Accreditation

The Bachelor of Pharmacy Program at Fatima College of Health Sciences (FCHS) spans five years and is available at both the Al Ain and Abu Dhabi campuses. To attain the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, students must complete 167 credit hours as given in the study plan. The coursework in the latter years of the program builds on the scientific knowledge gained during the initial years of study. The curriculum, which includes applied pharmaceutical sciences and integrated therapeutics, is complemented by professional placements that thoroughly prepare graduates for careers in hospital, clinical, community, and industrial pharmacy settings. Additionally, the program emphasizes research methodology and culminates in a graduation research project, enhancing students’ research and communication skills.

Curriculum Design

This comprehensive program effectively integrates applied pharmaceutical sciences, therapeutics, and a practice curriculum alongside professional placements, thoroughly equipping graduates for careers in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, community pharmacies, and the industrial sector. The program seeks to develop expert pharmacists focusing on dosage form design, drug development, and therapeutic practices. Students begin with a solid foundation in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences, smoothly transitioning into the pharmacy practice and clinical pharmacy components.

Professional skills labs provide clinical simulations and role-playing opportunities, enabling students to gain early exposure to real-world practice environments.
The Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE & APPE) represent the most extensive and rigorous training available within affiliated healthcare facilities throughout the UAE. These experiences are meticulously designed with specific activities to foster targeted skills and competencies aligned with the program’s learning outcomes. Additionally, students engage in research projects under the mentorship of faculty supervisors, presenting their findings at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.

Career Opportunities

Pharmacy graduates have a range of potential career paths available to them. Most pursue internship training and obtain professional licensing to practice as pharmacists in various settings, including private pharmacies, hospitals, and primary health care centres. With postgraduate training, pharmacists can specialize in diverse fields such as oncology, critical care, nutrition support, nuclear medicine, transplantation, informatics, drug information, and poison control.

In addition to traditional pharmacy roles, graduates can explore opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, governmental and non-governmental health organizations, insurance companies, and academia. Other rewarding careers that a pharmacy degree can facilitate include clinical research associate, medical sales representative, pharmacologist, product/process development scientist, regulatory affairs officer, research scientist in life sciences, science writer, and toxicologist.

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) program at Fatima College of Health Sciences is a comprehensive five-year, full-time undergraduate course designed to cultivate highly skilled pharmacists equipped to address the health needs of society. This program focuses on patient-centered care, clinical excellence, pharmaceutical innovation, and research. 

The curriculum seamlessly integrates foundational biomedical sciences with practical pharmacy training, emphasizing interprofessional collaboration, critical thinking, and the application of advanced technologies in pharmacy practice. Through a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and extensive professional placements, students acquire the essential knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in various healthcare and pharmaceutical environments.

Program Structure by Year

Year 1: Foundations in Pharmacy and Basic Sciences

Students begin with core scientific subjects, including chemistry, biology, biochemistry, anatomy & physiology, and the fundamentals of pharmacy practice and law. These courses build the essential groundwork for future studies and introduce students to the pharmacist’s role in healthcare.

Sample Courses:

• Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry I & II
• Anatomy & Physiology I & II
• Biochemistry
• Principles of Pharmacology
• Introduction to Pharmacy & Law
• English and UAE Studies

Year 2: Pharmacological Principles and Dosage Form Design

The second year focuses on deepening students’ understanding of pharmacology, microbiology, medicinal chemistry, and drug formulation. They are introduced to manufacturing technologies and patient care principles and begin applying their knowledge in real-world community pharmacy settings through the first Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE 1 & 2).

Sample Courses:

• Pharmacology I & II
• Medicinal Chemistry I & II
• Physical Pharmaceutics & Solution Formulations
• Microbiology & Immunology
• Pharmaceutical Care
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Technology
• IPPE 1 & 2 (Community Pharmacy Practice)

Year 3: Therapeutics, Evidence-Based Practice, and Public Health

Students transition into therapeutics and pharmacotherapy, learning to manage common disease states. They also explore evidence-based medicine, institutional pharmacy practice, and the development of sterile and non-prescription formulations. A third placement (IPPE 3) gives students hands-on experience in hospital pharmacy settings.

Sample Courses:

• Pharmacotherapy I & II
• Biopharmaceutical & Sterile Formulations
• Non-Rx Pharmacotherapy
• Public Health & Vaccination
• Pharmaceutical Calculations
• Clinical Toxicology
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Institutional Pharmacy Practice
• IPPE 3 (Hospital Pharmacy)

Year 4: Advanced Therapeutics and Professional Development

This year focuses on advanced topics such as precision medicine, pharmacoepidemiology, digital pharmacy, public health, and research. Students also engage in a pharmaceutical industry experience (PIE) and select a specialized elective IPPE 4 from various fields, including education, marketing, pharmacovigilance, or drug discovery.

Sample Courses:

• Pharmacotherapy III & IV
• Pharmacogenomics & Precision Medicine
• Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacovigilance
• Advanced Drug Delivery & Development
• Pharmacy Management & Pharmacoeconomics
• Medical Biostatistics
• Research Proposal & Graduation Research Project
• PIE (Pharmaceutical Industry Experience)
• IPPE 4 (Electives: Education, Digital Health, Regulatory Affairs, etc.)

Year 5: Research Project and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs)

Students will be completing a graduation project in semester 1. In sem 2 of the final year, students undergo extensive clinical training in various healthcare settings. These rotations allow them to integrate all learned knowledge into professional practice, managing patients with complex conditions under the supervision of expert pharmacists.

APPE Rotations:

• APPE 1: Internal Medicine
• APPE 2: Surgery
• APPE 3: Ambulatory Care
• APPE 4: Critical Care
• Additional Modules:
• Pharmacotherapy V (Oncology & Hematology)
• Clinical Pharmacokinetics & Drug Toxicity
• Medication Therapy Management
• Pharmacy Elective (e.g., AI Drug Discovery, Clinical Nutrition)

Why Choose the BPharm Program at FCHS?

• International Accreditation: Curriculum aligned with ACPE (USA) and UAE CAA standards
• Modern Facilities: State-of-the-art labs and simulation centres
• Hands-On Training: Over 1,200 hours of experiential learning in hospitals, community pharmacies, and industry settings
• Diverse Faculty: Experienced instructors from various specialties and nationalities
• Career Readiness: Graduates are equipped to pursue careers in clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, pharmaceutical industries, public health, and research

VISION

The Pharmacy department is devoted to national and international leadership in Pharmacy education, research, and professional provision delivery

MISSION

The mission of the Pharmacy department at FCHS is to produce the next generation of collaborative pharmacists, innovative, and leaders within the health care squad via the delivery of advanced education, research, patient care, as well as public and professional service programmes, including pioneering clinical, entrepreneurial, and laboratory research endeavours to improve health outcomes for the people of United Arab Emirates and beyond.

CORE VALUES

The pharmacy department, in pursuit of its mission, maintains the FCHS values for its routine operations and code of conduct:

Innovation

Promote a culture of creativity that responds to the developing healthcare needs of the UAE.

Excellence

Embed a culture of quality to deliver outstanding teaching, research, and personal performance.

Professionalism

Commitment to professional appearance, language, and behavior.

Promote tolerance, ethical values, and goal-oriented graduates.

Sustainability

Integrate sustainable practices into all aspects of planning and operations.

B. Pharm Program Learning Outcome

PLO 1 1.1. Learner (learner) Develop, integrate, and apply knowledge from the foundational sciences to evaluate the scientific literature, explain drug action and interactions, solve therapeutic problems, and advance population health and patient-centered care.

PLO 2 2.1. Patient-centered care (Care provider) Provide patient-centered care as the pharmacotherapy expert to diverse patients using the best available evidence and resources, taking into consideration patients’, their families, and their caregivers’ circumstances and beliefs.

PLO 3 2.2. Medication use systems management (Manager) Manage patient healthcare needs using human, financial, technological, and physical resources to optimize the safety and efficacy of medication use systems.

PLO 4 2.3. Health and wellness promotion (Promoter) Develop prevention, screening, intervention, and educational strategies for individuals and communities to maintain and improve health and wellness and to manage chronic diseases.

PLO 5 3.1. Ethical decision making and problem solving (Problem Solver) Identify problems; explore and prioritize potential strategies and design, implement, and evaluate a viable solution.

PLO 6 3.2. Educator (Educator) Educate healthcare providers, patients, and the general population by determining the most effective and enduring way to impart knowledge and assess understanding.

PLO 7 3.3. Patient Advocacy (Advocate) Assure that patients’ best interests are represented and consider patient experience.

PLO 8 3.4. Inter & intra professional collaboration (Collaborator) Actively participate and engage as a healthcare team member by demonstrating mutual respect, understanding, and values to meet patient care needs.

PLO 9 3.5. Cultural Sensitivity (Includer) Recognize the social determinants of health and traditional compassion to avoid bias and inequities in access to quality care.

PLO 10 3.6. Communication (Communicator) Effectively communicate orally and in written by identifying verbal and nonverbal ques when interacting with patients and healthcare providers.

PLO 11 3.7. professional statistics & calculation (Calculator) Perform precise calculations in pharmacy practice and interpretation of statistical data processing and evaluation.

PLO 12 4.1. Self- Awareness (Self- Aware) Examine and reflect on personal knowledge, skills, abilities, beliefs, biases, motivation, and emotions that could enhance or limit personal and professional growth.

PLO 13 4.2. Leadership & Management (Leader) Demonstrate responsibility for creating and achieving shared goals, regardless of position, and able to effectively manage resources, information, and participate in organizational planning.

PLO 14 4.3. Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Innovator) Engage in innovative and entrepreneurial activities by using creative thinking to envision better and productive ways of accomplishing professional goals.

PLO 15 4.4. Professionalism & Ethical practice (professional) Exhibit behaviors and values consistent with the trust given to the profession by patients, other healthcare providers, and society.

PLO 16 4.5. Research and Scholarship (Scholar) Engage scholarly activities related to the healthcare and pharmaceutical practice.

• B Pharm-Current course description

• B Pharm current study plan

• Cost of Studying the Program