About this Programme
This exciting undergraduate programme, launched in AY2018/19, is designed to provide you with niche knowledge, skills and professional experience to build a career in the pharmaceutical, biomedical and consumer healthcare sectors. The course is delivered by experienced academics from Pharmacy with contributions from outstanding professional and industrial colleagues. For diversity of ideas, you will also learn from leading experts from Chemistry, Life Sciences, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the Centre of Regulatory Excellence (Duke-NUS Medical School).
Starting from AY2021/22, the Pharmaceutical Science programme will be offered under the new College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS).
Learning and Assessment
With a small class size by intent, students will benefit from a blended learning experience with various web-based online learning tools while having greater face-to-face contact for problem-based learning and student-teacher interactions. Students will also actively engage in experiential learning with teaching conducted by industry experts as well as internship opportunities with pharmaceutical companies in Singapore.
Course places: 40 – 50
What is Pharmaceutical Science?
Pharmaceutical Science belongs to a branch of science that comprises a range of scientific subjects that deal with various aspects of pharmaceutical substances that are used to manufacture the medicinal products. Therefore, Pharmaceutical Science forms the foundational scientific basis of the physical, chemical, biological and the biomedical aspects of drug properties and actions.
Some examples of subjects that are classified under Pharmaceutical Science include Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacogenetics.
Advancements achieved in Pharmaceutical Science will impact drug discovery, drug formulation as well as the regulation and practice of Pharmacy.
Why choose this Programme?
Students joining this landmark programme would be trained in a range of foundational sciences that culminates towards an understanding of drug discovery and development, as well as a mastery of the regulatory and commercial environment in the pharmaceutical industry.
For programme brochure, please click here.
For student testimonials, please click the following e-posters below:
The PHS programme is offered as a direct admission course. Applicants to this programme must meet the entry requirements stipulated by the Office of Admissions.
Subject prerequisites for applicants holding:
Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level | A very good pass in H2 Chemistry and A very good pass in either H2 Biology or H2 Physics or H2 Mathematics. |
International Baccalaureate | A very good pass in HL Chemistry and A very good pass in either HL Biology or HL Physics or HL Mathematics. |
National University of Singapore High School Diploma | A very good pass in Chemistry and in either Biology or Physics or Mathematics. |
Polytechnic Diploma |
Applicants will be considered for admission if their Diplomas are relevant and accredited to the NUS course. The list of Diplomas accredited will follow that of NUS Science (Pharmacy) listed by the Office of Admissions. For more details, go to: |
Year One and Two
The first two years of the course is focused on foundation studies in bioorganic and medicinal chemistry and human medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology), which will underpin studies in pharmaceutical sciences. Pharmaceutical sciences covering key aspects of the drug discovery and development process will be taught with core topics in pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis and formulation science. Students will also acquire quantitative and computational science knowledge in biostatistics and bioinformatics.
Year Three and Four
Core subjects are focused on research methodology, product quality and analysis and regulatory science. Students will develop breadth and/or depth with elective modules in specialized areas which address challenging and emerging areas in the pharmaceutical industry today. To integrate their learning, the final year culminates in a capstone research or industry project.
Course Curriculum & Graduation Requirements
For Cohorts AY2018/19 and AY2019/20:
For Cohort AY2020/21:
For Cohort AY2021/22 onwards:
Module Descriptions
The modules and descriptions can be downloaded as follows:
Note that the exact modules and content may be subject to changes as the programme progresses.
Sample Study Plans for Cohort AY2021/22 onwards: (updated 2 Aug 2022)
The following are some sample study plans you may refer to when planning your modules and minors.
For Pharmaceutical Science Major:
For Pharmaceutical Science Major with Life Sciences Minor:
For Pharmaceutical Science Major with Forensic Science Minor:
The sample study plans may be subject to changes as the programme progresses.
Research Opportunities
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROPS)
This programme allows undergraduates to participate in scientific research under the mentorship of academic staff members.
Pharmaceutical Science students who have completed two semesters of study with a CAP > 3.0 are eligible for UROPS. Modular credits obtained from UROPS will contribute towards the graduation requirement of 160 MC for Pharmaceutical Science major.
For more details on UROPS, please refer to the following link:
https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/undergraduates/undergraduate-research/urops/
Undergraduate Professional Internship Programme (UPIP)
This programme allows undergraduates to undergo a structured internship to gain invaluable on-the-job training in the spirit of experiential learning.
Pharmaceutical Science students who have completed at least 32 major-related MCs (excluding SU or F modules) and at least 3 regular semesters are eligible for UPIP. Students who take part in UPIP can better understand available career options and match their interests with their long-term career goals. Upon successful completion of the internship, students will also be awarded with unrestricted modular credits that would count towards their graduation requirement of 160 MC for Pharmaceutical Science major.
For more details on UPIP, please refer to the following link:
https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/undergraduates/internships/upip/
For internship opportunities, please refer to the following link:
https://nus-csm.symplicity.com/
Find out from our students on their learning takeaways during their UPIP internships at:
Career Prospects
This comprehensive programme will equip students with a broad range of technical knowledge and skills across the pharmaceutical sciences. Students will have excellent career prospects in areas as diverse as research and development, manufacturing, sales and marketing, regulatory affairs, quality management and clinical trial management. Depending on the students’ interests, students may also find employment in areas outside the pharmaceutical industry such as biotechnology, consumer healthcare, patenting and licensing, or be the next generation healthcare entrepreneurs.
Students interested to expand and deepen their knowledge beyond the undergraduate programme can also opt to pursue further postgraduate studies, such as a Masters in Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (MPST), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Postgraduate studies would further enhance critical thinking skills to work towards careers in academia, research or management.
“What’s next after graduation?” series
Click on the images to read more!
Wang Yiteng & Soh Han Qiang
(Class of ’22)
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Programme,
Duke-NUS Medical School
1. What is Pharmaceutical Science?
2. What is the role of Pharmaceutical Scientists?
3. What is the difference between Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science?
4. What are the pre-requisites for admission into Pharmaceutical Science?
5. Is it possible to enter the Pharmaceutical Science programme without A-level Biology?
6. What is the course duration?
7. What is the overall course structure like?
8. What are the various opportunities that a Pharmaceutical Science undergraduate can expect, i.e., leadership building, research opportunities, etc.?
9. What are the career prospects for Pharmaceutical Science graduates?
10. Will Pharmaceutical Science graduates be able to switch to a totally different career path should they decide to do so upon graduation?
11. Should I apply for the B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Science or the Second Major in Pharmaceutical Science or the Minor in Pharmaceutical Science?
12. How many students are accepted each year?
Inaugural cohort of Pharmaceutical Science students (Class of 2022)
The landmark NUS Pharmaceutical Science degree programme, which was offered from AY2018/2019, trains students in a range of foundational sciences, including drug discovery and development, as well as understanding of the regulatory and commercial environment in the pharmaceutical industry.
Hear from our students on their motivations and aspirations in joining the Pharmaceutical Science cohort, as well as their experiences embarking on this programme:
Damien CHEW
(Class of 2025)
Student Internship Experience
Zijin (Class of 2023) shares about her internship experience at MiRXES.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) Experience
Nicole (Class of 2023) is our Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Prize Recipient for AY2021/22 and she shares more on the UROPS experience in her interview video below.