Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)

Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) at Nobel College Kathmandu

The Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) at Nobel College is a three-year diploma-level pharmacy program offered at Nobel College in Sinamangal, Kathmandu. The program follows the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) Diploma in Pharmacy curriculum and has an intake of 40 seats.

The course prepares middle-level pharmacy professionals through basic sciences, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacotherapeutics, public health pharmacy, hospital and clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy practice, and professional fieldwork. The program uses a yearly system, with practical study built into the second and third years.

Course Highlights

Diploma in Pharmacy Course Overview

Diploma in Pharmacy is structured around the duties performed by pharmacy assistants in health institutions, community settings, and pharmaceutical-related workplaces. Its academic aim is to develop knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes connected with pharmacy services, medicine preparation, pharmaceutical supply, and medicine quality.

Students study how medicines are prepared, handled, dispensed, and used while building knowledge of their effects and therapeutic applications. The course also covers prescription interpretation, patient communication, pharmaceutical management, public health pharmacy, and legal aspects of pharmacy practice.

The CTEVT curriculum is organized so that the first year concentrates on academic and basic science subjects. Pharmacy-specific disciplinary courses become the main focus in the second year, while the third year combines advanced pharmacy subjects with workplace-based practice.

Eligibility for Diploma in Pharmacy

Applicants need to have passed the School Education Examination (SEE), School Leaving Certificate (SLC), or an equivalent qualification.

For the SEE route, the academic requirement includes:

• Minimum GPA of 2.0

• At least C grade in Compulsory English

• At least C grade in Mathematics

• At least C grade in Science

Entry may also follow provisions contained in the applicable CTEVT admission guidelines.

Admission and Selection

Applicants are required to submit their SEE/SLC pass certificates and a citizenship or birth registration certificate.

Candidates must pass the entrance examination administered by CTEVT. Applicants meeting the entry qualifications and admission criteria are selected on the basis of the merit list.

Nobel College has 40 seats for Diploma in Pharmacy.

Course Duration and Academic Structure

The Diploma in Pharmacy runs for three years under a yearly system. One academic year consists of 35 academic weeks or 210 working days, with 40 study hours in an academic week excluding examination periods.

Students are required to maintain at least 90 percent attendance in each subject to appear in the respective final examination.

Diploma in Pharmacy Curriculum

First Year

The first year establishes the general science and academic foundation needed for pharmacy study.

Subjects include:

• English

• Nepali

• Social Studies

• Anatomy and Physiology

• Physics

• Chemistry

• Zoology

• Botany

• Mathematics and Statistics

The first-year curriculum carries 36 credit hours and includes practical components in Anatomy and Physiology, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, and Mathematics and Statistics.

Second Year

Pharmacy-specific study becomes central in the second year.

Practical work accompanies Pharmaceutics I, Pharmacology I, Pharmaceutical Chemistry I, Pharmacognosy, Biochemistry and Microbiology, and Public Health Pharmacy. The second year carries 34 credit hours.

Third Year

The third year advances into clinical, community, legal, therapeutic, and professional pharmacy practice.

Subjects include:

• Pharmaceutics II

• Pharmacology II

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry II

• Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy

• Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence and Community Pharmacy Practice

• Pharmacotherapeutics II

• Comprehensive Field Practice

Practical courses accompany several of these subjects. Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence and Community Pharmacy Practice also introduces legal and ethical aspects of pharmacy practice, including drug-related legislation, regulations, professional codes, and the Nepal Pharmacy Council Act and Regulations.

Comprehensive Field Practice

Professional field practice is a defined part of the third year. Students complete eight weeks of workplace learning at 40 hours per week, representing 320 hours of field exposure.

The placement structure consists of:

• Four weeks of Hospital Pharmacy Practice

• Four weeks involving a health facility, community pharmacy, pharmaceutical industry, or regulatory setting

The field practice is designed around applying pharmacy knowledge in practical settings. Activities include prescription reading and interpretation, dispensing, patient communication, medicine distribution, observation of medicine use, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, quality assurance, and regulatory-related functions.

Assessment and Completion

The program uses internal assessment and final examination components. Students must obtain at least 40 percent in theory and 50 percent in practical subjects and must pass both the required internal and yearly final assessments.

Students who successfully complete all components of all subjects across the three years are awarded the Diploma in Pharmacy.

Skills Students May Develop

The curriculum can help students develop practical abilities related to:

• Reading and interpreting prescriptions

• Dispensing medicines

• Communicating with patients about medicine use

• Pharmaceutical preparation

• Medicine storage and supply

• Pharmaceutical quality-related work

• Hospital and community pharmacy practice

• Public health pharmacy

• Pharmaceutical management

• Pharmacy-related legal and ethical practices

The extent of these abilities depends on academic performance, practical training, field experience, and professional development after completing the program.

Pharmacy Learning Environment at Nobel College

Diploma in Pharmacy students study within Nobel College's health-science environment. The college has a pharmacy laboratory as well as science laboratories, a library and study center, and a computer center.

Other student services include transportation on designated routes, female hostel accommodation, counseling, mentoring, career guidance, sports, and extracurricular activities.

Scholarship categories at Nobel College include Merit Scholarship, Need-based Scholarship, Sports Scholarship, Minority Scholarship, and Women Scholarship.

Career Direction

The program is designed to prepare middle-level pharmacy professionals for functions associated with pharmacy assistants. The curriculum covers hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medicine quality, dispensing, patient communication, and pharmaceutical management.

Graduates may consider pharmacy-related work in public or private health institutions, hospital and community settings, and pharmaceutical workplaces, subject to the applicable professional requirements and available positions.

Students can also refer to the Nepal Pharmacy Council for the professional regulatory context related to pharmacy in Nepal.

Who May Consider Diploma in Pharmacy?

The course may suit students who have completed SEE or an equivalent level and want to continue into pharmacy-focused technical education.

Students should be prepared for science subjects, pharmaceutical calculations and concepts, laboratory work, medicine-related study, practical assessment, communication with patients, and structured workplace practice.

FAQ

How many Diploma in Pharmacy seats are available at Nobel College?

Nobel College has 40 seats for Diploma in Pharmacy.

How long is Diploma in Pharmacy?

The program runs for three years under a yearly academic system.

Which curriculum does Nobel College follow for Diploma in Pharmacy?

The program follows the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) Diploma in Pharmacy curriculum.

What is the eligibility for Diploma in Pharmacy?

Applicants need SEE, SLC, or an equivalent qualification. For SEE, the stated requirement includes a minimum GPA of 2.0 and C grade in Compulsory English, Mathematics, and Science.

Is an entrance examination required?

Yes. Applicants must pass the entrance examination administered by CTEVT, and selection is based on merit among candidates meeting the entry requirements.

What subjects are studied in Diploma in Pharmacy?

The curriculum includes basic sciences followed by Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacotherapeutics, Pharmaceutical Management, Public Health Pharmacy, Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy, and Community Pharmacy Practice.

Does Diploma in Pharmacy include field practice?

Yes. The third year includes eight weeks of comprehensive field practice covering hospital pharmacy and other pharmacy-related workplace settings.