The B Pharm syllabus is set by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and runs over eight semesters and 193 credits under its 2026 scheme framed for NEP 2020. The first two years build anatomy, chemistry and pharmacognosy. The last two move to pharmacology, dosage forms, analysis, regulatory work, AI tools, two internships and a research project.
PCI's syllabus document is meant for students admitted from the 2026-27 academic year. If you are still comparing colleges, fees and eligibility, the B.Pharm course page covers those. This guide stays on what you will study each semester, how your marks are counted and what changed from the older scheme your seniors followed.
B Pharm syllabus at a glance
| Point | What PCI prescribes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 semesters (4 years); lateral entry students do 6 semesters from semester III |
| Total credits | 193, all mandatory for the degree |
| Who can join | 10+2 with English, Physics and Chemistry, plus Mathematics or Biology |
| Attendance | At least 75% in each course, with theory and practical counted separately |
| Marks split | 40% internal assessment and 60% end-semester exam for a 100-mark theory paper |
| Pass mark | 50% in each course, including internal assessment |
| Training | At least 240 hours of internship spread over two semesters |
| Time limit | Twice the course duration to finish the degree |
B Pharm syllabus semester-wise (2026 scheme)
Each semester has five to eight theory courses, matching practicals and, in most semesters from II onwards, choice courses where you pick one option from a short list. One credit is one lecture hour or two lab hours a week; 30 hours of internship or project work count as one credit.
| Semester | Theory subjects | Practicals and other parts | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Basics of Python Programming for Pharmaceutical Sciences; General Pharmacy; Healthcare Psychology and Communication Skills; Human Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I; Introduction to Pharmacognosy; Pharmaceutical Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry | Five practicals linked to the theory courses | 21 |
| II | Applied Biostatistics and Data Analytics; Biochemistry; Human Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology II; Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry; Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry; Physical Pharmaceutics | Five practicals and one skill course (Communication Skills; Mental Well-Being, Stress and Conflict Management; or Fundamentals of Computer Operations) | 26 |
| III | Introduction to Machine Learning in Pharmaceutical Sciences; Environmental Sciences; Ethics and Universal Human Values; General Pharmacology; Heterocyclic Compounds and Stereochemistry; Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms I; Pharmaceutical Engineering; Pharmaceutical Microbiology | Three practicals and one choice course (Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods; Food Analysis; or Yoga and Life Sciences) | 25 |
| IV | Herbal Drug Technology; Medicinal Chemistry; Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Social Pharmacy and Public Health; Systemic Pharmacology I | Five practicals and the first mandatory internship | 23 |
| V | Biomedicinal Chemistry; Industrial Pharmacognosy; Innovation and Startup Ecosystem; Pharmaceutical Dosage Form II; Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance; Systemic Pharmacology II | Four practicals | 22 |
| VI | Advanced Pharmacognosy; Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics; Intellectual Property Rights; AI Applications in Pharmaceutical Sciences; Pharmaceutical Analysis; Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence | Two practicals, three choice courses and the second mandatory internship | 26 |
| VII | Biostatistics and Research Methodology; Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals; AI in Clinical Applications; Modern Analytical Techniques; Pharmacovigilance; Pharmacy Practice; Regulatory Affairs | One practical, one choice course and the research project (6 credits) | 26 |
| VIII | Ethical Considerations and Translational Applications of AI in Pharmacy; Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics; Industrial Pharmacy and Facility Design; Pharmaceutical Management; Sterile Dosage Forms and Novel Drug Delivery System | Two practicals (including Pharmaceutical Marketing Skills), two choice courses and the research project (6 credits) | 24 |
How the four years build on each other
Year one is the human body and chemistry: anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology across both semesters, with inorganic, analytical and organic chemistry beside them. PCM students usually find anatomy the steepest climb, and PCB students feel it in physical pharmaceutics and biostatistics. Year two brings pharmacology, dosage forms, microbiology, medicinal chemistry and your first internship in semester IV, so ask about industry or hospital slots early.
Year three adds quality assurance, analysis, pharmacokinetics, jurisprudence and IPR, and usually shows you which side suits you: quality and analysis lead to industry roles, pharmacology to clinical and hospital work. The final year covers pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, pharmacy practice, clinical pharmacotherapeutics and sterile products, with the research project running through both semesters.
B Pharm electives and choice courses
Choice courses let you steer the degree towards a career. In each slot you take one option, so pick with your target job in mind.
Semester VI: one of six options such as Scientific Writing, Drug Store and Business Management or Materiovigilance and Hemovigilance; one of Computer-Aided Drug Design, Analytical Method Development and Validation or Principles of Preclinical Studies; and one of Professional Skills or Process Analytical Technology and QbD.
Semester VII: one of cGMP, Pharmaceutical Automation, Modern Techniques in Cellular Biology, Medical Devices, Transformation of Food Waste into Medicinal Products, or Biosimilars, Vaccines and Macromolecules.
Semester VIII: one of six options including Pharmaceutical Packaging, Supply Chain Management and Industrial Safety and Waste Management, plus one of Cleaning Validation, Aseptic Handling Techniques or Impurity Profiling.
A rule of thumb: for quality control work, choose method validation, cGMP and cleaning validation. To run a pharmacy, pick Drug Store and Business Management or Supply Chain Management. For research or an M.Pharm, Computer-Aided Drug Design and Preclinical Studies fit better.
How marks, internships and the project work
Internal and external marks: a 4-credit theory paper is marked out of 100, with 40 from continuous assessment and sessional exams and 60 from the university's end-semester exam.
Passing: you need 50% in each course, internal marks included. If you fail, you rewrite the end-semester exam and your internal marks carry over. You can improve a sessional exam score once, within that semester.
Internships: at least 240 hours across two semesters in a pharmaceutical, cosmetics, medical devices or food company, or a hospital or community pharmacy. You submit two reports, each marked out of 100.
Research project: done in groups of no more than three under a teacher, preferably with an external mentor from industry, a hospital or an approved lab. The bound report must run to at least 25 pages.
Old vs new B Pharm syllabus
A senior's notes will not match your course codes. Here is what PCI changed.
| Point | Earlier PCI scheme (from 2016-17) | PCI 2026 scheme (NEP 2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum credits | 208 | 193 |
| Attendance | 80% in each course | 75% in each course |
| Internal vs end-semester marks (100-mark theory) | 25 : 75 | 40 : 60 |
| Training | 150-hour practice school in semester VII; industrial training listed as desirable | 240 hours of mandatory internship across semesters IV and VI |
| Project | Semester VIII, groups of up to five | Semesters VII and VIII, groups of up to three |
| Computing and AI | Computer Applications in Pharmacy in semester II | Python, machine learning and AI courses from semester I to VIII |
| Regulation and IPR | Regulatory science as a semester VIII elective; IPR as a topic | Regulatory Affairs and Intellectual Property Rights as full courses |
Lateral entry after D.Pharm
With a Diploma in Pharmacy from a PCI-approved institution, you join B.Pharm in semester III and finish in six semesters. The 2026 rules add three courses: Healthcare Psychology and Communication Skills and Basics of Python Programming in semester III, and Applied Biostatistics and Data Analytics in semester IV. You are then credited with 47 credits, 41 for the diploma and 6 for these courses.
Can you study B Pharm online or by distance?
No. The UGC Open and Distance Learning and Online Programmes Regulations 2020 list pharmacy among programmes that cannot be offered in distance or online mode, and this syllabus depends on lab hours, internships and a supervised project. Treat any online B.Pharm offer as a warning sign and confirm a college's PCI approval before paying.
Where the syllabus leads after four years
The subjects map onto real job areas: production and quality in manufacturing, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, hospital and community pharmacy, and sales and marketing. Colleges and seats for the degree itself are listed on the Bachelor of Pharmacy page. If you enjoy the research project, the M.Pharm course is the usual next step. If ward work appeals more, our Pharm D course details guide explains the clinical degree and its three-year route for B.Pharm graduates. Science students still deciding can compare options in our BSc courses list, and the full PCI text is on the Pharmacy Council of India syllabus page.
Frequently asked questions
What are the subjects in B Pharm 1st year?
Semester I covers Python programming, General Pharmacy, Healthcare Psychology and Communication Skills, Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I, Pharmacognosy and Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry. Semester II adds Biostatistics, Biochemistry, Anatomy II, Organic Chemistry, Phytochemistry and Physical Pharmaceutics.
How many subjects are there in B Pharm?
Each semester has five to eight theory subjects plus practicals and choice courses. Across eight semesters that adds up to 193 credits in the 2026 scheme.
Is Maths compulsory for B Pharm?
No. PCI asks for 10+2 with English, Physics and Chemistry, plus either Mathematics or Biology, so both PCM and PCB students can apply.
What is new in the B Pharm syllabus 2026?
PCI cut the minimum credits to 193, made 240 hours of internship mandatory, spread the research project over semesters VII and VIII, and added Python, machine learning, AI and startup courses.
Is internship compulsory in B Pharm?
Yes. The 2026 scheme requires at least 240 hours over two semesters in industry, a hospital or a community pharmacy, with two reports.
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