Research mode programmes offered by the Faculty of Pharmacy emphasise on inter- and multidisciplinary research areas in pharmacy including, but not limited to, drug discovery, pharmaceutical product development, pharmacy education and quality management of medicine. These research-oriented programmes are, by nature, laboratory-based, a combination of laboratory- and survey-based, or survey-based in various areas of pharmacy such as:

Drug and Herbal Development: focuses on the identification of chemical leads from natural products for specific therapeutic efficacy leading to the development of new drug candidates against complex and challenging drug targets prior to clinical trials and evaluation of herbs and their products for quality, safety and efficacy as therapeutic agents. 

Drug Delivery Technology: focuses on contemporary drug delivery issues in order to build rational strategies to drug design resulting in advanced drug delivery. These include acquiring knowledge of the physicochemical properties of traditional and biotechnology-based drug moieties as well as understanding the mechanisms of cellular uptake and transport across biological membranes.

Quality Management of Medicine (QMM): focuses on patterns of drug usage, efficacy of treatment regimens, adverse drug reaction reporting, health awareness, patient education, pharmacoeconomics, national medicines policy and its implementation.

Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science student at the Faculty of Pharmacy is shaped by a dynamic blend of academic excellence, hands-on training, and the vibrant atmosphere of Kuala Lumpur. Our educational facilities are located at the UKM Jalan Raja Muda Campus, right in the heart of the city. 

The city campus is also home to other health-related faculties, including the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Dentistry. This close-knit academic setting creates ample opportunities to collaborate and build meaningful relationships with peers from various health disciplines—connections that often evolve into lifelong friendships.

Beyond academics, the campus surroundings offer the full energy and diversity of urban life. In addition to essential on-campus facilities such as the library and cafés, you will find yourself within easy reach of countless dining options, shopping malls, recreational parks, theatre halls, and art galleries. This blend of convenience and cultural vibrancy enhances both your study experience and your personal growth.

While on-campus accommodation is not available for postgraduate students, many comfortable and convenient private housing options are accessible nearby. The Faculty of Pharmacy Postgraduate Student Society offers guidance to help you explore and secure suitable off-campus accommodation before your arrival. 

STUDENTS EXPERIENCE 

Abdulrahman Horan, Master of Science  “I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Pharmacy (research mode) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur. The MSc programme has provided me with strong research training, excellent supervision, and access to advanced laboratory facilities, which have greatly prepared me to become an independent researcher. Studying here has given me a deep practical understanding of real research and a great opportunity to socialise and connect with others. My experience at UKM has been both intellectually rewarding and personally enriching. Living in Malaysia, especially in Kuala Lumpur, has been wonderful. The city is vibrant, full of skyscrapers, and offers a truly welcoming environment, with a wide range of activities.”.

Nancy Y.H Nashwan, Doctor of Philosophy “I am  pharmacist from Gaza–Palestine, a place where dreams are not easy to achieve and where people often suffer from pain and hardship. Motivated by this reality, I decided to pursue my PhD journey focusing on cancer pain management at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The PhD programme offered rigorous academic training, exceptional supervision, and a supportive research environment that strengthened my ability to work as an independent researcher. My experience in Malaysia was enriching, both academically and personally, within a warm, multicultural, and inspiring environment”.

What you will learn

• Research Methodology and Innovation
• Research Administration, Innovation and Commercialization

Program requirements

• To complete the research methodology course.

Doctor of Philosophy

• Submit a thesis not exceeding 100,000 words
• Pass viva voce examination
• At least TWO (2) journal articles accepted in WoS indexed journal
• Obtain a minimum of grade B for the Research Methodology course
• International students are required to pass Bahasa Melayu courses: 
  (https://www.ukm.my/citra/kursus-bahasa-melayu/):
  – Communicative Malay language for International Students; or 
  – Malay Language for Nusantara 
   

Master of Science

• Submit a thesis not exceeding 60,000 words
• Pass viva voce examination
• At least ONE (1) journal article accepted in WoS indexed journal
• Obtain a minimum of grade B for the Research Methodology course
• International students are required to pass Bahasa Melayu courses (https://www.ukm.my/citra/kursus-bahasa-melayu/):
  – Communicative Malay language for International Students; or 
  – Malay Language for Nusantara 

Additional Notes 

• All classes for both full-time and part-time students are held physically on weekdays during office hours (8.15AM – 5.00PM).

Doctor of Philosophy

• First-class bachelor’s degree (CGPA ≥3.67) by conversion route
• A master’s degree accepted by the Senate
• Other relevant qualifications equivalent to a master’s degree that are accepted by the Senate

Master of Science

• A relevant bachelor’s degree with minimum CGPA of 2.75 or equivalent, as accepted by the Senate; or
• A relevant bachelor’s degree with minimum CGPA of 2.50 and not meeting CGPA of 2.75 or equivalent, can be accepted subject to rigorous internal assessment; or
• A relevant bachelor’s degree not meeting CGPA of 2.50 or equivalent, can be accepted subject to a minimum of 5 years working experience in relevant field.

English Requirement for International Candidates

• International candidates must meet the English language requirement set by the Faculty and University:

• • IELTS: a minimum score of Band 6.0, OR
  • TOEFL: a minimum score of 60, OR
  • CEFR: a minimum level of mid B2, OR
  • MUET: a minimum of Level 4 (Band 4), OR
  • The Faculty may grant exemption to the conditions set forth above for international candidates from a country that uses English as their official language or who have academic qualifications obtained from any institution of higher learning that uses English as its medium of educatio

Tuition Fee (Local)

Tuition Fee (International)

Master of Science

Doctor of Philosophy

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I apply?

Please use our online system (Join UKM) to submit an application. Fill out the online application form and enclose the following documents – your academic transcripts, certificates, and research proposal. Your application will then be checked by our postgraduate committee; and you will be notified of the result within 14 working days. You can enrol anytime throughout the year, but preferably at the start of a semester. This is because regardless of the time of enrolment, you will still have to pay the tuition fee for a full semester.

How do I find a supervisor?

This depends on your research interests. Officially we have only two research-based programmes ‘Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)’ and ‘Master of Science (MSc)’; but under their umbrellas you can go into a variety of research areas. We have a diverse team of experts tackling different aspects of drug-related research spanning drug discovery, pharmacology, and drug delivery: https://www.ukm.my/farmasi/research/.

Have a look at our academic staff directory and a list of postgraduate opportunities available at our faculty. Please contact potential supervisors before you submit a formal application. A good start would be to email them an expression of interest.

Can I still apply if I don’t meet the English language requirements?

We can make you a conditional offer if you meet our other entry requirements. If you obtained your bachelor’s (or master’s) degree from an academic institution using English as the medium of instruction, you are eligible for exemption from our English language requirements. Enclose with your application a supporting letter from your alma mater.

What are the tuition fees?

You can find tables listing the per-semester tuition fees for the PhD and MSc programmes in the links below:

• https://www.ukm.my/portalukm/master/master-pharmacy/
• https://www.ukm.my/portalukm/phd/phd-pharmacy/

Are there scholarships available for me?

UKM offers internal scholarships to eligible local students:

• Skim Zamalah Penyelidikan
• UKM Vice-Chancellor Scholarship; and
• UKM Zakat Scholarship. 

You can also try and get an outside scholarship e.g., MyBrain. If your supervisor has adequate funding, they may be able to pay you monthly stipends while you work on your research project.

What is the structure of the programme?

You will be working full-time (or part-time) to complete a research project under the mentorship of a supervisor (or a team of supervisors). Additionally, you will be required to complete a faculty-run course on research methodology. International students will be also asked to take a course on the Malay language.

Does the faculty run a PRP training (academia) programme?

Yes, we offer a hybrid MSc-PRP programme that allows students to obtain an MSc degree and complete their PRP training in ~2 years. The structure of the programme is almost identical to that of a non-hybrid MSc programme. Enrolling in the programme means that in addition to undertaking a research project, you will also need to:

• Complete a three-month attachment at our teaching hospital, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM). This will be embedded within the two-year MSc programme. The exact start and end dates will depend on the faculty’s academic calendar and teaching schedules.
• Pass an oral assessment at the end of your one-year PRP training. This should take place in the first 1-1.5 years of your MSc. 

When you get in touch with potential supervisors, let them know your intention to enrol in the PRP-MSc programme, so that they can:

• Appoint a preceptor for your PRP-ship (or they can be one themselves).
• Factor this in when planning the research project that you will be working on.

Use Join UKM to apply for the MSc-PRP programme. The system does not have a separate option for ‘MSc-PRP’. So, in your application form, select ‘Master of Science (MSc)’.

What are the accommodation options around the Kuala Lumpur campus?

You can get help from our postgraduate society finding accommodation near the campus. There are plenty of privately owned apartments around the campus.