MASTER OF PHARMACY IN INDUSTRIAL PHARMACY

Overview

BACKGROUND


Industrial pharmacy is the discipline which involves the manufacture of pharmaceutical products
to be used for treatment and prevention of disease conditions in humans and animals. Like most
developing countries, Kenya has until recently relied primarily on imported pharmaceuticals and
growth in this sector has only been witnessed in recent times. The process of manufacture of
pharmaceuticals is highly complex in nature and requires different skills in order to produce
quality products which meet international standards. There are many steps involved in the
whole process which requires the involvement of personnel trained in the relevant areas.
Kenya embraces the principles laid out by the United Nations and the World Health
Organization in the Millennium Development Goals and also envisions industrialization by 2030.
In order to meet these targets, the country must train the relevant professionals to spearhead
industrialization. The pharmaceutical industry is one of the major segments which is at the
moment not fully tapped and lacks sufficiently trained personnel at the advanced levels.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Apply the advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
  2. Apply the advanced and contemporary knowledge on the principles of pharmaceutical design, discovery, research and development.
  3. Use the enhanced skills and knowledge on how to formulate, manufacture, evaluate pharmaceutical products, carry out bioequivalence testing and conduct clinical trials of pharmaceutical products.
  4. Apply the advanced knowledge of the required international and national regulations for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.  

PHILOSOPHY

The Master of Pharmacy degree in Industrial Pharmacy is intended to provide students with advanced training in the development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products.  Industrial pharmacy is a discipline of pharmacy which studies pharmaceutical product formulation and manufacturing processes. This program will be of particular interest to students who are working in or aspiring to work in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.

RATIONALE

Kenya’s pharmaceutical industry needs to expand so as to meet both domestic and regional demands. Previously, students interested in pursuing postgraduate training in the industrial pharmacy had to look overseas for training options because they do not exist locally.

 

STRUCTURE

The Master of Pharmacy in Industrial Pharmacy shall be a full-time programme. The full-time programme shall run over a minimum period of two years of six semesters and a maximum four years of twelve semesters of fifteen weeks each. 

In the first year of study, students will be required to take ten core courses and develop their research proposal in their third semester. In the second year of study, students will be required to take one elective course, do an industrial attachment, carry out research and a dissertation must be submitted. The research will run concurrently with industrial attachment and shall be undertaken only upon successful completion of the coursework.

The coursework shall comprise of lectures, tutorials, practicals, demonstrations and seminar

MODE OF DELIVERY OF THE PROGRAMME

The course will be delivered through face-to-face mode which will include didactic lectures, presentations/seminars, case studies, practical laboratory sessions, demonstrations in the laboratory, industrial placements.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A candidate applying for admission into the programme must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

  • Holder of a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree of the University of Nairobi or an equivalent degree from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
  • Must be registered by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya or an equivalent regulatory body in their respective country and be in the retention list.
  • The candidate should have worked in a relevant field for at least one year after registration by their regulatory body.
  • Foreign candidates from non-English speaking countries must show evidence of proficiency in English language from a recognized institution.

SCHEDULE OF INTAKES

Intakes are in September every calendar year. Registration and admission for qualified applicants commence in August. For more information on Registration & Admission please click here.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

When To Apply - applications for admission are received on a rolling basis, and you should try to apply as soon as possible after you meet the admission requirements stipulated above. Module II applications may be submitted directly here.

Application Fees - an application fee of Ksh 3000.00 for Module II applications must be paid for every application.

Required documentation – copies of your KCSE (or GCSE/GCE) certificate, Bachelor of Pharmacy degree certificate plus transcripts, and the Registration Certificate from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board or with the relevant regulatory body must be submitted with the application. You must also submit a certified copy of a picture ID (national identity card, passport biodata page). All uploaded documents must be certified, clear and legible.

CONTACTS OF SUPPORT PERSONS

For enquiries, kindly contact the Chairman’s Office via:

Email: dept-pharmacy@uonbi.ac.ke

Tel:  +254 020 491 5007

ATTACHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Department is committed, whenever possible, to providing the students with opportunities to acquire, sharpen their knowledge and gain technical/practical skills to complement their studies in order to enhance their employability in line with the Kenya vision 2030. Attachment is provided to students from recognized learning institutions during their final two years of study.

Only attachés from Government recognized Training Institutions shall be eligible for intake.

Students are required to make queries on availability of attachment slots by sending an email inquiry to dept-pharmacy@uonbi.ac.ke

CAREERS

The objectives of the program are to produce experts in pharmacology with appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills who can contribute to:

  • Pharmaceutical Industry.
  • Governmental Agencies
  • Hospital Pharmacy Practice
  • Pharmacy Education
  • Specialized Area Opportunities

Dr Pooja Lumb. Quality Assurance Pharmacist at Surgipharm Limited

   Year 1   Year 2   TOTALS 
TUITION              348,000.00             348,000.00             696,000.00
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)                   6,500.00                  6,500.00               13,000.00
CAUTION - (ONCE)                   5,000.00                               -                     5,000.00
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)                   7,000.00                  7,000.00               14,000.00
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)                10,000.00                               -                  10,000.00
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)                   2,000.00                  2,000.00                  4,000.00
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)                   5,000.00                  5,000.00               10,000.00
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)                   1,000.00                  1,000.00                  2,000.00
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)                   4,500.00                  4,500.00                  9,000.00
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)                   1,000.00                  1,000.00                  2,000.00
THESIS EXAMINATION                                -                  30,000.00               30,000.00
Grand totals   390,000.00   405,000.00   795,000.00

EXAM REGULATIONS

Examinations shall be administered at the end of each academic year. A candidate shall be required to attain at least two-thirds class attendance before sitting for examinations.

Candidates enrolled for the degree shall be required to take examinations and pass in all courses by the end of the first year before being allowed to proceed to the second year of study.

A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners may, depending on their academic performance and progression and on recommendation of the Committee of Examiners and approval of Senate, be permitted to sit for supplementary exams in the failed examination, be required to repeat the year in the failed subjects or be discontinued from the degree programme.

A candidate shall not be allowed to repeat a course(s) on academic ground more than once in any given year.

A candidate who satisfies the examiners in all the examinations for all the years of study shall, on the recommendation of the Board of        examiners and approval of Senate, be awarded the degree of Master of Pharmacy in Industrial Pharmacy of the University of Nairobi.

A candidate who fails the dissertation examination may on the recommendation of the School Committee of Examiners and approval of Senate, be allowed to resubmit the dissertation after three months for a maximum of two times. A candidate who fails in the second resubmission of the dissertation, shall on the recommendation of the Committee of Examiners and approval of Senate, be discontinued.