Course Information

The university part of the pharmacy degree programme usually lasts 8 semesters. It is divided into the foundation stage, which lasts 4 semesters and concludes with the 1st State Examination (more precisely: the first part of the pharmaceutical examination). As the name suggests, students learn all the fundamentals of chemistry, analytical chemistry and biology, as well as physics and mathematics. In addition, during the semester breaks, you must complete a four-week clinical placement in a community pharmacy and a further four weeks either in a community pharmacy, a hospital pharmacy or within the pharmaceutical industry.

The four semesters of the main course of study then focus on the mode of action, application and chemical properties of medicinal substances, medicinal plants and also the formulation of these substances in the form of tablets, capsules, syrups, etc. The main course of study also concludes with a state examination. Afterwards, you are officially entitled to call yourself a pharmacist.

After eight semesters, your time at university is complete and you move on to the practical year. During this time, you learn a great deal about the practical side of working as a pharmacist. Whilst half a year must be spent in a community pharmacy, for the second half you are free to choose which area of work you would like to explore in more detail. As usual, this is followed by a state examination. Once you have passed this final exam, you can finally apply for your licence to practise as a pharmacist.

For more detailed information on the course content, the state examination, clinical placements and the practical year, please refer to the linked pages.

Places on the Pharmacy degree programme are allocated centrally via hochschulstart.de (external link, opens in a new window). It’s best to check there for information on the application process, deadlines and the allocation system. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the programme co-ordinators (external link, opens in a new window).

It’s also important to note that in Regensburg, you can only start the Pharmacy degree programme in the winter semester.

The curriculum is set out in standardised form in the Licensing Regulations for Pharmacists. This page is intended to give you a general overview of the degree programme. If you’d like to read more, do have a look through the semester information.

During the first four semesters, the foundations are laid. In chemistry, the focus is on inorganic and organic chemistry, as well as analytical chemistry. You’ll learn a great deal about chemical reactions, chemical calculations and structural formulas. All of this is also put into practice in the laboratory. Stepping into the lab for the first time is always exciting. But don’t worry: you’ll be supported by teaching assistants and student assistants (students from higher semesters). What’s more, you’ll of course have your fellow students around you, whom you can ask for help. You’ll find that there’s usually a great team spirit in the lab. And if something doesn’t work out straight away, you certainly won’t be the only one. A problem shared is a problem halved!

In the early stages of the biology course, the focus is largely on the general structure and taxonomy of plants. You’ll learn the Latin names of medicinal plants, as well as their uses and distinguishing features. During the lab sessions, you’ll then examine the plants under the microscope. Other topics include microbiology and physiology. There’s a practical session for each of these, featuring lots of interesting experiments.

The subject of ‘Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms’ is a bit more ‘pharmaceutical’ in nature. Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the manufacture of capsules, tablets, creams, suppositories and much more. You’ll then produce all of these yourself in the lab.

Other subjects covered include physics and mathematics. Physics is even a separate examination subject in the first state examination (alongside the science of dosage forms). But don’t worry – the content remains at school level. In addition to a lecture, you can expect smaller practical sessions on physics and physical chemistry. Mathematics, on the other hand, is only covered in a lecture with an accompanying written exam. However, maths is, of course, the basis for the numerous calculations in chemistry. With the knowledge you’ve gained at school, you’ll manage just fine here, and the material rarely goes beyond this level throughout your degree.

Once you’ve mastered all that, you move on to the main part of the degree programme. Here, you’ll encounter five key areas in particular:

The first is pharmacology. This deals with the mechanisms of action, side effects, indications and contraindications of medicinal substances.

Medical Chemistry then focuses more on the chemical side. You learn a great deal about the synthesis of drugs, molecular mechanisms of action, drug reactions and their chemical properties.

In the subject of Clinical Pharmacy, all of this is then applied to practical use in humans. There is a great deal of discussion about guidelines and treatment regimens. Pathology is also incorporated here. Topics include medication reviews and the use of medicines in specific patient groups, such as children or pregnant women.

Pharmaceutical Biology builds on what was started in the foundation year. The focus is now on the constituents of medicinal plants, their synthesis within the plants, and their analysis.

Pharmaceutical Technology is also a continuation of the study of dosage forms and deals with the large-scale manufacture of medicinal formulations.

Major laboratory practicals in the main stage of the degree programme are those in Pharmaceutical Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology. There are also practical sessions on the analysis of medicines based on the Pharmacopoeia, on biochemistry, a pharmacological demonstration course and, finally, the major practical in medicinal chemistry, which centres entirely on the analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Hopefully, you now have a good idea of what to expect from a degree in pharmacy and can judge for yourselves whether it’s something you’d enjoy. If you’d like to see some more photos from the labs, why not click here!

Pharmacists are in high demand, particularly at times like these. If you want to work in a community pharmacy, you’ll almost always find a job. Other options include working in a hospital, in the pharmaceutical industry or for a government agency. If you’d like to pass on your knowledge, you can also work as a teacher at a pharmacy technician college or pursue a career in research and teaching at a university.

There is also the option of pursuing a PhD or qualifying as a specialist pharmacist in a particular field. You can find further information on this on the BLAK (external link, opens in a new window) website.

Incidentally, the salaries of staff in public pharmacies are governed by collective agreements. If you’re interested in the current pay scales, you can find them on the ADEXA (external link, opens in a new window) website.