Pharmacy

The Master's degree programme Pharmacy is designed to meet the current level of pharmaceutical, medical, and natural sciences, the needs of the practice, and to be a quality basis for further education (doctoral degree programme, post-gradual specialization, and lifelong education). It is carried out in full-time form and the standard period of study is five years. The goal of education in the programme Pharmacy is to prepare graduates to practice the healthcare profession of a pharmacist and to acquire general and special knowledge about medicines, which leads to maximizing the effect and minimizing risks for the patient and society. The study is ended with a state final exam, which includes the defence of a diploma thesis. The programme allows students to choose elective subjects in order to a higher degree of specialization and adaptation to individual interests. The content of education is in accrodance with the requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic No. 187/2009 Coll. on the minimum requirements for study programs in general medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and the educational program in general practical medicine and Government Regulation No. 275/2016 Coll. on areas of education in higher education.

The goal is to enable the acquisition of knowledge about:

- medicines and substances used in the production and preparation of medicinal products, their safe and effective use, effectiveness and indications, contraindications, interactions, dosage and method of administration, health prevention when working with pharmaceutical products, chemical, carcinogenic and mutagenic substances and substances toxic to reproduction,

- metabolism and effects of medicines, pharmacokinetics, as well as about the effects of toxic substances, and about the way of using medicines,

- pharmaceutical technology, preclinical and clinical trials of medicines, and on clinical pharmacy,

- scientific and practical knowledge enabling to provide appropriate information about medicines and to cooperate with attending physicians in optimizing pharmacotherapy for specific patients,

- health promotion preparations and medical devices,

- basic legal regulations related to healthcare and the profession of pharmacist,

- provision of professional information about medicines,

- radiation protection,

- professional ethics of pharmacist-patient contact,

- issues of healthcare financing and basic economic relations, knowledge of the basics of management,

- the basics of managing the quality of healthcare provided and ensuring the safety of patients;

and skills at:

- preparation of dosage forms of medicinal products,

- production and control of medicines,

- storage and distribution of medicines,

- preparation, control, storage, and dispensing of medicinal products in pharmacies,

- practical communication with the patient with an emphasis on patient rights and their application.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the graduate is able to:

• orient in medicines and substances used in the production and preparation of medicinal products, their safe and effective use, effectiveness and indications, contraindications, drug interactions, dosage and method of use, health prevention
• communicate with the patient with an emphasis on patient rights and their application
• prepare, control, store, and dispense medicinal products in pharmacies
• store and distribute medicines at pharmaceutical wholesalers
• cooperate with physicians in optimizing pharmacotherapy for specific patients and participate in the work of multidisciplinary teams
• orient in the field of public health protection and promotion, healthcare financing and basic economic relations, and apply the basics of management
• propose, explain, and use methods of evaluation the quality, safety, effectiveness and efficiency of medicines, and apply them in the process of health protection and disease management
• solve complex professional problems of medicines handling and to coordinate related professional activities
• use at least one foreign language and apply relevant information and digital technologies in their professional activities
• make decision on professional problems taking into account the social consequences of this decision and further deepen professional education

A graduate of the degree programme have myriad of career paths to choose from:

• pharmacist in facilities providing pharmaceutical care
• clinical pharmacist in hospitals, possibly other healthcare facilities
• bioanalyst in healthcare laboratories
• professional in laboratories for research, development, and drug control
• professional in pharmaceutical production and wholesaler companies
• academic/researcher in the academic sphere and in other institutions dealing with science, research, development, and innovation
• professional in the management structures of healthcare
• expert/researcher in the field of chemical, food, and cosmetic industry
• expert/consultant in the non-profit sector involved in the protection, support, and development of the health of individuals and specific groups of the population

• Pharmacist

More than half of the classes are practical, where the theoretical knowledge is applied through hands-on experience in practical seminars and laboratory exercises. 

6-month pharmacy internship is integral part of the studies. Students can combine undertaking internship in the Czech Republic and abroad. All students, regardless of their country of origin, are encouraged to take advantage of various mobility programmes to spend semester or two at Masaryk University's partner universities or research institutions, pharmacies or any organisations within the pharmaceutical industry, all around the world. 

Working out a diploma thesis is an obligatory part of the study in the degree programme Pharmacy. Diploma thesis defence is one of the parts of the final state examination. Most diploma theses defended in this degree programme have original character, based on a laboratory experiment, or clinical/social original research. The diploma thesis consists of a theoretical part, a methodical part, results, discussion, and conclusions. The aim of the diploma thesis is to support the own creative and explorational activities of the student, the ability of practical application of acquired theoretical knowledge, and the presentation of the results of own work.

Graduates of Master’s degree programme Pharmacy are eligible to apply for Advanced Master’s procedure, and after succesfull completion and defense of the advanced Master's thesis, they are granted the academic title 'Doctor of Pharmacy' (PharmDr.).

Graduates are also eligible to apply for Doctoral (PhD) degree programmes in the field of Pharmacy or other related field (medicine, natural sciences, chemistry, technology, etc).