When people hear about Pharmacy as a university degree program, they might instantly think it is mainly about producing and selling medicine or drugs. However, in the past few decades, the industry has expanded so much that it now involves a wide range of careers in various fields, such as drug development, bioprocesses, engineering, cosmetics, and more.
The industry presents many job opportunities, and large companies are constantly looking for competent researchers who can help develop cutting-edge drugs or biotechnological devices to treat or manage severe diseases and medical conditions. Industry experts also enter the academe to train young students to come up with solutions to real-world problems.
The steady and high demand for licensed pharmacists in many developed countries makes a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences attractive to incoming university students. Many universities also offer free education through scholarships for promising students or government subsidies for domestic students. Some countries even extend the offer to international students. In this article, we will be looking at free pharmacy schools!
How Many Years Does It Take to Be a Pharmacist?
In most countries, a degree in pharmacy requires four years of studying. A bachelor’s degree in pharmacy is enough to land a job in the industry. Students will get comprehensive training in chemistry and mathematics in the first two years, then move to more advanced concepts like the preparation of medicines and the laws governing their production. We currently do not have any information regarding the available courses in Pharmacy, but we implore you to check back soon as new courses are constantly being added to our database. In the meantime, you can check out all the available courses on our website on the Open Courses Page.
Free Pharmacy Schools
1. Karolinska Institute
Karolinska Institute in Sweden is known as one of the best medical schools in the world that offers free education in pharmacy. Because of its reputation, it was granted the authority to award the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. In addition, it offers numerous healthcare and medicine programs with state-of-the-art research laboratories and teaching facilities.
The institute has a two-year full-time Global Master’s Program in Translational Physiology and Pharmacology that grants 120 ECTS credits. Students can learn not only about the pharmaceutical industry but also about the body’s functions and the mechanisms of diseases. With this, the program guarantees competencies in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that could help graduates find excellent job opportunities in research, management, or the academe.
Prospective students from EU/EEA member countries do not have to pay the application or tuition fees for the duration of the program. On the other hand, those coming from non-EU/EEA countries without EU/EEA citizenship have to pay the one-time application fee worth SEK900 and the annual tuition fee worth SEK200,000.
2. University of Copenhagen
- Free Tuition Fee Link
- Free to Danish citizens and citizens from the Nordic region and EU/EEA member countries
The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is a prestigious university in Denmark that takes pride in its culturally diverse environment, where roughly 14% of its student population consists of international students. It ranks as the 7th best university in Europe and offers the same benefits as most public European universities, granting free tuition to EU/EEA citizens.
UCPH offers free undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences that welcome applicants from across the globe. However, it is worth noting that all Bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Copenhagen are delivered using the Danish language. Therefore, interested applicants must be able to exhibit proficiency in the language.
The undergraduate program lasts three years and allows students to gain fundamental knowledge in various fields: pharmacology, pharmacy, chemistry, and the use or application of drugs. Meanwhile, the Master’s degree program lasts two years. Students can choose among three tracks for specialization: Drug Discovery, Drug Development, or Medicines & Society.
3. Technical University of Munich
The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is a reputable public research university in Europe. The university offers free tuition to all qualified students, both domestic and international students who wish to study pharmacy. It also consistently ranks as one of the top academic institutions in Germany, and its graduates are in-demand in the country, resulting in a high overall employability rating. As a result, it provides the highest value of education in both cost and quality.
TUM offers a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Bioprocess Engineering. The undergraduate program lasts six semesters with 180 ECTS credits. Meanwhile, the graduate program lasts four semesters and grants 120 ECTS credits. Both programs are taught entirely in German and require appropriate language proficiency certificates.
The programs combine the concepts of genetic engineering, biochemical processes in microorganisms, and manufacturing biotechnological products. Graduates are expected to gain competencies in proper laboratory practices that could help them secure stable jobs in industrial engineering plants, cosmetics companies, and pharmaceutical companies as quality control supervisors or researchers.
4. University of Bergen
The University of Bergen (UiB) is one of the best pharmacy schools in Norway that offer free education. It is also one of the most famous institutions for international students based on student satisfaction surveys. However, while the university has numerous English-taught graduate programs to cater to international students, all undergraduate programs are conducted in Norwegian.
It offers an Integrated Master’s Program in Pharmacy that lasts five years and grants 300 ECTS credits. It awards both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree to graduates. The entire program is taught using the Norwegian language, requiring interested applicants to show proof or certification of proficiency in the language.
Regardless of country of origin, all students can avail themselves of the free tuition benefit at the University of Bergen, similar to all public universities in Norway. Nonetheless, students have to pay a semester fee worth NOK590. Interested applicants must also document how they intend to finance their education at the university and show their financial capacity to spend roughly NOK130,000 per year on living costs.
5. University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki in Finland ranks as the top university in Finland and among the top 100 higher education institutions worldwide, making its graduates highly favored by many employers internationally. It is also the oldest university in the country, with its long history contributing to its global reputation of excellence.
Professionals who aim to gain more research skills in Pharmacy may pursue a Master’s program in Pharmaceutical Research, Development, and Safety available at the University of Helsinki. It lasts two years and is taught entirely in English.
The university offers free tuition to Finnish citizens and residents and those who hold residency status in Switzerland and other EU/EEA member countries. Meanwhile, non-EU/EEA students may apply to the competitive scholarship programs that can grant the most outstanding applicants a tuition fee waiver if they qualify.
We hope that this article on Free Pharmacy Schools with No Tuition was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
