This in not an official U.S. Department of State (DOS) blog and the views and information presented are my own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the DOS.
These are some of the 3rd year students who are fulfilling their dreams of being pharmacists. They are dedicated to helping people and it has been a pleasure to work with them. Sam, Edel, KarenBeth, Hilda, and Linda
Although I’ve been here for the past month working on clinical skills curriculum for the pharmacy program, I’m not sure that I’ve told you much about the entire process to become a pharmacist in Uganda. The decision for a student to pursue pharmacy actually starts back in about the equivalent of 11th grade in the USA or at about 16-17 years old. Ok, let me back up a bit further and tell you about the entire school system. The formal school system starts with Primary school, although they do have an optional pre-primary program. Students are about 6 years old when they enter P1, which is like our 1st grade. Primary goes up through P7. At the end of the school year there are final exams that determine whether or not the students can progress to the next level. After P7, students enter Secondary school. These four years are called S1-S4 and are also called the Ordinary Level, or “O” Level for short. At the end of every year, students take their “O” level exams to progress to the next grade, but in order to progress from S4 to S5, they take a final “O” level exam that is scored by the Ugandan National Examinations Board (UNEB). If they pass with high enough marks, students are allowed to progress into S5. This starts the final 2 years of secondary school, which is also called Advanced Level or “A” Level. It is at this point that students have no compulsory subjects and have to choose whether to study Arts or Sciences. Within the discipline chosen, students will choose 3 specific courses. For example a student whose dream is to go into the medical field might choose Math, Biology and Chemistry.
At the very end of S6, which is actually the 13th year of school- one year beyond normal High School in the USA, students take their final “A” level exams, which are the qualifying exams for University. These are scored by the UNEB. To qualify for entry to Pharmacy school, students must achieve the highest scores. In fact, the scores to enter pharmacy school at Makerere are actually higher than the scores to enter Medical School.
Every year once the UNEB marks the Final A Level Exams, all of the schools are ranked and the names of the top student achievers are printed in the paper. The top score is 20.
Once a student qualifies for the pharmacy program, they also have to wait and see if they qualify for a government or private scholarship to school. University is very expensive and most students study with the help of full scholarships, which pay for tuition, room, board, and books. Very few students are self-pay. If students don’t get a scholarship to go to school in Uganda, there are many countries that offer scholarships for Ugandan students to go to school in places like China or Cuba. Can you imagine going to China for pharmacy school where you will be taught in CHINESE? This is exactly what a Ugandan faculty friend of mine did. Her scholarship included a year of language study prior to entry to pharmacy school and then she did her entire pharmacy program in Chinese.
The entry-level degree for pharmacists in Uganda is a Bachelors of Pharmacy (BPharm). It is a 4-year degree but after graduating, there is a mandatory 1-year Internship prior to being eligible for licensure. Immediately after graduating, a pre-licensure exam is taken and passing this allows a student to be placed in Internship. Internship occurs primarily in the hospital setting although some Interns are able to take a month or two of electives in Industry or the National Drug Authority. After finishing Internship, a licensure exam is taken. And finally, upon passing with high enough marks, the dream of becoming a Pharmacist is made reality.
Out of the Pharmacy Classroom and Into Africa 
Karen, wow, I can’t believe there is this much study and it is so rigid. I’ve noticed all along that the students and pharmacists there in the pics you have sent seem to be so healthy, good looking and have beautiful teeth. Is it the diet there, or the water, or are they just the cream of the crop? Judy H.
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thanks for the tour . All is true .
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These are adults who can take full care of them selves
It is so un common here to see someone of that age category with bad teeth.
Thanks
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Hi – that’s funny, most. Ugandans aren’t the least bit fat, that’s for sure. The students I’ve been working always look nice and dress up for classes. Some do wear jeans but many dress in business attire all the time. Regardless, they are kind, beautiful people
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HI nice blog i have get good information from reading this blog.
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Thanks for sharing great article on pharmaceutical research companies Resources, and hope from an experience on medicine really help full in future.
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Its a great blog.. How i feel pharmacy is a new revolutionary for health.
Would i know if you are a pharmacist?
Thanks
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wow i like the information on your blog…..looking for a scholarship to study there..have completed diploma in pharmacy here in kenya
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Hi Joseph, thanks for reading. I have had many, many Africans request scholarships to study in the USA but unfortunately I am not aware of any scholarships. Study without scholarships is incredibly expensive. I suggest you use you education to help the people of Kenya the best you can and if you are looking for more education, for example a Bachelors in Pharmacy, consider the Universities in Kenya, or perhaps Makerere in Uganda. Best of luck to you.
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Helo thanks 4 tha but what about diploma in pharmacy, and jobs that are done by pharmacists, am keith
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rili…. why University of Kenya? not Makerere?
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Hello can i be helped to get scholarship for further studies, i have a bachelors in science with education(biological)
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Hey am vaccist en my request is can I have an online learning from yo institution
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I’m sorry but we do not have online courses.
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Thanks for the good article about my dream
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Hi, can a Kenyan with a diploma in pharmacy qualify for a degree in pharmacy in Uganda,? Any credit transfers and how much is the fee.Thank you.
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if you have a diploma, you will have to do bachelor’s for 4yrs.
Tuition is 1,344,000 ugx per semester
Functional fee is 520,000ugx per year
That’s for Mbarara University pharmacy school
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Thanks for briefing, pharmacy is good though expensive to study.
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Is a diploma in pharmacy recognized?
Is there a national body responsible for examining diploma in pharmacy course?
What if it’s examined by the university what happens to that diploma?
Can a student be allowed to do bachelor in pharmacy after diploma?
Thanks
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it’s a long process but i hope more experience is achieved.
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i like the blog.
i have finished a diploma in clinical medicine and want a scholarship for bachelor o parmacy. any help or connection is highly welcome
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thanks for the information
God bless you in Jesus mighty name
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Good, Im 52years, is it possible for me to study pharmacy?
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Good, Im 52years, is it possible for me to study pharmacy?
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wooow.. the blog really has cute information, thanks a lot
Meanwhile am a vacationer and i have applied for a diploma in pharmacy, so after my diploma, will i still go for the 4 yrs course for bachelors in Pharmacy? or the years will slightly be reduced for me.
Thank you once again, and hoping for a reply.
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I earn my BSC.in microbiology and want to be pharmacologist. advice on this
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Thanks for the nice information.Ive been admitted for a diploma in pharmacy and my request is that you address to me the course units that i should expect to over in my 3 years course program.
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I do not have knowledge of the curriculum in the pharmacy diploma program. Sorry.
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Hello Kbohan
am David, a holder of pharmacy diploma obtained at Malawi College of health sciences,. a certain organisation has promised me to offer me a tuition scholarship so i have questions simmilar to the ones unanswered above
1). can i be accepted into a Bpharm program at Makerere?
2). if yes, how many years am i going to cover for the degree considering that i have a diploma already in the same field?
3). if yes to (1) what is the process like for an international student like me? (malawian)
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Hi David, Thanks for your inquiry. It is great that you hold apharmacy diploma—congratulations. I do know that Makerere University does accept foreign students but I am not in a position to know what the qualifications are. I believe you would still have to go for the full 4 years, even though you have the diploma, but you should contact Makerere School of Pharmacy to ask about it. I’m sure there is a contact email on their website for the Department of Pharmacy or maybe better to contact Admissions in general.
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why not Makerere University……?
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why not Makerere University……?
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still, im in need of as scholarship for a diploma in Pharmacy….. #JOSH
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I have B.pharma degree from India I’m foreigner how do i get licensure of pharmacist in Uganda
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can i join a degree in pharmacy with diploma in clinical medicine
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can i join a degree in pharmacy with a diploma in nursing
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Thanx for the update
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Hi
Am ziryawula paul from Uganda, amedical laboratory technician, it’s true education in Uganda is like that
p.1 to P.7 (primary leaving exams)
S.1 to S4 (Uganda certificate of education)
S.5 to S.6 ( Uganda Advanced certificate of education)
but medical courses at degree, Masters, are very expensive and paying for your self is very hard, my self I have adream of doing degree in pharmacy or laboratory or radiology or medicine,
either from makerere, mbarara University or Kampala international University but I find my self not able financially,
So if there is anyone willing to help me to purse my degree by just giving me sponsorship you are welcome,
My email
ziryawulapaul@gmail.com
What’s up + 256752442061
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What if I’m coming from a different country? I have a deploma in pharmacy technician in Cameroon and have been working for 5years now and besides, I have a bachelor degree in zoology/ medical laboratory technology. Can I be admitted into this university to study pharmacy?
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Hi Hilda, Thank you for your question. Makerere University does accept international students if you meet the requirements. See their website and apply if you have those criteria. Regards, KarenBeth
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Hello,my name is Mugisha Dan,i have also just finished s.6 and i would like to do bachelor of pharmacy either at makerere or Mbarara..
So if there is any scolarship,sponsorship or help,May God bless you🙏🙏🙏
My watsup number is +256788555922
Or email is mugishadan74@gmail.com
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Thank you for the information
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I am passionate of studying pharmacy in Uganda. Do you have scholarships for pharmacy students? What are the requirements for international students to study pharmacy?
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Hi Elijah, thanks for reading my blog. I do not think Makerere University has scholarships for international students but I do not know for sure. You would have to contact their admissions office. Here is a link to check out https://news.mak.ac.ug/2021/09/how-to-apply-online-at-mak/ regards, KarenBeth
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Can an enrolled midwife qualify to do degree in pharmacy
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Hello.What is(are) the essential subject(s) for one to qualify for Pharmacy? My girl did Biology Chemistry & Maths and got O,C,B.Can she be given Pharmacy?
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I have diploma in nursing with a credit and I need to become a pharmacist.How can I join on scholarship basis?
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Hi- I’m sorry but I can’t help you with that question. You will have to contact Makerere Pharmacy Department. Regards, KarenBeth
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What are the scholarship schemes in this course
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