I am a B.Pharm. Student. Can I get pursue a master's degree in forensic surgery or related courses after my graduation? I would also like to know which are the postgraduate courses other than M.Pharm. that I can pursue.
Joseph Mathew
By e-mail
There is no master's degree course in forensic surgery. M.Sc. Forensic Science course is being conducted by few universities/departments. Forensic science is mainly concerned with the application of scientific principles to the investigation of crime. Forensic scientists analyse all physical evidence on the scene of crime and provide expert testimony in court of law. Forensic science is multi-disciplinary and includes branches such as forensic biology, forensic chemistry, forensic fingerprinting, forensic physics, forensic documents, forensic pathology etc.
Meritorious graduates in zoology, chemistry, biochemistry, botany, microbiology, pharmacy, etc. are also eligible to study two years masters' degree programme in forensic science.
Osmania University, Hyderabad - 500 007; Dr. Bhim Rao Ambardkar University, Agra - 282 004; Punjab University, Patiala, Chandigarh - 160 014, are among the few universities that offer M.Sc. Forensic Science. To become a forensic scientist one has to obtain a masters and a Ph.D. degree in this field.
Another similar discipline is forensic medicine, which is the application of principles of pathology specifically and medicine in general to legal needs. Forensic medicine is a specialty at postgraduate /MD level in medicine. MBBS degree holders are eligible for admission to this course.
Those who posses MD in Forensic Medicine is eligible to become a forensic pathologist.
There are many higher-study options available for meritorious pharmacy graduates. After B.Pharm., you can go in for M.Tech. (Pharm.), MBA (Pharm.) or MS (Pharm.).
NIPER courses
The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, SAS Nagar, Mohali - 160 062, Punjab (www.niper.nic.in,www.niper.ac.in) , offers good study facilities for meritorious pharmacy graduates. Specialised subjects available for MS (Pharm.) programmes are medical chemistry, natural products, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmacology and toxicology, pharmaceutics, biotechnology and pharmaco informatics.
Other programmes include M.Pharm. - pharmaceutical technology (formulations), pharmacy practice; M.Tech. (Pharm) - pharmaceutical technology (bulk drugs), and MBA (Pharm) - pharmaceutical management.
B.Pharm. graduates with 60 per cent marks are eligible to apply for all the above programmes. SC/ ST students require only 55 per cent marks and physically handicapped students require only 50 per cent marks in B.Pharm. Applicants should also qualify GATE/NET. Admission is based on an all-India-level entrance test, group discussion and personal interview. Doctoral programmes are also available at NIPER. For more details visit the website.
MBA programmes
Meritorious pharmacy graduates are also eligible for admission to any MBA programme.
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, conducts a two-year full-time MBA programme with a focus on management systems. B.Pharm. holders with 60 per cent marks are eligible for admission. Selection is through Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET), Website http://jmet.iitd.ac.in.
The Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, offers M.Pharm .(Pharmaceutics / Pharmaceutical Chemistry / Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology); Websitewww.bitmesra.ac.in.
Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, conducts M.Pharm. (Pharmaceutics / quality assurance / pharmacognosy) course. M.Sc. Biotechnology is also conducted here and pharmacy graduates are eligible for admission.
Some other higher-study options are the following. Go by your aptitude and interest while choosing a course.
M.Tech. (Biotechnology) programme offered at Anna University, Chennai; West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata (First class B.Pharm. holders are eligible for admission) selection is through all-India-level combined biotechnology entrance examination conducted by the Jawaharlal Nehru University every year.
Rajeev Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Gandhi Nagar, Bhopal - 462 036 (www.rgtu.net) , offers M.Tech. (Biotechnology), M.Pharm (Pharma chemistry/pharmaceutics). Pharmacy graduates are eligible for admission.
M.Tech in Bioinformatics/IT is offered by the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad - 211 012 (www.iiita.ac.in) . GATE qualified pharmacy graduates are eligible for admission.
IIT Madras, Chennai - 600 036 (www.biotech.iitm.ac.in) , provides opportunities to study M.Tech. Medical Biotechnology (under user-oriented programme). B.Pharm. holders with 60 per cent marks are eligible for admission. Selection is through a written test and interview.
IIT Bombay, conducts an MS.c. Biotechnology programme. Pharmaceutical graduates are also eligible. Selection is through Joint Admission Test (JAM) for M.Sc. conducted by IIT at the national level.
IIT Kharagpur also provides an M.Tech. level course for GATE qualified pharmacy graduates (www.iitkgp.ernet.in/mtech) .
Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad - 826 004, offers an MBA programme for B.Tech./ B.Pharm. degree holders with 55 per cent marks. Selection is through IIM-CAT score, group discussion and interview.
The Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences under Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jam Nagar - 8 (www.iaps.ac.in) , offers Master of Pharmacy (Ayurveda) and M.Sc. (Medical Plants) programmes. Graduates in pharmacy are eligible for admission.
Mar Athanasius College for Advanced Studies, Tiruvalla - 689 101, (www.macfast.org) , has introduced an M.Sc. Phytomedical Sciences and Technology course. B.Pharm. degree holders with 55 per cent marks also eligible for admission.
MBA Biotechnology
MBA Biotechnology is another suitable higher-study option for pharmacy graduates. The Department of Management Sciences under the University of Pune offers this programme. For details visit www.dms.unipune.ernet.in.
Pharmacy graduates can also qualify GATE and become eligible for scholarship for higher studies. GATE notification can be expected in September every year.
Those who successfully complete MBA-Pharma could get managerial/executive posts in the Pharmaceutical industry
