The study of pharmacy has been one of the oldest and most opted for profession for many years. Pharmacy is not limited only to the study of medicines and treatment processes. It comprises a wide range of topics covering everything related to wellness, from medical care and food to lifestyle products and cosmetics. Pharmaceutical science also incorporates an in-depth study of diseases and their treatments along with health and chemical sciences.
The scope of pharmacy has never gone downhill ever since the course has come into existence. Every year, thousands of students enrol themselves for various pharmacy courses all across the country. Many brilliant students aspire to make a career as a pharmacist to contribute to the field of medicine. The most popular pharmacy courses are Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Masters in Pharmacy (M.Pharm), and Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm). Apart from these, Doctor in Pharmacy (Pharm.D) is also a unique course at the doctorate level in pharmacy. This article contains all the information about B.Pharm and D.Pharm and explores the advantages of both of these courses. Candidates will find all the details related to B.Pharm and D.Pharm here.
B.Pharm Vs D.Pharm
To understand the difference between B.Pharm and D.Pharm, we need to first understand what each of these two courses entails. B. Pharm and D.Pharm are two completely different courses that are seldom confused with each other.
| Features | B.Pharma | D.Pharma |
| Level | B. Pharm, or Bachelor of Pharmacy, is an undergraduate programme. | D. Pharm or Diploma in Pharmacy is a full-time course of the diploma level |
| Duration | It is for a duration of four years and has to be done compulsorily by anyone who aspires to practice as a pharmacist. | The course of D.Pharm is for a duration of two years and it is divided into four semesters. |
| Course Focus | The course of B.Pharm consists of the study of preparing and conferring medicines and drugs for a vast number of illnesses and deficiencies.In the course of B.Pharm, the students study about medicines and drugs, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Engineering, etc. | D. Pharm programme and its course have been designed in order to prepare candidates so that they can work under the supervision of an expert and a licensed pharmacistThe syllabus of D.Pharm is designed in such a way that it is inclusive of both practical and theoretical aspects and subjects pertaining to the field. |
| Career | B. Pharm provides a large number of job opportunities and opens the door of both the public and private sector for students.Students can practice as a pharmacist after the completion of their B.Pharm course.They can then work in a wide range of industries related to the manufacture, prescription, and provision of medicines. | The course of D.Pharm prepares students so that they are enabled for providing assistance in drug distribution, narcotics control, computer processing, third-party billing, pre-packing pharmaceuticals, and clerical and other such duties that are necessary.The programme of D.Pharm is a career-oriented course in the medical field of pharmaceutical sciences which is designed to familiarise candidates with all the basic concepts of pharmaceutical science. |
Also Read:Karnataka (BEAD) D.Pharmacy Admissions – Colleges, Eligibility, Fees, Seat Matrix
B.Pharm Vs D.Pharm – Eligibility Criteria
As both the courses are of different levels, the eligibility criteria set for admitting students in both the programmes are also different. The eligibility criteria for B.Pharm and D.Pharm are given below.
| B.Pharm Eligibility Criteria | D.Pharm Eligibility Criteria |
| To get admission in B.Pharm, the candidate must have completed his/ her higher secondary education (class 12th) in the science stream.The compulsory subjects opted by the student in class 12th must include Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/ Biology.The student must have cleared the board examinations of all the subjects.Some colleges or universities may set the minimum marks that the students must have secured in class 12th.Some universities or colleges also conduct their own entrance exams before admitting students to their course of B.Pharm. | For securing admission in the course of D.Pharm, a student must have completed his/ her class 12th (higher secondary) education from a school that belongs to a recognised board.The student can be of any stream or discipline. No compulsion regarding the stream is made.The student must have cleared the exams of all the subjects in his/ her qualifying examinations.Candidates are usually selected for the course of D.Pharm on the basis of the marks obtained by them in the qualifying examination. |
B.Pharm Vs D.Pharm – Fee Structure
The fee structure of B.Pharm is quite different from the fee structure of D.Pharm as the level and tenure of both the courses are different. Apart from that, the syllabus of B.Pharm includes an even more intensive study of the field of pharmacy as compared to the syllabus of D.Pharm. The average minimum and maximum course fee structure of B.Pharm and D.Pharm are given in the table below. Candidates can get a fair idea of the B.Pharm fee and the D.Pharm fee from that.
| Course | Minimum Fee | Maximum Fee |
| B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) | Rs. 40,000 | Rs. 3 lakh |
| D.Pharm (Diploma in Pharmacy) | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 1 lakh |