D Pharma is a two-year-long, entry-level certificate course that deals with the study of science and the art of preparing and dispensing medicines and drugs. Students are equipped with the knowledge of basic pharmacy education including the application of chemistry, concepts of biochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology that enable them to acquire career opportunities in public and private companies as Clinical Pharmacists, Pharmacologists, Clinical Research Associates (CRA), etc.
Table of Contents
| Degree | Diploma |
| Full Form | Diploma in Pharmacy |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Age | Minimum age limit is 17 years |
| Minimum Percentage | 50% |
| Average Fees | INR 10,000-1,00,000 per year |
| Average Salary | INR 2 – 5 LPA [Sources: Ambition Box & Glassdoor) |
| Employment Roles | Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacologist, Clinical Research Associate, Research Scientist |
| Top Recruiters | Sun Pharmaceuticals, Biocon, GlaxoSmithKline, etc. |
The D Pharma course gives students a thorough understanding of the concepts and methods used in pharmacy, including drug composition, preparation, and management. The D Pharm course duration is two years, which is divided into four semesters. Admission in D Pharmacy can be done through entrance exams or merit scores as per the college requirements.
Students must have a minimum aggregate score of 50% in higher secondary (10+2) from the science stream to be eligible for D Pharmacy. The average D Pharma fees is in the range of INR 10,000 to 1 LPA. The D Pharma syllabus includes various topics on theoretical and practical concepts of biochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology.
After obtaining a degree in D Pharma, the students have the scope to build a rewarding career for themselves in the pharmaceutical industry, which makes the D Pharma job scope extensive, providing jobs in both the private and public sectors.
Also Read: Pharmacy Courses
Before deciding on a career, students encounter queries like, “What is the scope of D Pharma?” and “Why choose D.Pharma?”. To clearly understand the answers to these questions and know more about D Pharmacy, we have framed the following three pointers:
Pharmacists play an essential role in society as they define the healthcare sector. D Pharma can be a rewarding career for graduates as it prepares students for exciting and successful careers in pharmaceutical work. The most important reasons to pursue D pharm is listed below:
Read More: D Pharmacy Career Opportunies
D Pharmacy is a course that primarily focuses on the healthcare industry. Candidates who wish to pursue D Pharma should be interested in the following:
The basic D Pharm course eligibility are usually the same for most colleges offering D Pharm. The typical D Pharmacy eligibility criteria are discussed below.
D Pharmacy admission process is based on merit/entrance exam methods. While some colleges offer admission in D Pharmacy courses based on marks obtained by students in the D Pharma entrance exam, other colleges offer direct admissions. For the D Pharma qualification, students must ensure that they satisfy the D Pharmacy eligibility criteria. Mentioned below are the details of the D Pharmacy admission process in general:
Students are advised to be aware of the latest updates in the application process. The typical registration process for the D Pharma course is discussed below.
The selection process for the D Pharma course in India is usually the same. However, for some colleges, the selection process may differ. The typical selection process for D Pharmacy is discussed below.
Also Read on The History of Pharmacy in India
There are some exams conducted by the state for entrance to some of the universities. Here is a list of some of the exams:
| State | Name of Exam |
| West Bengal | WBJEE-Pharmacy |
| Orissa | OJEE-P |
| Gujarat | GUJCET |
| Uttar Pradesh | UPSEE-Pharmacy |
| Maharashtra | MHT CET |
| Karnataka | KCET |
| Goa | GCET |
| Rajasthan | RUHS-P |
Almost all colleges offering the D Pharm course have an entrance exam-based admission process. The entrance exam can be performed well if the students are well-versed in the D Pharma entrance exam syllabus. Some of the top D Pharmacy entrance examinations are:
| D Pharma Entrance Exam | Registration Details |
| GPAT | GPAT Application Form |
| UPSEE | UPSEE Application Form |
| AU AIMEE | AU AIMEE Application Form |
Before appearing for the D Pharmacy entrance exams, students should be aware of all the details regarding the D Pharma entrance exam. This will help students make timely preparations and know the syllabus. To prepare better for the exams, students must consider investing in D Pharm books. In general, the exam pattern that is followed is:
To be admitted to the D.Pharma program, candidates must also pass a D pharma entrance exam. The subject matter is chosen from the following four to be framed as a question. The questions are generally based on Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. Students must cover the following topics for the D pharma entrance exam:
The D Pharma fees for various colleges in India are around INR 10,000 – 1 LPA. The D Pharmacy course fees may vary based on the type of institute, location, infrastructure, faculties, and facilities available. Below is a table of several D Pharma college fees.
|
Sl No. |
College |
Admission Fees |
Tuition Fees |
Miscellaneous Fees |
|
1 |
Hamdard University |
INR 8000 |
INR 80,000 PA |
INR 33,800 PA |
|
2 |
MCOPS Manipal |
INR 10,000 |
INR 64,500 PA |
INR 107500 PA |
|
3 |
NMIMS Mumbai |
INR 1000 |
INR 1.60 LPA |
INR 3.5 LPA |
|
4 |
Chitkara University |
INR 20,000 |
INR 2.34 LPA |
INR 50,000 PA |
|
5 |
Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute of Pharmacy |
INR 200 |
INR 6000 PA |
INR 1.8 LPA |
D Pharmacy colleges are located all across the country in different regions. Students can opt for the best college depending on their merit and entrance exam performance. Some of the world’s most renowned pharmaceutical universities are based in India.
Here is a list of some of the top universities in India that offer D.Pharma:
Below is some of the best D Pharmacy college in Mumbai.
| SI.No | College Name |
| 1 | SPPSPTM |
| 2 | NMIMS |
| 3 | MET Institute of Management |
| 4 | Nagrik Shikshan Sanstha’s College of Pharmacy |
| 5 | MET Institute of Pharmacy |
| 6 | Premlila Vithaldas polytechnic |
| 7 | Shikshan Prasarak Mandal’s Kusuma Wankhede Institute of Pharmacy |
The Indian science city is also home to a plethora of pharmacy institutes that provide some of the best courses. Here is a list of information regarding D Pharmacy colleges in Pune.
D pharma colleges in Delhi offer a wide range of pharmacy courses along with specializations. Listed below are some of them:
| SI.No | College Name |
| 1 | JMI University |
| 2 | DIPSAR |
| 3 | DPSRU |
| 4 | Meera Bai Institute of Technology |
Kolkata is also a host of numerous pharmacy colleges, some of d pharma colleges in Kolkata are mentioned below:
| SI.No. | College Name |
| 1 | Gurunanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology |
| 2 | Adamas University |
| 3 | Brainware University |
| 4 | JIS University |
| 5 | Swami Vivekananda University |
| 6 | Eminent College of Pharmaceutical Technology |
| 7 | MR College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research |
| 8 | BCDA College of Pharmacy and Technology |
| 9 | PMIT Group of Colleges |
Chennai also offers a wide range of pharmacy courses under some of the best institutes. Listed below are some of them:
| SI.No. | College Name |
| 1 | Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology |
| 2 | Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute |
| 3 | BIHER |
| 4 | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences |
The Indian Silicon Valley is also home to a number of pharmaceutical companies, which offer numerous opportunities to pharmacy graduates. Here is a list of D Pharmacy colleges in Bangalore:
| SI.No. | College Name |
| 1 | ABMRCP |
| 2 | Government College of Pharmacy |
| 3 | Karnataka College of Pharmacy |
| 4 | TJIMS |
| 5 | MES College of Pharmacy |
| 6 | Bangalore Group of Institutions |
| 7 | RR Group of Institutions |
| 8 | The Oxford College of Pharmacy |
| 9 | Dr HLT College of Pharmacy |
Some of the world’s most well-known pharmaceutical companies are headquartered in India’s ever-expanding green city and new commercial hub, including Prudential, Progenerics, Crescent, and Pegasus Farmco. Listed below are some of the top colleges:
| SI.No. | College Name |
| 1 | Sri Venkateshwara College of Pharmacy |
| 2 | Avanthi Educational Society |
| 3 | Government Polytechnic MASAB Tank |
There are government colleges in India that offer D Pharm courses. The D Pharma government college fees are comparatively less than the private colleges. Here is a list of some government colleges that offer the course:
| SI.No | Name of the Colleges |
| 1 | Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda |
| 2 | DIPSAR |
| 3 | ICT |
| 4 | Government College of Pharmacy, Amravati |
| 5 | Madras Medical College |
| 6 | Jadavpur University |
| 7 | Government College of Pharmacy |
| SI.No | Name of College |
| 1 | Integral University |
| 2 | Dev Bhoomi Group of Institutions |
| 3 | L M College Of Pharmacy |
| 4 | Poona College of Pharmacy |
| 5 | Jamia Hamdard |
D Pharm course duration is two years with four semesters. The D Pharm syllabus and subjects are designed to provide an in-depth understanding of pharmacy and the appropriate use of medication for therapeutic purposes. The program consists of core subjects and has no specializations. Listed below are a few core subjects in the course:
Read More: D Pharma Syllabus & Subjects
There are many courses in Pharmacy available to aspirants based on their preferences. B.Pharmacy and D Pharmacy are two of the most popular Pharmacy courses. The section below highlights the comparison of B Pharma vs D Pharma:
Given below are the differences between the two courses:
| Parameter | B Pharmacy | D Pharmacy |
| Overview | B.Pharma is a four-year-long undergraduate course. | D.Pharma is a two-year-long diploma course. |
| Entrance Exam | BITSAT UPSEE MAH CET WBJEE | GPAT, UPSEE, AU AIMEE Pharmacy |
| Job Opportunity | Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy Assistant, etc. | Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacologist, Clinical Research Associate, etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 3.5 – 5 LPA [Source: Glassdoor]. | INR 3.5 – 5 LPA [Source: Glassdoor]. |
Read More: B.Pharma vs D.Pharma
D.Pharma is a short-term pharmaceutical career option, and students should know all about the D Pharma course before pursuing the course. Some of the essential tips for students seeking admission to the D Pharma course are:
There are various higher study options available for graduate students after a Diploma in Pharmacy, which can help them better understand pharmaceutical science. Listed below are some of the popular higher education options available for students after D pharm:
The average salary for a D.Pharma graduate is around INR 2-5 LPA (Source: PayScale), which would increase with experience and skills. D.Pharma offers ample job opportunities to students in the pharmaceutical sector and other private and public institutions which includes pharmacists, Scientific Officers, Quality analysts, etc.
Read More: D Pharmacy Salary
D.Pharma opens various avenues for students who can choose a career from a diverse range of profiles, such as:
D.Pharm graduates should develop good research and analytical skills. They should be good at communication skills and creative in bringing innovative ideas. A few necessary skills for D.Pharma graduates are:
| Other Popular UG/Diploma Courses | |
| B Pharmacy | BCA |
| BBA | Bachelor of Arts |
| BSc | MBBS |
| B.Com | B.Ed |
| B.Tech | D.EL.Ed |
The D. Pharma syllabus is a two-year-long course divided into 4 semesters. D. Pharmacy syllabus covers the fundamental education of pharmacy in the pharmaceutical industry, along with the study of biochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. D. Pharmacy subjects teach students about various pharmaceutical methods & applications along with Toxicology, Health Education, and Community Pharmacy.
D.Pharma syllabus trains students to acquire important knowledge and industry-relevant skills in pharmaceutical sciences. Hence, the D Pharma job scope opens candidates to a plethora of fields. Students must have completed the 12th class in the science stream from a recognized board with at least 50% marks to be eligible for the D Pharma course.
Check Detailed Year-Wise D.Pharma Syllabus:
Table of contents
D.Pharma syllabus is structured to include theoretical and practical training based on preparation, dispensing, and appropriate medication practices for therapeutic purposes. The subjects can differ for other colleges. A general view of the semester-wise D.Pharmacy syllabus from the top D. Pharmacy colleges is as given below:
The D Pharma first-year syllabus introduces students to core pharmaceutical subjects that remain common for all. Here is a table of the first-year syllabus for D.Pharma:
| D.Pharma syllabus semester-1 | |
| Biochemistry and Clinical Pathology | Human Anatomy and Physiology- I |
| Pharmacognosy – I | Health Education and Community Pharmacy- I |
| Pharmacognosy Lab | Pharmaceutical Chemistry-I Lab |
| D.Pharma syllabus semester-2 | |
| Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy | Pharmaceutical Chemistry- I |
| Pharmacology & Toxicology | Drug Store and Business Management |
| Pharmaceutics Lab | Pharmaceutical Chemistry-II Lab |
Some of the practical subjects in the First Year D Pharma Syllabus are given below:
Read More: D.Pharma 1st Year Syllabus
The D Pharm second-year syllabus gives in-depth knowledge and understanding of specific concepts of chemistry, toxicology, etc. Here is a table of the second-year syllabus for D.Pharma:
| D.Pharma syllabus semester-3 | |
| Health Education and Community Pharmacy | Antibiotics |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology – II | Pharmacognosy- II |
| Biochemistry and Clinical Pathology Lab | – |
| D.Pharma syllabus semester-4 | |
| Pharmaceutics | Pharmaceutical Chemistry-II |
| Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence | Health Education and Community Pharmacy- II |
| Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy Lab | – |
Some of the practical subjects in the First Year D Pharma Syllabus are given below:
Read More: D.Pharm 2nd Year Syllabus
The D.Pharma subjects are designed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of medicines and drugs used in medical science. The subjects in the D Pharma include the scientific study of Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, and Pharmacology, along with a comprehensive insight into Clinical Pathology and Pharmacy. Some of the D.Pharma subjects are given below:
D.Pharma Core Subjects
D.Pharma course structure is designed to include core subjects. Below is the list of D.Pharma core subjects:
Below is the list of D.Pharma elective subjects:
The structure of the D Pharma syllabus focuses on core areas in the field of medicine, pharmaceuticals, and adjoining areas of study. A detailed view of some of the subjects in the D Pharma syllabus is given below:
| D.Pharma Subjects | Topics Covered |
| Pharmaceutics | Concept of Health, Nutrition, First aid, Environment, and Human critical Health |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Acids, bases and buffer, Antimicrobials and Astringent, Expectorants and Emetic, Quality control of Drugs |
| Pharmacognosy | Pharmaceutical aids, Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Therapeutics |
| Pharmacology & Toxicology | Routes of administration of drugs, General mechanism of drugs action, Drugs acting on the respiratory system |
| Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence | Pharmacy Act,1948, Drugs and Magic Remedies, Origin and Nature of pharmaceutical legislation in India |
| Principles of Modern Pathology including Clinical Pathology | Introduction of Pathology, Immunopathology, Haemodynamics, Inflammation and wound healing, Infectious diseases |
There are no specializations in D.Pharma, and so no electives to choose from. The D.Pharm syllabus includes theoretical classroom-based teaching and project/dissertation work to understand the concepts better. The course structure is as follows:
The D.Pharma curriculum comprises different teaching methods. Along with the traditional lectures and core subjects, the students are taught lab practicals, workshops, and case presentations for better understanding. The teaching methodology is inclined more toward practical learning. Listed below are the teaching methodology and strategies for D.Pharma in general:
D.Pharma projects are given to students for practical learning of theoretical topics. Projects assist students in getting hands-on experience and gaining skills to manage educational work. Projects are to be completed by the end of the fourth semester. Some popular D Pharma projects are:
D.Pharma can lead to employment in a variety of multispecialty hospitals and medical centres. Graduates of the D.Pharma degree have expanded professional prospects in a variety of sectors tabulated below.
| Area of Recruitment | Job Roles |
| Hospitals and Healthcare | Clinical Pharmacist, Hospital Staff Pharmacist, Medical Officer, Health Inspector |
| Public Health Departments | Public Health Pharmacist, Health Educator, Community Pharmacist |
| Research Organizations | Clinical Research Associate, Research Scientist, Biostatistician |
| Retail Pharmacy Chains | Retail Pharmacist, Pharmacy Manager, Customer Service Associate |
| Regulatory Authorities | Drug Inspector, Regulatory Affairs Executive, Compliance Officer |
| Education | Pharmacy Lecturer, Academic Writer, Lab Instructor |
| Pharmaceutical Companies | Pharmacist, Medical Representative, Drug Safety Associate, Quality Control Analyst |
These positions will help them figure out how to achieve their aims and objectives. The typical first D Pharmacy salary for graduates is between INR 2 and 3.5 LPA.
Refer to the table below to know the D.Pharma job roles for students’ reference.
| Job Profiles | Average Entry Level Salary (INR) |
| Clinical Pharmacist | 3.5 LPA |
| Hospital Staff Pharmacist | 2.5 LPA |
| Drug Safety Associate | 2.0-3. LPA |
| Medical Writer | 2.50-3. LPA |
D Pharma books are available both online and offline from many authors and publications. Reference books are meant to help understand concepts better. D. Pharmacy books pdf are also available online for e-learning. Some of the best reference books for D.Pharma are:
| Name of the Books | Authors |
| Pharmaceutics – I | R.M. Mehta |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | V.N. Raje |
| Health Education & Community Pharmacy | Murugesh |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry – I | A.V. Kasture |
D Pharma course requires an unprecedented level of dedication. The D Pharma syllabus covers a wide range of topics, providing students with an excellent opportunity to grasp the area better. While many believe that preparing for the D Pharma Syllabus is difficult, the overall difficulty is considered to be moderately difficult.
Wing Educations Assistant