| Career of a Pharmacist |
| USM Pharmacy Alumni |
| Scholarships, Prizes & The Dean's List |
| Pharmacy School Students Association |
| Postgraduate Studies |
| Study Abroad Scheme |
Upon completion of a recognised
B.Pharm. degree, a pharmacy graduate is required to undergo a period of
housemanship or pupillage for 12 months at any general or private hospital,
pharmaceutical industry or at any retail pharmacy recognised by the Pharmacy
Board of Malaysia. The objective of the pupillage is for graduates to undergo a
planned training programme on aspects of pharmacy practice under the supervision
of a registered pharmacist. After passing the Forensic Pharmacy examination and
completing one year of pupillage, graduates are eligible to register with the
Pharmacy Board of Malaysia and may practise as a registered Pharmacist in
Malaysia.
The career of a pharmacist
offers a large scope of employment opportunities. A pharmacist may choose to
work either in the government or in the private sector. In the government
sector, job opportunities for the pharmacists are available in government
hospitals, university hospitals, and in military hospitals. Besides these, as
enforcement officers, pharmacists play an important role in the field of
enforcement and drug registration. While in the private sector, pharmacists may
serve in private hospitals, community pharmacy, or as sales executives for local
or multinational pharmaceutical companies. In the pharmaceutical industry,
pharmacists may serve at the management or sales level, or they may be directly
involved in the quality control, and the manufacturing or development of drugs.
Moreover, since quite a few institutes of higher education (IPT) are currently
offering the Pharmacy course, the demand for academic staff is increasing.
At present, the job prospects
for Pharmacists are very bright since there is a shortage of Pharmacists in both
the public and private sectors. Pharmacy graduates will not be facing any
problem in securing a job.
USM Pharmacy Alumni Society was
formed at the Pharmacy School to provide the space and platform for USM pharmacy
graduates to be actively involved and to directly contribute towards academic
and non-academic activities in the School. By being involved in the Alumni Society, the USM pharmacy
graduates will always be associated with the School and also the University
after leaving the campus. The
Pharmacy Alumni Society always appreciates bright and innovative ideas from the
members to ensure that the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, USM excels not
only at the national level but also internationally.
For those who are interested to join as a member or who needs further
enquiries regarding the USM Pharmacy Alumni Society, please contact:
The USM
Pharmacy Alumni Society
c/o:
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Universiti
Sains Malaysia
11800
Penang.
Pharmacy students who need
financial aid while at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences can apply for the
following scholarships:
JC Chemist Scholarship
valued at RM 6,000.00.
Pfizer Scholarship valued
at RM 5,000.00.
Guardian Scholarship
valued at RM 5,000.00.
Sanofi Winthrop Scholarship
valued at RM 5,500.00.
Glaxo Wellcome Scholarship
valued at RM 5,500.00.
Chemical Company of Malaysia
Bhd. (CCM) Scholarship valued at RM 5,500.00.
YS & Lin Scholarship
valued at RM 5,500.00.
Glaxo Wellcome and Sanofi
Winthrop give support for the entire Pharmacy course whereas JC Chemist
Scholarships are offered to the third and fourth years students, Pfizer and
Guardian Scholarships are yearly scholarships.
These scholarships are opened to
all students and selection is based on academic achievements, family financial
background and involvement in the co-curriculum activities.
In addition, the School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences has its own Students’ Loan Fund. Students in financial
difficulties can apply from this Loan Fund. Detailed information on the
scholarships and the Loan Fund can be obtained from the Assistant Registrar of
the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Besides the general award for
all students in this University like the Royal Award made by the Malaysian
Rulers Council and Chancellor's Gold Medal, pharmacy students can win prizes
that are exclusive for them as listed:
Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) - UPHA Gold Medal Award
Awarded to the most outstanding
(academic and non-academic) final year pharmacy student.
Universiti Sains Malaysia Book Prize
Awarded by Ciba-Geigy (Malaysia)
Sdn. Bhd. to a final year pharmacy student who obtains the best results in
Clinical Pharmacy.
Universiti Sains Malaysia Book Prize
Awarded by Alumni Pharmacy
Society, Universiti Sains Malaysia to a final year pharmacy student who obtains
the best results in Physiology during the pre-clinical years.
Glaxo Book Prize
Awarded to final year pharmacy
students who obtain the best results in pharmaceutical technology and
pharmacology during the pre-clinical years.
Malaysian Pharmaceutical Traders and Manufacturers Association (MPTMA) Book Prize
Awarded to a final year pharmacy
student who obtains the best results in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Selection of candidates for
these awards is made by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences based on the
achievements of the candidates for the graduating year.
Awarded to students who obtain
outstanding academic results (GPA ³
3.5) in each semester.
USM Pharmacy Students’
Association (PSFUSM) is the official association for the students of
the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, USM.
PSFUSM acts as the channel for the students to exhibit their creativity
and also to interact with one another, with Malaysian Pharmacy Association and
also with the society in general. PSFUSM
conducts projects throughout the academic term.
These projects include community service, promotion of pharmacy
profession, and get-togethers with other pharmacy students from institutes of
higher learning in Malaysia. One of
the objectives of the projects is for the pharmacy students to experience and
transfer the knowledge gained from their study years into their profession which
the students will face in the future. The
deputy dean for academics and student developments of the school and an academic
staff will be acting as advisors for PSFUSM.
Formed in 1972, The School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, USM was the first educational centre that provides
pharmaceutical education in Malaysia. Since its formation, it has always been
committed to provide excellence in both teaching and research.
Besides the undergraduate course, the School also offers Masters degree
in Clinical Pharmacy by course work (M. Pharm.) and Masters in Science degree (MSc)
and Ph.D. by research.
The higher education programme
has attracted many local as well as foreign postgraduate students.
The overseas students come from Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Libya,
Sudan, Bangladesh, Ghana, Jordan, Yemen, St. Vincent and India.
Research activities has been greatly enhanced since the last decade.
The rapid growth in the research was due to the collaboration with local
research centres and with local and foreign universities.
For further enquiries regarding the postgraduate programme, please refer
to the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences website at:
www.pha.usm.my/pharmacy/school_of_pharmaceutical_science1.htm
Universiti Sains Malaysia offers a Study Abroad Scheme to first and second year students who are interested in spending a semester at various institutions abroad. This scheme will expose students to international experience, while allowing them to transfer credit of subjects taken in institutions abroad. Further information on the scheme is available at the International Relations Office, Academic Affairs Department, USM.