Doctoral Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Who is this program for?

A doctoral program in pharmaceutical sciences is perfect for individuals eager to explore the development, formulation, and therapeutic applications of drugs, with a focus on pharmacology, drug delivery systems, and clinical trials. Graduates can pursue careers in pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, regulatory agencies, or academia, contributing to the discovery of new medications, improving patient care, and advancing drug safety and efficacy.

Program Overview

The Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences is a multidisciplinary program designed to prepare motivated individuals for academic, industrial, or government careers in pharmaceutical and biomedical research. It is a graduate training program that encompasses research in areas of pharmaceutical sciences that range from identifying fundamental mechanisms of human disease, to the design, development and formulation of new medicines, to understanding the impact of drug policies on health care systems. Within this broad scientific framework, students develop individually tailored programs of study to meet their particular research interests and career objectives. All students who are admitted to the Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program receive a teaching or research assistantship which includes fully paid tuition and paid health insurance.

Offered by the College of Pharmacy
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Credential
PhD
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Tuition / Credit Hour
Resident $825.50
Non-Resident $2,060.50

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What You'll Learn

Intense, laboratory-based and data analysis-driven research, using state-of-the-art techniques and instruments, forms the basis of a student’s PhD dissertation. Each student develops the skills and judgment to make a unique, scholarly contribution to our understanding of drugs and how therapies impact human health and disease. Students receive the training that will enable them to become independent scientists who can conduct front-line research in pharmaceutical sciences in industrial, academic or governmental settings. The overall goal of the graduate program is to provide the graduate student with a comprehensive, structured, yet flexible educational experience comprised of both coursework and independent, highly creative research. This goal is supported by additional components, such as research rotations for first-year students and a program-wide seminar series. The intent is to provide both depth and breadth of expertise in the Pharmaceutical Sciences along with developing the creative and critical approach to research that characterizes a PhD-level scientist. Our faculty have established a set of Guiding Principles that direct the evolution of our program to meet these criteria. These can be found at https://pharmacy.uky.edu/apply/phd-program.


Degree requirements, course descriptions and academic policies for all programs are detailed in the University Catalog.

"I’ve always wanted to make medicine more accessible, and now I’m working on new ways to deliver it. The program and mentorship gave me the freedom to tackle complex challenges in mRNA delivery, all while growing as a scientist and staying true to my passion for helping others." 

Julian Mory Alumni

6th

Ranked College of Pharmacy in the Nation

US News & World Report (2024)

55

Years of Pharmaceutical Innovation

400+

Alumni

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Explore Funding Options

As a graduate student, there are additional opportunities for student funding. Once you are admitted into a degree-bearing graduate program at UK, you can apply for a wide variety of financial assistance, including assistantships and fellowships. These opportunities can be tied to your program’s availability, so you should inquire with your program director about opportunities available within your program!

Program Specific Funding Opportunities

​All students who are admitted to the Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program receive a teaching or research assistantship which includes fully paid tuition and paid health insurance.

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Tuition Rate

For residents of the states listed below, this program qualifies you to receive the University of Kentucky's in-state tuition rate through the Academic Common Marketplace.

Delaware

Delaware

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Things to do on this form:
Take away "Term" for Transfers - "Unknown Term"? As well as "Not in High School"
And the same for "Online"

Possibly remove the "Readmit" option.
Feel like it would be pretty easy to see if the person already exists in our system and has a program enrollment record associated with them, which would shift them from "Freshman" or "Transfer" to "Readmit"
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