FAQ - Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy

Application process

How can I apply to study pharmacy at the University of Regensburg?

The Pharmacy degree programme is subject to admission restrictions nationwide,
i.e. you cannot simply enrol on this programme; instead, you must register and apply via the external website Hochschulstart (external link, opens in a new window).
General information on the application process at the University of Regensburg can be found here (external link, opens in a new window)

Please note that at the Regensburg campus, you can only apply for the first semester during the winter term!

Will my final grade (NC) be high enough to get me onto the course?

We cannot give you a definitive answer to that either.
The NC is recalculated each year based on grades and the number of applicants,
i.e. the NC is the grade point average at which the last applicant was accepted last year. It also depends on which federal state you’re applying from to the university in question. As a rule, however, the NC threshold isn’t too high, so your chances of being accepted aren’t that slim!

My NC isn’t high enough – is it still possible to study pharmacy in Regensburg?

It’s worth noting that only 30 per cent of places are allocated via the top-performing Abitur students’ quota and, consequently, via the NC. The remaining places are allocated via the AdH (university selection procedure) and the ZEQ (additional aptitude quota). Since the 22/23 winter semester, the university has been taking part in the PhaST (external link, opens in a new window) (Pharmacy Study Aptitude Test), which can help you improve your chances of securing a place. Another factor that works in your favour is having completed a recognised vocational training programme.

I still have some questions about the degree programme and the application process. Who exactly can I contact?

For questions of this nature, you can contact our programme coordinator, Dr Sutor: Contact (external link, opens in a new window)

Before starting university

What kind of academic preparation is advisable before starting the degree programme?

Experience shows that students’ prior knowledge of the natural sciences varies greatly, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. You should bear in mind that a degree in pharmacy is very chemistry-heavy. Although the university website states that the chemistry lectures start from scratch, this only applies to the ‘General Chemistry’ module, whereas your main module, ‘General and Analytical Chemistry of Inorganic Medicinal Substances, Excipients and Contaminants’ already assumes a great deal of prior knowledge, draws on advanced-level course content, and is difficult to keep up with without a basic grounding. It certainly doesn’t hurt to familiarise yourself in advance with the structure of the periodic table, chemical bonds and acid–base chemistry; prior knowledge of physics is also helpful.

Accommodation

For anyone not from Regensburg, the big task of finding accommodation also lies ahead. This can sometimes prove a bit tricky in Regensburg, so don’t give up!

Below, we’ve put together a few options for you to find out more and apply:

As well as the options listed above, you can also find a flat through noticeboards or newspaper adverts.

Start of the degree programme

Now it’s time to find my feet at uni and in the new city.

Where do the lectures take place and where do I need to go for my first-semester work placement?

Don’t worry, we’ve all got a bit lost at the start, but I’m sure you’ll find your way around very soon :)

Below, we’ll explain the most important new terms that are practically expected as general knowledge at university.

Semesters

At university, the academic year is divided into two parts: the summer and winter semesters. At the University of Regensburg, these start in April and October respectively. Each semester is itself further divided into the lecture period and the non-lecture period.

During the lecture period, as the name suggests, all lectures, seminars and practicals take place. During the non-lecture period, some practicals also take place as part of the pharmacy degree programme, which means that the non-lecture period in the pharmacy degree programme cannot necessarily be described as a semester break.

Exams are held during both the lecture period and the non-lecture period.

Kommilliton members

It’s just a fancy-sounding word for your fellow students :)

Seminar

A seminar is similar to a lecture, except that attendance is compulsory. To this end, an attendance register is usually passed round, which you must sign to confirm your attendance.

Practical sessions

Almost every lecture has a corresponding practical. In these, you’ll learn how to apply the theory you’ve learnt in a practical setting. In most cases, you won’t be allowed to sit the exam until you’ve passed the practical. But don’t worry – our practicals are generally very easy to pass.

There are three different types of practical sessions:

Quota-based practical: Here, you must pass a certain number of experiments and accumulate points, but you are allowed several attempts. Once you have met your quota, the practical is considered passed, and you no longer need to attend. (e.g. Qualitative Analysis)
Attendance-based practicals: Here, you must be present on all practical days. In return, you do not have to repeat any experiments should they not have worked. With this type of practical, however, you must produce reports, which may need to be corrected if necessary. (e.g. Instrumental Analysis)
Practical courses with a practical examination: In these courses, an examination takes place at the end of the course, during which you must demonstrate your practical skills. But don’t worry – these courses are also easy to pass, as you have plenty of time to practise beforehand. (e.g. Pharmaceutical Biology 1 and 2)

General structure of the degree programme

General Structure
The degree programme is divided into the foundation stage and the main stage. Each of these has a standard duration of 4 semesters. At the University of Regensburg, you are normally allowed a maximum of 6 semesters to complete each stage. If you need more time for your studies, you can submit an application to complete the stage within a maximum of 8 semesters.

Following the foundation stage, you will sit the first state examination. This consists of a four-day multiple-choice exam, which is always held at the end of August or in mid-March and is standardised across Germany.

The first state examination is structured as follows:

Day: Chemistry
Day: Biology
Day: Physics and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms
Day: Analytical Chemistry

If you do not pass all the exams, you may still take part in the first semester of your main degree programme as normal. However, you must retake the module you failed at the next available opportunity. Should you fail a module again, you will have to ‘take a break’. This means that you will not be allowed to continue your studies until you have passed the entire first state examination on your third attempt.

After the main course of study comes the second state examination, which this time consists of five oral examinations. Once you have passed this, you are officially qualified pharmacists!

You then move on to the practical year (PJ), at the end of which the third state examination awaits. Once you have successfully completed this, you can finally apply for your licence to practise as a pharmacist.

You can find more detailed information on the individual stages of the course in the semester information or the PJ section.

Exams
Our written exams do not involve marks; the only thing that counts is whether you pass or fail.

You generally have four attempts at each exam; if you fail all four attempts, you will be de-registered.

In addition, you must have sat the exam at least once within two semesters of being admitted to it (i.e. usually after passing the practical placement); otherwise, one of your attempts will be forfeited.

You can find more information on the procedures and regulations relating to your degree programme in our examination regulations (external link, opens in a new window).

Is your degree programme not going as planned?
Don’t worry – you’re not alone. If you have any problems or questions, please feel free to contact us, the student representatives, or pop in to see our programme coordinator , Dr Sutor (external link, opens in a new window). She’s always ready to listen and will help you find a solution.

Financial matters relating to your studies

Although studying in Germany is relatively inexpensive compared to other countries, there are still some costs you’ll need to cover:

the semester fee: for the winter semester 2026/27, this amounts to €208, including the semester ticket .The semester ticket can be upgraded to a Deutschlandticketvia the RVV for €23.50 per month.
One-offBPhD fee of €10 at the start of your degree
Laboratory equipment: You’ll receive a pair of safety goggles free of charge during our first-semester induction, and you can purchase a lab coat from us at the student union for €20.
Laboratory practicals: For almost all laboratory practicals, you will be billed after completion for any glassware that you have broken during the practical. In most cases, however, the bill will not exceed €30 (depending on how many items you have broken and how much each item cost). In addition, for around half of the practical sessions, you will also need to cover the cost of materials. These are calculated individually for each practical session based on the chemicals used. In most cases, the bill for this is less than €80. Exceptions to this are the Quali (1st semester), OC (4th semester) and MedChem (8th semester) placements. These practicals generally cost around €150–200.
Study materials: These days, it is definitely advisable to get a tablet with a stylus for your studies. Of course, it is also possible to follow the lectures without one, but it is very handy to be able to take notes directly on the lecture slides. The most important textbooks are available to everyone in the Chemistry Library or the textbook collection and can also be borrowed (some are also available from our student union). So you generally won’t need to spend any money on books.

Abbreviations used in higher education

As some of our lectures and practical sessions have very long names, we students have come up with abbreviations for them.

Quali: Qualitative analysis of inorganic active ingredients, excipients and impurities
Quanti: Quantitative determination of active ingredients, excipients and contaminants
Instru: Instrumental Analysis
PB I: Pharmaceutical Biology I, practical course on plant morphology and histology with the corresponding written examination
PB II: Pharmaceutical Biology II, practical course on herbal medicines with the corresponding written examination
AFL: Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms
Termi: Terminology
PC: Physical Chemistry
OC: Organic Chemistry
Blümchenbio: Identification exercises/medicinal plant field trip
AB: Pharmacopoeia Analysis Practical (where AB is also an abbreviation for the Pharmacopoeia itself)
BC: Biochemistry
Techno: Pharmaceutical Technology
Pharmako: Pharmacology (mechanisms of action of medicinal substances)
KliPha: Clinical Pharmacy (clinical application of medicinal substances, pathology and pharmacotherapy)
MedChem: Medicinal Chemistry (synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients and their metabolism)