RAK Medical and Health Sciences University is First Medical University in the UAE to Obtain Five Stars in QS Stars Rating     College of Pharmacy at RAK Medical and Health Sciences University has obtained dual national and international accreditation for its Bachelor of Pharmacy program from the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA)     All Programs are accredited by Ministry of Education, UAE.    All our programs are recognized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Curriculum Summary - MS in Pharmaceutics

Year 1

Semester 1

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Undergraduate courses in Pharmaceutical Formulations or Equivalent
The aim of the course is to help the student understand the physicochemical concepts required for proper deign of bioavailable drug dosage forms. The course teaches aspects of design of both monophasic and polyphasic dispersion dosage form for different routes of administration. Topics of pharmaceutical interest in the dosage form design include therapeutic consideration, physicochemical consideration of formulated drug, solubility and distribution phenomena, dissolution theories and factors influencing dissolution rates. Topics of pharmaceutical design of polyphasic dosage forms include interfacial phenomena, concepts of colloids, and Rheology of dispersion system. The stages through which a drug molecule is put through in the process of development of a given formulation for a product are studied in this subject. The interrelationship between the various formulation excipients and their possible interaction with the drug will be understood by the student after studying this subject. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture and practical sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 2 + Practical 2 = 4

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Methods and Spectroscopy
The aim of the course is to develop the necessary skills involved in the analysis of pharmaceutical drug products. The student will be exposed to theories and concepts involved in the different advanced pharmaceutical analytical techniques. The study of the instrumentation and methods employed will enable the student to carry out the assay of the drug products. The other major aim of studying this subject is to enable the student understand the various quality control measures taken on the drug products manufactured. By applying the knowledge gained in this subject the students will be able to carry out the analysis as per pharmacopoeial guidelines on different raw materials and finished drug products as well. HPLC, GC, IR, Thermal Analysis etc. will be dealt in detail. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture and practical sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 2 + Practical 2 = 4

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Undergraduate courses in Physical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics or Equivalent
Main goal of this course is to make the student understand the theoretical aspects of simple and complex reactions in homogenous and heterogeneous systems, environmental and pre-formulation factors that influence drug stability as well as elucidation of the mechanism of drug degradation. Principles will also cover the procedures for designing dosage form formulations with enhanced drug stability. Students will be able to predict shelf life of drug in solution, solid and heterogeneous dosage forms for different storage conditions. The concepts and theories involved in stability testing and development of a protocol for stability testing are also covered as per International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture and practical sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 2 + Practical 2 = 4

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Undergraduate courses in Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy or Equivalent
This course comprises the latest advances in drug delivery and targeting systems. The overall emphasis of these delivery systems is to reduce dose frequency, prolong efficacy, increase safety, have better patient compliance and have better drug targeting. The course will help the student to understand the concepts required to design and prepare different drug delivery systems such as site-specific drug delivery using liposomes drug systems, polymer drug delivery system with different type polymers and with dissolution, osmotic or diffusion controlled release. The course will also cover the transdermal and multiparticulate drug delivery systems. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 2 + Practical 0 = 2


Semester 2

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Undergraduate courses in Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics; Chemical Kinetics and Drug Stability
In this course the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic will be discussed. The application of pharmacokinetics on drug disposition following one compartment, two compartment, non-compartment and non-linear pharmacokinetic models for different routes of administration will be emphasized on drug dose regimen, dose adjustment in hepatic and renal diseases and for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows. Thus students will be able to design the drug therapy regimen for individual patient, interpret and correlate the plasma drug concentration with patient’s therapeutic outcome and recommend dosage adjustment for patients with renal/ hepatic impairment. The course also will enable the student to understand how various disease states alter the pharmacokinetic parameters and to be able to adjust plasma concentration within therapeutic range. In practice the therapeutic monitoring concept will be applied on analyzing pharmacokinetic cases of selected drugs with narrow therapeutic window. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture and practical sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, Case based learning, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 2 + Practical 2 = 4

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Industrial Pharmacy
This course comprises the design of pharmaceutical plants as well as the design & operation of clean rooms with special emphasis on quality assurance & good manufacturing practice guidelines. The course also covers theoretical background & practical demonstration of different manufacturing unit processes like: heat transfer, filtration, particle size reduction, particle size analysis, mechanisms of mixing, powder flow, granulation, drying, tableting & capsulation. In addition the course includes packaging materials used in pharmacy. The aims of the course are to develop the necessary professional skills in the student for carrying out various unit operations and processes involved in the manufacture of dosage forms. This knowledge helps the students to apply the technical skills in various production processes in pharmaceutical product manufacturing. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture and practical sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 3 + Practical 2 = 5

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Industrial Pharmacy
This course comprises the design of pharmaceutical plants as well as the design & operation of clean rooms with special emphasis on quality assurance & good manufacturing practice guidelines. The course also covers theoretical background & practical demonstration of different manufacturing unit processes like: heat transfer, filtration, particle size reduction, particle size analysis, mechanisms of mixing, powder flow, granulation, drying, tableting & capsulation. In addition the course includes packaging materials used in pharmacy. The aims of the course are to develop the necessary professional skills in the student for carrying out various unit operations and processes involved in the manufacture of dosage forms. This knowledge helps the students to apply the technical skills in various production processes in pharmaceutical product manufacturing. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture and practical sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 2 + Practical 0 = 2

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 1 & 2 or equivalent
The objective of this course is to familiarize the students with the application of pharmaceutical biotechnology in the biomedical world. This course focusses on the pharmaceutical product development and formulation of biotechnology-derived drug products in the pharmaceutical sciences to enable the students understand the role of pharmaceutical sciences in the field of biotechnology. Biological products development process of different types of these products will be highlighted. The course also introduces the students to the buccal delivery systems for peptides and protein, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and other immunological products. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 2 + Practical 0 = 2

Course Description:
Prerequisites: Biostatistics and research methodology or equivalent
The Course is designed to train the students to develop an understanding of the principles of research methodology and to identify a problem and carry out the work according to a well-designed framework. The course will help the students to methodically obtain the results of the research and then critically analyze them for a meaningful conclusion leading to their application for a betterment of quality services in the health science practice. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, self-directed learning (small group sessions, assignments, problem based learning, seminar and course examinations).

No. of Credits:Theory 2 + Practical 0 = 2


Year 2

Semester 3 & 4

Course Description:
Prerequisites: All the courses of previous semesters
The dissertation is aimed to train a MS student in research methods and techniques under the guidance of a recognized guide. Student will be trained in literature review, design of research study, data collection, critical analysis, comparison of results, drawing conclusions and making recommendations. The student will have to present two research seminars related to the dissertation topic and progress. The research seminar related to the dissertation work and progress reports given by the students will help in problem solving, team work and leadership qualities. A total of 12 credits is assigned in 3rd and 4th semesters for different areas of dissertation work mentioned. The dissertation submitted will be evaluated by the recognized examiners appointed by the university.

Goals of the MS program research work are to:

  1. Provide advanced training in Pharmaceutical sciences based research work
  2. Offer an opportunity for candidates to advance their knowledge in specific areas of pharmaceutical sciences through research.
  3. Prepare individuals for research and teaching positions needing a strong background in the pharmaceutical sciences.
  4. Develop individuals with the research skills needed to carryout basic and applied studies in pharmaceutical sciences/pharmacy practice.
  5. Prepare graduates to function as independent scholars, who are capable of contributing to the body of knowledge in their areas of specialization through original research.
  6. Address the pharmaceutical and healthcare needs of U.A.E.

No. of Credits:6 + 6 = 12