Aayushi
22 January, 2024
Table of Contents
There is a common notion among people that after B.Pharma, you can only pursue further studies in the same domain. The truth is that the field of Pharmacy has advanced through decades and today offers a lot of career opportunities for students. However, in today’s times, pursuing a master’s degree after a Bachelor’ in Pharmaceuticals can open up a lot more options for you professionally.
Breaking your bubble and stating the utter facts, just having a B. Pharmacy degree might not give you that competitive edge in today’s professional scenario. But, what is interesting here is that you can go for an MBA after your B.Pharma. MBA or Masters of Business Administration is presently one of the most sought-after courses as it is a very versatile degree that offers multiple specialisations, thus, widening career and professional options for the students.
We do realise that the idea of pursuing a management degree after studying Pharmacy and related subjects may sound a bit iffy. However, we can assure you that this can turn out as one of the best decisions for your professional career. MBA offers many specialisations that can help you advance in the Pharmacy field and can be the stepping stone for your career with the scope of booming professional growth.
MBA has not become the first preference as a postgraduate degree for students and working professionals for no apparent reason. It is because it offers so much to the learners in terms of opening wide avenues, honing their skills & expertise, enhancing their knowledge and making them the best professionals in their respective industries.
This applies equally and more to the students with a B.Pharmacy degree. Doing an MBA after B.Pharmacy can introduce students to new skills, knowledge and job roles that they may not have been eligible for before. Here are a few reasons as to why pursuing an MBA after B.Pharmacy can be the best option for you:
A master’s degree in management means more opportunities to learn, work and excel professionally. B.Pharmacy gives students the chance to work in related domains but an MBA widens those opportunities and students can even navigate their careers in new directions.
Why MBA for Pharmacists is hailed as one of the best postgraduate degrees is because of the fact that it not only prepares professionals across industries but also helps develop the best personality, management and communication skills as well as an adept professional acumen. This helps them not just in their profession but also in their personal life. These are lifelong skills that self-guide them later on as well.
MBA courses offer excellent alumni support that helps build enormous networking opportunities. Since MBA introduces students to multiple professional fields with infinite opportunities, it also creates different avenues to build networks in the market and nurture relationships that can help in grabbing better job opportunities, placement assistance, internship opportunities, etc.
MBA offers general subjects as well as coursework related to your specialisation along with practical exposure. You will learn a lot about management in general and will also get the chance to explore how different domains of various industries function. The practical exposure will train you to get started professionally and will prepare you with the skills and communication abilities that you will need in the future.
As a Science graduate, you will have numerous specialisation options. These include:
Drug Administration and Store Centre | Pharma Sales Management |
Healthcare Consulting | Pharmacy Business Management |
Healthcare Management | Pharmacy Tech |
Logistics Management | Sustainable Development |
Pharma Marketing |
To pursue an MBA programme, one must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
You must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 50%/45% marks. The requirement for minimum marks can vary from one university to the other. Also, the requirements for international students differ and depend on the university they apply to.
Various national-level exams are held to check the eligibility of the students. The students are required to qualify for the exam and attain a qualifying percentile/score to apply for the top-tier B-schools in the country. CAT, XAT, MAT, GMAT, NMAT, IPMAT, etc. are management exams that students need to qualify to become an MBA student.
Some universities also conduct their own entrance examinations. In that case, you have to qualify for either the above-mentioned exams or the university entrance exam.
Most universities in India do not require work experience to pursue MBA after a bachelor’s degree. However, if you are a professional who wants to pursue an MBA, you may be required to submit your work experience documents similar to an Executive MBA.
Group discussion and interviews are usually the last steps in the admission process in an MBA programme. In group discussion, you have to put forward your views on a particular topic and have to competitively support your argument.
The final round is the personal interview where you are present in front of an expert panel that determines your eligibility and whether or not you are the right fit for the programme.
One of the most important factors that determine the outcome of your MBA degree in terms of career opportunities, placements, internships, alumni, network, etc. is the institutions which you pursue your degree from. The top B schools of India have excellent placement opportunities and strong tie-ups across industries. Therefore, the competition to be part of such institutions is always high.
Below is the list of the best universities that offer MBAs in various specialisations suited for the graduates of the field of pharmacy.
Name of the University | Fee |
IIHMR University | INR 11,50,000 |
DIPSAR, Delhi | INR 2,10,000 |
Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth | INR 3,00,000 |
NIPER University, Ahmedabad | INR 5,00,000 |
Shoolini University | INR 8,84,000 |
Another reason why MBA has soared in popularity through decades as a postgraduate course is because of its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and the opportunities and perks that it offers. The internet has revolutionised the sector of education and we have seen how education has now become more accessible and comprehensible for the students.
Not just this, the professionals who do not want to bring any hindrance to their working life, but also wish to pursue a degree on the side, have found a great opportunity in the form of Online/Executive MBA.
The professionals working in the field of Pharmacy can also learn about management and can broaden their job opportunities by pursuing an MBA in related specialisations. This will, at the same time, earn them a lot more scope to excel in other pharmacy-related fields with better opportunities and outcomes. An MBA degree anyways always adds a star to the professional aptitude and adeptness.
Many job profiles across various industries will require your management expertise with pharmaceutical skills and calibre. Here are some of the esteemed job profiles that you can take upon after your MBA with related specialisations in pharmacy.
Job Role | Average Salary |
Pharmaceutical Manager | INR 11.4 LPA |
Business Development Officer | INR 9.3 LPA |
Medical Representative | INR 5.4 LPA |
Drug Market Analyst | INR 8.7 LPA |
Hospital Administrator | INR 7.6 LPA |
Product Manager | INR 4.8 LPA |
An MBA after a B. Pharmacy will diversify your options for venturing into different pharmaceutical industries. It will also give the management perspective of how different workplaces function. You can, therefore, have both pharmaceutical and management skills that will enhance your professionalism and working experience. You are bound to have a better and diversified career scope and high-paying job opportunities since the demand for drug experts and specialists is only increasing with time.