Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm)

Entrance Requirements

a) There is no direct entry into the B Pharm degree programme for School leavers with Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE).
b) Applicants who have completed BSc Year 1 and have passed BIO111 Principles of Biology; BIO112 Diversity of Plants and Animals; CHE101 General Chemistry I; CHE102 General Chemistry II; MAT111 Introductory Mathematics I; MAT122 Introductory Mathematics II; PHY112 Geometrical Optics and Mechanics; PHY122 Electricity, Magnetism and Elements of Modern Physics may apply to transfer to the B Pharm degree programme.
c) Applicants who hold Advanced Level passes in (i) Chemistry with B or better, (ii) Mathematics, (iii) Biology and (iv) Physics with grade C or better will be admitted into Level 200, but will be required to take GEC courses COM101 and COM102 if not already done.
d) Applicants possessing a Diploma must satisfy General Academic Regulations 20.24. Applicants who hold a Diploma in Pharmacy Technician obtained from Institute of Health Sciences or its equivalent shall be admitted into Level 200, but will be required to take GEC courses COM101 and COM102 if not already done. These candidates will not be exempted from practicums.
e) Holders of a degree in Pharmaceutical Science will be considered for advanced placement on-a-case-by-case basis with the decision guided by other pharmacy courses already completed, the duration and the area of pharmacy practice since graduation. However, Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics courses will be mandatory.
f) An applicant with a BSc degree in chemistry/biological science or equivalent he/she may be exempted from equivalent courses prescribed in the degree programme, subject to the recommendations of the School.
g) Applicants may be interviewed and personal and professional behaviours will be considered in the process.

Programme Structure

Students should have completed and passed the following courses;


Semester 1

BIO111 Principles of Biology (4)
MAT111 Introductory Mathematics (4)
CHE101 General Chemistry I (4)
PHY112 Geometrical Optics and Mechanics (4)
COM101 Communication and Academic Literacy Skills (Health Sciences and Pre-Med) (3)
ICT121 Computer Skills FundamentalsI (2)


Semester 2

BIO112 Diversity of Plants and Animals (4) [Prerequisites BIO111]
MAT122 Introductory Mathematics II (4) [Prerequisites MAT111]
CHE102 General Chemistry II (4) [Prerequisites CHE101]
PHY122 Electricity, Magnetism and Elements of Modern Physics (4) [Prerequisites PHY111]
COM102 Health Communication (Health Sciences and Pre-Med) (3)
ITC122 Computer Skills Fundamentals II (2) [Prerequisites ICT121]

Students who have successfully completed the Pre-Professional Phase can apply to transfer to the Bachelor of Pharmacy Programme.


Semester 3

CHE232 Structure and Survey of Functional Groups (2) [Prerequisites CHE102]
CHE234 Organic Chemistry Lab I (1) [Prerequisites CHE102]
BIO211 Cell Biology (3)
BIO212 Genetics (3)

BIO231 Human Anatomy (3)
PHA211 Pharmaceutical Chemistry (3)
PHA212 Pharmacy Practice I (3)


Semester 4


BIO232 Human Physiology (3)
PHA221 Pharmaceutics and Dosage Forms I (3)
PHA222 Pharmacy Practice II (3)
PHA223 Pharmacognosy (3)
PHA224 Pharmaceutical Microbiology (3) [Prerequisites BIO211]
PHA225 Medicinal Chemistry I (3) [Prerequisites BIO211, PHA211


Semester 4, Winter Semester


PHA226 Practicum – Hospital and Clinics (3) [Prerequisites PHA211, PHA224, PHA225]
PHA227 Practicum – Central Medical Stores and National Quality Control Laboratory (3) [Prerequisites PHA211, PHA223)

Semester 5


PHA311 Pharmaceutics and Dosage Forms II (3) [Prerequisites PHA211]
PHA312 Pharmacy Practice III (3) [Prerequisites PHA213, PHA223]
PHA313 Pharmaceutical Analysis (3) [Prerequisites PHA211]
PHA314 Pathophysiology I (3) [Prerequisites BIO211, BIO231 BIO232]
PHA215 Medicinal Chemistry I (3) [Prerequisites PHA225]
PHA216 Pharmacology I (3) [Prerequisites BIO231, BIO232, PHA225]


Semester 6


PHA321 Pharmaceutics and Dosage Forms III (3) [Prerequisites PHA311]
PHA322 Pharmacotherapeutics I (3) [Prerequisites PHA311]
PHA323 Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics (3) [Prerequisites PHA316]
PHA324 Pathophysiology II (3) [Prerequisites PHA314]
PHA325 Pharmacy Law, Ethics and Regulatory Practice (3) [Prerequisites PHA212, PHA222, PHA312]
PHA326 Pharmacology II (3) [Prerequisites PHA315, PHA316


Semester 6, Winter Semester


PHA327 Practicum – Managed Care Organization (3) [Prerequisites PHA311, PHA324, PHA325, PHA326]
PHA328 Practicum – Manufacturing Plant and Wholesale (3) [Prerequisites PHA313, PHA321, PHA323, PHA325]

Semester 7

PHA411 Non-Prescription Medicines, Complementary & Alternative Medicines (3) [Prerequisites PHA212, PHA322, PHA324
PHA412 Pharmacotherapeutics II (3) [Prerequisites PHA322, PHA323, PHA324]
PHA413 Clinical Pharmacokinetics (3) [Prerequisites PHA321, PHA323, PHA326]
PHA414 Pharmacology III (3) [Prerequisites PHA316]
FHS200 Health Informatics (3)


Semester 8

PHA421 Pharmaceutical Technology and Biotechnology (3) [Prerequisites PHA224, PHA321]
PHA422 Pharmacotherapeutics III (3) [Prerequisites PHA224, PHA412, PHA413, PHA414]
MLS404 Introduction to Biostatistics (3)
MLS405 Research Methods and Proposal Writing (3) Optional Course (3)


Optional Courses Menu


PHA423 Applied Pharmaceutical Analysis (3)
PHA424 Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry (3)


Semester 9


PHA511 Practicum – Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy II (6) [Prerequisites PHA224, PHA325, PHA412, PHA415, PHA421, PHA422]
PHA512 Practicum – Community Pharmacy (3) [Prerequisites PHA224, PHA325, PHA412, PHA415, PHA421, PHA422]
PHA513 Practicum – Central Medical Stores and National Quality Control Laboratory II (3) [Prerequisites PHA224, PHA227, PHA313, PHA321, PHA325]
PHA514 Practicum – Medicine Regulatory Authority and BEDAP (3) [Prerequisites PHA313, PHA321, PHA325]


Semester 10


PHA521 Medicine Information and Toxicology (3) PHA522 Special Topics in Pharmacy Pharmacovigilance, Veterinary medicines (3)
PHA523 Pharmacy Management, Leadership and Entrepreneurship (3)
PHA524 Pharmacy Research Project (3)
[Prerequisites MLS404, MLS405
Optional Course (3)
Optional Course Menu
ENH222 Epidemiology (3)
ENH223 Control of Communicable Diseases

In pursuit of academic excellence