Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary 2024

PhD Pharmacology or Doctorate in Pharmacology is a research-based doctoral course in Pharmacology for a minimum of 3 years duration, but it can be stretched up to 5 years. Progression beyond the first year requires performance at a sufficient level which determines the duration of the course. It analyses how a drug affects the biological system and the reaction of the body to the drug.

Candidates with a Masters in Pharmacology securing a minimum aggregate of 55% marks are eligible for admission to the course. However, they will have to qualify the national level entrance test or university level test.

National level entrance exams such as UGC NET, UGC CSIR NET, GATE, etc are required to secure a seat in the PhD Pharmacology program. Admission will be based on the performance of candidates in the entrance exam and the following personal interview. 

PhD Pharmacology syllabus covers topics like medication origins, additives, biological effects, and medical applications. It is designed for students wishing to research drug or medication action and related subjects at an advanced level. The students will have to submit their research papers or thesis at the end of the course.

The average fees for PhD Pharmacology ranges from INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000, depending on the type of the institute. 

According to NIRF Ranking 2024, the top Pharmacy colleges in India offering PhD Pharmacology  course are:

Some of the top recruiting areas are Drug Manufacturing Companies, Public Health Entities, Blood Service, Industrial Laboratories, Cancer Research Institutes, etc.

The average salary offer stands in the range of INR 4,00,000 to INR 15,00,000, increasing with the candidate’s experience and skill sets.

After completing PhD Pharmacology, a candidate can do further research in this domain and publish their own research papers. After around 4-5 years of research, they can go on to earn a DSc degree in the relevant field. 

PhD in Pharmacology Admission Process

• PhD admissions are done mainly through an Entrance Test followed by a personal interview conducted by the respective institute/university.
• Candidates who have qualified National level Entrance Test such as NET JRF / NET LS are exempted from the university level entrance exam but will have to qualify the personal interviews before securing a seat in the program.
• Application forms for admissions are invited generally during January and June for the PhD program.
• Reservations apply to SC / ST / EWS / OBC NCL / PwD candidates as per Govt. of India rules.

A student seeking admission to the PhD program shall submit the application form along with:

• Date of Birth Proof
• Degree or passing certificate of the qualifying examination
• Migration Certificate / No objection certificate from the University / Employer last attended 
• Gap certificate if applicable.
• Scorecard of the entrance exam
• Research Proposal: The Research Proposal is written by the student in collaboration with his proposed guide and signed by all parties. The proposed title of the PhD thesis should be such that no study of a similar nature has been or will be completed. 

Check the Admission Process of NIPER in detail. 

PhD Pharmacology  Entrance Based Admission 

• Step 1: Candidates need to register to the official website by providing their email id, mobile number, and password.
• Step 2: After submission of the application fee and form, download the form for future references. 
• Step 3: Admit cards will be issued to the eligible students based on the information provided by candidates.
• Step 4: On the announcement of results, based on the marks obtained by the students and institutes cut off, seats and academic records of the candidate’s seats are allocated.

PhD Pharmacology  Merit Based Admission 

• Step 1: The Selection Committee will call eligible candidates possessing the minimum educational qualifications for an interview. 
• Step 2: Based on the academic record and the performance of the candidates in the selection interview, candidates found suitable for admission will be accepted.

PhD Pharmacology Eligibility Criteria

The candidates planning to pursue PhD Pharmacology  should fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria mentioned below :

• Candidates should hold a Master’s Degree in Pharmacology, Biology, Pharmacy or Biotechnology from a recognized university or institution.
• MSc, MTech, MD, M Pharma or equivalent degrees are also allowed. 
• Minimum aggregate of 55% marks or equivalent grade B in the UGC 7 point scale or equivalent in the Master’s Degree is required for admission. 
• In the case of reserved categories, candidates relaxation of 5% marks or equivalent grade is given as per UGC guidelines.
• Candidates with NET JRF / NET LS are exempted from appearing for university conducted entrance written test but need to appear for the personal interview round.
• There is no requirement bar of age to apply for the course.

PhD Pharmacology Entrance Exams

Candidates need to qualify the entrance exam conducted by UGC, State, or university to secure a seat in the PhD program. Below is a list of some national level entrance exams applicable :

UGC NET 

• Test for determining the eligibility for the post of Assistant Professor and/or Junior Research Fellowship award in Indian universities and colleges. 
• The UGC NET score is valid for 3 years in case of JRF, Lifetime for Assistant Professor, no restriction on the number of attempts.
• It is available in 84 subjects at 91 selected cities.
• It is conducted online and consists of two papers of 100 marks each mainly in Hindi and English.
• The candidates would have to attempt a total of (both papers 1 and 2) 150 questions in three hours.
• It is conducted twice a year in June and December.

UGC CSIR NET 

• National-level exam conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) to select candidates for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for determining their eligibility for appointment as lecturers in Indian universities and colleges.
• It is a Computer Based Test mode only.
• Only bonafide Indian citizens are eligible for the test. CSIR UGC NET Fellowship is tenable in India. 
• CSIR UGC NET Fellowships are tenable in Universities / IITs / Post Graduate Colleges / Govt. 
• Online applications are invited twice a year on an all India basis through Press Notification.

GATE 

• The exam mainly tests the thorough understanding of engineering and science of various undergraduate subjects.
• The validity of the score is 3 years. It is held once a year in February.
• Candidates can apply for only one of the 25 papers listed, one common subject in all GATE papers is General Aptitude. The other subject will be as per the choice given by candidates.
• GATE paper consists of MCQ and numerically based questions. MCQ will have negative marking.

Apart from these, there are state level entrance exams as well. One of them is SLET. 

SLET 

• State Level Eligibility Test is conducted in English in all states in India and some universities also for lectureship only. 
• Accordingly, the eligibility test was carried out by the University Grants Commission. Professor on subjects covering subjects related to humanities and social sciences and with the response to this, several states have opted to administer their own test i.e. State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) for the position of Assistant Professor. 

Below a few National level entrance exams are listed with their details of application dates, conducting body, exam date, and so on.

How to prepare for the PhD Pharmacology Entrance Exam?

• Candidates should know the basics of the topics covered in Pharmacology and be thorough with subjects in the postgraduate degree. 
• Understand and revise the mechanism of the drug and its effects on humans.
• Based on the previous year’s paper, lay out a study plan which will allow you to cover the syllabus as well as revise it efficiently.
• The Pharmacology entrance test question paper is divided into objective type (Multiple Choice Questions) and subjective type questions, and the examination period is two hours, or in some cases three hours.
• Practising sample question papers and model tests certainly offer students an advantage because they can learn the exam's style and layout well beforehand.
• Note down all the important topics from the previous year papers and devote adequate time to each important topic. 

How to get admission in a top PhD Pharmacology College?

• To secure a seat in a good college for a PhD Pharmacology, candidates must hold an exceptional academic record.
• An individual scholar must complete a larger number of credits based on their background and preparation level.
• Candidates must appear for National Entrance Tests and score high ranking marks to secure a seat in a good college.
• The qualifying cut off marks of UGC NET for General category is 40% in Paper 1 and 2 while the qualifying marks for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD and Transgender categories is 35% in Papers 1 and 2. 
• Candidates should put their time and effort into the entrance test as well as be prepared for a personal interview round.
• Look out for the eligibility, cut-offs, selection criteria, admission process, application procedure, and other updates to benefit you for better preparation.

PhD Pharmacology: What is it about?

PhD Pharmacology: What is it about?

• The aim of the PhD Pharmacology program is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to study and research in the field of biomedical science, linking together chemistry, physiology, and pathology.
• Candidates earn an advanced level of understanding in the study of drug interactions and actions within a living system.
• Pharmacology has two major branches: Pharmacokinetics, referring to the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs; and Pharmacodynamics, referring to the molecular, biochemical, and physiological effects of drugs, including drug mechanism of action.
• The course introduces research skills and specialist knowledge to the students.
• It allows you to work closely with a wide variety of other disciplines that make up modern biomedical science, including neuroscience, molecular and cell biology, immunology, and cancer biology.
• The course will create opportunities to share and disseminate researches that give an understanding of the effectiveness and unwanted side effects of medicines.
• It develops a deep and broad understanding of why individuals differ in the way they respond to certain drugs, and why some others cause addiction.
• Students should expect daily laboratory meetings with their instructor and other members of the lab.
• There are also informal opportunities for research leadership skills by mentoring by fellow students and staff members.
• It seeks applicants with excellent academic credentials, intellectual skills, and expertise required to contribute to scholarly research.

PhD Pharmacology Course Highlights

Some of the most important aspects of the PhD Pharmacology course have been tabulated in the table given below. 

Course Level	Doctorate
Duration	3 years - 5 years
Examination Type	Semester
Eligibility Criteria	Masters in Pharmacology
Admission Process	Entrance Test + PI
Course Fee	INR 2,00,000 - INR 4,00,000
Average Salary	INR 4,00,000 - INR 15,00,000
Top Recruiting Areas	Drug Manufacturing Companies, Public Health Entities, Blood Service, Industrial Laboratories, Cancer research institutes, Research Departments, Educational Institutes, Environmental Pollution Control, Agriculture and fisheries, Forensic Science, Hospitals, Public Health Laboratories, Cosmetic Industries, etc.
Job Positions	Analytical Chemist, Biomedical Scientist, Healthcare Scientist, Clinical Pharmacologist, Clinical Research Associate, Forensic Scientist, Physician’s Associate, Research Scientist (Life Sciences), Scientific Laboratory Technician, Toxicologist, among others.

Why Study PhD Pharmacology?

Why Study PhD Pharmacology? 

• A degree in Pharmacology studies drugs that alter the living organism’s ability to function. These drugs can encompass medicinal or non-medicinal drugs.
• The field of pharmacology is at the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in modern medicine.
• This degree allows students with relevant experience to carry out focused research in the discipline under supervision.
• It helps to integrate the knowledge of many disciplines, including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, and veterinary medicine.
• It allows students to assist with research programs at the university and sometimes design their experiments.
• It helps to develop or acquire skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.
• It is an opportunity to become an expert in your chosen topic and to contribute to knowledge both academically and practically.
• It improves your prospects of highly-paid employment and opens up a wide range of opportunities.
• The Programme desires to give a formal research platform for those who are interested in contributing newer questions and concerns related to Pharmacology studies.

PhD Pharmacology vs PhD Pharmaceutics

PhD Pharmacology vs PhD Pharmaceutics

PhD Pharmacology and PhD Pharmaceutics are almost similar courses except for a few differences. The below-given comparison is given keeping in mind all the important parameters of differences :

Parameters	PhD Pharmacology	PhD in Pharmaceutics
Degree Type	Doctorate	Doctorate
Overview	Pharmacology is the study of the effects of drugs and chemicals on living organisms. It includes disciplines that make up modern biomedical science, including neuroscience, molecular and cell biology, immunology, and cancer biology.	Pharmaceutics is a multidisciplinary science that inspects the development, creation, production and characterization of dosage forms, and in addition the disposition and action of drugs in the body
Examination Type	Semester	Semester
Average Annual Fees	INR 2,00,000 - INR 4,00,000	INR 10,000 - INR 3,00,000
Minimum Duration	Three years	Three years
Eligibility Criteria	Post Graduation in Pharmacology	Post Graduation in Pharmaceutics
Admission Process	Entrance Test + PI	Entrance Test + PI
Top Colleges	Jamia Hamdard, NIPER, Institute of Chemical Technology, Annamalai University, Nirma University.	Allahabad University, Assam University, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Catholicate College, Poona College of Pharmacy.
Top Recruiting Area	Drug Manufacturing Companies, Public Health Entities, Blood Service, Industrial Laboratories, Cancer research institutes, Research Departments, etc.	Hospitals & its Administration, Drug Control Administration, Pharmaceutical Companies, Chemist Shops, Healthcare Centres, etc.
Job Positions	Analytical Chemist, Biomedical Scientist, Healthcare Scientist, Clinical Pharmacologist, Clinical Research Associate, Forensic Scientist, Physician’s Associate, among others.	Consultant Pharmacists, Clinical Pharmacist, Dispensary Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist, Medicines Management Technician, Pharmacy Assistant, Senior Clinical Pharmacists, etc.
Average Annual Salary	INR 4,00,000 - INR 15,00,000	INR 2,00,000 - INR 15,00,000
Further Studies	Research	Research

Source: College Websites 

Also, go through the full list of top PhD Pharmacy Colleges in India. 

PhD Pharmacology Top Colleges

PhD Pharmacology Top Colleges

Here are the top colleges offering PhD Pharmacology according to NIRF 2024 Rankings for your reference. These colleges show the admission process, location, and average fee charged for this course. 

NIRF PharmacyRanking 2024	Name of Institute	City	Admission Process	Average Course Fee
1	Jamia Hamdard	New Delhi	Written test + PI	INR 1,27,000
3	National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)	Mohali	NIPER JEE + PI	INR 1,10,000
4	Institute of Chemical Technology	Mumbai	Written test + PI	INR 64,500
12	Annamalai University	Chidambaram	Written test + PI	INR 51,510
17	Nirma University	Ahmedabad	Written test + PI	INR 40,000
22	Poona College of Pharmacy	Pune	GATE / CET	INR 50,000
34	Andhra University, College of Pharmaceutical sciences	Visakhapatnam	Entrance test	INR 3,01,000
58	Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University	Pune, Navi Mumbai, Kolhapur	Entrance test	INR 1,42,000
76-100	Sri Adichunchanagiri College of Pharmacy (ACCP)	Mandya	Entrance test	INR 21,430

Source: College Websites 

College Comparison for PhD Pharmacology

Below given is the college comparison of the top PhD Pharmacology offering colleges in terms of several parameters like average fee, college overview, admission process, top recruiter, and many others.

Parameters	Jamia Hamdard	National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)	Institute of Chemical Technology
Overview	Jamia Hamdard University was established in 1989 with Deemed to be status.	NIPER is a public University under the Government of India. It is one of the seven schools established under the central Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers	Established in 1933, the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai is one of the most prestigious engineering colleges in India.
Location	New Delhi	Mohali	Mumbai
NIRF Pharmacy College Ranking 2024	1	3	4
Eligibility Criteria	Post Graduation	Post Graduation	Post Graduation
Admission Process	Written test + PI	NIPER JEE + PI	Written test + PI
Average Annual Fees	INR 1,27,000	INR 1,10,000	INR 64,500
Average Annual Salary	INR 3,50,000	INR 3,60,000	INR 3,50,000
Top Companies Visited	TCS, HP Global Soft Ltd, Maruti Udyog Ltd, etc	Dr Reddy's lab, GSK, Mylan, Bayer, Biocon, Kinapse	Biocon, Lupin, Syngene, and other pharmaceutical companies

Source: College Websites

PhD Pharmacology Jobs and Career Profiles

PhD Pharmacology Jobs and Career Profiles

Pharmacology gives placement opportunities in Research and Development Laboratories of Pharmaceutical Companies, Non-Lab based Pharmaceutical-Related Fields, Clinical Trials, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, Patenting, etc. 

Top recruiters in the field are Civil Services, Department of Health, Intellectual Property Office, National Health Service, Pharmaceutical and Biotech companies; and Academic Institutes (Universities and Colleges, etc.)

Here are some job positions available after graduating in Pharmacology.

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Salary
Research Scientist	Research scientists are responsible for planning, performing, and interpreting knowledge from guided lab-based studies, experiments, and trials. You may work for laboratories of government, environmental organizations, specialist research organizations or universities.	INR 14,70,000
Clinical Scientist	Clinical scientists are laboratory-based specialists who are responsible for evaluating physiological samples and interpreting diagnostic test findings. Their medical expertise is used to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.	INR 4,00,000
Research Assistant	Prepares reviews of the literature. Data collection and review. Prepare material for submission to the research-funding agencies and foundations. Carries out routine clerical duties as instructed, if essential to the supervisor's or project's research activities to which the assistant is assigned.	INR 3,75,000
Clinical Laboratory Technologist	Highly qualified scientists who discover the existence or absence of illness and provide evidence to help physicians assess the patient's appropriate care.	INR 4,85,000
Pharmacology Professor	Teach the students the didactic and experiential pharmacy practice settings. Mentor, propose, and motivate school, community, and professional students. Establish the environment of clinical practice to enable experiential teaching practices and encourage scholarship.	INR 9,63,000
Chemist	Chemists analyze organic and inorganic compounds, refine and test chemicals. Its role is to improve product quality and procedures while ensuring safety.	INR 6,56,000
Medical Research Scientist	To order to study human diseases, medical scientists develop and perform experiments and procedures to avoid and treat them. Medical scientists are conducting research designed to improve overall human health. They also use clinical trials and other testing methods to arrive at their conclusion	INR 4,25,000
Pharmaceutical Sales Manager	Pharmaceutical Sales Reps are the salespeople hired by pharmaceutical, medical or healthcare firms to market their goods to a range of outside stakeholders. Those interested in educating and informing healthcare practitioners and key opinion figures about the value of the company 's products are these sales reps.	INR 10,75,000
Medical Pharmacology Technician	The pharmacy technician supports patients in filling out prescriptions and ensures they are sent to the appropriate units. We also support the pharmacist by making sure the pharmacy has the correct amount of stock to meet patient needs.	INR 9,50,000

Source: Payscale