PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

The Doctor of Philosophy Programme Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Innsbruck is a full-time doctorate of 180 ECTS credits over six semesters. It is taught in German and English, so the programme is partly taught in English and you should check which parts. The degree awarded is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

What you study

The programme trains junior scientists in pharmaceutical sciences. The curriculum focuses on current processes of developing and characterising pharmaceutical ingredients and their therapeutic application, their effects on important physiological and pathophysiological processes in mammals and other model organisms, and the identification of new disease-relevant signalling processes and modern methods of developing drugs. The dissertation topic must come from pharmaceutical sciences or be closely related to these fields. You can submit the dissertation as thematically or methodically related articles, following the quality criteria in the curriculum.

How the programme is organised

You complete 30 ECTS credits of compulsory modules and 150 ECTS credits for the dissertation. The modules are Scientific Core Skills (6 ECTS), Analysis and Critical Exploitation of Own Research Results (6 ECTS), Diskussion of Current Research Results (6 ECTS), Presentation of Own Research Results (2 ECTS), Generic Scientific Skills (5 ECTS) and the Doctoral Thesis Defense (5 ECTS). You nominate a team of at least two supervisors, the dissertation committee. One is the responsible main supervisor, who holds a Venia docendi. Supervisors other than the main supervisor can come from subject-related fields. In exceptional cases only one supervisor can be nominated. Before you start, you communicate the dissertation topic and the names of the supervisors in writing to the Director of Studies. Topic and supervisors are accepted if the Director of Studies does not veto them within one month of receiving the proposal.

Who it suits

This doctorate suits graduates who want to work independently on scientific questions in pharmaceutical sciences at a high level of subject-specific and methodical expertise. You should be ready to critically discuss, analyse and further develop theories, and to develop and conduct substantial research projects with scientific integrity. The programme also expects awareness of issues and questions in gender research. Graduates are qualified junior academics who can present natural science issues independently and have the broad scientific and communicative competences required for leading positions in academic, industrial or public environments.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a relevant diploma or master's degree or an equivalent qualification, plus language certificates. Relevant degrees at the University of Innsbruck include the Diploma Programme Pharmacy, the Master's Programme Chemistry, the Master's Programme Materials and Nanosciences, the Master's Programme Pharmaceutical Sciences - Drug Development and Regulatory Affairs, the Diploma Programme Chemistry and the Teacher Training Programme with Diploma Thesis in the subject Chemistry. If there are substantial subject-related differences, supplementary examinations may be prescribed, to be taken by the end of the second semester. The rectorate may decide which of these are prerequisites for examinations in the doctoral programme. The teaching language is German and English, so the programme is partly taught in English and you should check which parts. There is no central application portal: you apply online through the institution, and its programme page gives the application period. The Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy runs the programme. At a public university, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester.

The Doctoral Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Innsbruck serves to educate and train junior scientists in the pharmaceutical sciences, with special attention to current processes of developing and characterising pharmaceutical ingredients and their therapeutic application, their effects on important physiological und pathophysiological processes in mammals and other model organisms, and the identification of new disease-relevant signaling processes and modern methods of developing drugs.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Innsbruck. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.