Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Programme

The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) programme is designed to equip pharmacists with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values required to deliver high-quality, consistent, and safe treatments to patients in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. The primary objective of the programme is to train pharmacy practitioners to possess leadership qualities, advanced expertise, and clinical experience that enable them to be at the forefront of the pharmacy profession and healthcare in various settings.

Programme Overview

The programme emphasizes patient-focused care to develop reflective practitioners with knowledge, skills, and attitudes to critically evaluate personalized pharmaceutical care and modify therapy in a timely and effective manner.

Enrolment

The programme offers both full-time and part-time options. The full-time programme may be completed over 2 academic years, while the part-time programme may be completed over 3-6 academic years.

Application

The application period for the programme commences on 1 October of the preceding year and closes on 15 March of the same year. All applicants must apply online via the Graduate Admission System. Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an admission interview, typically held between 1st to 15th April.

Additional Supporting Documents

Applicants must also include the following supporting documents:

• Their CV
• A personal statement

Admission Requirements

The criteria for admission include:

• Candidates must be holders of a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (Honours) degree or its equivalent
• Candidates must have fulfilled the pre-registration pharmacist training requirements and registered to practise Pharmacy in Singapore
• Preference is given to those with relevant work experience as a pharmacist
• Candidates will also be evaluated based on an interview, their written statement of career goals, and at least three letters of recommendation

Programme Structure

The programme consists of:

• A didactic component, which includes 16 courses (10 essential Level 5000 courses and 7 elective Level 5000 courses)
• A clerkship component, which consists of 40 weeks of attachments at various practice settings

Didactic Coursework

The essential courses include:

• PR5135 Foundations in Advanced Pharmacy Practice
• PR5134 Advanced Skills in Pharmacy Practice
• PR5136 Seminar & Teaching
• PR5113 Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
• PR5130 Advanced Pharmacotherapy I
• PR5131 Advanced Pharmacotherapy II
• PR5132 Advanced Pharmacotherapy III
• PR5133 Advanced Pharmacotherapy in Special Populations
• PR5137 Advanced Pharmacotherapy in Geriatrics
• PR5239 Clinical Pharmacy Research Project

The elective courses include:

• PR5230A Pharmacoeconomics
• PR5230B Outcomes Research
• PR5237 Management of Older Patients
• PR5131A Advanced Pharmacotherapy IIA
• PR5132A Advanced Pharmacotherapy IIIA
• PR5134A Physical Assessment and Diagnostic Tests for Advanced Pharmacy Practice
• PR5234A Concepts in Pharmacogenomics

Clerkship Component

The clerkship component consists of:

• Compulsory clerkships in Ambulatory Care, Adult Acute Care Medicine, Adult General Medicine, and Drug Information
• Elective clerkships, which allow students to gain exposure to a broad range of pharmacy practice settings

Fees

The full programme fee for students admitted in AY2024/2025 onwards is not specified. Besides the full programme fee, students are liable to pay Miscellaneous Student Fees (MSF) for each semester. If a student opts to go overseas for one or more clerkships, additional costs will include travel, visa, living, and other expenses.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the programme include:

• How much are the tuition fees?
• Do I need to be a registered pharmacist in Singapore to be eligible for admission?
• Are scholarships available?
• Where are the practice settings for clerkship rotations?
• Can I request a clerkship at an overseas location?
• Must I complete a research project?
• Is a part-time programme available?
• Are the programme fees payable by CPF?
• When will I be notified of the outcome of my application?
• Will licensure bodies of other countries recognize the NUS PharmD degree?

Testimonials

The programme has received positive feedback from past students, who have shared their experiences and reflections on the programme.