Best Alternative Courses for B Pharmacy: Shiksha Poll Revealed
In a recent Shiksha poll, 34% of students voted for BSc Pharmaceutical Science as the best alternative to the B Pharmacy. The result shows that many candidates are still interested in the pharma industry but prefer a more research-focused and academic route.
Along with BSc Pharmaceutical Science, other popular alternatives included BSc Pharmacology, BPH, and BSc MLT. These courses offer a range of options for students interested in drug development, lab research, or technical roles in pharmaceutical companies.
While BPharm is a professional degree with a strong focus on industry practice and regulations, these alternatives open up career paths in scientific research, quality control, and healthcare labs.
If you're looking beyond B Pharmacy, explore these top alternatives covered in this article to find the right fit for your goals.
- B Pharmacy vs BSc Pharmacology
- B Pharmacy vs BPH
- B Pharmacy vs BSc MLT
- B Pharmacy vs BSc Nursing
- B Pharmacy vs BPT
- B Pharmacy vs BSc Biotechnology
- Shiksha Poll Analysis
B Pharmacy vs BSc Pharmacology
B Pharmacy is about making and selling medicines. BSc Pharmacology is about studying how medicines work inside the body.
Candidates can check the table below to check the comparison between the two:
| Particulars |
B Pharmacy Course Details |
BSc Pharmacology Course Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form |
Bachelor of Pharmacy |
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology |
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
| Duration |
3 years |
3 years |
| Fees |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 8 Lakh |
INR 9000 - INR 5 Lakh |
| Admission Criteria |
Merit-Based / Entrance-Based |
Merit-Based |
| Eligibility |
Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics subjects with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. |
10+2 (or equivalent) with a science background, including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics |
| Entrance Exam |
NEET, MHT CET, CUET, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, KCET, JEE Main, KEAM, etc. |
- |
| Best Colleges |
BITS Pilani, Madras Medical College, SRIHER, SOA University, etc. |
Saveetha University |
| Jobs |
Medical Writers, Clinical Researchers, Drug Inspectors, Medical Representatives, Pharmacy Business, etc. |
Research Scientists, Clinical Researchers, Toxicologists, and in quality control and assurance roles |
| Salary |
INR 4 LPA - INR 14 LPA |
INR 2.5 LPA - INR 6 LPA |
| Top Recruiters |
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Divis Laboratories Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Biocon Ltd., etc. |
Cipla, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Lupin, Pfizer, Novartis, and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as companies like Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Biocon |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
B Pharmacy vs BPH
B Pharmacy focuses on medicines and how they help treat diseases. BPH is about improving the health of communities and preventing illness.
Candidates can check the table below to check the comparison between the two:
| Particulars |
B Pharmacy Course Details |
BPH Course Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form |
Bachelor of Pharmacy |
Bachelor in Public Health |
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
| Duration |
4 years |
4 years |
| Fees |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 8 Lakh |
INR 66,000 - INR 7.5 Lakh |
| Admission Criteria |
Merit-Based / Entrance-Based |
Merit-Based |
| Eligibility |
Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics subjects with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. |
Class 12 in the Science stream with PCB (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) subjects. |
| Entrance Exam |
NEET, MHT CET, CUET, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, KCET, JEE Main, KEAM, etc. |
- |
| Best Colleges |
BITS Pilani, Madras Medical College, SRIHER, SOA University, etc. |
IUL, University of Lucknow, Sun Rise University, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Apex University, etc. |
| Jobs |
Medical Writers, Clinical Researchers, Drug Inspectors, Medical Representatives, Pharmacy Business, etc. |
Healthcare Consultants, Healthcare Managers, Public Health Researchers, Environmental Health Officers, etc. |
| Salary |
INR 4 LPA - INR 14 LPA |
INR 3.60 LPA - INR 12 LPA |
| Top Recruiters |
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Divis Laboratories Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Biocon Ltd., etc. |
Public Health Foundation of India, UNICEF, World Health Organisation, Population Services International, etc. |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
B Pharmacy vs BSc MLT
B Pharmacy deals with medicines and their uses. BSc MLT is about testing blood, urine, and other samples in labs to help doctors diagnose diseases.
Candidates can check the table below to check the comparison between the two:
| Particulars |
B Pharmacy Course Details |
BSc MLT Course Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form |
Bachelor of Pharmacy |
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology |
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
| Duration |
4 years |
3 years |
| Fees |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 8 Lakh |
INR 1,800 - INR 5 Lakh |
| Admission Criteria |
Merit-Based / Entrance-Based |
Merit-Based/Entrance-Based |
| Eligibility |
Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics subjects with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. |
Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics. |
| Entrance Exam |
NEET, MHT CET, CUET, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, KCET, JEE Main, KEAM, etc. |
CUET |
| Best Colleges |
BITS Pilani, Madras Medical College, SRIHER, SOA University, etc. |
CMC, PGIMER, JIPMER, Jamia Hamdard, SGPIMS, AIIMS Rishikesh, etc. |
| Jobs |
Medical Writers, Clinical Researchers, Drug Inspectors, Medical Representatives, Pharmacy Business, etc. |
Medical Laboratory Technologists, Lab Managers/Supervisors, Research Associates, Quality Control/Quality Assurance Technicians, Pathology Technicians, etc. |
| Salary |
INR 4 LPA - INR 14 LPA |
INR 2.6 LPA |
| Top Recruiters |
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Divis Laboratories Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Biocon Ltd., etc. |
Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, Max Healthcare, Manipal Hospitals, Medanta Hospitals, Tata Memorial Hospital, etc. |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
B Pharmacy vs BSc Nursing
B Pharmacy teaches how to make and manage medicines. BSc Nursing is about taking care of patients in hospitals and helping them recover.
Candidates can check the table below to check the comparison between the two:
| Particulars |
B Pharmacy Course Details |
BSc Nursing Course Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form |
Bachelor of Pharmacy |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
| Duration |
4 years |
4 years |
| Fees |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 8 Lakh |
INR 1,000 - INR 29.4 Lakh |
| Admission Criteria |
Merit-Based / Entrance-Based |
Merit-Based/Entrance-Based |
| Eligibility |
Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics subjects with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. |
Class 12 in the Science stream with PCB (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) subjects |
| Entrance Exam |
NEET, MHT CET, CUET, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, KCET, JEE Main, KEAM, etc. |
|
| Best Colleges |
BITS Pilani, Madras Medical College, SRIHER, SOA University, etc. |
Amity University, Parul University, Armed Forces Medical College, Galgotias University, GMCH Chandigarh, and SRM Medical College, etc. |
| Jobs |
Medical Writers, Clinical Researchers, Drug Inspectors, Medical Representatives, Pharmacy Business, etc. |
Staff Nurses, Nursing Service Administrators, Directors of Nursing, Department Supervisors, Nursing Supervisors, Nursing Superintendents, etc. |
| Salary |
INR 4 LPA - INR 14 LPA |
INR 4.3 LPA |
| Top Recruiters |
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Divis Laboratories Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Biocon Ltd., etc. |
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, Fortis Healthcare, Medanta Medicity, Columbia Asia Hospital, Wockhardt Hospitals, Global Hospitals, Max Hospital, and Manipal Hospitals, etc |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
B Pharmacy vs BPT
B Pharmacy is medicine-based and focuses on treatment through drugs. BPT is therapy-based and helps patients recover using physical exercises.
Candidates can check the table below to check the comparison between the two:
| Particulars |
B Pharmacy Course Details |
BPT Course Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form |
Bachelor of Pharmacy |
Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
| Duration |
4 years |
4 years |
| Fees |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 8 Lakh |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 5 Lakh |
| Admission Criteria |
Merit-Based / Entrance-Based |
Merit-Based / Entrance-Based |
| Eligibility |
Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics subjects with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. |
Class 12 with Science (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) with 50% |
| Entrance Exam |
NEET, MHT CET, CUET, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, KCET, JEE Main, KEAM, etc. |
CUET, KCET, IPU CET, LPU NEST and NEET |
| Best Colleges |
BITS Pilani, Madras Medical College, SRIHER, SOA University, etc. |
AIIMS Delhi, King George's Medical University, JIPMER Puducherry, Banaras Hindu University, etc. |
| Jobs |
Medical Writers, Clinical Researchers, Drug Inspectors, Medical Representatives, Pharmacy Business, etc. |
Physiotherapists, Researchers, Lecturers, Home care physiotherapists, Sports physiotherapists and rehabilitators, Medical coding analysts, etc. |
| Salary |
INR 4 LPA - INR 14 LPA |
INR 2 LPA - INR 8 LPA |
| Top Recruiters |
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Divis Laboratories Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Biocon Ltd., etc. |
HelpAge India, Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Hospital, Hosmat Hospital, Talwalkers Pantaloon Fitness Pvt Ltd, etc. |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
B Pharmacy vs BSc Biotechnology
B Pharmacy is focused on drugs and how they are made and used. BSc Biotechnology is about using biology and technology to work with cells, genes, and microorganisms.
Candidates can check the table below to check the comparison between the two:
| Particulars |
B Pharmacy Course Details |
BSc Biotechnology Course Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form |
Bachelor of Pharmacy |
Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology |
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
| Duration |
4 years |
3 years |
| Fees |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 8 Lakh |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 10.47 Lakh |
| Admission Criteria |
Merit-Based / Entrance-Based |
Merit-Based/Entrance-Based |
| Eligibility |
Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics subjects with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. |
Candidates must pass their Class 12 in a Science stream with PCB subjects with at least 50-60% marks. |
| Entrance Exam |
NEET, MHT CET, CUET, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, KCET, JEE Main, KEAM, etc. |
CUET, ICAR AIEEA, LPU NEST, etc. |
| Best Colleges |
BITS Pilani, Madras Medical College, SRIHER, SOA University, etc. |
Jamia Millia Islamia, VIT, SOA University, UNIPUNE, etc. |
| Jobs |
Medical Writers, Clinical Researchers, Drug Inspectors, Medical Representatives, Pharmacy Business, etc. |
Biochemist, Epidemiologist, Lab Technician, etc |
| Salary |
INR 4 LPA - INR 14 LPA |
INR 3-5 LPA |
| Top Recruiters |
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Divis Laboratories Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Biocon Ltd., etc. |
Ranbaxy, Cipla, Johnson & Johnson, Siemens Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, Stryker, Apollo Hospitals, etc. |
Note: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
Shiksha Poll Analysis
In a poll conducted by the Shiksha team with 414 total votes, 34% of students chose BSc Pharmaceutical Sciences as their preferred alternative to B Pharmacy. BSc Pharmacology, followed by 19%, showing interest in understanding drug effects over manufacturing.
Other options like BSc MLT (12%) and BPH (6%) also drew attention, while a significant 29% chose ‘Others’, indicating a wider curiosity around allied and life science courses. The poll clearly shows that students are exploring varied paths beyond BPharm, based on their interests in research, diagnostics, or public health.