Graduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical Process and Technology
Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical Process and Technology [Grad Cert (PP&T)], implemented in AY2019/20, offers prospective students who are already working in or aspiring to enter the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical industry a continuing education option with a shorter 12-unit certificate programme. Students are allowed up to 3 years to complete this programme which is available in the part-time mode. Typically, classes are conducted on weekday evenings and/or Saturdays.
The graduate certificate courses will introduce topics relevant to industrial pharmacy in the areas of pharmaceutical process and technology, focusing on the processing and manufacturing of drug substances from preformulation to formulation and quality assurance of the final product.
Currently, we do not offer direct admission to the Grad Cert (PP&T). Instead, the relevant graduate certificate courses are made available under the NUS Online Application Portal where the applicant can register as modular courses during the application period. Students are required to make a declaration on completion of Grad Cert (PP&T) upon fulfilment of the stipulated requirements in order to receive the graduate certificate. For more information, click on Declaration on completion of Grad Cert (PP&T) tab in this webpage.
Besides stacking towards the Grad Cert (PP&T), students may also read and stack the modular courses via the ‘stackable’ option (including Graduate Certificate) towards the M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (MPST) programme.
Updated as of Sep 2022
Admission Requirements
The minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Certificate are:
(a) Bachelor’s (without Honours classification) in one of the following degrees, or their equivalent:
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, or
- Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences, or
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Food Science & Technology, or
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Chemistry (Drug Option), or
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, or
- Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering)
(b) Preferably with relevant work experience in the areas of manufacturing and quality assurance of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and/or finished pharmaceutical products, regulatory affairs, medication utilization review, drug registration, etc.
(c) Candidates with other qualifications and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Department.
Updated as of Sep 2022
Modular Course Offering
Students who have taken and completed any three relevant modular courses (amounting to 12 units) offered under the Grad Cert (PP&T) with a GPA of at least 2.50 within a maximum period of 36 months will be deemed to have completed the Graduate Certificate successfully and will be awarded the Graduate Certificate (Pharmaceutical Process and Technology).
| Modular Courses (stand-alone courses) | Units | Modular Courses (‘Stackable’) | Offer in AY2024/2025 Semester 2 |
| PR5203 Pharmaceutical Process Optimization and Control* | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| PR5210 Biologics: Processes and Technology* | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| PR5214 Advances in Solid Pharmaceutical Formulations | 4 | ✓ | |
| PR5215 Drug Product Development: Understanding Drug Substances* | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
| PR5216 Advances in Drug Delivery | 4 | ✓ | ✓ |
The courses may not be offered every academic year/semester. Please note that the list of courses offered in an academic year/semester is subject to changes.
* Students who have taken PR5213, PR5220 and PR5225 before AY2024-25 Semester 2 are precluded from taking PR5203, PR5210 and PR5215, respectively.
Search for details of the individual stand-alone modular courses via this link.
- Credit/grade transfer of any SSG-funded course to a MOE-subsidised Graduate Diploma/Bachelor/Master degree is not allowed if the course is taken whilst being enrolled in the Graduate Diploma/Bachelor/Master degree.
- Credit/grade transfer of any SSG-funded course taken and subsequently requesting to be stacked to a MOE-subsidised Graduate Diploma/Bachelor/Master degree is subject to approval of the Faculty/School and MOE.
Updated as of Sep 2024
Application and Course Fees
Application
The relevant graduate certificate courses are made available under the NUS Online Application Portal where the applicant can register as modular courses during the application period.
Course Fees
Modular course fees can be found in the NUS Online Application Portal or Course Catalogue. Besides modular course fee, students are liable to pay Student Services Fee (SSF)1, 2 as well.
Note:
1 SSF is payable for every regular semester, subject to prevailing rates.
2 For updates on SSF for CPE students, please refer to NUS SCALE website at http://scale.nus.edu.sg.
For enquiries regarding application, fees, subsidies and payment on modular courses, please contact SCALE at lifelonglearning@nus.edu.sg or +65 6601 8888.
The University reserves all rights to review and adjust fees and make changes to the programme structure and requirements as necessary and accordingly without prior notice.
Updated as of Sep 2024
Declaration on completion of Grad Cert (PP&T)
There are two periods in every calendar year that Continuing Professional Education (CPE) students can submit their declaration on completion of the graduate certificate. Refer to the table below.
| Period to declare completion of graduate certificate | When graduate certificate will be issued |
| 01-31 January of each calendar year | By April of the same calendar year |
| 01-31 July of each calendar year | By October of the same calendar year |
Steps to declare completion of the graduate certificate:
- Students are required to submit their declaration on completion* of the graduate certificate to askMPST@nus.edu.sg.
- Students are required to provide soft copy of the transcript for the completed courses in the email. The transcript (unofficial) can be downloaded from Education Records System (EduRec).
- After Department reviews and endorses the student’s declaration, it will be submitted for next level of processing. The graduate certificate will be issued to students via email once it is ready.
*Note: Subject to fulfilment of the stipulated requirements, i.e. CPE students have to complete any three relevant modular courses^ (amounting to 12 units) offered under the Grad Cert (PP&T), with a GPA of at least 2.50 within a maximum period of 36 months.
^List of Grad Cert (PP&T) Courses
PR5203 Pharmaceutical Process Optimization and Control
PR5210 Biologics: Processes and Technology
PR5213 Pharmaceutical Process Validation
PR5214 Advances in Solid Pharmaceutical Formulations
PR5215 Drug Product Development: Understanding Drug Substances
PR5216 Advances in Drug Delivery
PR5220 Bioprocess Technology
PR5225 Preformulation Science
Updated as of Sep 2024
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