Master of Surgery [M.S.] (Pharmacology) Course Admission, Eligibility, Fees 2024-2025

M.S. Pharmacology is a 3-year postgraduate course pursued after successful completion of MBBS in the field of Pharmacology. It is an extension of biology that studies drug action on the body. Any natural or man-made drug can affect the body. Drugs exert a biochemical or physiological effect on the mechanism of the body. The course is a study of such cases.

Top institutes offering this course are:

AIIMS, New Delhi
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha
SN Medical College, Agra
Allahabad State University

The field of Pharmacology encompasses composition and properties of drugs, drug synthesis, and design, molecular and cellular mechanism of drugs, antipathogenic capabilities of drugs, organ and system mechanism of drugs in general, drugs’ cellular communication with the body, molecular interactions of drugs, and drug toxicology and medical applications.

All in all, Pharmacology aims to ensure that medications in the body treat ailments, and not harm it. Pharmacology is thus the study of drugs - how they interact with the molecules of the body and how they affect it. The average course fees charged in India ranges between INR 30,000 - 5 lacs for the total duration. The average annual salary offered to successful postgraduates of the field ranges between INR 3-10 lacs per annum.

Top Colleges for Master of Surgery [M.S.] (Pharmacology)

M.S. Pharmacology: Course Highlights

Listed below are some of the major highlights of the course.

Course Level	Postgraduate
Duration	3 years
Examination Type	Semester System
Eligibility	MBBS completed from a university recognized by the Medical Council of India
Admission Process	Based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant entrance test.
Course Fee	INR 30,000 - 2 lacs
Average Starting Salary	INR 6- 12 lacs
Top Recruiting Organizations'	Ranbaxy, Sun Pharma, Amway, etc
Top Recruiting Areas'	Health Centers, Hospitals, Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Colleges, Medical Foundation / Trust, Non-Profit Organizations, Nursing Homes, Polyclinics, Private Practice, Research Institutes, among others.
Top Job Profiles	Analytical Chemist, Physiologist, Toxicologist, Healthcare Scientist, Biomedical Scientist, among others.

M.S. Pharmacology: What is it About?

Students enrolled to the course are taught advanced lessons in effects of drugs on living organisms, leading new drug discoveries, working of the human body, physiology, pathology and chemistry, biophysical and computational research in the field of medicine, pharmacological and physical research activities, and relevant aspects of Analytical Chemistry.

M.S. Pharmacology: Who should opt?

Key skills required in ideal candidates of the course are:

Excellent Communication Skills
Preparing and delivering presentations
Tremendous Patience for dealing with different kinds of people
Medical Report writing
Interpersonal skills
Leadership and team skills
Data collection and analysis
Time management
Problem-solving skills.

Top Institutes offering M.S. Pharmacology

Listed below are some of the top institutes offering the course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by each.

Name of Institute	City	Average Fees per annum in INR
Sharda University	Greater Noida	93,300
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences	Faridkot	1.5 lacs
Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences	Vijayawada	37,500
Manipal University	Manipal	15,400
All India Institute of Medical Sciences	New Delhi	2,550
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University	Meerut	28,200
Swami Rama Himalayan University University	Dehradun	68,500
Gandhi Medical College	Amritsar	15,000
Gandhi Medical College	Chandigarh	4,330
Gandhi Medical College	Haldwani	68,000
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research	Pondicherry	4,150
Sri Ramachandra University	Chennai	1.25 lacs

Eligibility for M.S. Pharmacology

Candidates aspiring for admission to the course are required to fulfill the following minimum eligibility criteria.

Post-graduation (MBBS or equivalent degree), completed from an institute recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) or any of the State Medical Councils.
A minimum aggregate score of 55% (50% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the level of post-graduation.
1- year compulsory rotating internship.

Preferably, a minimum of 12 months of professional experience, as most reputed institutes prefer candidates with work experience.

M.S. Pharmacology: Admission Process

Generally, in most of the colleges and institutes offering the course, admission is provided based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant entrance test, Common Entrance Test (CET), conducted at any of State and national levels, followed by a subsequent round of counseling.

The round of counseling involves two additional rounds of Group Discussion and Personal Interview, wherein candidate’s general aptitude for the course is examined. A merit list is subsequently released issued by the institute allocating available seats to the qualifying candidates.
Some such entrance exams held in the country are listed below.

AIIMS Postgraduate – Post Doctoral Courses Entrance examination
AIPGMEE – All India Post Graduate Medical / Dental Entrance Examination
All India Common Medical Entrance Test for MBBS and PG
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University Entrance examination
Annamalai University – PG Medical Entrance Exam
Army Dental Corps Short Service Commission (SSC), BDS and MDS Entrance examination
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Faridkot
Post Graduate Entrance Test
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi Entrance examination
JIPMER PG Medical Entrance examination
NIPER-JEE
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Joint Entrance Examination.

Latest Master of Surgery [M.S.] (Pharmacology) Admission Alert

M.S. Pharmacology: Syllabus and Course Description

A semester-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is tabulated below.

Semester 1	Semester 2
General Pharmacology Principles and Allied Sciences	Wonder Discoveries in Pharmacology
Toxicology	Systemic Pharmacology
Molecular Biology in Pharmacology	Experimental Pharmacology
Isolation of compounds from Herbal Sources	Biassy and Statistics
Semester 3	Semester 4
Instrumentation in Drug Analysis	Drug Development Process
Biostatistics and Recent Advancements	Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Pharmacokinetics	Thesis
Drug Regulations	Practical: One exercise on the intact animal. One exercise on the isolated organ. One chemical pharmacological exercise.

M.S. Pharmacology: Career Prospects

Popular areas of employment for such postgraduates include:

industrial, commercial or research environments.
drug research and development laboratories.
pharmaceutical organizations.
non-lab based jobs in pharmaceutical-related fields.

Related MS Pharmacology courses are:

M.Sc. Clinical Research

Read more about Master in Science courses

Some of the popular professional avenues open to successful postgraduates of the course are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Master of Surgery [M.S.] in Pharmacology annual salary

Job Position	Job Description	Average Annual Salary in INR
Analytical Chemist	Analytical Chemists assess the chemical structure, nature, and properties of substances. Analytical Chemists use their skills for a variety of purposes of drug development and synthesis, including forensic analysis and toxicology. They may specialize in areas such as toxicology, pharmaceuticals, and forensics.	2-4 lacs
Pharmacologist	Pharmacologists conduct research on animals or on human subjects. They work on chemical compounds and substances so as to devise new medications. Their job duties include planning and directing studies, standardizing drug doses, preparing research grants, and following safety procedures.	2-3 lacs
Healthcare Scientist	A Healthcare Scientist’s job is generally laboratory-based. They investigate disease, genetic makeup, and develop new scientific treatments to find solutions to diseases.	2-3 lacs
Biomedical Scientist	Biomedical Scientists carry out experiments on samples of body fluids and tissue, so that solutions can be found out to regular as well as threatening diseases.	3-4 lacs
Toxicologist	Toxicologists use analytical and scientific techniques to study and identify toxins in chemical and biological substances. They also study the effect of toxins on radiation. Their job also involves assessing the potential risks and harmful effects posed by toxins on the body.	5-6 lacs
Drug Developer	Drug Developers work in a variety of industries like food industry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical science industry, and medical device manufacturing companies. They develop and synthesize new foods, drugs, and medical technologies, and perform research on developing ways to enhance existing products.	6-10 lacs