Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmacy is one of the fundamental branches of the healing art. It strives to know everything about drugs, from the point of view of their preparation, their biological action and their delivery to the patient.
During their studies, the students in pharmaceutical sciences will become, little by little, real experts on drugs. They will learn everything, or almost everything, about their conception, formulation, control, pharmacological effects and undesirable manifestations as well as their dispensing to patients.
This 5-year training, 3 years of Bachelor's degree and 2 years of Master's degree, leads to the diploma of pharmacist which allows, mainly but not only, to work in the pharmacies open to the public and which gives access to the various masters of specialization as well as to the PhD.
Organisation of studies
Bachelor's degree
The Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences allows students to acquire a solid training including scientific and biomedical bases while allowing afirst theoretical and practical contact with the pharmaceutical world, in particular by the realization of an initiation internship in a pharmacy open to the public.
- During block 1, the teaching is concentrated on the acquisition of knowledge of the fundamental sciences (biology, chemistry and physics), with chemistry being taught in greater depth.An introductory course in pharmaceutical sciences provides an overview of the complete drug circuit (design, registration, delivery, etc.) and the various career options available.
- Block 2 is devoted to the acquisition of biomedical sciences (the "normal" human being and non-infectious pathologies) and to the deepening of analytical chemistry and knowledge of active ingredients.
- Block 3 deals with courses related to active ingredients and infectious pathologies. Integrated seminars allow students to make links between the different subjects around an active molecule. Students present their results in the form of a poster, as is customary at conferences. During the summer, they are required to complete a two-week observation period.
Master
During the Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences, after a common 1st year, 4 finalities are proposed. Each of the finalities includes an internship, the completion of a personal research project and, for the specialized finalities, introductory information sessions related to the chosen field. During thesecond year, the student also completes an internship in a pharmacy for a legal period of 6 months.
Specialisation in Pharmacist Practice, Pharmaceutical Advice and Follow-up
This specialization is intended more specifically for students considering a career in pharmacy (in a pharmacy open to the public or in a hospital). It includes a series of introductory information sessions related to this sector of activity (phytotherapy, officinal management, dermopharmacy, etc.).
Specialisation in Drug Design and Development-Bioanalysis
This specialization is intended more specifically for students considering a career in industry or a specialization in clinical biology.
Specialisation in Pharmacopoeia Management and Professional Perspectives
This specialization is also intended for students considering a career in pharmacy. It is oriented towards management dedicated to the pharmacy and the perspectives of evolution of the profession.
In-depth studies
The in-depth program prepares students for the profession of researcher. It involves the pursuit of a personalized research project in a Belgian or foreign university laboratory.
Contact the Pedagogical Office
Specialised Master
A Master's degree in specialisation offers highly specialized training in a specific field. It allows students to complete the training they have already acquired in a second university cycle.
Clinical biology
At the end of this course, the student will be able to master all the processes of analysis of biological substrates intended to specify the diagnosis of a disease, to evaluate the prognosis or the therapeutic response or to consider its transmissibility.
Dermopharmacy and cosmetology
The objective is to train rigorous scientists capable of designing and manufacturing cosmetic forms, controlling the raw materials used to manufacture these forms, verifying the quality of finished products, evaluating their safety for human health and the environment, complying with the regulatory requirements in force, and approaching the specific aspects of marketing and marketing communication.
Industrial Pharmacy
At the end of the Master's degree in Industrial Pharmacy, the student will be trained in the conventional tasks of manufacturing and analyzing drugs.
They will also master knowledge and skills in current fields such as biotechnology, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, economic aspects of the drug, and clinical trials.
Hospital Pharmacy
The Master's degree in hospital pharmacy prepares pharmacists for conventional tasks such as the acquisition, storage, dispensing and preparation of medicines, in the specific context of the hospital sector, quality of care and the most efficient use of available resources.
In addition, it trains the pharmacist for more specific tasks in order to optimize the use of medicines in the hospital: clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical care, quality assurance, therapeutic formulary, pharmacovigilance, information, recommendations, applied research.
Certificates and lifelong learning
The following continuing education courses are available to graduates of a master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences:
Radiopharmacy - Long course (104 credits)
Radiopharmacy - Short course (44 credits)
University certificate for blood collection by clinical biologists (10 credits)
Health regulatory affairs (52 credits)
CERTIFICATE IN OFFICIAL MANAGEMENT (15 credits)
The Faculty of Medicine organises a series of complementary training courses in the form of a certificate for professionals. The conditions of access are specified for each course.
To the registration form and the training catalog
Doctorate
After a 120-credit Master's degree, you can consider taking a doctorate. This is a professional course of approximately four years corresponding to the completion of an original research project.
Career opportunities
Even if most graduates are destined for the pharmacy as owners, holders, assistants or replacements, the profession of pharmacist can be practiced in different environments: the hospital, industry, clinical biology, research.... sometimes requiring the completion of a master's degree or a PhD.
Pharmacists can also be found in various sectors such as education, agri-food, cosmetics industry, public services (Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, National Defense Health Service)...
Photo credit ©ULiège B. Brixhe
