How To Study Pharmacy In Foreign Institutions From Nigeria

Study Pharmacy Abroad

There are so many ways to gain admission into pharmacy school in Nigeria. However, they do not guarantee admission because the number of the students seeking admission into the schools of pharmacy is high and the number of students approves to admit each year by these schools is low. This is one of the main reason admission into pharmacy is considered one of the toughest in Nigeria. This is the reason some parents consider sending their wards to foreign schools.
To study in a foreign school of pharmacy, parents, guardians, or students must consider so many factors. They are more expensive. The academic requirements are not lighter. The number of years spent is not shorter. However, the advantage is that foreign schools are not disturbed with the constant strikes from different union body in Nigeria’s higher institutions of study. And bad still, some employers prefer foreign trained students to Nigerian graduates. One can still add that it is a little bit easy to study in a foreign country than Nigeria from stories.
There are generally two methods to study pharmacy in around the world (there are slight differences). One is being practised in Nigeria and some other countries like India. This method has been thoroughly discussed in this blog in time past. It generally involves using an O’ level result into 100 level. In other cases, using another degree to gain admission into 200 level using JAMB direct entry. The school is for a period of 5 years for B. Pharm. or 6 years for Pharm. D. after which the student goes for six months to one-year internship before getting registered by the country’s pharmacy regulatory body.
The other method is quite different although the students will be granted either B.pharm. or Pharm. D. depending on what the school have been licenced to award. Just like in Nigeria, different schools in the same country may have either of the two.
It is not every school out there that accept international students. For those that do, they most time give just one slot for an international student while the other will be for students from that country. Therefore, in a year that has more than one international student, one will be sent away.

Requirements To Study Abroad

To study pharmacy, secondary school students (high school) must have an O’ level result. In some other countries, they prefer A’ level from recognised bodies such as Cambridge. The Cambridge result must be those related to pharmacy such as sciences course. In addition, students need to be from a language that is compatible with the one to be used in the school. If not, such a student must learn the language for a period as indicated by the school with an examination to confirm they have learnt all they need to know about the language for a smooth academic programme. Some examinations include Graduate Management Admissions Test (G.M.A.T),  International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Scholarstic Aptitude Test (S.A.T), Graduate Record Examination (G.R.E) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (T.O.E.F.L). Different universities have the type they want or prefer.

Read Also: How To Become A Pharmacist In Nigeria

However, there is no direct entry (the use of the word direct entry here means gaining admission into a university straight from secondary school which is different from the meaning here in Nigeria) into the pharmacy programme. Students go through the first-degree programme of about two years. This is known as Foundation courses whereby the student will gain entry into pharmacy using lateral entry (lateral entry here means gaining admission to study pharmacy with another degree which is same with direct entry in Nigeria). The Cumulative Grade Point Average (C.G.P.A) after the completion of the program is the next requirements to use into the pharmacy school.
After graduating from the foundation programme, students are expected to apply to the pharmacy school of choice. Just like in direct entry in Nigeria, a student can apply for another university or that same university offering pharmacy. Most of the programme last for a period of 4 years. That is after the initial two years foundation courses.
Admission into pharmacy from the foundation course can be based on academic qualification and an examination or interview as decided by the school authority. In most case, the academic qualification is about 60 % while the other option is 40 %.
For pharmacy students here in Nigeria who wants to relocate to study abroad, some schools accept such transfer. In such a case, the student will be admitted into the third year of the programme irrespective of the level of study that student is coming from. The student must provide some documents/credentials such as a transcript. Most schools require that the students' present year academic performance must be very strong.

Read Also: Courses Under Faculty Of Pharmacy School In Nigeria

After graduating, students can go for an optional internship programme. For those who do not, the job prospect in these foreign countries is low. However, if you want to come back to the country to practice it is compulsory to do it there or come home and do it.
To practice in some foreign countries, a pharmacist from Nigeria must first write their foreign graduate examination together with state and federal government licencing examination.

Study In United States of America (USA)

So to become a pharmacist in the US, you have to pass the Foreign Pharmacist Exam (FPGEE) and then you'll be required to write the State Board Exams.

Each State in the US has their own State board exams so you will have to select the State where you wish to practice and write their exam. However, the State Board exams is conducted by the same body....NABP. And the exam comprises NAPLEX and MPJE. NAPLEX is clinically oriented while MPJE is pharmacy law oriented.

Once you pass the State Board Exams, you can then do your internship. You are required to intern for 1500 hrs before you can get your license. Note that some States require that you intern first before writing the State Board Exams while others require that you intern after passing the exams. So it varies.

To write FPGEE, you need to pass TOEFL and also to get the required documentations. The pass mark for TOEFL is very high (you must get a score of 22 in Reading, 21 in Listening, 26 in Speaking and 24 in Writing) and TOEFL must be written in the US. The other documentations required are your transcript, your B Pharm or Pharm D certificate, your Nigerian PCN license, and letters from both your school and PCN confirming that you are a Pharmacist. You don't need to have any work permit or greencard to write the FPGEE Exam. You don't need to habe social security number.

For NAPLEX and MPJE however, you must have your social security number before you can write those. And to get your socials, you must either be a student in the US or have your work permit or a green card.

Getting internship hours in the US is also very difficult....especially if you want to be paid while working as an intern. The best route to go is to first work as a cashier in hospitals or pharmacies and then you can grow and develop good relationship with the management. You can even grow to become an Pharm Tech while working with them. So once you've passed your Board Exam, you can then ask that they convert you to become an intern.

Conversion Program For B. Pharm. Holders

B. Pharm holders in Nigeria can convert their degree to Pharm. D. in some foreign institutions. It could be either part time or full time. The years only vary. Full time in most cases is 12 months while part time is for a period of two years or three. The requirements are simply the evidence of registration and licence from Nigeria.

Application To Study Abroad

Before applying for any university outside this country, better do proper research on eligibility, cost and availability of foreign study scholarships programme. Consider the country and other factors very well.