethical guidelines.
- Hospital Pharmacist – Works closely with doctors and medical professionals to advise on the type and dosage of medication and how it will be administered (e.g. tablet, injection, inhaler).
- Research Pharmacist – Conduct research experiments to design, develop and test new drugs and treatments.
- Regulatory Pharmacist – Responsible for obtaining approval from local regulatory authorities (e.g. Drug Control Authority Malaysia) to sell and market pharmaceutical products.
What are the Key Skills to study Pharmacy in Malaysia?
- Math and Science skills
Most importantly, pharmacy students need to be proficient in these subjects — both are essential to make informed decisions on proper dosage, utilization, and distribution of medications.
- Accuracy
In addition, when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry, there is no room for error because it’s a matter of life and death.
If patients were given the wrong medication — it can be horrible. Whether it’s receiving instruction from doctors, entering the information into the computer system, or measuring ingredients correctly, accuracy is essential.
- Multitasking
Other than that, pharmacists will be expected to do multiple tasks along with dispensing of medicines.
They are responsible for checking expiry dates of medicines, stocking of required medicines, recording and many other small to big tasks are assigned to them.
Hence, they need to be able to multitask accurately.
What are the General Entry Requirements to study Pharmacy in Malaysia?
Academic Requirements
Pre-Requisites | A pass in SPM/ IGCSE (O-Level) or equivalent with 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Additional Mathematics and another subject |
STPM/Foundation in Sciences/Pre-University/Matriculation in Medicine and Pharmacy | CGPA minimum 3.00 with minimum B in Chemistry |
A-Levels | ABB with minimum B in Chemistry |
UEC | Pass with minimum Grade B4 in 5 subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Additional Mathematics or one other subject. |
International Baccalaureate (IB) | Pass with minimum 30-33 points and minimum B in two subjects (Chemistry, Mathematics, or other Science subject) |
Diploma | Related diplomas with a minimum CGPA of 3.75 including B in Chemistry Subject |
English requirements
IELTS | Minimum 6.0 (no individual band below 5.5) |
TOEFL | Minimum 550 (PBT) |
SPM 1119 or IGCSE English | Minimum Grade B |
MUET | Minimum Band 3 |
*The requirements may vary among universities, for inquiries on other entry requirements, contact Excel Education.
What are the Top 8 Universities to study Pharmacy in Malaysia? (Recognized by Pharmacy Board Malaysia)
1. Monash University Malaysia
Program Name | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) |
Program Duration | 4 years |
Intakes | February |
Indicative Annual Fee | Malaysia students: RM53,025 Non-Malaysian students: RM59,996 |
2. University of Nottingham Malaysia
Program Name | MPharm (Hons) |
Program Duration | 4 years (2 years in Malaysia + 2 years in the UK) |
Intakes | September |
Indicative Annual Fee | Malaysian students: RM49,700 Non-Malaysian students: RM58,000 |
3. International Medical University (IMU)
Program Name | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) |
Program Duration | 4 years |
Intakes | July, September |
Indicative Annual Fee | Malaysian students: RM47,900 Non-Malaysian students: RM51,200 |
4. Taylor's University
Program Name | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) |
Program Duration | 4 years |
Intakes | August |
Indicative Annual Fee | Malaysian students: RM42,128 Non-Malaysian students: RM48,876 |
5. UCSI University
Program Name | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) |
Program Duration | 4 years |
Intakes | July |
Indicative Annual Fee | Malaysian students: RM29,880 Non-Malaysian students: RM41,012 |
6. MAHSA University
Program Name | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) |
Program Duration | 4 years |
Intakes | September |
Indicative Annual Fee | RM38,000 |
7. University of Cyberjaya
Program Name | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) |
Program Duration | 4 years |
Intakes | September |
Indicative Annual Fee | Malaysian students: RM26,050 Non-Malaysian students: RM37,500 |
8. SEGi University
Program Name | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) |
Program Duration | 4 years |
Intakes | September |
Indicative Annual Fee | Malaysian students: RM32, 500 Non-Malaysian students: RM36, 000 |
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Heather
I seek peace and knowledge in discovering myself.
