The single-cycle Master's Degree Program in Pharmacy (Class LM-13) aims to train a new type of pharmaceutical professional with expertise not only in the pharmaceutical field (production, design, analysis/quality control, formulation, regulations, storage, distribution, and public outreach), but also in the fields of nutraceuticals, food science, biostatistics, genetics, and laboratory methodologies in the healthcare sector.

The theoretical and practical training is designed to provide multidisciplinary knowledge and skills with a strong technological and biomedical focus, enabling graduates to work in the various settings where pharmacists are expected to practice: public and private pharmacies, parapharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and local healthcare facilities; pharmaceutical companies; firms dealing with regulatory matters; and companies operating in the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical sectors.

The program spans 5 years, operates under a locally set enrollment cap, and requires an admission test. The curriculum includes core and specialized courses in chemistry, biology, physiology, pharmacy, technology, pharmacology, and toxicology, supplemented from the very first year by instructional laboratories designed to provide practical training.

The curriculum also includes foundational courses to strengthen knowledge of general and clinical pathology, pathophysiology, immunology, and microbiology, as well as related disciplines that will allow students to broaden and deepen their knowledge in the fields of food science, biotechnological and innovative drugs, personalized medicine, healthcare laboratory methodologies, biostatistics, and pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology.

The program is rounded out by a mandatory professional internship, to be completed at a pharmacy open to the public or a hospital pharmacy for a period of no less than 6 months, and the preparation of a thesis, which may be experimental or a literature review.

In-person courses are held in the classrooms of the Medical Area, at Viale Europa, 11, Brescia.

Role in a Work Setting:

Pharmacists primarily carry out their professional activities at:

a) Pharmacies open to the public, performing the following duties:

- They ensure the proper storage and controlled dispensing of prescription drugs, as well as the distribution of health products and medical devices.

- They promptly report adverse drug reactions and adverse events attributable to medications.

- Establishes collaborative relationships with general practitioners, family pediatricians, and healthcare professionals with whom they interact.

- Participates in health education projects and initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles.

- Prepares, checks, and dispenses officinal and magistral galenic preparations.

- Provides information and clarification regarding: storage, ingredients, therapeutic effects, dosage, administration methods and schedules, and side effects of dispensed medications—including new biologic drugs—and offers personalized guidance to patients who self-medicate.

- Provides information and clarification on the proper use of cosmetic, dietary, and nutritional products, as well as herbal remedies, for maintaining and protecting health.

- Is capable of managing new services (for example, participation in the integrated home care service; scheduling appointments and tests) that address additional needs of the population and that require the adaptation of existing technologies and training in pharmacotherapy to ensure an appropriate understanding of clinical risk.

- Provides patients with accurate information to improve their health and promote prevention.

- Is aware of the increasingly complex nature of activities resulting from the expansion of new services: the pharmacist’s profession is enriched by additional multidisciplinary skills that find their proper place in working alongside other healthcare professionals—such as nurses, psychologists, and physical therapists. These also include the provision of secondary-level services for individual patients, as prescribed by general practitioners and family pediatricians, in accordance with guidelines and diagnostic-therapeutic protocols.

- Is able to perform initial diagnostic tests within the scope of self-monitoring (e.g., cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, and electrocardiograms via telemedicine).

- Participates in integrated home care services.

- Provides patients with adequate information on medications, herbal remedies, and health products—including those available through databases.

- Identifies any side effects and, where possible, suggests solutions that yield positive outcomes both in terms of adherence to the physician’s instructions and the reduction of waste, which inevitably occurs when medications are used incorrectly.

b) Hospital pharmacies, performing the following specific functions:

- Manages medications and other medical supplies throughout all stages, from procurement and storage to dispensing of products, including investigational drugs.

- Evaluates, prepares, manages, and dispenses enteral and parenteral nutrition preparations in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

- Provides adequate information and documentation on medications.

- Develops diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines in specific therapeutic areas in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

- Evaluates prescribing trends for specific medications and monitors the use of medications and medical devices.

- Analyzes trends in pharmaceutical consumption and spending.

c) Local Pharmaceutical Services of the National Health Service, where they perform the following functions:

- Oversees the proper provision of pharmaceutical services and care by participating pharmacies.

- Monitors drug prescribing practices and oversees pharmacovigilance activities.

- Is familiar with regional and national systems for reporting adverse drug reactions and monitoring sentinel events.

- Promotes information and documentation on drugs and activities aimed at rationalizing drug consumption.

- Collaborates in defining and planning processes aimed at improving pharmaceutical care.

d) Pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries, where they perform the following functions:

- Conducts chemical and biological testing of raw materials used in the formulation of drugs and health products (dietary supplements, cosmetics, medical devices, and medical-surgical equipment).

- Prepares various pharmaceutical dosage forms and performs quality control on them.

- Conducts research and studies in the specific field of pharmaceuticals.

- Is responsible for the formulation, production, packaging, quality control, stability testing, and toxicological evaluation of cosmetic products.

- Is responsible for the production of phytopharmaceuticals, pesticides, and medical devices.

- Is responsible for the analysis and control of the physicochemical and hygienic characteristics of mineral waters.

- Performs analysis and quality control of food products, including those intended for special dietary uses and dietetic products.

- Performs the processing, blending, concentration, and fractionation of plant parts and their derivatives, for both therapeutic and herbal uses.

- Conducts research and development in areas of interest to the profession.

e) Research in the pharmaceutical sector at universities and public and private research institutions.

To perform their duties in hospital pharmacies and in the Territorial Pharmaceutical Services of the National Health Service, pharmacists must obtain a Specialization Diploma in Hospital Pharmacy or an equivalent qualification, consisting of postgraduate courses lasting at least four years.
 

Skills associated with the role:

The master’s degree graduate in Pharmacy:

- Understands the composition, chemical structure, and pharmacological, toxicological, and technological properties of the active ingredients

contained in synthetic, natural, and biotechnological medications.

- Understands the efficacy and safety profiles of medications, as well as dietary and nutritional health products available in pharmacies and parapharmacies.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies for managing dietary supplements, medical devices, and herbal products.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies for performing qualitative and quantitative analyses of drugs.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies for conducting chemical and biological testing of raw materials used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

- Possesses the skills to prepare and dispense custom and galenic medicinal formulations.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary skills to review prescriptions from physicians and veterinarians, ensuring they do not exceed recommended dosages.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary knowledge to communicate effectively and, as a health educator, provide information on the safety of medications, dietary products, and herbal products, as well as their interactions with one another or with food.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies for managing pharmacovigilance and reporting potential adverse drug reactions; and for monitoring patient adherence to drug therapy.

- Possesses the cross-disciplinary skills required for managing pharmacoeconomics and pharmacoepidemiology.

- Possesses the cross-disciplinary skills to advance scientific knowledge in the pharmaceutical field and to apply and transfer this knowledge to industry, medicine, pharmacology, the chemical-pharmaceutical and technological-pharmaceutical sectors, and other areas of production.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies to work in interdisciplinary teams and to conduct, in academic, industrial, and scientific settings, theoretical and experimental research aimed at expanding and innovating scientific knowledge or its application in production, demonstrating independent judgment and the ability to communicate results.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies for the management of medications and medical devices in a hospital setting.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies for the preparation and management of enteral/parenteral nutrition formulations in a hospital setting.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies to provide information and documentation on medications to the public and healthcare personnel and to participate in health education programs.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies to engage with experts in specific sectors of public health to develop synergies with other healthcare professions.

- Possesses cross-disciplinary competencies for managing new integrated home care services and for managing first-line laboratory tests within the scope of self-monitoring.

- Possesses competencies in pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical technology and legislation, pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, toxicology, and pharmacovigilance, enabling them to conduct inspections of pharmacies.

- Possesses the cross-disciplinary skills necessary for managing a pharmacy.

- Adheres to proper professional ethics.

- Possesses the learning skills needed to pursue postgraduate specialization programs in the pharmaceutical field, doctoral programs in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and pharmacological fields, and first- and second-level master’s programs.
 

Career Opportunities:

After earning the degree qualifying them for the profession of pharmacist and registering with the professional association, pharmacists may perform all professional activities outlined in Ministerial Decree 1147 of October 10, 2022.

Pharmacists work:

- in community pharmacies open to the public in Italy and within the European Union;

- in hospital pharmacies and nursing homes;

- in local health authority services;

- in public administrations and the Armed Forces;

- in drug regulatory agencies;

- in the wholesale distribution of medicines;

- in commercial establishments providing the services required by Law 248/06;

- in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and cosmetics companies;

- in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

Pharmacists also work:

- in the research sector of the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and food industries;

- at universities and in public and private research institutions.

Furthermore, earning a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy grants access to postgraduate studies (Ph.D. programs and specialized training programs) and second-level master’s programs.

The Master’s degree program in Pharmacy aims to train professionals with multidisciplinary expertise (in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, biomedicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, toxicology, technology, legislation, and professional ethics) that will enable Master’s graduates to work in various fields, ranging from public health to the pharmaceutical industry (public and private pharmacies, parapharmacies, hospital pharmacies and local healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical companies, firms dealing with regulatory matters, and companies operating in the “nutraceuticals” and “cosmeceuticals” sectors).

The program aims to impart the professional skills, competencies, and roles required at the national and regional levels, in accordance with the guidelines of the new regulatory framework (Ministerial Decree 1147 of October 10, 2022).

These include: first- and second-level analytical services; patient care related to monitoring medication use and treatment adherence (pharmaceutical care); prevention education for healthy aging and the management of chronic conditions, health and nutrition education, knowledge and management of personalized medicine, participation in institutional public health campaigns, pharmacovigilance,

pharmacoepidemiology, and business economics and management.

These educational objectives will be achieved through the involvement of primary care medicine, covering knowledge of general and clinical pathology, pathophysiology, medical terminology, immunology, and microbiology, as well as the inclusion of core and related disciplines that will allow for the completion and deepening of knowledge in the fields of food sciences, biotechnological and innovative drugs, personalized medicine, laboratory methodologies in healthcare, pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology, and pharmacy business management.

Other learning objectives include:

achieving a solid command of the scientific method of inquiry; being able to

use the English language effectively, both in writing and orally (level B2 or higher);

being able to draft technical and scientific reports;

being able to develop and/or apply original ideas or procedures, including in a research context;

being able to work in a team, exercise independent judgment, and adapt quickly to the workplace.

The Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy qualifies graduates to practice as pharmacists.

Graduates of the Pharmacy program will also possess the knowledge and learning skills necessary to continue their education in specialized schools within the Pharmaceutical Area, in Ph.D. programs, and in second-level master’s programs.

The Master’s degree in Pharmacy also offers the opportunity, in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 328 of June 5, 2001, to take the state exam for registration in Section A of the Professional Register of Chemists.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Consistent with the educational objectives listed above, the courses in the Master’s Degree Program in Pharmacy provide, in the initial phase, the basic foundational knowledge typical of a scientific education, which is essential for developing a solid preparatory grounding adequate for understanding and delving into related cultural topics, supplemented by proficiency in the English language and the acquisition of computer skills.

Students subsequently proceed to more specific and distinctive courses, covering biological, biochemical, pharmacological, chemical-pharmaceutical, and technological topics, aimed at providing a multidisciplinary education in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, as well as economic content relevant to pharmacy management.

In particular, the foundational courses are designed to provide knowledge in physics, computer science, and statistics; chemistry (general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry), the biological sciences (histology, anatomy, biology and genetics, physiology), and medical disciplines (general pathology, pathophysiology, immunology, microbiology)—all of which are essential for tackling the core and related supplementary courses.

The core courses provide in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical technology, and pharmacology, as well as a solid foundation in biochemistry, toxicology, food science, pharmaceutical regulations, and the organization and management of pharmacy. The deliberate placement of a foundational course such as biostatistics in the second three-year period will enable students to apply and contextualize the concepts and principles of this discipline in professional settings such as public health campaigns and pharmacoepidemiology.

Related courses complement and guide the program in accordance with the specific educational objectives, providing knowledge and in-depth understanding of: laboratory methodologies in the healthcare field, methodologies for the development of personalized and biologic drugs, and nutritional sciences.

Finally, students are required to acquire additional knowledge through the independent selection of courses from among those suggested by the degree program or offered by the University (9 CFU).

The educational activities are primarily organized into courses—including integrated courses—comprising theoretical lectures and laboratory exercises.

Achievement of the specific learning objectives for each course is assessed through written and/or oral exams, or other forms of assessment.

The professional training is complemented by the practical-evaluation internship (TPV) required for pharmacists to practice within the National Health Service, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Ministerial Decree 163 of November 8, 2021, and Ministerial Decree 651 of July 5, 2022, which establish the minimum technical-scientific and practical-operational requirements that must be met, the minimum requirements for admission to the TPV, and the conduct of the practical evaluation exam. Furthermore, the preparation of the final exam and the thesis—which must be entirely original and may be experimental or descriptive in nature—constitute the conclusion of the educational program.

To be admitted to the single-cycle Master’s Degree Program in Pharmacy, applicants must hold a five-year high school diploma or another academic qualification obtained abroad that is recognized as equivalent under current laws.

Specifically, the following knowledge and skills are required:

- biology;

- chemistry;

- mathematics;

- physics;

- logical reasoning.

Knowledge of English at a minimum B1 level is also required.

The Single-Cycle Master’s Degree Program operates under a locally set enrollment cap (pursuant to Art. 2 of Law 264/99) based on available resources.

The number of students who may enroll and the selection procedures will be made public each year in the relevant call for applications.

The required knowledge and skills are assessed by setting a minimum score on the entrance exam for the quota-restricted program, which serves solely to verify the knowledge required for admission.

Students admitted to the program with a score below the established minimum will be assigned an additional academic requirement; fulfillment of this additional requirement is subject to specific assessment.

The additional academic requirement and the corresponding assessment procedures are outlined in the Academic Regulations for the degree program.

Students who do not fulfill the additional academic requirements by the date set by the relevant bodies—and in any case within the first year of the program—may not take exams for courses in years beyond the first.

A similar assessment test will be administered to evaluate English proficiency, with remedial measures provided in the event of failure.

Non-EU students whose academic credentials have been recognized as eligible must first pass the Italian language proficiency test and only then take the admission test.

Students admitted to the program will be placed on a separate ranking list.

The Master’s Degree Program in Pharmacy operates under a locally set enrollment cap (pursuant to Article 2 of Law 264/99).

The number of available spots in the first year is determined annually by the Department Council, upon the recommendation of the Council of the Master’s Degree Program in Pharmacy (CCLM), both for the quota of Italian citizens, European Union citizens, and non-EU citizens with equivalent status, and for the quota of non-EU citizens residing abroad.

To be admitted to the Master’s Degree Program in Pharmacy, applicants must hold a high school diploma or another academic qualification obtained abroad that is recognized as equivalent under current regulations.

Enrollment in the first year of the program is conditional upon passing an admission exam.

The exam is designed to assess the adequacy of applicants’ prior knowledge and to establish a general merit-based ranking list until the number of available spots is filled.

Applicants who rank high enough on the list, within the planned number of spots, are admitted to the Master’s Degree Program in Pharmacy.

The selection test used is the TOLC-F (CISIA Online Test for Pharmacy), organized by the University of Brescia in collaboration with the CISIA Consortium (Interuniversity Consortium for Integrated Access Systems).

The mandatory entrance exam consists of a multiple-choice test designed to assess basic knowledge in the fields of chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, and logical reasoning.

The exam may be administered at multiple locations and during different time periods, in accordance with the procedures approved annually by the CCLM.

Candidates who are successfully placed on the merit list but who have not achieved the minimum required score in the Biology and Chemistry sections are assigned specific additional academic requirements (OFA), which must be fulfilled within the first year.

The Master’s Degree Program (CdLM) establishes annually the specific academic activities to be undertaken to make up for any academic deficiencies.

OFA

First-year students, until they have fulfilled the OFA in Biology, will not be permitted to take the following course exam: Biology and Genetics (an integrated course comprising the subjects Animal Biology and Genetics, SSD: BIO/13, and Molecular Genetics and Genomics, SSD: BIO/18).

First-year students may not take the following course exam until they have completed the OFA in Chemistry: General and Inorganic Chemistry (SSD: CHIM/03).

The test may also include an English language proficiency assessment at the B1 level, which must be taken by students who do not possess valid certificates or attestations as specified in the relevant list published on the University’s website.

The procedures for making up any academic deficit in English for students who do not provide the aforementioned certificate or attestation will be defined by the degree program. This academic deficiency must be resolved by the end of the first year of the program.

First-year students will not be permitted to take the following course exam—English Language Level B2, in any of its modules (General English and Scientific English)—until they have fulfilled the English language prerequisite (OFA).

Students who do not pass the OFA exams by the end of the first year of the degree program in which they are enrolled will be admitted to the second year of that program (and subsequent years), but, until they pass the OFA, they will not be allowed to take the aforementioned exams.

Non-EU Students

Non-EU students residing abroad who require an entry visa to Italy and hold a degree earned abroad must, in addition to the mandatory admission exam, take and pass the Italian language proficiency exam, except in cases of exemption as indicated in the MIUR circular http://www.studiare-in-italia.it/studentistranieri/.

These students are placed on a separate merit-based ranking list.

The number of eligible students, the location and date of the exam, the procedures and content of the admission exam, the procedures for compiling the merit-based ranking, the procedures for assigning additional academic requirements, and the deadlines for enrollment and waitlist placement are specified annually in specific Calls for Applications and Notices, published on the University’s portal.

Initial and ongoing student guidance

The degree programme participates in the initial and ongoing student guidance initiatives organised at both the macro-area and University levels, which are detailed on the dedicated page of the University portal; this page also provides access to the specific initiatives for each macro-area. These initiatives are coordinated by a working group comprising the Rector’s Representative for Guidance, the Departmental Guidance Representatives and staff from a dedicated organisational unit. The design and delivery of the guidance activities, developed by the specific organisational unit, are certified to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard. Regular activities, news and the latest initiatives can be found on the dedicated page of the University website.

Tutoring

Tutoring initiatives are organised at University level in accordance with the annual tutoring plan, which is drawn up each year by the University Commission for Tutoring – chaired by the Rector’s Delegate for Teaching – and approved by the Academic Senate. The Tutoring Service contributes to ongoing student guidance with the aim of ensuring students progress smoothly through their studies and identifying the critical issues that contribute to drop-out rates. The administrative management of the student tutoring service is certified to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard and is provided as part of the services supporting the right to education by a dedicated organisational unit.

The final examination for the Master’s degree includes a practical assessment (hereinafter “PPV”) that precedes the thesis defense.

The PPV is intended to verify the professional skills acquired through the internship and to assess the candidate’s level of preparation for professional licensure; it focuses on the areas specified by current regulations. The PPV examination committee is composed of an equal number of members and consists of at least four members. Half of the committee members are university professors—one of whom serves as Chair—appointed by the CCLM, and the other half are pharmacists appointed by the relevant local professional association.

Students who receive a passing grade on the PPV are eligible to proceed to the thesis defense. Members designated by the professional association participate in the thesis defense, and upon its completion, the degree qualifying the holder to practice as a pharmacist is conferred, subject to compliance with the principles of current legislation.