M.S. Pharmacology is a 3-year postgraduate course pursued after successful completion of MBBS in the field of Pharmacology. It is an extension of biology that studies drug action on the body. Any natural or man-made drug can affect the body. Drugs exert a biochemical or physiological effect on the mechanism of the body. The course is a study of such cases.
Top institutes offering this course are:
- AIIMS, New Delhi
- Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha
- SN Medical College, Agra
- Allahabad State University
The field of Pharmacology encompasses composition and properties of drugs, drug synthesis, and design, molecular and cellular mechanism of drugs, antipathogenic capabilities of drugs, organ and system mechanism of drugs in general, drugs’ cellular communication with the body, molecular interactions of drugs, and drug toxicology and medical applications.
All in all, Pharmacology aims to ensure that medications in the body treat ailments, and not harm it. Pharmacology is thus the study of drugs - how they interact with the molecules of the body and how they affect it. The average course fees charged in India ranges between INR 30,000 - 5 lacs for the total duration. The average annual salary offered to successful postgraduates of the field ranges between INR 3-10 lacs per annum.
Top Colleges for Master of Surgery [M.S.] (Pharmacology)
M.S. Pharmacology: Course Highlights
Listed below are some of the major highlights of the course.
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Eligibility | MBBS completed from a university recognized by the Medical Council of India |
| Admission Process | Based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant entrance test. |
| Course Fee | INR 30,000 - 2 lacs |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 6- 12 lacs |
| Top Recruiting Organizations' | Ranbaxy, Sun Pharma, Amway, etc |
| Top Recruiting Areas' | Health Centers, Hospitals, Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Colleges, Medical Foundation / Trust, Non-Profit Organizations, Nursing Homes, Polyclinics, Private Practice, Research Institutes, among others. |
| Top Job Profiles | Analytical Chemist, Physiologist, Toxicologist, Healthcare Scientist, Biomedical Scientist, among others. |
M.S. Pharmacology: What is it About?
Students enrolled to the course are taught advanced lessons in effects of drugs on living organisms, leading new drug discoveries, working of the human body, physiology, pathology and chemistry, biophysical and computational research in the field of medicine, pharmacological and physical research activities, and relevant aspects of Analytical Chemistry.
M.S. Pharmacology: Who should opt?
Key skills required in ideal candidates of the course are:
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Preparing and delivering presentations
- Tremendous Patience for dealing with different kinds of people
- Medical Report writing
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership and team skills
- Data collection and analysis
- Time management
- Problem-solving skills.
Top Institutes offering M.S. Pharmacology
Listed below are some of the top institutes offering the course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by each.
| Name of Institute | City | Average Fees per annum in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Sharda University | Greater Noida | 93,300 |
| Baba Farid University of Health Sciences | Faridkot | 1.5 lacs |
| Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences | Vijayawada | 37,500 |
| Manipal University | Manipal | 15,400 |
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences | New Delhi | 2,550 |
| Swami Vivekanand Subharti University | Meerut | 28,200 |
| Swami Rama Himalayan University University | Dehradun | 68,500 |
| Gandhi Medical College | Amritsar | 15,000 |
| Gandhi Medical College | Chandigarh | 4,330 |
| Gandhi Medical College | Haldwani | 68,000 |
| Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research | Pondicherry | 4,150 |
| Sri Ramachandra University | Chennai | 1.25 lacs |
Eligibility for M.S. Pharmacology
Candidates aspiring for admission to the course are required to fulfill the following minimum eligibility criteria.
- Post-graduation (MBBS or equivalent degree), completed from an institute recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) or any of the State Medical Councils.
- A minimum aggregate score of 55% (50% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the level of post-graduation.
- 1- year compulsory rotating internship.
- Preferably, a minimum of 12 months of professional experience, as most reputed institutes prefer candidates with work experience.
M.S. Pharmacology: Admission Process
Generally, in most of the colleges and institutes offering the course, admission is provided based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant entrance test, Common Entrance Test (CET), conducted at any of State and national levels, followed by a subsequent round of counseling.
The round of counseling involves two additional rounds of Group Discussion and Personal Interview, wherein candidate’s general aptitude for the course is examined. A merit list is subsequently released issued by the institute allocating available seats to the qualifying candidates.
Some such entrance exams held in the country are listed below.
- AIIMS Postgraduate – Post Doctoral Courses Entrance examination
- AIPGMEE – All India Post Graduate Medical / Dental Entrance Examination
- All India Common Medical Entrance Test for MBBS and PG
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University Entrance examination
- Annamalai University – PG Medical Entrance Exam
- Army Dental Corps Short Service Commission (SSC), BDS and MDS Entrance examination
- Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Faridkot
- Post Graduate Entrance Test
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi Entrance examination
- JIPMER PG Medical Entrance examination
- NIPER-JEE
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Joint Entrance Examination.
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M.S. Pharmacology: Syllabus and Course Description
A semester-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is tabulated below.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| General Pharmacology Principles and Allied Sciences | Wonder Discoveries in Pharmacology |
| Toxicology | Systemic Pharmacology |
| Molecular Biology in Pharmacology | Experimental Pharmacology |
| Isolation of compounds from Herbal Sources | Biassy and Statistics |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Instrumentation in Drug Analysis | Drug Development Process |
| Biostatistics and Recent Advancements | Therapeutic Drug Monitoring |
| Pharmacokinetics | Thesis |
| Drug Regulations | Practical: One exercise on the intact animal. One exercise on the isolated organ. One chemical pharmacological exercise. |
M.S. Pharmacology: Career Prospects
Popular areas of employment for such postgraduates include:
- industrial, commercial or research environments.
- drug research and development laboratories.
- pharmaceutical organizations.
- non-lab based jobs in pharmaceutical-related fields.
Related MS Pharmacology courses are:
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Some of the popular professional avenues open to successful postgraduates of the course are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.
![Master of Surgery [M.S.] in Pharmacology annual salary](
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| Job Position | Job Description | Average Annual Salary in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Chemist | Analytical Chemists assess the chemical structure, nature, and properties of substances. Analytical Chemists use their skills for a variety of purposes of drug development and synthesis, including forensic analysis and toxicology. They may specialize in areas such as toxicology, pharmaceuticals, and forensics. | 2-4 lacs |
| Pharmacologist | Pharmacologists conduct research on animals or on human subjects. They work on chemical compounds and substances so as to devise new medications. Their job duties include planning and directing studies, standardizing drug doses, preparing research grants, and following safety procedures. | 2-3 lacs |
| Healthcare Scientist | A Healthcare Scientist’s job is generally laboratory-based. They investigate disease, genetic makeup, and develop new scientific treatments to find solutions to diseases. | 2-3 lacs |
| Biomedical Scientist | Biomedical Scientists carry out experiments on samples of body fluids and tissue, so that solutions can be found out to regular as well as threatening diseases. | 3-4 lacs |
| Toxicologist | Toxicologists use analytical and scientific techniques to study and identify toxins in chemical and biological substances. They also study the effect of toxins on radiation. Their job also involves assessing the potential risks and harmful effects posed by toxins on the body. | 5-6 lacs |
| Drug Developer | Drug Developers work in a variety of industries like food industry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical science industry, and medical device manufacturing companies. They develop and synthesize new foods, drugs, and medical technologies, and perform research on developing ways to enhance existing products. | 6-10 lacs |
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![Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital - [SMVMCH]](https://staticstage.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1495706483Logo.jpg?tr=h-30,w-30,c-force)
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