Admission to the Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) course is based on an entrance examination conducted by the college/university to which the candidate is applying. The syllabus of the entrance exam will comprises subjects and areas studied in the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) course. Candidates who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy are eligible to apply. The examination pattern depends on the specifications of each college/university.

Syllabus for M. Pharm Entrance Exam

The M. Pharm entrance will be based on the syllabus of B. Pharm course. Candidates are required to have knowledge of subjects studied at the graduate level. The syllabus for M. Pharm entrance exam as specified by Dr. H. S. Gour Vishwavidyalaya (Central University) Sagar, Madhya Pradesh is as follows:

Pharmacology

• Bioassays Immuno Pharmacology
• Drug interaction
• General pharmacological principles
• Pharmacology - Autocoids, Chemotherapeutic agents, Hormone antagonists, Hormones
• Pharmacology of drugs- On systems - Autonomic nervous system, Cardiovascular system, Central nervous system, Gastro-intestinal system, Renal system, Respiratory system

Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

• Phytopharmaceuticals – Characterization, Chemistry, Isolation, Source, Tests
• Phytopharmaceuticals (groups) – Alkaloids, Carbohydrates, Essential oils, Glycosides, Lipids, Pharmaceutical enzymes, Resins, Steroids, Tannins, Terpenoids
• Indigenous traditional drugs
• Pharmacognosy of crude drugs
• Plant tissue culture - Applications in drug production
• Standardization of raw materials and herbal products

Medicinal Chemistry

• Category of drugs – Analgesics, Anticonvulsants, Antidepressants, Antihistaminics, Anxiolytics, Cardio Vascular drugs (Adrenergic & Cholinergic drugs, Antianginal agents Vasodilators, Anticoagulants, Anti-hypertensive drugs, Antilipedmic agents, Antiplatelet agents, Cardiotonic agents, Coagulants, Diuretics, Hypoglycemic agents), Hypnotics and Sedatives, Local Anaesthetics, Neuroleptics, NSAIDS
• Chemotherapeutic agents – Antibacterials, Antibiotics, Sulpha drugs
• Diagnostic agents
• Eicosanoids and their applications
• Introduction to drug design
• Radiopharmaceuticals, Vitamins and Hormones
• Stereochemistry of drug molecules

Biochemistry

• Biochemical role – Bioenergetics, Enzymes, Hormones, Nucleic acids, Vitamins
• Metabolism – Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins
• Lipid profiles

Pharmaceutical Analysis

• Absorption spectroscopy – Principles, Instrumentation, Applications
• Basics of GLC and HPLC
• Chromatographic techniques – Column, Gel filtration, Ion-exchange, Paper, TLC
• Conductometry
• Flame photometry
• Fluorimetry
• Polarography
• Potentiometry
• Pharmacopoeial assays

Pharmaceutics

• Absorption kinetics
• Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics
• Dosage forms – Preformulation, Formulation, Development, Evaluation
• Formulation and preparation of cosmetics
• Introduction to new drug delivery systems
• Manufacturing standards and Q.C. limits
• Pharmaceutical calculations

Industrial Unit Operations

• Pharmaceutical applications and principles-Drying, Filtration, Mixing, Size reduction, Size separation

Clinical Pharmacy

• Dosage regimen- Geriatrics, Lactation, Pediatrics, Pregnancy
• Drug interactions and drug - Adverse drug reactions, Food interactions
• Renal and hepatic impairment
• Therapeutic drug monitoring

Physical Pharmaceutics

• Complexation
• Diffusion and dissolution
• Interfacial phenomenon
• Micromeritics
• Solubility and solubility distribution phenomenon
• Suspension and emulsion
• Polymer science

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

• Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells
• Sterilization methods and mechanisms
• Validation and sterility testing
• Applications of microorganisms
• Expression of recombinant protein
• Genetic engineering – Amplification, Conjugation, Gene cloning, Transduction, Transformation
• Immobilization techniques and applications
• Preparation of official sera and vaccines
• Serological and diagnostics tests

Exam pattern for M. Pharm Entrance Exam

The entrance examination for admission to the M. Pharm course will usually have an objective model question paper. Apart from the questions to test the subject knowledge in areas discussed above, English proficiency of the candidate will also be tested. According to the exam pattern followed by SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), the exam is divided into five sections:

• Pharmaceutics
• Pharmacology
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Analysis
• English Proficiency

20 questions will be there from each section. Candidates are required to answer the question paper within 90 minutes.