Pharmacy is the science of preparation and standardization of substances classified as drugs. Pharmacy, as a discipline, deals with using plants and synthetic compounds for medicinal use and analyzing any medicinal substances for possible applications.
As pharmacy mainly focuses on medical and healthcare uses of drugs, pharmaceutical research and education follow the medical training of physicians. As new developments in the healthcare sector change the study of medicine, so does pharmacy.
Considered an ancient science, the pharmaceutical discipline is taught in a vast number of universities worldwide. However, only a few institutions are considered the gold standards for pharmaceutical academics and research. Here are some of the pharmacy universities globally.
Top Pharmacy Schools in the World
1. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford started teaching English students in 1096 and officially established itself in 1167 under Henry II. Oxford continued to develop its various disciplines throughout the years, elevating its status as one of the premier learning institutions for specialized fields.
Oxford’s Department of Pharmacology began in 1912, focusing on the curative properties of drugs. The departmental administrators ensured a high standard of learning and research in the Department of Pharmacology by encouraging their students and researchers to innovate in pharmacology.
The Department of Pharmacology successfully created groundbreaking inventions, and knowledge in the discipline, through specialized research institutions and facilities in Oxford. Notable developments in pharmacy attributed to the ideal approach of the pharmacology department towards research. Unsurprisingly, the Department of Pharmacology became one of the leading departments in the UK, placing Oxford as one of the top pharmacy schools in the world.
2. Monash University
Monash University started in Australia in 1957 upon the proposal of a new Victorian university that caters to the educational needs of the people in the new settlement. A year later, Victorian Education Minister John Bloomfield officially legislated the university into existence. The years that followed for Monash University exhibited a strong drive towards excellence and constant developments in science and technology.
Monash University’s Faculty of Pharmacy is one of the best pharmacy schools in the world. It predates the official inauguration of the university itself as its predecessor, Melbourne School of Pharmacy by the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, started in 1881. The Faculty of Pharmacy’s history shows multiple changes to adapt to new conceptual developments in the healthcare sector.
The Faculty of Pharmacy’s relentless pursuit of academic excellence paved the way for its worldwide recognition. The faculty is currently known to create some of the best pharmacy experts recognized anywhere. The Faculty of Pharmacy placed Monash University in the upper bracket of international universities well known in the field.
3. Harvard University
Harvard University started in 1936 as the first college in the American colonies, later receiving the charter that incorporated the institution in 1650. Harvard’s history is full of a healthy number of men and women who played huge parts in building America as known today.
Although Harvard University does not have a dedicated department that awards degrees for studying pharmacy, it managed to elevate the level of excellence for its graduate and certification programs, at par or even above other institutions. Harvard Medical School, the institution that houses pharmaceutical education, continues to create developments that benefit the field’s academics and research.
Equipped with teaching hospitals and affiliates, Harvard Medical School ensures that all its graduates are well-trained in pharmacy by the time they graduate as its researchers pioneer new points of inquiry for the discipline. Harvard University currently holds one of the top ranks of international universities offering pharmacy worldwide.
4. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is an autonomous institution that started in 1209 during the migration of Oxford scholars to Cambridge, the United Kingdom. Before its self-determination, Cambridge enjoyed the support of the clergy and the royal family at the time, boosting its academic advancements throughout the years.
The University of Cambridge’s Department of Pharmacology started to focus on the fundamental mechanisms that involve drug preparation and application while also focusing on creating new drugs. Everything is done while ensuring that all its produced pharmacy program graduates are among the best in the field. Cambridge’s innovations and developments placed the university at the top group of institutions that offer pharmacy globally.
5. University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham opened in 1881, initially as a college, then received its charter and became a university in 1948. The university eventually erected new schools and campuses to accommodate the growing number of disciplines taught in the university.
The School of Pharmacy focuses on training aspirants for possible roles in patient care, the pharmaceutical industry, or research in the field. The school is equipped with collaborations and partnerships with national and international institutions to ensure maximized learning and hands-on practice.
The School of Pharmacy’s philosophy in mentoring young pharmacy professionals ultimately puts the University of Nottingham at an advantage. The full support from the university’s administration and partners produced top-notch scientists that are better than from most universities worldwide. These are why the University of Nottingham is consistently among the best pharmacy schools in the world.
6. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
William Richardson Davie established the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, through an act in 1789 and became the first public university in the nation in 1793. By 1795, it became the only university able to award degrees at the time. Multiple schools were created and developed over the years to hone the knowledge and skillsets of the students of various disciplines.
The University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy started in 1897 and is the oldest of its kind in the United States. True to the nature of pharmacy, the Eshelman School of Pharmacy works closely with the School of Medicine to extend the bounds of multidisciplinary training and serve the people of Carolina better.
The Eshelman School of Pharmacy’s history boasts decades of pioneering in the field, producing capable experts, and promoting innovative research. This level of consistency paved the way for the recognition of the university in international rankings. It is not surprising how the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is among the best pharmacy schools.
7. University College London
The University College London started in 1826 to promote multidisciplinary study in pursuing excellence and making an impact on real-world issues. The university’s philosophy is to utilize knowledge to improve the world today and in the future. Over the years, UCL has created many institutions that cater to its mission to innovate its way to a better world.
The UCL’s School of Pharmacy started in 1842 as the College of Pharmaceutical Society founded by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. The college changed its name and incorporated into the University of London as a constituent college in 1949. Years of striving for excellence made the School of Pharmacy one of the highest-rated schools in the United Kingdom.
Various innovations in the field also prompted the recognition of the School of Pharmacy around the world. Many of its contributions made medical impacts that are and will continue to be relevant for years to come. The University College London maintains its rank as one of the top pharmacy universities worldwide.
We hope this article on the best pharmacy schools in the world was helpful. Check also the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.
