The D.Pharm syllabus prescribed by PCI and followed at RGUHS-affiliated colleges covers 2 years of theory and practical training — six subjects per year — followed by 3 months of supervised hospital training before you are eligible for registration.
D.Pharm Programme Overview
The Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) is a two-year programme regulated by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and offered at institutions affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Karnataka. At Vidya Siri College of Pharmacy, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, the full programme — including 3 months of mandatory hospital training — costs a flat Rs 80,000 for the entire two years, with 60 seats available per year.
Admission is merit-based on 12th-standard PCB or PCM marks. There is no NEET, no KCET, and no entrance examination. The minimum eligibility is 45% aggregate for general category students and 40% for SC/ST candidates. To learn more about joining requirements, visit our D.Pharm admission page.
Programme Structure at a Glance
| Component | Duration |
|---|---|
| D.Pharm Year 1 | 12 months (theory + practicals) |
| D.Pharm Year 2 | 12 months (theory + practicals) |
| Supervised Hospital / Community Training | 3 months (mandatory, post Year 2) |
| Total Duration | 2 years + 3 months |
On successful completion and PCI registration, graduates may work as pharmacists in retail pharmacies, hospitals, manufacturing units, or use the diploma as a bridge to lateral entry into B.Pharm Year 2. For more details on career pathways, see our page on career options after D.Pharm.
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D.Pharm Year 1 — Subjects, Theory & Practical Hours
The first year of the d.pharm syllabus lays the scientific foundation of pharmacy practice. Students are introduced to drug formulation, chemistry, plant-based medicines, human physiology, and community health. All six subjects carry both theory and practical components, and internal assessments are conducted throughout the academic year.
| Subject | Theory Hours | Practical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutics I | 75 | 75 |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry I | 75 | 75 |
| Pharmacognosy | 75 | 75 |
| Biochemistry & Clinical Pathology | 50 | 75 |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology | 75 | 50 |
| Health Education & Community Pharmacy | 50 | — |
What You Study in Year 1
- Pharmaceutics I: Introduction to pharmaceutical dosage forms — tablets, capsules, solutions, suspensions, emulsions; dispensing techniques; packaging and labelling standards.
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry I: Inorganic and organic chemistry applied to drugs; identification, assay, and quality tests for official pharmaceutical substances; concepts of drug purity and stability.
- Pharmacognosy: Study of crude drugs derived from plant, animal, and mineral sources; extraction, identification, adulteration, and evaluation of herbal drugs; introduction to standardisation.
- Biochemistry & Clinical Pathology: Carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and enzyme metabolism; clinical interpretation of blood and urine tests; role of the pharmacist in clinical pathology settings.
- Human Anatomy & Physiology: Structure and function of body systems — musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems; relevance to drug action and patient counselling.
- Health Education & Community Pharmacy: Public health concepts, nutrition, first aid, disease prevention; the pharmacist’s role in the community setting and patient education.
D.Pharm Year 2 — Subjects, Theory & Practical Hours
The second year builds on Year 1 science and moves toward applied pharmacy practice. Students develop competence in pharmacology, drug law, hospital dispensing, and pharmacy business management — skills needed from the first day of professional practice.
| Subject | Theory Hours | Practical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutics II | 75 | 75 |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry II | 75 | 75 |
| Pharmacology & Toxicology | 75 | 50 |
| Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence | 50 | — |
| Drug Store & Business Management | 50 | 50 |
| Hospital & Clinical Pharmacy | 75 | 50 |
What You Study in Year 2
- Pharmaceutics II: Advanced dosage form technology — sterile preparations, parenteral products, ophthalmic formulations; pharmaceutical manufacturing principles; quality control in production.
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry II: Organic medicinal compounds; synthesis and properties of antibiotics, sulfonamides, analgesics, and cardiovascular agents; drug stability and storage.
- Pharmacology & Toxicology: Mechanisms of drug action across body systems; drug interactions; adverse effects; principles of toxicology and management of poisoning — a critical subject for patient safety.
- Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence: Pharmacy Act 1948, Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940, Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act; schedule classification; licensing; ethical practice.
- Drug Store & Business Management: Inventory control, procurement, store management, accounting basics, GST fundamentals for pharmacies; running a compliant retail drug outlet.
- Hospital & Clinical Pharmacy: Role of the hospital pharmacist; drug distribution systems; patient counselling; clinical drug monitoring; medication errors prevention; formulary management.
Study the full D.Pharm syllabus at VSCP — PCI approved, RGUHS affiliated, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
Hospital Training — Mandatory 3-Month Internship
After completing both years of the D.Pharm curriculum, students must undergo three months of supervised hospital or community pharmacy training as mandated by PCI before they are eligible to appear for the RGUHS final practical examination and apply for pharmacist registration.
What Students Do During Hospital Training
- Inpatient dispensing: Receiving and verifying prescriptions, picking and checking doses against medication orders, maintaining controlled-substance records.
- Patient counselling: Explaining dosage instructions, storage requirements, side effects to watch for, and when to return to the physician.
- Drug inventory management: Understanding procurement cycles, expiry date monitoring, cold-chain management, and stock reconciliation.
- Ward rounds participation: Accompanying clinical teams to observe drug therapy decisions, adverse drug reactions, and drug-disease interactions in real patients.
- Compounding and sterile preparation: Observing or assisting in IV admixture preparation under aseptic conditions in hospitals with in-house compounding.
- Documentation and reporting: Maintaining daily logs, patient interaction records, and training diaries as required by RGUHS and PCI guidelines.
VSCP coordinates placement for hospital training at recognized hospitals and community pharmacies in and around Bangalore. The college maintains records of all training placements and supervises progress through periodic reviews. For queries about the training schedule, contact us at +91 98095 65758.
Lab Facilities at VSCP — 16 Laboratories
Practical training is a large component of the d.pharm syllabus, and VSCP supports this with 16 well-equipped laboratories on campus at Sarjapur Road, Bangalore. Each lab is set up to match the specific practical requirements of the PCI-prescribed curriculum and is maintained to the standards expected by RGUHS inspection teams.
Key Laboratories Available
- Pharmaceutics Lab
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Lab
- Pharmacognosy Lab
- Biochemistry & Clinical Pathology Lab
- Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
- Pharmacology Lab
- Microbiology & Biotechnology Lab
- Drug Store Management & Practice Lab
- Hospital Pharmacy Simulation Lab
- Instrumental Analysis Lab
- Computer Lab
- Central Research Instrumentation Lab
The labs are staffed by our team of 25+ faculty members, including PhD holders and M.Pharm graduates, who guide students through each practical exercise and ensure alignment with the RGUHS examination pattern. In the RGUHS April/May 2026 examination, VSCP students achieved a pass rate of 91.16% — a result that reflects consistent practical preparation throughout the academic year.
For a closer look at our infrastructure and PCI compliance status, visit the PCI approved pharmacy college page or our RGUHS affiliation page.
Have questions about fees, seats, or the syllabus? Our team is available to help.
Frequently Asked Questions — D.Pharm Syllabus RGUHS
What is the D.Pharm syllabus prescribed by PCI and RGUHS?
The D.Pharm syllabus is prescribed by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and implemented by RGUHS for Karnataka-affiliated colleges. It spans two academic years plus 3 months of hospital training. Year 1 covers Pharmaceutics I, Pharmaceutical Chemistry I, Pharmacognosy, Biochemistry & Clinical Pathology, Human Anatomy & Physiology, and Health Education & Community Pharmacy. Year 2 covers Pharmaceutics II, Pharmaceutical Chemistry II, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence, Drug Store & Business Management, and Hospital & Clinical Pharmacy.
How many subjects are there in D.Pharm Year 1 and Year 2?
There are six subjects in each year. Year 1 has six subjects (including five with practical components) and Year 2 also has six subjects (four of which have practical components). Every subject has internal assessments in addition to the RGUHS university examination at the end of the academic year.
Is hospital training compulsory for D.Pharm?
Yes. The Pharmacy Act 1948 and PCI regulations make 3 months of supervised hospital or community pharmacy training mandatory after completing both years of the D.Pharm programme. Students cannot appear for the final RGUHS practical examination or apply for pharmacist registration without completing this training period and submitting the required training diary.
What is the total duration of D.Pharm including hospital training?
The total duration is 2 years of academic study (Year 1 and Year 2) plus 3 months of mandatory supervised hospital or community pharmacy training — making it approximately 27 months in total before you can apply for PCI registration as a pharmacist.
What are the D.Pharm fees at VSCP Bangalore?
The D.Pharm fees at Vidya Siri College of Pharmacy are Rs 80,000 for the complete two-year programme. This is the total fee, not per year. For a detailed fee breakdown and payment schedule, visit our D.Pharm fees page or call us at +91 98095 65758.
Can D.Pharm graduates join B.Pharm directly in Year 2?
Yes. D.Pharm graduates are eligible for lateral entry into B.Pharm Year 2 at RGUHS-affiliated colleges. This means you can upgrade your qualification to a full bachelor’s degree without repeating Year 1 subjects. VSCP offers both D.Pharm and B.Pharm, making it convenient for students who wish to continue their education on the same campus. For admission details see our B.Pharm admission page.
