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Education Bachelor's degree programmes Pharmacy
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Pharmacy

Many diseases can be treated effectively with medicines. Our BSc programme is the first step towards becoming an all-round pharmaceutical expert and a career in the pharmacy or drug research lab.

Our Bachelor's degree programme in Pharmacy combines chemistry with biology and medicine. Simply put, you will learn what medicines are, how they work, and how they are developed and administered, and what their impact is on a population's health and economics. You will learn about human (patho)physiology, and the pharmacist's role in the quest for new compounds to prevent, halt or cure disease. Based on a strong research tradition, our multidisciplinary programme provides a solid scientific foundation for students.

If you are interested in healthcare, the programme includes courses about the indispensable contribution of the pharmacist to patient care. If drug research is more your thing, the programme will open the door to the molecular world of pharmacy and how you can explore it. Students can choose from elective courses to individualize their programmes to their own specific interests.

Our English-taught BSc degree programme offers you the academic basis to help you on your way to becoming a versatile healthcare professional, as a pharmacist or a pharmaceutical scientist. You will gain the tools to contribute to improved healthcare through medicines and therapies tailored to the individual patient, also referred to as Personalised Medicine .


Facts & Figures
Degree
BSc in Pharmacy
Course type
Bachelor
Duration
36 months (180 ECTS)
Croho code
56157
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Science and Engineering
Studie in Cijfers
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • Pharmacy research and education in Groningen is rooted in the natural sciences and has strong ties to the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). Our programme thus provides a unique, bench-to-bedside learning experience.
  • In Groningen, you will be educated by skilled instructors, practicing pharmacists, and internationally renowned researchers.
  • We prepare our students for broader career opportunities in today's global society by offering our Pharmacy Bachelor programme in English.
  • Our programme is highly appreciated and valued by both students and the professional field.
  • Our faculty has been home over the years to two Nobel Prize winners, one in Physics (Frits Zernike, 1953), the other more recently in Chemistry (Ben Feringa, 2016).
Programme
CoursesCourse Catalog >
Genetics
Global Health, Pharmacotherapy and Communication
Human Physiology
Mathematics and Statistics
Molecular Biology of the Cell 1&2
Molecules and Reactivity
Pathology
Pharmaceutical Analysis A
Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy 1
Physiology and Pharmacology
Professionalism in Pharmacy 1
Receptor Pharmacology
The Cell: a Practical Approach

Curriculum

Programme structure

We offer a comprehensive selection of courses to introduce students to the pharmaceutical sciences in the broadest sense. All aspects are covered, including:

  • Rational drug design
  • Mechanisms of drug action
  • Analysis, delivery and engineering of drugs
  • Drugs in practice
  • Real-world assessments of drug use, effects, side effects, safety and costs

In addition to lectures, we offer extensive hands-on training in lab courses, as well as supervised tutorials. We implement the latest e-tools in our courses. Face-to-face interaction with students is our priority! As a student in our BSc programme, you will be familiarized with future career opportunities by active participation in ongoing research programs and visits to both community and hospital pharmacies. Opportunities to take a look behind the scenes in pharmaceutical industry will be offered as well.

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional
  • Maximum of 30 EC

Study abroad is optional in the major Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences; it is unaccommodated in the major Pharmacy.

Entry requirements

Admissible Dutch diploma profiles

  • VWO Natuur & Techniek
  • VWO Natuur & Gezondheid

    natuurkunde

  • VWO Economie & Maatschappij

    natuurkunde + scheikunde

  • VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij

    (wiskunde A of wiskunde B) + natuurkunde + scheikunde

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
language test

Language proficiency certificate for English (except for applicants with a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) as well as the exemptions listed on the language exemptions webpage). More info: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/bsc/language

other admission requirements

Before you apply!

When you cannot fulfil the vwo requirement, due to deficient profile or if you want to be admitted on the basis of a successfully passed first year of HBO or colloquium doctum, you need to submit an additional admission request via the Admission Board Bachelor programmes. Please go to this website for more information.

Choice of degree programme check

The degree programme will organize a choice of degree programme check. Attendance is optional. The advice is not binding.

Explanatory notes

Matching is a way for first year students of a Bachelor's degree programme without a selection procedure to find out whether their chosen degree programme matches with what they want.

If you want to register as a first year student for a Bachelor's degree programme without a selection procedure, you must do so no later than 1 May. That is a statutory requirement. When you have applied via Studielink on time, you are entitled to participate in a matching activity. Through matching you can find out whether your chosen Bachelor's degree programme matches with what you want. Every Bachelor's degree programme has a different matching procedure. After you have registered for a degree programme via Studielink, you will automatically receive a message explaining the procedure for the degree programme of your choice.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Choice of degree programme check

If you intend to start with a bachelor degree programme at the University of Groningen in September, make sure to apply before May 1 in Studielink. The degree programme will give you the option to participate in a matching activity to see if you and the degree programme are a match. Which matchings activity they provide depends on the faculty and programme.

Any questions about matching? Check www.rug.nl/matching

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Secondary education equivalent to Dutch pre-university education (vwo) is required.

A list of qualifications that are considered equivalent to pre-university education in the Netherlands can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/application-informatie/with-non-dutch-diploma/entry-requirements/bachelor-entry-requirements/vwo-equivalent-qualifications

If you have any questions concerning admission to the programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/contact/

additional subject

Sufficient background knowledge in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry is required.

The Admissions Board will determine whether your background knowledge in these subjects is sufficient to start the Bachelor's degree programme of your choice.

Biology is not mandatory, but highly recommended.

language test

You will need to submit proof of English proficiency in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Please find our English language requirements (exemptions, IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge and more) on this page: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/bsc/language

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 16500full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 19300full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

Our programme gives you ample freedom of choice when it comes to your opportunities after the Bachelor's.

You can pursue a Master's degree in our healthcare-oriented, Dutch-taught Pharmacy Master's programme, and be trained as a pharmacist or pharmaceutical scientist. Research-oriented programmes are offered by the Master's degree programmes Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences and Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment. These programmes will prepare you for a career in the pharmaceutical sciences or biomedical research, in academia or industry. With a thorough knowledge about pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences, you will be widely employable.

Pharmacist

As a pharmacist, you will strive for the best possible health- and patient care for each individual by helping fellow healthcare professionals select the therapies best matching a patient's requirements. Community pharmacists work closely with general practitioners and have personal contact with patients. Hospital pharmacists focus on specialized medicinal drugs, work together with other medical specialists and often conduct practice-oriented research.

Researcher

Which genetic and/or environmental factors are the underlying cause(s) of a disease? How can we develop more effective medicines? Why do some patients respond to new drugs, whereas others do not? Scientists in pharmaceutical research seek answers to these and other questions. After completion of one of the aforementioned Master's programmes, you will be ready to pursue a career in pharmaceutical research.

Consultant or policy officer

Health insurers and the government are among those interested in our graduates for positions as policy officers, inspectors or consultants.

After the Bachelor's degree programme, you can also follow the Master's degree programme Science Education & Communication.

Job examples

  • Community pharmacist, pharmacist in a hospital or industry
  • Policy advisor for insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies or the government
  • Researcher
  • Qualified person in pharmaceutical industry
  • Lecturer
Research

GRIP, the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy.

In Pharmacy, our academic educational programme is strongly linked to our research programme. We consider it important that our students are exposed to the latest research developments throughout the course of their studies. In the Pharmacy BSc, each student has the opportunity to conduct research to broaden his/her academic development.

At GRIP, our researchers strive to discover and refine medicines and devise ever more effective therapies. GRIP’s research ambition is to contribute to the pharmaceutical sciences as a whole, from basic areas, such as chemical analysis and synthesis, to pharmaceutical practice and patient-oriented research. Our efforts will help promote the new, patient-centric healthcare trend, personalized medicine, which seeks to improve patient care through individualized treatment.

In lectures, lab courses and your own research project, you will be instructed by, and closely work together with, the scientific staff of our research institute, GRIP. These researchers are true specialists, and belong to the global experts in their respective fields.

Interested in reading more about GRIP? You can find more information about our research at http://www.rug.nl/research/grip/research/




Apply nowBrochureEventsContact
Campus TourMore information
Bachelor's Open DayBroerstraat 5More information

Contact

  • Academic Advisor Pharmacy
  • studyscience@rug.nl Study Science (For students who are have general questions)
    Email: studyscience rug.nl
  • Ask Our Students! (Ask our students about the Bachelor's programme and student life:)
    Email: pharmacystudents rug.nl
  • 
						Testimonial of Sanne Hoekstra

    I enjoy achieving results through trial and error

    – Sanne Hoekstra
    Read more

    I like that Pharmacy does not solely intend to answer 'What is wrong with the patient?'. Instead, it pays attention to why something is wrong, which processes in the body are behind it, what happens on the cellular level, and how that can be influenced.

    At the same time, this knowledge can be used in everyday life: at the pharmacy, in research, or in the industry. In addition, theory and practice are combined in this degree programme. For example, I really like working in the lab. I chose the research-oriented Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences major because I enjoy achieving results through trial and error. If the research is finally successful, its results can really mean something for the world!

    I am hoping to follow a minor in Rome because I love travelling and would enjoy visiting Italy. Once there, I would also like to follow research course units. After finishing my Bachelor's degree, I definitely want to pursue a Master's programme focused on conducting medical-pharmaceutical research. I find it to be the most interesting topic.

    Besides my studies, I am a member of my degree programme's information committee. I also give exam tutoring and I work in elderly care. On top of that, I play tennis every week and am active within UNICEF. Luckily, I have time to combine all these things with my degree programme.

    Close
  • 
						Testimonial of Spoozhmay Wardak

    The fundamentals of all scientific subjects

    – Spoozhmay Wardak
    Read more

    'Since 2013, I have lived in the Netherlands. After passing the Dutch civic integration test, I enrolled for a BSc in Pharmacy in September 2018. Because I already have a BSc in Pharmacy from Kabul University, Afghanistan, I have been given the chance to complete the programme in a shorter period.

    Studying pharmacy gives me the chance not only to master medicinal/pharmacological knowledge, but also the fundamentals of all scientific subjects, like biology, chemistry and mathematics. Pharmacology is of course the main subject, but I’m also interested in ethics and the social science in pharmacy.

    Pharmacy is the profession that gives me the knowledge and power to plan a wide and bright future. My plan is to finish my study and to work in public health aspects of pharmacy, or maybe in research.’

    Close
  • 
						Testimonial of Floris Hofman

    How to work together towards a common goal

    – Floris Hofman
    Read more

    During my last year in high school, I couldn't choose between several programmes, including Chemistry. Because I found healthcare very interesting, I decided to go for Pharmacy, a very broad degree programme.

    On the one hand, it can sometimes be real organic chemistry (so very much chemistry-like) but, on other hand, it’s really focused on providing care, in which communicating with the patient takes centre stage. This broad spectrum really attracted me to the degree programme because it means that I have a lot of options after I graduate.

    During my first year, I became an active member of Pharmaciae Sacrum (P.S.), the study association, because I wanted to get to know more people who were also studying Pharmacy. The various activities hosted by P.S. also really attracted me. These are very diverse and range from study supervision (through tutoring) to parties and drinks. I was a part of three committees (the Editorial committee, the Foreign Trip committee and the Introduction committee).

    The time commitment varied per committee and per week. When I was a part of the Foreign Trip committee, the week before the trip was very stressful but I could still easily combine this with my studies. Sometimes, the weekly committee evening focused mostly on having fun, and sometimes we had long meetings but that was not bad either. It’s a lot of fun to work towards a common goal that you can later be proud of, such as a trip abroad with a group of people. Next year, I'll be a member of the Board of the association. I won’t be taking any classes but rather will devote all my time to the association.

    What being part of a committee teaches you is how to work together with different people. A board year teaches this even more. This is, of course, something that’ll come in handy during the rest of your career and life. During my board year, I’ll take on the role of Treasurer. This means that I’ll learn a lot about bookkeeping, taxes and contracts with potential sponsors. This will surely help me when I have my own business or apothecary later in life. And you get to know people in a whole different way.

    I’m not yet sure what I’ll do after my degree programme, and I still have some time before I’ll make a definite choice. For now, I’m keeping all my options open. P.S. organizes symposia and lectures with a diverse range of speakers. This allows you to gain insight into what the possibilities within pharmacy are. I think the Master’s placements will help me to discover all of the possibilities as well.

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  • 
						Testimonial of ARCS

    Get a taste of what academic research entails

    – ARCS
    Read more

    An important course is ARCS. ARCS stands for Academic Research and Communication Skills. This course teaches students in the Bachelor to read, write, present and become familiar with academic research. In their first year, students get a taste of what academic research entails, and present their own research in small groups at a Poster Symposium (shown in picture).

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  • 
						Testimonial of Marjolein Kroonen

    Marjolein Kroonen does clinical medicine research with PRA Health Sciences in Groningen

    – Marjolein Kroonen
    Read more

    Marjolein Kroonen does clinical medicine research with PRA Health Sciences in Groningen. Pharmaceutical companies who wish to test a new substance go to PRA Health Sciences to have trials conducted with human subjects.

    As project manager, Marjolein ensures that the various departments do what is required of them after an order for a trial has been received, so that volunteers can be recruited, funding can be arranged, a protocol can be drafted, the medical staff in the clinic can be instructed and the results can be processed. She maintains contact with the client throughout the entire research project.

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Study associations

Pharmaciae Sacrum

G.F.S.V. 'Pharmaciae Sacrum' is the study association for students of Pharmacy in Groningen.
Pharmaciae Sacrum, Latin for 'holy pharmacy', was founded on 12 December 1881, making it the oldest study association in Groningen and the second oldest in the Netherlands. G.F.S.V. 'Pharmaciae Sacrum' organizes various events, including lectures, sports days, excursions and drinks parties. It also publishes a newsletter called Foliolum.
https://www.psgroningen.nl/
Read more
(Binding) study advice
  • A minimum of 45 EC in the first 12 months (binding)

You will be offered study advice after first year of study. You can expect a positive result if you have earned more than 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative result, you will not be allowed to continue with your degree programme.

You will receive preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you stand. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the BSA system.

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