Health Sciences

Master of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The Master of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is a postgraduate programme that prepares pharmacists for advanced practice in pharmaceutical production, manufacturing technology, and quality systems. The programme combines pharmaceutical science with manufacturing engineering and quality management.

Core areas include pharmaceutical manufacturing, production technology, quality assurance, quality control, pharmaceutical engineering, validation, regulatory affairs, supply chain management, and research methods. Students engage with both pharmaceutical theory and practical manufacturing application.

The programme is offered by Kabarak University through its School of Pharmacy. This is a private university offering the programme over two academic years (six trimesters) through full-time study.

Students develop competencies in pharmaceutical manufacturing, production management, quality assurance, quality control, pharmaceutical engineering, process validation, regulatory compliance, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, laboratory sessions, industrial attachments, examinations, and thesis.

Kabarak University charges KES 130,000/semester (~KES 390,000/year) over 2 years (6 trimesters). The programme focuses on strengthening Kenya's pharmaceutical industry through local production capabilities. Entry requires a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and registration with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as pharmaceutical manufacturing specialists, production managers, quality assurance managers, regulatory affairs officers, pharmaceutical engineers, and lecturers in pharmaceutical sciences.

Skills Required

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Production
Production Technology and Process Engineering
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Pharmaceutical Engineering and Equipment
Process Validation and Qualification
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Regulatory Affairs and Compliance
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management
Research Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Production
Production Technology and Process Engineering
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Pharmaceutical Engineering and Equipment
Process Validation and Qualification
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Regulatory Affairs and Compliance
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management
Research Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Thesis Research

Certifications

PPB Pharmacist Registration
ISPE Professional Membership

Specializations

Production Technology

Focuses on pharmaceutical production technology, covering manufacturing equipment, process engineering, scale-up, and managing production technology.

Quality Systems Management

Examines quality systems, covering QA management, QC systems, quality compliance, and managing quality systems in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Pharmaceutical Engineering

Covers pharmaceutical engineering, covering process design, equipment selection, facility design, and managing pharmaceutical engineering projects.

Regulatory Compliance

Focuses on regulatory compliance, covering GMP compliance, regulatory inspections, documentation, and managing regulatory compliance in manufacturing.

Validation and Qualification

Examines validation and qualification, covering process validation, equipment qualification, cleaning validation, and managing validation programmes.

Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Covers pharmaceutical supply chain management, covering procurement, inventory management, distribution, and managing pharmaceutical supply chains.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
Private, up to: Ksh 461,300
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Production
Production Technology and Process Engineering
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Pharmaceutical Engineering and Equipment
Process Validation and Qualification
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Regulatory Affairs and Compliance
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management
Research Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Production
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, production management, scale-up, process optimisation, and managing pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
Production Technology and Process Engineering
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers manufacturing equipment, process engineering, technology transfer, and managing production technology in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines QA systems, QC testing, GMP compliance, quality management, and managing quality in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Research Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting pharmaceutical research, preparing students for their thesis.
Pharmaceutical Engineering and Equipment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers process design, equipment selection, facility design, and managing pharmaceutical engineering projects.
Process Validation and Qualification
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines validation protocols, equipment qualification, cleaning validation, and managing validation programmes in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers GMP principles, GMP compliance, GMP auditing, and implementing good manufacturing practice in pharmaceutical facilities.
Regulatory Affairs and Compliance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines regulatory compliance, drug registration, regulatory inspections, documentation, and managing regulatory processes for pharmaceutical products.
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers procurement, inventory management, distribution, logistics, and managing pharmaceutical supply chains.
Pharmaceutical Facility Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines pharmaceutical facility design, covering cleanroom design, HVAC systems, utilities, and managing pharmaceutical facility design.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal and thesis, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a pharmaceutical manufacturing topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and pharmaceutical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Production Technology
Focuses on pharmaceutical production technology, covering manufacturing equipment, process engineering, scale-up, and managing production technology.
Quality Systems Management
Examines quality systems, covering QA management, QC systems, quality compliance, and managing quality systems in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Pharmaceutical Engineering
Covers pharmaceutical engineering, covering process design, equipment selection, facility design, and managing pharmaceutical engineering projects.
Regulatory Compliance
Focuses on regulatory compliance, covering GMP compliance, regulatory inspections, documentation, and managing regulatory compliance in manufacturing.
Validation and Qualification
Examines validation and qualification, covering process validation, equipment qualification, cleaning validation, and managing validation programmes.
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Covers pharmaceutical supply chain management, covering procurement, inventory management, distribution, and managing pharmaceutical supply chains.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Pharm in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing programme at Kabarak University combines lectures, laboratory sessions, manufacturing practicals, industrial visits, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover pharmaceutical manufacturing, production technology, quality assurance, engineering, and regulatory affairs. Manufacturing sessions examine production processes, scale-up, process optimisation, and managing manufacturing operations. Production technology sessions cover manufacturing equipment, process engineering, technology transfer, and managing production technology. Quality assurance sessions cover QA systems, QC testing, GMP compliance, and managing quality in pharmaceutical operations. Engineering sessions cover process design, equipment selection, facility design, and managing pharmaceutical engineering. Validation sessions cover validation protocols, equipment qualification, cleaning validation, and managing validation programmes. Regulatory affairs sessions cover GMP compliance, regulatory inspections, documentation, and managing regulatory compliance. Supply chain sessions cover procurement, inventory management, distribution, and managing pharmaceutical supply chains. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with pharmaceutical testing, formulation, and analysis. Manufacturing practicals provide experience with production equipment, process control, and manufacturing operations. Industrial visits provide exposure to pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Guest lectures from experienced manufacturing professionals, regulatory experts, and industry leaders provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a pharmaceutical manufacturing topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya is promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, with growing demand for qualified manufacturing pharmacists.
Programme focuses on manufacturing technology and engineering, providing specialised skills for the pharmaceutical industry.
Kabarak University offers affordable fees at KES 130,000/semester (~KES 390,000/year).
Programme includes industrial visits and manufacturing practicals, providing hands-on exposure to pharmaceutical production.

Against it

Only Kabarak University confirmed offering this exact programme name, limiting institutional choice.
Programme may overlap with UoN's M.Pharm in Industrial Pharmacy, causing confusion for prospective students.
As a private university, fees may not be affordable for all students despite being moderate.
Programme requires a B.Pharm degree and PPB registration, limiting access to pharmacy graduates only.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public187k to 326k

187k at Moi University326k at Kenyatta University

Private461k to 461k

461k at Kabarak University461k at Kabarak University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Public: Moi 187K, KU 326K/yr (kenyaeducationguide). Private: Kabarak 461K/yr (kabarak.ac.ke).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. PPB may provide training support for pharmacy professionals. KAPM may provide industry support for pharmaceutical manufacturing training. Some pharmaceutical companies may sponsor pharmacists for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
PPB Training Support
KAPM Industry Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
PPB Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Pharmacy and Poisons Board supports training and professional development for pharmacy professionals in Kenya.
KAPM Industry Support
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers supports training for pharmaceutical industry professionals in Kenya.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Applicants must hold a B.Pharm degree and be registered with PPB or equivalent regulatory body. Contact Kabarak University for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, manufacturing practical reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality assurance, engineering, validation, and regulatory affairs.
Practical and Manufacturing Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work, manufacturing exercises, quality control testing, and demonstrating pharmaceutical manufacturing skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a pharmaceutical manufacturing topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and pharmaceutical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya (PPB). Kabarak University (private) offers M.Pharm in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. The programme meets CUE and PPB standards for postgraduate pharmacy training. Graduates are eligible for PPB pharmacist registration and ISPE professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya (PPB). Kabarak University (private) offers M.Pharm in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. The programme meets CUE and PPB standards for postgraduate pharmacy training. Graduates are eligible for PPB pharmacist registration and ISPE professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Specialist
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 800,000
Works in pharmaceutical manufacturing, overseeing production processes, technology implementation, and managing manufacturing operations.
Production Manager
Moderate demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 900,000
Manages pharmaceutical production, overseeing manufacturing operations, production planning, and managing production teams.
Quality Assurance Manager
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 900,000
Manages quality assurance in pharmaceutical companies, overseeing QA systems, GMP compliance, and managing quality operations.
Regulatory Affairs Officer
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 700,000
Manages regulatory affairs in pharmaceutical companies, overseeing drug registration, regulatory compliance, and managing regulatory submissions.
Pharmaceutical Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 900,000
Works in pharmaceutical engineering, overseeing process design, equipment selection, facility design, and managing engineering projects.
Pharmaceutical Sciences Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Teaches pharmaceutical sciences at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, laboratory supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Tablet Press
EquipmentPrimary
Tablet manufacturing equipment for pharmaceutical production, covering tablet compression, process control, and managing tablet manufacturing.
HPLC System
Equipment
High-performance liquid chromatography system for pharmaceutical analysis, covering drug analysis, quality control testing, and pharmaceutical analytical methods.
Fluid Bed Granulator
Equipment
Fluid bed granulator for pharmaceutical manufacturing, covering granulation, drying, coating, and managing pharmaceutical processing.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for pharmaceutical research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Pharmaceutical manufacturing is just about making tablets.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing covers comprehensive production operations including formulation, processing, packaging, quality control, engineering, validation, and regulatory compliance.
This programme is the same as industrial pharmacy.
While related, this programme focuses specifically on manufacturing technology and production engineering, with a stronger emphasis on engineering and production management.
There is limited demand for manufacturing pharmacists in Kenya.
Kenya is promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, with growing demand for qualified manufacturing pharmacists in the expanding pharmaceutical industry.
Kabarak University is not a reputable institution for pharmacy.
Kabarak University is accredited by CUE and its pharmacy programmes meet PPB standards, providing quality training in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
This programme is only for those working in factories.
Manufacturing pharmacy skills are valuable in regulatory bodies, consulting, research, quality management, and any organisation involved in pharmaceutical production and quality.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing has no patient impact.
Manufacturing pharmacists directly impact patient safety through ensuring medicine quality, developing effective formulations, and maintaining production standards that protect patients.