Pharmacy
A pharmacist is a specialist in drug varieties – and has in-depth knowledge of drugs. A pharmacist is involved in drug development, distribution, standardisation, supervision and evaluation, as well as pharmaceutical services.
This programme is also offered in Latvian.
Programme Fact File
Health Care
accredited until
Pharmacist's degree
The study programme aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of medicine and human health, preparing qualified and considerate professionals with a can-do attitude towards their work. After graduation of the study programme Pharmacy the students will have acquired skills and knowledge about:
- types of drugs, drug manufacturing, analysis and determination methods
- effects, metabolism, side effects, rational and safe use of drugs
- research of drugs, preparation principles and methods in pharmacies and drug manufacturing companies, turnover of medicinal products
- pharmaceutical care, the connection between pharmacy and other fields of healthcare, teamwork with other health care specialists
- planning and implementation of scientific research in the field of pharmacy.
Study environment and methods
Study environment
- 1st study year
Cytology and genetics provide basic anatomic knowledge on the structure and form of cells and living organisms. Plant and animal biology is taught to recognise and classify plants and to highlight the importance of plant and animal products in medicine. The inorganic and organic chemistry classes as well as qualitative analysis are devoted to laboratory work where students acquire knowledge on the basic principles of chemistry and chemical processes, study the chemical structure and related properties of drug substances and acquire knowledge on the production of drug substances, methods for analysing and determining drug efficacy. Students pay visits to local pharmaceutical plants, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and during placement undertake various tasks in a pharmacy, gaining their first experience of working in a pharmacy.
- 2nd study year
In the second study year pharmacy students acquire physiology - the functions and processes of a living organism, pharmacognosy – the study of medical plants and biologically active substances; and microbiology – the study of microorganisms and illnesses caused by them.
- 3rd study year
The third study year is devoted to pharmaceutical subjects where students acquire knowledge on the efficiency, side effects, rational and safe use of drugs. Students also acquire the skills for preparing medications in a pharmacy.
- 4th study year
Students acquire such study subjects as: practical pharmacy, legal aspects of pharmaceutics which deal with the principles of pharmaceutical care and practical organisation of drug turnover in pharmacies and drug production companies; in social pharmacy and pharmaceutical care classes students acquire necessary skills for consulting a patient and study industrial drug production.
- 5th study year
The knowledge, skills and competences acquired in the previous study years are put into practice during six months of placement and writing a thesis. Upon successful presentation and defence of the thesis and passing of the state examinations, the student is awarded the degree of a Pharmacist.
Study methods
- lectures
- seminars
- practical classses
- laboratory work
During studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy students have to carry out a large amount of laboratory work in groups and individually. Chemistry courses are devoted to synthesis analysis. In plant and animal biology, cytology, genetics and microbiology courses students use microscopes. When studying the technologies of drug preparation, students have to prepare drugs of various forms – capsules, pills, creams, ointments, and solutions. The study course Social pharmacy and legal aspects of pharmaceutics emulates real-life situations in pharmacy. The acquired skills in consulting clients are tested by the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
- Syllabus
Description of the Pharmacy study programme
Description of the Health Care study direction
Admissions requirements
Study bases
- RSU main building, 16 Dzirciema iela
- Medical Education Technology Centre, 26a Anniņmuižas bulvāris
- Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, 9 Kronvalda bulvāris
- Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital
- Riga East Clinical University Hospital
Career opportunities following studies
The main work places for graduates are pharmacies, where pharmacists provide pharmaceutical care - counsel pharmacy customers, dispense prescription medications, prepare medication etc. Pharmacists also work in medical supermarkets and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, medical products agencies, laboratories, scientific research institutions. Our graduates work in state institutions - Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia, State Agency of Medicines of the Republic of Latvia, Health Inspectorate, The National Health Service - in the public service at various levels, as specialists, inspectors.
Graduates
Graduating from Riga Stradiņš University has helped be grow both profesionally, as well as an individual personality. I am proud to say that I have graduated from this university. I can't deny that the road to knowledge has not been the easiest, and no wonder there is an expression Per aspera ad astra (heading through thorns to reach the stars). Having completed my undergraduate studies in the Pharmacy study programme I decided to continue in the RSU Master's study programme Clinical Pharmacy as I know that I won't be disappointed with the knowledge transmitted by the teaching staff and the work completed with them.
Lāsma Mukāne, pharmacist at "Saules aptieka" Pty. Ltd.
Further studies
Studies may be continued in the following RSU Master's programmes (only Public Health, Health Management are offered in English):
Head of Programme
Head of Study Programme, Industrial Pharmacy
Head of Study Programme, Pharmacy (LV)
Head of the Department, Department of Dosage Form Technology
Academic Staff, Department of Dosage Form Technology
Working hours:
Mon 16:00–17:00Wed 15:00–17:00
Fri 15:00–15:30
rsu [pts] lv
