Studying abroad
Pharmacy abroad: studies, training and work in a pharmacy or industry
A pharmacy degree abroad opens the way to work in pharmacies, hospitals, industry and research. We help you check whether the diploma will let you work in your chosen country.
- 5 yearsminimum training under the EU directive
- 300 ECTStypical size of a pharmacy programme
- 6 monthstraining in a pharmacy or hospital
What the studies look like
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1
Admission
Chemistry and biology results usually count, and some universities also hold an entrance exam.
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2
Basic sciences
Chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology: the foundation the rest of the programme builds on.
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3
Technology and pharmacology
Making and quality-testing medicines and how they work, with laboratory classes.
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4
Training and diploma
Professional training in a pharmacy or hospital, then a master’s diploma in pharmacy.
Where do you want to work after your studies?
- 1A diploma that meets Directive 2005/36/EC is recognised automatically in every EU and EEA country.
- 2You apply for the licence to practise to the authority or chamber of the country where you want to work.
- 3You usually also need to show the level of the local language required for the job.
- 1A non-EU diploma is not recognised automatically: each country runs its own procedure, such as nostrification or a verification exam.
- 2In Poland, for example, it is nostrification or the LEW or LDEW exam, followed by the internship, the LEK or LDEK and the licence to practise.
- 3It is a longer road, so it is worth knowing it before choosing a university.
- 1Every country has its own rules and exams, such as the USMLE in the USA, DHA in Dubai or KROK in Ukraine.
- 2Before you choose a university, we check that its diploma is recognised where you want to work.
- 3On MedMigrant you can prepare for licensing exams, and in our Guides we describe the route to working in different countries.
Check whether you are ready
Frequently asked questions
Is a foreign pharmacy diploma recognised in other countries?
An EU diploma that meets the directive is recognised automatically across the EU. In other cases the recognition procedure of the given country decides.
Are shorter degrees after a transfer also recognised?
Yes, as long as the whole programme meets the directive’s requirements for training and placement (at least 5 years, including 6 months in a pharmacy or hospital). What counts is the programme you complete, not the years at one university. Before a transfer we check how many credits will be recognised.
Is professional training mandatory?
Yes, the EU directive requires at least 6 months of training in a pharmacy or hospital, and universities often require more.
Can I work outside a pharmacy after studying pharmacy?
Yes: in a hospital, the pharmaceutical industry, quality control, drug registration or research.
Other fields
Let’s talk about your studies
Tell us which degree interests you, where you would like to study and when you finish school. We will reply with where to start.
MedMigrant is not a university or a university representative. Admission is decided solely by the university, and diploma recognition and the licence to practise by the relevant authorities and professional bodies. Admission rules change, so we always check them on the university’s website before you apply.