MBA in Pharmaceutical Management is a 2-year postgraduate degree course which focuses at producing skilled professionals for managerial level positions in areas like Drug Manufacturing, Production Management, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Brand Management etc.
Candidates who wish to pursue this course must hold a bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized college or university with a minimum aggregate score of 50%.
Admission to top Pharmaceutical colleges is done either on the merit basis or entrance exams such as CAT/MAT/CMAT etc. The average MBA Pharmaceutical Management fees charged by colleges or universities in India lies anywhere in between INR 1,00,000 and 10,00,000 per year.
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management Course Details
Highlights for MBA Pharmaceutical Management program are provided in the table given below:
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Eligibility | Graduation from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate score of 50%(45% for SC/ST candidates). |
| Admission Process | Entranced/ Merit based |
| Top Entrance Exams | CAT, CMAT, NMAT, SNAP, XAT, etc |
| Course Fee | INR 1 Lakh to 10 Lakhs per year |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3 to 10 Lakhs |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Ranbaxy Laboratories, Dabur India Ltd., Central WareHousing Corp., Infosys, Cipla, Abbott India, Lupin, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s lab, Piramal etc. |
| Top Job Profiles | Pharmaceuticals Distributors, Pharmaceutical Purchase Manager, Formulation Pharmaceutical Technology Scientist, Sales Managers, Consultant and project manager, Market researcher and analyst etc. |
What is an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management?
Information and details about the MBA Pharmaceutical Management program are as follows.
- The course aims at producing skilled professionals for managerial and related positions in the Pharmaceutical industry.
- This course imparts various necessary skills to the students like business development, sales and marketing, consultancy and planning and operation management.
- MBA Pharmaceutical degree course revolves around the study of health and chemical sciences combined with management and marketing strategies.
- The course touches on various aspects of the Pharmaceutical industry including analysis, research, sales, consultation, administration and distribution. It incorporates various managerial and research skills and business strategies.
- The areas of study within the course include research, communication, management, accounting, finance, pharmaceutical science, and several other aspects of the Pharmaceutical business.
- The course deals with the theoretical as well as with the practical aspect of the subject. Apart from the theory papers, It is also supported by various assignments, presentations, quizzes and internships.
See Also: MBA Specializations
Why Study MBA in Pharmaceutical?
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management is one of the most sought after courses in India in terms of personal growth and career growth opportunities. The course has so many benefits attached to it. Some of the benefits and perks of pursuing this course are given below:
- The course offers various career growth opportunities and promotes the growth of knowledge.
- The course is a must-do for students who aspire to hold managerial positions in the Pharmaceutical industry.
- The course focuses on both the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject. Its curriculum incorporates various assignments, presentations, quizzes and internships which provide hands-on industrial experience to the students.
- The MBA Pharmaceutical Management salary package ranges from INR 3,00,000 to 10,00,000 per annum. The average CTC offered by companies in some reputed institutes can reach as high as INR 15,00,000 to 20,00,000.
- The course opens up various career opportunities in front of students. Students can choose to work in top-notch Pharmaceutical companies. They can even set up their own businesses. Apart from this, yet another option for students is to pursue much higher education.
Check: Why MBA
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management: Admission Process
Admission to the course is done based on the score obtained by a candidate in an entrance exam.
- Some of the major all India entrance exams conducted for this purpose are CAT, MAT, SNAP, CMAT etc.
- Some colleges also offer admission on merit basis. Usually, the admission process commences from the month of August and September.
- Online forms for almost every entrance exam are available by the end of August.
Merit-based admission:
- Submit the application to the colleges or universities you are interested in for admission.
- Perform well in the undergraduate examinations as the scores obtained in these form the basis of the entire admission process.
- In due course of time colleges release their cutoff lists. Check if you are eligible for admission into the desired course.
- If eligible, visit the college and submit all the required documents.
See More: MBA Admission
Entrance based admission:
- Submit the application to the colleges or universities you are interested in for admission.
- Register for the entrance exams you will be required to qualify in order to make it the college of your choice.
- In order to get shortlisted for further rounds of admission, one must score above the minimum qualifying percentile set by the respective college or university.
- After the written test, special group discussions and personal interview rounds are conducted for preparing the final merit list of shortlisted candidates.
- Once all the tests are conducted, the colleges or universities declare the result and release a merit list of finally shortlisted candidates on the basis of the written test, group discussion and personal interview.
- After the admission process, the final allotment of seats to the candidates takes place and the candidate is required to deposit the course fee and register for the respective academic year.
MBA in Pharmaceutical Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for MBA Pharmaceutical Management aspirants are not complicated and is as follows. It must be noted that the eligibility criteria will differ from institute to institute.
- The candidate must possess a bachelor's degree in any relevant discipline from a recognized college or university.
- One must have an aggregate of a minimum of 50% marks in their graduation to be eligible for this course.
- The candidate must have a valid score in the required entrance exam.
- Work experience is not mandatory but is highly preferred.
See More: MBA Eligibility
MBA in Pharmaceutical: Entrance Exams
| Exam Name | Registration Date | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| CAT | August 2 – September 21, 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
| MAT |
Dec 5, 2023 |
Dec 9, 2023 |
| SNAP | August 23, 2023 | December 10, 17, & 22, 2023 |
| IBSAT | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| CMAT | February 2024 – March 2024 | March 2024 |
| MAH CET | February 2024 – March 2024 | 23rd & 24th March 2024 |
| NMAT | August 1, 2023 – October 12, 2023 | December 19, 2023 |
| ATMA | To be Announced |
To be Announced |
| XAT | July 15, 2023 – November 30, 2023 | January 7, 2024 |
| TISSNET | December 2023 – January 2024 | February 2024 |
Tips for Entrance Exams
Scoring well in an entrance exam is not a difficult task if one is well aware of the latest exam pattern. Hence, one should go through the previous year papers and perform a proper analysis of the exam pattern. Apart from this, one should do thorough research about the full syllabus of the entrance exam. Mainly there are four sections in almost all the MBA entrance exams.
One can follow the tips given below in order to excel in any entrance exam:
- Generally, multiple-choice based questions are asked in the exam. In most exams, negative marks are offered for every wrong answer. So, make sure you attempt only those questions which you are sure of.
- Verbal ability and reading comprehension sections generally include Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, Para Jumbles, Summarizing etc. The best way to get acquainted with the language is to do as much reading as possible.
- The QA section comprises questions about 10th-level Mathematics. The questions are usually tricky and require a different approach to solving them. Hence one must be very clear with the basics.
- The DI & LR section is generally tricky and difficult. One can start preparing for this section by trying to solve simple puzzles. Try to solve questions correctly and quickly.
- Some entrance exams also have general knowledge and current affairs questions. The types of questions asked under this section are about national and international affairs, businesses, taglines of companies, top officials of big companies, international organizations, social issues etc.
- One must read newspapers and news articles daily to stay updated on current affairs.
- Once done with the syllabus, one must start taking mock tests. This helps one to get a taste of the type of questions that are usually asked in the exam. Taking around 20 to 25 mocks can help you in performing really well in the entrance exam.
- One can even rely on a suitable coaching institute for preparation if one feels the need for it.
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management Distance Education
If you are unable to pursue this course in regular mode, you will be able to pursue MBA Pharmaceutical Management course through distance mode as well. Before taking admission, Students must check for the validity of the course and the college in distance or correspondence mode.
- In order to be eligible for this course through correspondence mode students need to possess a bachelor’s degree in any relevant field from a recognized college or university with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
- The minimum duration required to complete this course from distance mode is 1 year and the maximum duration of the same is 3 years.
- Admission to MBA in Pharmaceutical Management course through correspondence mode is either entrance based or merit-based.
- The average fee for the course ranges from INR 50,000 to 1,50,000 annually.
Top Colleges
Given below are some colleges which offer this course through distance mode.
| College Name | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Don Bosco University Global Center for Open and Distance Education, Assam | Merit-Based | INR 40,000 |
| Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu | Merit-Based | INR 23,920 |
| Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Rajasthan | Merit-Based | INR 84,500 |
See Also: MBA Distance Education
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management Syllabus
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management is a 2-year degree program. Each year consists of 2 semesters. The course curriculum incorporates various assignments, quizzes, and presentations. In some colleges, it is mandatory for students to take up any related internship while pursuing the course.
The table given below shows the semester-wise breakup of the subjects one is required to study under the curriculum of this course.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques in Management | Business Environment |
| Managerial Economics | Cost and Management Accounting |
| Managerial Accounting | Marketing Management |
| Managerial Communication | Financial Management |
| Organizational Behavior | Production and operations management |
| Principles of management | Human resource management |
| Computer application in Management | Business research methodology |
| Communicative English: Laboratory 1 | Communicative English: Laboratory 2 |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Strategic management | Entrepreneurship and management of innovations |
| Pharmaceutical management information system | Management control system |
| Anatomy | Corporate governance and business ethics |
| physiology and Pharmacology | Pharmaceutical advance human resource management |
| Legal aspects of Pharmaceutical business | Pharmaceutical management research project |
| Pharmaceutical multinational management | Practical Work: Personality growth Lab 2 |
| Personality growth Lab 1 | - |
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management Course Comparison
MBA Pharmaceutical Management and MBA Hospitality Management are two different specializations of the MBA degree program. Some of the key differences between these two specializations are given below.
| Parameters | MBA Pharmaceutical Management | MBA Hospitality Management |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Master in Business Administration Pharmaceutical Management | Master in Business Administration Hospitality management |
| Course overview | MBA Pharmaceutical Management aims at producing skilled professionals for managerial and related positions in the Pharmaceutical industry. The course imparts various necessary skills to the students like business development, sales and marketing, consultancy and planning and operation management. | MBA in Hospitality Management course aims at preparing professionals for performing almost all the tasks in the hospitality industry. It not only trains them for daily operations in a hotel/restaurant, but also it trains the candidates in handling the accounts, interacting with clients, and handling and growing the business properly. |
| Admission process | Entrance/ Merit-based | Entrance/ Merit-based |
| Top entrance exams | CAT, GMAT, CMAT, SNAP, NMAT, XAT | CAT, GMAT, CMAT, SNAP, NMAT, XAT |
| Average Fees | INR 1,00,000 to 10,00,000 | INR 30,000 - 8,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 - 10,00,000 | INR 4,00,000 - 12,00,000 |
| Top job profiles | Pharmaceuticals Distributors, Pharmaceutical Purchase Manager, Market researcher and analyst etc. | Hospitality Business Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, Key Accounts Manager, Operations Manager, Finance Manager, etc. |
| Top Colleges | Alliance University, Amity University, Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University, Amity Business School etc. | University Business School, Panjab University, Symbiosis International University, Amity Business School, etc. |
Top Colleges in India
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management course is offered by many top colleges and universities across the country. Some of the top colleges offering this course have been mentioned below with several other details.
| College Name | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| SPJIMR Mumbai | INR 8,75,000 |
| SIBM Pune | INR 7,68,000 |
| NMIMS Mumbai | INR 9,25,000 |
| Alliance University, Bangalore | INR 6,25,000 |
| Amity University, Noida | INR 3,40,000 |
| LPU Jalandhar | INR 3,04,000 |
| Chandigarh University, Chandigarh | INR 1,80,000 |
| NIMS University, Jaipur | INR 60,000 |
| HITS, Chennai | INR 2,53,000 |
Check: Top MBA Pharmaceutical Management Colleges
College Comparison
The tabulation below depicts the comparison made among the three top MBA Pharmaceutical colleges in India.
| Parameter | SPJIMR | SIBM | NMIMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Mumbai | Pune | Noida |
| Approval | AICTE, NBA, AACSB and AMBA | UGC, AICTE and NAAC | UGC, AICTE |
| Overview | S P Jain Institute of Management and Research is a leading school of management which is a part of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and functions as an autonomous institute. It is among the top ten management institutes in India. | Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune is a constituent of Symbiosis International University (SIU) and was established in 1978. The institute offers courses in Finance, HR, Marketing and much more. To offer admissions, the university conducts it’s own entrance exams like SET and SNAP. | Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies is one of the top B-schools in the country. It offers various management courses at the postgraduate and doctoral levels such as MBA, MBA Executive, Ph.D., etc. Admission to these courses are offered on the basis of a valid test score in any of the acceptable management entrance exams. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university | Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university | Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university |
| Admission Process | CAT/XAT/NMAT/MAT | SNAP | CAT, MAT, GMAT, XAT, NPAT, and CMAT |
| Average Fee | INR 8,75,000 | INR 7,68,000 | INR 10,60,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 18,38,000 | INR 10,00,000 | INR 6,50,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Genpact, Maruti Suzuki, Accenture, IBM India Pvt. Ltd., HDFC bank, Tech Mahindra, Gail, Thomas Cook etc. | Deloitte, HCL, HP, Aditya Birla group, Cisco etc. | HCL, Google, American Express, ICICI, Tech Mahindra, Cisco, Accenture, Deloitte |
How to get Admission in a good College?
To secure admission into a top-ranked MBA institute, a number of factors come into play. Some of the following tips will be helpful in that regard.
- The admission process to the course is either entrance based or merit-based.
- In the case of merit-based selection, one must perform well in the qualifying examinations.
- In the case of entrance based selection, it is very important to perform well and score a good percentile in the entrance exam in order to get admission in a good college.
- One must be well aware of the latest exam pattern. One must also know the weightage assigned to each section in the exam and prepare accordingly.
- One must start preparing for the entrance exam a year before as this gives ample time for learning and revision.
- Keep your target institute in mind and work hard to get admission in the same.
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management Jobs
- MBA in Pharmaceutical Management comes with various jobs and career opportunities. Fresh graduates of the course can easily expect compensation of INR 3,00,000 to 10,00,000 annually.
- Over the past years, MBA in Pharmaceutical Management has become immensely popular among students. More and more students are pursuing this course. The course offers diverse career opportunities. This further affirms the immense popularity of the course among students.
- MBA in Pharmaceutical Management graduates are hired in various organizations like Ranbaxy Laboratories, Dabur India Ltd., Central WareHousing Corp., Infosys, Cipla, Abbott India, Lupin, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s lab, Piramal etc.
- Major job profiles available to such graduates are Pharmaceuticals Distributors, Pharmaceutical Purchase Manager, Quality Assurance Manager etc.
Read More: MBA Placements
Some of the major MBA Pharmaceutical Management job profiles along with respective salary packages are mentioned below:
| Job Positions | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Business Development Manager | A Business Development Manager develops business opportunities, initiates various business deals, negotiates sales initiatives and raises funds for various projects. | INR 3,50,000 |
| Market Researcher and Drug Developer | The main tasks include gathering and analysing information from the market and further developing useful drugs based on the results. | INR 4,50,000 |
| Sales Manager | A Sales Manager is responsible for meeting the daily sales target of any company. His main focus is on generating more revenue and managing the sales team. | INR 4,00,000 |
| Drug Distribution Manager | A Drug Distribution Manager looks after the storage and distribution of licenced drugs. He deals with various manufacturers, suppliers and retailers. | INR 4,00,000 |
| Pharmaceutical Purchase Manager | A Pharmaceutical Purchase Manager analyses the market and the distribution system to assess present and future material availability. | INR 3,50,000 |
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management Scope
Apart from seeking jobs, another option for students is to pursue higher education. Some higher education options available to students are given below:
-
PhD: If one wishes to continue in the same field of education, the first program of choice is a PhD Pharmaceutics. It is a three-year course and the eligibility criteria include having a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutics. Students can pursue PhD in any of the related fields.
Check: PhD After MBA
- Students can also participate in the Fellow Programme in Management (equivalent to PhD) conducted by all the IIMs on completion of this course.
- Competitive examinations: Another route that postgraduates can opt to go for is to prepare for competitive examinations. Examinations that are meant for job opportunities in Government sector organizations are most popular. Students will be able to get to the highest paid jobs in this sector.
Check: MBS or CA
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management FAQs
Ques. What are the eligibility criteria one must fulfil in order to pursue an MBA Pharmaceutical Management course?
Ans. Students who wish to pursue an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized college or university with a minimum score of 50%.
Ques. How much does it cost to pursue an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management degree program?
Ans. The average tuition fee charged by colleges or universities for this course in India lies anywhere in between INR 1,00,000 and 10,00,000. The fee is different for private and government institutes.
Ques. Which are some of the most popular colleges offering MBA in Pharmaceutical Management?
Ans. Some of the most popular colleges offering MBA in Pharmaceutical Management program are Alliance University, Amity University, Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Panjab University, Amity Business School etc.
Ques. What are the various job positions available to a fresh MBA in Pharmaceutical Management postgraduate?
Ans. Some job positions available to an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management postgraduates are Pharmaceuticals Distributors, Pharmaceutical Purchase Manager, Formulation Pharmaceutical Technology Scientist, Sales Managers, Consultant and Project Manager, Market Researcher and Analyst etc.
Ques. Can I pursue an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management through distance learning mode?
Ans. Yes, MBA in Pharmaceutical Management program is also offered through distance learning or correspondence mode. Some top colleges offering this course through distance mode are Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam University, Jagannath University, Don Bosco University Global Center for Open and Distance Education, Bharathiar University, Suresh Gyan Vihar University etc.
Ques. What are some of the popular entrance exams conducted in order to shortlist candidates for admission into the MBA in Pharmaceutical Management degree program?
Ans. Some of the major all India management entrance exams conducted in order to shortlist students for providing admission into the course are CAT, XAT, NMAT, MAT, SNAP, CMAT etc.
Ques. What salary can a fresh MBA in Pharmaceutical Management graduate expect?
Ans. Fresh graduates of this course can easily expect compensation of INR 3,00,000 to 10,00,000 per year.
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