Pharmacy

Study Pharmacy in Malaysia - Fees, Top Universities, Online Study, Admission, Intakes

A pharmacy course in Malaysia trains students to pursue pharmaceutical sciences, medication therapy management, patient care, health services administration, research, and many other related fields, including the pharmaceutical industry. Students can enroll in diploma, bachelor's, or master's programs to study pharmacy in Malaysia according to their previous education and career aspirations. 

Typically, the pharmacy degree curriculum includes courses in pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics, clinical pharmacy, and pharmacy practice. Laboratory work, industry workshops, and clinical placements also provide students with hands-on experience. Pharmacy programs are offered in Malaysia at both public and private universities, allowing students from abroad to select programs based on factors such as course structure, entry requirements, tuition fees, and career opportunities.

What is Pharmacy all about?

The human body and its reaction to different kinds of drugs are what a Pharmacy Degree will cover topics related to it while you study in Malaysia. One should expect to deal with a lot of subjects which are related to Chemistry. When you study pharmacy in Malaysia, you get to know about various type of dosage of medicines to cure diseases, Pharmacy often aggregates the consultation of a doctor. 

Here are some of the popular fields of Pharmacy course in Malaysia. 

Academic Pharmacy

A Ph.D. degree is required to work in Universities or educational institutions to teach researching, evaluating the discoveries of clinical studies. This will give you the opportunity to teach and support a new generation of pharmacists.

Community Pharmacy

Distributing medication to customers is the service of a Community Pharmacist in any retail store. You are also supposed to assess the dosage of prescriptions to the customers. 

Hospital Pharmacy:

• Hospital Pharmacists also prepare hypodermic medications, they also play a part in participating in ward rounds and purchasing and testing the quality of the medications used in the hospital in addition to dispensing medications in the hospital. 

• Pharmacists are also expected to decide what medication is best for each patient and find out if there are any errors done by the doctors whilst prescribing medication to patients.

• To ensure there are no possible harmful drug interactions between medications the pharmacists review other medications which are being taken by the patients prior to their current treatments. 

Industrial Pharmacy

The work of industrial pharmacists are involved in the production of drugs for pharmaceutical companies and ensuring that the drug is produced of high quality and is safe for every being.

 Education Levels of Pharmacy Courses in Malaysia

Pharmacy education in Malaysia is available at several levels, allowing students to progress from foundational studies to advanced specialisations.

Entry Requirement to study pharmacy in Malaysia

1. Foundation

2. Diploma

3. Bachelor’s degree

In addition, a minimum of 5Bs including Mathematics/Additional Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology in SPM / O-Level (or equivalent) is typically required.

4. Master's degree

A certain amount of working experience may be required.

5. Doctorate

Duration of Pharmacy Course in Malaysia

Fee Structure of Pharmacy Course in Malaysia

Living Cost to Study Pharmacy in Malaysia

The living cost to study pharmacy in Malaysia depends on the city, accommodation, and lifestyle. International students can live comfortably on around RM1,100 per month, including accommodation, food, and daily expenses.

Career Opportunities After Pharmacy in Malaysia

Pharmacy graduates from Malaysia can work in private and government hospitals, government clinics, community pharmacies, the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory affairs, research, and academia. Graduates who wish to work as pharmacists in Malaysia must undergo the requisite pre-registration training and compulsory service, as well as fulfill the criteria set by the Pharmacy Board Malaysia.

• Hospital & Clinical Pharmacist: Employment in either private or government hospitals working to dispense and counsel patients on medications and engage in medication therapy, clinical pharmacy services and specialty pharmacy care such as oncology and pharmacokinetics.
• Community Pharmacist: Working in retail pharmacy chains or independent pharmacies, dispensing medicines, counseling patients, working with prescriptions, and giving medication information.
• Government Pharmacist: Serve with the Ministry of Health and government health centers in pharmaceutical services, medication management, public health and health center administration.
• Regulatory Affairs Pharmacist: Work with pharmaceutical companies or regulatory agencies in drug registration, regulatory documentation, product approvals, safety requirements, and compliance.
• Industrial Pharmacist: Employment in pharmaceutical manufacturing supervising the manufacturing process of drugs as well as quality assurance, quality control and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance.
• Research & Development (R&D): Work with pharmaceutical companies, research institutes or contract research organisations performing drug development, formulation, clinical research and pharmacovigilance.
• Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing: Work as a medical sales representative, product specialist or pharmaceutical marketing professional communicating product messages to healthcare practitioners and supporting sales efforts.
• Academia & Research: Continue to a Master’s or PhD and take positions as a lecturer, researcher, or pharmaceutical research in universities or research institutions.
• Medical Writing and Science Communication: Write and edit medical, healthcare, clinical and drug-related information for healthcare companies, publishers and specialty agencies using pharmaceutical knowledge.
   

Best University for Pharmacy in Malaysia

The best university for pharmacy in Malaysia options include Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Monash University Malaysia, IMU, Taylor’s University, University of Cyberjaya, and UCSI University, offering pharmacy programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

1. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)  is the first university in Malaysia to be selected by the Malaysian government to participate in the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX), a fast-track programme that helps tertiary institutions achieve world-class status.

USM offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that are conducted in their three campuses: main campus, engineering campus and health campus.

2. University Malaya (UM)

Known as the top university in Malaysia, Universiti Malaya has a good reputation in producing competitive and holistic graduates. As the oldest and most prestigious university in Malaysia, the university is located in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

UM offers a wide range of programmes to both undergraduate and postgraduate students with more than 12 faculties, four academies and centres. Extensive and holistic student service and support system is available to equip students with vital skills and exposure.

3. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is the National University of Malaysia and is ranked in the Top 150 of the 2022 QS World University Rankings. It is a public university located in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, which is at the south of Kuala Lumpur.

Since its inception, UKM has grown from three faculties to its current 13 faculties and 12 research institutes with approximately 172,000 alumni worldwide. It also partners with universities across the world to offer Student Mobility Programmes. 

4. International Medical University (IMU)

The International Medical University (IMU) is a private health sciences university in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia's leading private medical and healthcare university. It was established in 1992 and is active in research and teaching within medicine and healthcare with a strong international orientation.

5. Taylor’s University

Taylor’s University is an educational provider based in Malaysia. The university offers a range of study options covering subject areas such as Accounting, Finance, Arts, Computer Science, Business, Hospitality and Tourism, and much more. It enjoys more than 50 years in the education industry and has a global network of more than 3,000 career partners. 3,000 of Taylor’s student's intern with top employers every year. The university's School of Pharmacy offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that received full accreditation by the Malaysian Pharmacy Board as well.

6. University of Cyberjaya (UoC)

University of Cyberjaya (UoC) is ranked as one of the pre-eminent private universities in Malaysia. Located in Cyberjaya, UoC is a renowned healthcare university with a wide variety of courses to offer. If you are considering to further your study in Pharmacy up to doctorate, then this is the place for you! UoC offers bachelor, master and doctorate of Pharmacy.

7. Monash University Malaysia

Monash University Malaysia gives students the opportunity to obtain a prestigious Australian degree, from the campus in Sunway City, Malaysia. Tuition fees and living expenses are significantly lower than in Australia, but students will be recognised internationally as a member of the Monash Alumni. 

Monash University is ranked in the top 60 universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings 2022. Its Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences offers a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. Students can complete two years of study in Malaysia and transfer to the Australian campus if they meet the given requirements.  

8. UCSI University

UCSI University is a private university in Malaysia with its main campus in Kuala Lumpur, alongside campuses in Sarawak and Bandar Springhill. For students interested to study pharmacy in Malaysia, UCSI is particularly notable for its Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, which has offered pharmacy education since 2000. The faculty provides undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and has dedicated teaching and research laboratories, as well as collaborations with hospitals, community pharmacies, and pharmaceutical industries. 

Application Process to Study Pharmacy in Malaysia

To study pharmacy in Malaysia, students generally need to meet the required science-subject qualifications, complete a recognised pre-university programme, enrol in a Pharmacy Board of Malaysia (PBM)-recognised Bachelor of Pharmacy, and complete the required professional training to become a registered pharmacist.

Step 1: Meet the Entry Requirements

Students must meet the academic requirements for admission to a pharmacy programme.

• Core subjects: A minimum B grade is generally required in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Additional Mathematics, and one other subject.
• Language requirement: A credit in Bahasa Malaysia at SPM level may be required for students intending to pursue government employment.
• Requirements can vary by university and qualification pathway.

Step 2: Complete Pre-University Education

After secondary school, students typically complete a 1–2 year pre-university or foundation programme before entering a Bachelor of Pharmacy.

Common pathways include:

• Foundation in Science – Must meet the relevant recognition requirements.
• STPM
• A-Levels
• Matriculation

Students entering through STPM, A-Levels or similar qualifications generally need strong science grades, particularly in Biology and Chemistry.

Step 3: Enrol in a Recognised Bachelor of Pharmacy

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) is the main undergraduate professional pharmacy qualification in Malaysia.

• Duration: Usually 4 years full-time
• Study areas include pharmacology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice.
• Choose a university and programme recognised by the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia (PBM).
• Students must also complete the Qualifying Examination for Pharmacy Practice, which is an open-book examination consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions.

Step 4: Complete Provisional Registration and Practical Training

After completing the BPharm and meeting the examination requirements, graduates can proceed with Provisional Registration as a Pharmacist (PRP).

• Complete 1 year of supervised practical training at a PBM-recognised training facility.
• Training may be undertaken in approved government or private healthcare settings.
• Complete the required Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination, covering pharmacy law, regulations and professional practice.

Step 5: Apply for Full Registration

After successfully completing the required PRP training and other registration requirements, graduates can apply for full registration with the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia.
A fully registered pharmacist can pursue careers in hospitals, community pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory affairs, research and academia.

Before You Apply for Pharmacy Course in Malaysia

Before applying for pharmacy course in Malaysia, make sure you have checked the following: