The pharmaceutical industry in Singapore is undergoing a phase of expansion, as more pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies set up new manufacturing and research facilities here. Along with this expansion plans, manpower with relevant knowledge and skills will be sought after by the industry. In addition to the requisite domain knowledge which may be science, engineering, law or business; the employers are also seeking to hire graduates with supplementary knowledge relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
The relevant adjunct knowledge is based on foundation in pharmaceutical sciences. Having an understanding of pharmaceutical sciences will enable these graduates to quickly immerse in the environment of the industry and may ease the initial learning phase.
With this Minor in Pharmaceutical Science, graduates may also choose to pursue further studies either in the coursework MSc (Pharmaceutical Science and Technology) or pursue other PhD or MSc research programmes in their own majors at NUS or elsewhere. Together with a science or engineering based major, graduates will have a broader spectrum of technical knowledge and skills which will become useful in the research activities undertaken during their graduate study.
- To build a fundamental technical language, knowledge and skill set relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
- To help raise the awareness among undergraduates from different majors the potential applications of their domain knowledge in the pharmaceutical industry.
Prospective undergraduates are preferred to have any of the following qualifications and subject pre-requisites (in brackets).
| 1. Singapore-Cambridge GCE-A Level | (H2 Biology or H2 Chemistry) |
| 2. Polytechnic Diploma | (Biology-related or Chemistry-related modules) |
| 3. International Baccalaureate | (Biology or Chemistry) |
| 4. NUS High School Diploma | (Biology or Chemistry) |
| 5. A bridging module in either Biology or Chemistry taken at the NUS. | |
Course Structure
(1) Candidates accepted into the minor programme from AY2019/2020 and before are required to pass four (4) essential modules and two (2) elective modules as shown below. Some modules have practical component that will allow students to acquire basic and relevant laboratory skills.
Essential modules (Four Modules):
- PR1110 Foundations for Medicinal Chemistry Or PHS1110 Foundation for Medicinal and Synthetic Chemistry
- PR2114 Formulation and Technology I Or PHS1114 Principles of Pharmaceutical Formulations I
- PR2115 Medicinal Chemistry for Drug Design Or PHS2115 Basic Principles of Drug Design and Development
- PR3301 Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms Or PR3117 Formulations & Technology Or PHS2117 Principles of Pharmaceutical Formulations II*
Choose TWO from the following elective modules:
- PR1301 Complementary Medicine and Health
- PR2143 Pharmaceutical Analysis for Quality Assurance Or PHS2143 Analytical Techniques and Pharmaceutical Applications
- PR2202 Cosmetics and Perfumes
- PR3204 Medicinal Natural Products
- PR4205 Bioorganic Principles of Medicinal Chemistry
- PR4206 Industrial Pharmacy
- CN4241R Engineering Principles for Drug Delivery
- SP4263 Forensic Toxicology and Poisons
*The module PR3301 will run for the last time in Semester 2 of AY2018/19. Existing students in the Minor Programme who have not taken PR3301 will need to take PR3117 OR PHS3117 in fulfilment of programme requirement. This will be effective in AY2019/20.
(2) Candidates accepted into the minor programme from AY2020/2021 and onwards are required to pass two (2) essential modules and four (4) elective modules as shown below. Some modules have practical component that will allow students to acquire basic and relevant laboratory skills.
Essential modules (Two Modules):
- PHS1110 Foundation for Medicinal and Synthetic Chemistry
- PR2114 Formulation and Technology I Or PHS1114 Principles of Pharmaceutical Formulations I
Choose FOUR from the following elective modules:
- PR1301 Complementary Medicine and Health
- PHS2115 Basic Principles of Drug Design and Development
- PHS2117 Principles of Pharmaceutical Formulations II
- PHS2143 Analytical Techniques and Pharmaceutical Applications
- PR2202 Cosmetics and Perfumes
- PR3204 Medicinal Natural Products
- PR4205 Bioorganic Principles of Medicinal Chemistry
- PR4206 Industrial Pharmacy
- CN4241R Engineering Principles for Drug Delivery
- SP4263 Forensic Toxicology and Poisons
Course Requirements
The target applicants for this minor programme are students who are pursuing science or engineering-based majors. In addition, students who major in law, economics, computing, marketing or business may also apply, provided the pre-requisites are met. Candidates reading the major in Pharmacy are precluded from taking the Minor in Pharmaceutical Science.
Students would need to take 4 to 5 semesters to complete the minor programme.
Application Form
Please refer to Registrar Office’s announcement for the application timeline and submit your application via myEduRec.
Career Prospects
There are many career opportunities in the pharmaceutical and allied industries for graduates who have a background in pharmaceutical sciences. Graduates, who major in biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, food science, material science, computing and engineering, are needed to fill positions in research laboratories, manufacturing plants, quality assurance laboratory of a pharmaceutical company.
In addition, those with degrees in law, economics, marketing or business may also develop rewarding careers as finance, human resource, intellectual property and legal, as well as business and market development professionals in the industry. It definitely takes multi-disciplinary teams with a variety of skills to develop and produce effective and safe health products.
- + Overview
-
The pharmaceutical industry in Singapore is undergoing a phase of expansion, as more pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies set up new manufacturing and research facilities here. Along with this expansion plans, manpower with relevant knowledge and skills will be sought after by the industry. In addition to the requisite domain knowledge which may be science, engineering, law or business; the employers are also seeking to hire graduates with supplementary knowledge relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
The relevant adjunct knowledge is based on foundation in pharmaceutical sciences. Having an understanding of pharmaceutical sciences will enable these graduates to quickly immerse in the environment of the industry and may ease the initial learning phase.
With this Minor in Pharmaceutical Science, graduates may also choose to pursue further studies either in the coursework MSc (Pharmaceutical Science and Technology) or pursue other PhD or MSc research programmes in their own majors at NUS or elsewhere. Together with a science or engineering based major, graduates will have a broader spectrum of technical knowledge and skills which will become useful in the research activities undertaken during their graduate study.
- + Objectives
-
- To build a fundamental technical language, knowledge and skill set relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
- To help raise the awareness among undergraduates from different majors the potential applications of their domain knowledge in the pharmaceutical industry.
- + Entry Requirements
-
Prospective undergraduates are preferred to have any of the following qualifications and subject pre-requisites (in brackets).
1. Singapore-Cambridge GCE-A Level (H2 Biology or H2 Chemistry) 2. Polytechnic Diploma (Biology-related or Chemistry-related modules) 3. International Baccalaureate (Biology or Chemistry) 4. NUS High School Diploma (Biology or Chemistry) 5. A bridging module in either Biology or Chemistry taken at the NUS. - + Course Structure
-
Course Structure
(1) Candidates accepted into the minor programme from AY2019/2020 and before are required to pass four (4) essential modules and two (2) elective modules as shown below. Some modules have practical component that will allow students to acquire basic and relevant laboratory skills.
Essential modules (Four Modules):
- PR1110 Foundations for Medicinal Chemistry Or PHS1110 Foundation for Medicinal and Synthetic Chemistry
- PR2114 Formulation and Technology I Or PHS1114 Principles of Pharmaceutical Formulations I
- PR2115 Medicinal Chemistry for Drug Design Or PHS2115 Basic Principles of Drug Design and Development
- PR3301 Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms Or PR3117 Formulations & Technology Or PHS2117 Principles of Pharmaceutical Formulations II*
Choose TWO from the following elective modules:
- PR1301 Complementary Medicine and Health
- PR2143 Pharmaceutical Analysis for Quality Assurance Or PHS2143 Analytical Techniques and Pharmaceutical Applications
- PR2202 Cosmetics and Perfumes
- PR3204 Medicinal Natural Products
- PR4205 Bioorganic Principles of Medicinal Chemistry
- PR4206 Industrial Pharmacy
- CN4241R Engineering Principles for Drug Delivery
- SP4263 Forensic Toxicology and Poisons
*The module PR3301 will run for the last time in Semester 2 of AY2018/19. Existing students in the Minor Programme who have not taken PR3301 will need to take PR3117 OR PHS3117 in fulfilment of programme requirement. This will be effective in AY2019/20.
(2) Candidates accepted into the minor programme from AY2020/2021 and onwards are required to pass two (2) essential modules and four (4) elective modules as shown below. Some modules have practical component that will allow students to acquire basic and relevant laboratory skills.
Essential modules (Two Modules):
- PHS1110 Foundation for Medicinal and Synthetic Chemistry
- PR2114 Formulation and Technology I Or PHS1114 Principles of Pharmaceutical Formulations I
Choose FOUR from the following elective modules:
- PR1301 Complementary Medicine and Health
- PHS2115 Basic Principles of Drug Design and Development
- PHS2117 Principles of Pharmaceutical Formulations II
- PHS2143 Analytical Techniques and Pharmaceutical Applications
- PR2202 Cosmetics and Perfumes
- PR3204 Medicinal Natural Products
- PR4205 Bioorganic Principles of Medicinal Chemistry
- PR4206 Industrial Pharmacy
- CN4241R Engineering Principles for Drug Delivery
- SP4263 Forensic Toxicology and Poisons
Course Requirements
The target applicants for this minor programme are students who are pursuing science or engineering-based majors. In addition, students who major in law, economics, computing, marketing or business may also apply, provided the pre-requisites are met. Candidates reading the major in Pharmacy are precluded from taking the Minor in Pharmaceutical Science.
Students would need to take 4 to 5 semesters to complete the minor programme.
Application Form
Please refer to Registrar Office’s announcement for the application timeline and submit your application via myEduRec.
- + Careers
-
Career Prospects
There are many career opportunities in the pharmaceutical and allied industries for graduates who have a background in pharmaceutical sciences. Graduates, who major in biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, food science, material science, computing and engineering, are needed to fill positions in research laboratories, manufacturing plants, quality assurance laboratory of a pharmaceutical company.
In addition, those with degrees in law, economics, marketing or business may also develop rewarding careers as finance, human resource, intellectual property and legal, as well as business and market development professionals in the industry. It definitely takes multi-disciplinary teams with a variety of skills to develop and produce effective and safe health products.