Postgraduate program of industrial pharmacy

The MSc in Industrial Pharmacy at University of Ljubljana has been designed to teach a range of advanced topics to graduates of pharmacy, biology, chemistry or engineering.

About the course

The Industrial Pharmacy postgraduate program at the University of Ljubljana is designed to equip students for careers in the pharmaceutical industry and scientific research on an advanced level. Graduates of Industrial Pharmacy may find employment in drug discovery, development, production, quality control, quality assurance and management, regulatory affairs and equipment management in the pharmaceutical sector.

The program aims to:

• give an overview of basic concepts in pharmaceutics and industrial pharmacy;
• familiarize students with a complete drug development process that leads to safe, effective and high-quality product:
• provide advanced knowledge in pharmaceutical science such as Quality by Design;
• develop a wide range of essential and transferable skills such as analytical problem solving, teamwork, organization, and information communication.
• equip students to pursue careers in the pharmaceutical industry or in other roles in the life science sector.
• give students the advanced knowledge, skills and experience to compete for sought after roles in the pharmaceutical sector.

During the course, students will have the opportunity to visit our industrial partners to get an insight into the pharmaceutical industry and the various careers available in the industry. Our modules are also supplemented by guest lectures and workshops provided by pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies.

News

Why study industrial pharmacy in Slovenia

• The Faculty of Pharmacy in Ljubljana is a national leader and an internationally recognized academic and research institution, with a high-ranking degree course.
• Our students have access to a range of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to help them develop necessary practical skills.
• The Faculty of Pharmacy provides an excellent environment for students to realize their professional and personal potential, equipping them with competitive knowledge and skills desired by employers.
• Qualifications obtained at the Faculty of Pharmacy are internationally recognized.

• Our close links with the pharma industry mean we can arrange careers days, work placements and other opportunities where you will have direct access to potential employers.

At Lek, a Sandoz company, we welcome the announcement of the English-language Industrial Pharmacy postgraduate program at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana. The new program opens up an international space for the flow of top skills, expertize, and talents. We already employ a large number of Master's graduates from the Slovenian-language version of the Industrial Pharmacy postgraduate program in our development laboratories and production, and expect a growing demand in the future. Given the global nature of our company, we need interdisciplinary teams of experts from various international backgrounds. We therefore support the introduction of the English program and will work to attract some of the most motivated students to our scholarship program. 

Luka Peternel, Head Pharmaceutical Development at Sandoz Development Center Slovenija, Lek d.d.

Course outline

The extent of studies is 120 ECTS for the Master’s Degree in Industrial Pharmacy and lasts typically 2 academic years. The academic year is split into two semesters, in which students are required to complete a combination of compulsory and elective modules. Students may select elective modules from other study programs offered by the University of Ljubljana. The modules can be selected on the basis of the scientific research project, which students undertake in the last semester.

SEMESTER 1

Compulsory studies, 30 ECTS

• Pharmaceutical Technology, 10 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 10 ECTS
• Stability of Medicinals, 5 ECTS

Optional studies, 5 ECTS

• Pharmaceutical Tecnological Analytics, 5 ECTS
• Biological and Toxicological Properties of Pharmaceutical Materials, 5 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical packaging, 5 ECTS
• Design of Particle Properties, 5 ECTS
• Spectroscopic and Separation Analitical Methods, 5 ECTS

SEMESTER 2

Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, 10 ECTS

• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 1, 5 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and delivery systemy for biotechnological active substances, 5 ECTS
• Analysis of Medicinals, 5 ECTS

Optional studies, 5 ECTS

• Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Metabolites in Biological Materials, 5 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2, 5 ECTS
• Phytopharmaceutics, 5 ECTS
• Cosmetology and Cosmetic Products, 5 ECTS
• Analysis of Active Substances and Metabolites in Biological Materials, 5 ECTS
• Preclinical studies, 5 ECTS

SEMESTER 3

Compulsory studies, 30 ECTS

• Industrial Development of Medicines, 5 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical Ingineering, 5 ECTS
• Quality Assurance in Pharmaceutical Production, 5 ECTS
• Intelectual Property, Legislation and Regulation, 5 ECTS

SEMESTER 4

• Research Project-Preparation of Master's Thesis, 25 ECTS
• Defence of Master Thesis, 5 ECTS

OPTIONAL

Optional studies, 10 ECTS

• Microbiological Quality of Pharmaceutical Products, 5 ECTS
• Prolonged Release Dosage Forms, 5 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical Marketing, 5 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical Process Equipment, 5 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical Industry Administration and Management, 5 ECTS
• Pharmacokinetic and Clinical Studies, 5 ECTS
• Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology 2, 5 ECTS
• Biopharmaceutical Evaluation of Dosage Forms, 5 ECTS
• Design of New Active Substances, 5 ECTS
• Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products, 5 ECTS

A typical week for a student may be as follows:

• Lectures and seminars - 18 hours
• Tutorial classes - 1 hour
• Tutorial classes - 1 hour
• Practicals - 6 hours
• Self-directed study, including preparatory reading, problem sheets, revision of material - 25-35 hours

Total hours per week: 50-60 hours

Covid-19 information

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the methods and activities adopted for delivering our course on Industrial Pharmacy in the coming year may differ from those previously published and may be subject to change during the course of your study if such change is necessary due to public health concerns, health and safety guidance or in response to Government Guidelines.

Entry requirements

Access requirements:

Access requirements to the Industrial Pharmacy study programme:
a) graduates of the first cycle study programme from the following fields: biochemistry, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, cosmetology, laboratory biomedicine, microbiology, food science (180 ECTS credits). 
b) graduates of other disciplines who should meet additional study requirements of 10 to 60 ECTS credit points of worth of which is defined according to their particular discipline.

Students must present a language certificate of their English language skills. Good language skills refer to level B2 on the CEFR scale of the European Language Portfolio Levels.

Proof of English language skills

• Transcript of Records of the home university; or
• Language Certificate with CEFR scale; or
• TOEFL score of 79 (IBT) or
• IELTS score of 6, or any official certificate
• Results from the OLS (Online Language Support)
• Any other official certificates
   

Tuition fee

The course fee is typically 15.000 EUR per academic year. However, because the course programme will be conducted in a hybrid fashion, the fee for school year 2023/2024 will be reduced by 50% (i.e. 7.500 EUR)

You are responsible for your own costs associated with the literature use, travel, accommodation, and food expenses, as well as studies undertaken outside this program at other universities. 

Payment schedule:  EUR 3.750 before the start of each semester.

How to apply

Living and studying in Slovenia

Visa and residence permit

You will find visa and residence permit requirements here. Before you start any official procedure, please consult with relevant authorities and official websites.

Please note that non-EU citizens must present a statement of financial self-sufficiency (5000 EUR per year) to acquire visa and residence permit.

Cost of living and accommodation

The cost to live and study as a student in Slovenia varies. Here are some average student costs to give you an idea. The prices are average across the country so they can be used as a rough guide for your budget planning.

Accommodation options in Slovenia include university accommodation, private flats and private rooms. Prices vary depending on the city and the type of accommodation chosen.

Additional information

You can find a comprehensive guide on studying and living in Slovenia at https://studyinslovenia.si.

More information