Programmes

Undergraduate | Postgraduate | For the Public

Undergraduate Studies

Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy (B.Sc. Pharmacy)

The programme of study in Pharmacy leads to the BSc Pharmacy and extends over four years. Graduates then undertake a six months internship as stipulated by the Pharmacy Board of Trinidad & Tobago, which is the regulatory body and licensing authority.

Entrance Requirements

Two A level (or equivalent) subjects including Chemistry and a choice from Biology, Zoology, Physics or Mathematics. The applicant to the programme must have passed Physics at the O’level or its equivalent. Registered pharmacists holding a diploma or associate degree are eligible to join the accelerated programme as full-time students.
The pharmacy board is also involved in assessing the suitability of Trinidadian applicants for admission into the programme.

The curriculum consists of:

An integrated programme of Basic Medical Sciences (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Community Health, Microbiology, Pathology, Immunology) with PBL
Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics)
Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy (Applied Therapeutics with PBL, Complimentary/Alternative Medicine, Non- Prescription drugs, Prescription Dispensing, Pharmacy Law and Ethics, Drug Information and Literature Evaluation, Patient Counselling skills, Pharmacy Practice Clerkship, Pharmacy Administration)
Biostatistics and Research Methodology, Communication Skills
Electives (Pharmacoeconomics, Community Pharmacy Practice Management, Institutional Pharmacy Practice Management, Clinical Toxicology, Research Project)

Assessment

All courses are assessed by continuous assessment methods including written examinations, seminars on selected topics, case presentations, and by a final written examination and OSCE. The continuous assessment carries 40% of the total marks and the final exam 60%. In integrated basic sciences, performance in the PBL sessions also contributes to the total marks.
Oral examinations are also utilized and contribute 10% of total marks. External examiners from the UK, USA and Canada conduct the oral examination and review the exams.

Brochure on the Pharmacy Programme [Download PDF]

Upcoming Postgraduate Studies

The Pharmacy programme has existed within the Faculty since 1995 and was administered by the Department of Paraclinical Sciences. After considerable service and experience, the programme was recently upgraded to an independent School of Pharmacy. Although no graduate programmes are currently on offer, the school is currently in the process of developing MPhil and PhD degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences and other postgraduate programmes. In addition staff are involved in the supervision of students enrolled in MPhil and PhD programmes in Pharmacology in the following reseach areas.

Pharmaceutics

Formulation and evaluation of sustained and controlled release medications (microspheres, magnetic microspheres, liposomes, niosomes) biodegradable polymers for sustained /controlled release formulations
Pharmacokinetic studies
Therapeutic drug level monitoring and Clinical Pharmacokinetics