Courses, Credits, Performance Assessments
First Semester
Core Courses I
In the Core Courses of the first semester students deepen their knowledge in pharmaceutical sciences and gain first insight into the pharmaceutical drug development process.
All courses must be attended. Compensation is only possible after the performance assessment has been failed twice.
Total credits needed: 13
Minimal credits from category Core Courses I: 10
Maximal credits for compensation: 3
Courses for compensation: Electives I and II
Electives I: Elective Courses and Crash Courses
The Elective Courses of the 1st semester give students the opportunity to acquire specific knowledge and skills in various fields of pharmaceutical research, development and drug application.
Students with BSc degrees from other study fields or from other universities may be obliged to take specific Crash Courses (additional compulsory courses) instead of elective courses. These Crash Courses cover defined subject areas from the ETH BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences curriculum.
Students wishing to attend the "Drug Seminar" as part of their Elective Courses should consult the respective information on the website of the MSc in Pharmacy.
Total credits needed: 7
Practical Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
The 1st semester also includes a compulsory course Practical Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences (7 weeks), which is conducted in a lab at ETH. The aim of the course is to deepen the students’ theoretical and experimental knowledge in a specific field and to foster scientific working skills. The course is accompanied by a compulsory Scientific Writing course, to strengthen the student's writing and presentation skills. For details please consult the respective Guidelines on Practical Methods in Pharm. Sciences, Research Project and Master's Thesis.
Total credits needed: 8
Second Semester
In contrast to most courses of the first semester, which are taught on a weekly basis, courses of the second semester are taught as block courses (modules). The timetable of these courses is published under Documents.
Core Courses II
The aim of the compulsory modules, which are offered in the first half of the second semester, is to convey general skills necessary for work in different areas of pharmaceutical practice (i.e. academia and industry). Moreover, students will acquire in-depth insight and knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry.
All courses must be attended. Compensation is only possible after the performance assessment has been failed twice.
Total credits needed: 15
Minimal credits from category Core Courses II: 12
Maximal credits for compensation: 3
Courses for compensation: Electives I and II
Electives II: Elective Modules, Consolidation Work, Internship, Research Project
The electives of the second semester allow students to set the focus of their studies either more on theory or more on practical experience. This means that students can choose between
- elective modules and a consolidation work
- elective modules and an internship in the pharmaceutical industry
- a research project (and elective modules if desired)
Total credits needed: 15
Third Semester
Master's Thesis
Total credits needed: 30
Most students decide to perform their Master's thesis with one of the research groups of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences or with other research groups at ETH. However, it is possible to perform the thesis at another research institution or in industry. Typically, a professor of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences is the official supervisor and evaluator of the Master's thesis. For details please consult the respective Guidelines for Practical Methods in Pharm. Sciences, Research Projects and Master's Thesis.
Science in Perspective
Total credits needed: 2
Courses in the autumn semester
Courses in the spring semester
(Search in Course Catalogue under "Programme" for "Science in Perspective".)