Pharmacy | Western Balkans University

Pharmacy

Home >Study Programs >Pharmacy
Course ID
PHR
Cycles
5 years
Credits
300
Semesters
10

In an evolving global health landscape, pharmacists play a central role in ensuring patient safety, advancing drug therapies, and promoting wellness. Our 5-year integrated pharmacy program combines academic excellence, practical experience, and innovation to prepare you for a successful international career in pharmaceutical sciences, industry, or clinical practice.
 
Why choose this program?

●       Comprehensive 5-Year Program, fully aligned with EU directives for pharmaceutical education.
●       English-Taught Curriculum – The only Pharmacy program in Albania delivered entirely in English, enabling global mobility and preparing you for an international career
●       Hands-On Training and Internships at some of the country’s top hospitals, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies.
●       Academic Excellence through personalized mentoring by faculty with international expertise and credentials.
●       Erasmus+ Mobility Opportunities with partner universities across Europe.
●       Career-Oriented Education – equipping you for roles in community pharmacies, hospitals, pharmaceutical industry, or scientific research.
●       Merit-Based Scholarships – covering up to 100% of tuition fees.
●       Early Involvement in Research from the first years of study in areas such as pharmacogenomics, pharmaceutical technology, public health, and drug development.
●       Modern Elective Courses – including Pharmacogenomics, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, and Cosmetic Technology, reflecting the latest trends in the industry.
●       Support for National and International Certification and Licensure, along with career guidance for postgraduate studies or employment in Albania and abroad.

What does WBU offer?

✔      Learn from the Best Experts. Benefit from teaching by professors and professionals with national and international expertise. 90% of faculty hold scientific titles and research credentials. Students receive personalized academic mentorship throughout their studies.

✔      Internationalization & English-Taught Program. Western Balkans University is the only university in Albania offering the Pharmacy program entirely in English. This unique advantage gives students direct access to international scientific resources, cross-border mobility, and a competitive edge in global healthcare and pharmaceutical job markets.

✔      Well-Equipped Teaching Laboratories. Develop practical skills in modern, well-equipped laboratories located within Western Balkans University, including dedicated spaces for Biochemistry, Histology, Physiology, Anatomy, and Molecular Biology. Additionally, enhance your training through exposure to specialized equipment and techniques available in partner hospitals and clinics, ensuring a solid foundation in laboratory practice relevant to today’s pharmaceutical and clinical environments.

✔      Practice-Intensive Final Years. Gain 400 hours of professional experience in Years 4 and 5 through structured internships in hospital pharmacies, community pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies. These placements equip students with hands-on experience and real-world professional exposure.

✔      Mobility & Global Reach. Take part in Erasmus + exchanges with universities in Italy, North Macedonia, and more. Gain international perspective and build a global career in hospital pharmacy, biotech industry, regulatory affairs, or academia.

✔      Research and Innovation. Get involved in research projects early on! WBU encourages student participation in pharmaceutical innovation, drug formulation research, pharmacogenomics, public health projects, and international scientific events.

✔      Career and Licensing Support Receive support to prepare for national licensing exams and international certifications. WBU assists students in job placement and career planning in Albania and abroad.

✔      Merit-Based Scholarships & Financial Support. Outstanding students may benefit from scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition fees, awarded based on academic performance, engagement, and leadership potential. For the academic year 2024–2025, 4 students are recipients of the Excellence Scholarship.


What will you study?

●       Over the course of five years, you will progress from mastering foundational sciences to applying advanced pharmaceutical knowledge in clinical and industrial settings.

●       In the first two years, you will build a solid scientific base through courses in anatomy, physiology, biology, genetics, chemistry, microbiology, and biophysics. You will also gain valuable skills in communication, ethics, Latin and medical terminology, biostatistics, and social sciences, enabling you to understand the patient, the system, and the science holistically.

●       During the third and fourth years, your studies will deepen into the core of pharmaceutical sciences. You will explore subjects like pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical chemistry, and clinical pharmacology, alongside pharmaceutical technology and analysis. These years blend theoretical understanding with laboratory-based learning, preparing you for both patient care and industrial application.

●       In the fifth and final year, the focus shifts to professional integration. You will undertake extensive practical training (400 hours) in community and hospital pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory settings. Complementary courses in cosmetic technology, pharmacogenomics, and pharmaceutical management will expand your perspective and prepare you for specialized roles. You will also carry out independent research, culminating in a diploma thesis, which showcases your readiness for a successful professional career or further academic pursuits.

Career Opportunities after Graduation:

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded the title “Master of Science in Pharmacy” and become eligible to apply for national pharmacist licensure. The multidisciplinary training and international orientation of the program prepare graduates for diverse career paths, including:

●        Hospital or Community Pharmacist – delivering patient-centered care, dispensing medication, and advising on proper use.

●        Clinical Pharmacist – working closely with healthcare teams to optimize pharmacological therapies and ensure medication safety.

●        Industrial Pharmacist – contributing to drug formulation, production, quality assurance (QA), and quality control (QC) in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

●        Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Specialist – monitoring and evaluating the safety and efficacy of medications post-market.

●        Pharmaceutical Marketing and Regulatory Affairs – ensuring compliance with legal frameworks and supporting market access and promotion strategies.

●        Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Research Expert – engaging in drug discovery, innovation, and translational pharmaceutical research.

●        Academic Researcher or University Lecturer – contributing to higher education and scientific advancement through teaching and research.

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Study Program Curriculum

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5

Semester 1

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 101 Human Anatomy and Histology I Mandatory English A 30 15 15 0 65 3 5
2 PHR 103 Biology and Genetics Mandatory English A 30 15 30 0 125 3.5 8
3 PHR 105 General Chemistry Mandatory English A 30 15 0 0 55 2.5 4
4 PHR 107 Pharma informatics Mandatory English A 15 8 0 0 52 1 3
5 PHR 109 Biostatistics Mandatory English C 15 8 0 0 52 1 3
6 PHR 111 Foreign Language: Italian/ English/ German Mandatory Italian/ English/ German D 30 15 0 0 30 2.5 3
7 PHR 113 History of Pharmacy Mandatory English B 30 15 0 0 55 2.5 4

Semester 2

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 100 Human Anatomy and Histology II Mandatory English A 30 15 15 0 65 3 5
2 PHR 102 Biophysics Mandatory English C 30 15 15 0 65 3 5
3 PHR 104 Inorganic Chemistry Mandatory English A 30 8 15 0 72 2 5
4 PHR 106 Ethics and Deontology Mandatory English A 15 8 0 0 27 1 2
5 PHR 108 Psychology and Sociology Mandatory English A 15 15 0 0 45 1.5 3
6 PHR 110 Latin and Medical Terminology Mandatory English B 30 15 0 0 80 2.5 5
7 PHR 112 Communication Science Mandatory English A 15 15 0 30 65 1.5 5

Semester 1

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 201 Organic Chemistry I Mandatory English A 30 15 30 0 75 3.5 6
2 PHR 203 Analytic Chemistry I Mandatory English A 30 8 30 0 57 3 5
3 PHR 205 Human Physiology I Mandatory English C 30 8 15 0 47 2.5 4
4 PHR 207 Public Health and Epidemiology Mandatory English B 15 15 0 0 70 1.5 4
5 PHR 209 Internal Medicine Mandatory English B 30 15 15 0 90 3 6
6 PHR 211 Biochemistry Mandatory English B 30 8 15 0 72 2.5 5

Semester 2

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 200 Organic Chemistry II Mandatory English A 15 15 15 0 55 2 4
2 PHR 202 Analytic Chemistry II Mandatory English A 30 8 15 0 72 2.5 5
3 PHR 204 PHR 204 Mandatory Human Physiology II C 30 8 15 0 72 2.5 5
4 PHR 206 Pathological Physiology Mandatory English C 15 15 0 0 70 1.5 4
5 PHR 208 Microbiology Mandatory English C 30 15 15 0 90 3 6
6 PHR 210 Pharmaceutical Botany Mandatory English B 30 15 15 30 60 4 6

Semester 1

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 301 PHR 301 Mandatory English B 30 15 15 0 90 3 6
2 PHR 303 Pharmacology I Mandatory Pharmacology I B 30 15 15 0 90 3 6
3 PHR 305 Pharmacognosy I Mandatory English B 30 15 30 0 75 3.5 6
4 PHR 307 Toxicology I Mandatory English B 30 15 15 0 90 3 6
5 PHR 309 Physical Pharmacy Mandatory English B 30 8 15 0 97 2.5 6

Semester 2

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 300 Pharmaceutical Technology I Mandatory English B 30 8 30 0 82 3 6
2 PHR 302 Pharmaceutical Chemistry II Mandatory English B 30 8 15 0 97 2.5 6
3 PHR 304 Pharmacology II Mandatory English B 30 15 15 0 90 3 6
4 PHR 306 Pharmacognosy II Mandatory English B 30 15 30 0 75 3.5 6
5 PHR 308 Toxicology II Mandatory English B 30 15 15 0 90 3 6

Semester 1

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 401 Pharmaceutical Technology II Mandatory English B 30 15 0 0 105 2.5 6
2 PHR 403 Galenic Preparation I Mandatory English B 8 0 30 0 37 1.5 3
3 PHR 405 Pharmaceutical Chemistry III Mandatory English B 30 15 0 0 105 2.5 6
4 PHR 407 Pharmaceutical Analysis III Mandatory English B 15 0 45 0 65 2.5 5
5 PHR 409 Clinical Pharmacology I Mandatory English B 30 8 8 0 54 2.5 4
6 PHR 411 Nutrition Sciences Mandatory English B 30 15 30 0 75 3.5 6

Semester 2

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 400 Pharmaceutical Technology III Mandatory English B 30 15 0 0 80 2.5 5
2 PHR 402 Galenic Preparation II Mandatory English B 8 0 30 0 37 1.5 3
3 PHR 404 Clinical Pharmacology II Mandatory English B 30 8 0 0 62 2 4
4 PHR 406 Bio pharmacy Mandatory English B 30 15 0 0 67.5 2.5 4.5
5 PHR 408 Pharmacokinetics Mandatory English B 15 8 15 0 49.5 1.5 3.5
6 PHR 410 Clinical Biochemistry Mandatory English B 15 8 0 0 52 1 3
7 PHR 412 Pharmaceutical Legislation and Ethics Mandatory English B 45 15 0 0 65 3.5 5
8 PHR 414 Environmental Health Mandatory English B 15 8 0 0 27 1 2

Semester 1

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 501 Scientific Research Methodology Mandatory English C 30 15 15 0 90 3 6
2 PHR 521/ PHR 523/ PHR 525 Phyto preparations/ Pharmacogenomics/ Public Health/ Health Promotion Elective English C 30 15 15 15 100 3.5 7
3 PHR 503 Cosmetic Technology Mandatory English B 30 15 15 15 100 3.5 7
4 PHR 505 Professional Practice I Mandatory English D 0 0 0 200 50 6.5 10

Semester 1

No. Subject Code Subject Course Type Language Course Group Lecture Seminar Laboratory Practice Individual Work Credit ECTS
1 PHR 500 Professional Practice II Mandatory English D 0 0 0 200 50 6.5 10
2 PHR 522/ PHR 524/ PHR 524/ PHR 526/ PHR 528 Pharmac. Eng./ Pharmac. Mng and Marketing/ Pharmac. Biotech. /Hospital Pharmacy Elective English C 30 15 15 0 65 3 5
3 PHR 540 Diploma Thesis Mandatory English E 30 0 0 0 345 2 1.5