Study pharmacy in Russia

Programme overview

The pharmacy programme in Russia leads to a specialist diploma (specialitet), equivalent to an integrated master's, awarded after five years of full-time study. It is not a separate bachelor–master system: students follow a continuous track combining fundamental sciences, pharmaceutical sciences and professional practice, concluded by a final state exam and the award of the pharmacist qualification.

Teaching is mainly in Russian. Students who do not yet speak the language first complete a preparatory language year before entering the first year. Some universities also offer English-taught groups for the early years; availability varies by institution and is confirmed when the university is chosen.

• ✓ Degree awarded: specialitet (specialist in pharmacy), integrated master's
• ✓ Duration: 5 years, full-time
• ✓ Languages of instruction: Russian (after a preparatory year) or English depending on the university
• ✓ Format: semesters with continuous assessment and exam sessions

Official Russian specialty code

In Russia every university specialty has an official code set by the Ministry of Higher Education. Pharmacy corresponds to code 33.05.01 "Фармация" (Farmatsiya). This code appears on the diploma and its descriptive supplement, and serves as a reference for equivalence procedures abroad.

Knowing the code helps verify a programme’s accreditation: it confirms the university is state-authorised to award a recognised pharmacist diploma rather than a mere certificate. All RusStudy partner universities are public institutions accredited for specialty 33.05.01.

Year-by-year curriculum

Years 1 and 2 — foundations: general, inorganic and organic chemistry, pharmaceutical botany, human anatomy and physiology, biology, physics and pharmaceutical Latin. This phase establishes the grounding in chemistry and life sciences that underpins the rest of the programme.

Years 3 and 4 — pharmaceutical sciences: pharmaceutical and analytical chemistry, pharmacognosy (substances of natural origin), pharmacology, pharmaceutical technology (dosage forms), microbiology and biochemistry. Students learn to design, analyse and control the quality of medicines.

Year 5 — practice and specialisation: clinical pharmacy, clinical pharmacology, toxicological chemistry, pharmacy management and economics, industrial pharmacy, together with internships in community pharmacies and laboratories. The year concludes with the state exam and the pharmacist qualification.

Admission requirements

Admission to pharmacy is open to holders of a science-track high-school diploma. The decisive subjects are biology and chemistry, the backbone of the programme: a solid level in these disciplines makes the first two years easier.

The RusStudy admission route is file-based rather than a classic entrance exam: high-school transcripts, translated and legalised diploma, passport and medical documents. Once approved, the university issues an official invitation that opens the student visa application. Some universities may hold an interview or a level test, particularly for English-taught tracks.

• ✓ Science-track high-school diploma or equivalent
• ✓ Key subjects: biology and chemistry
• ✓ File: transcripts, translated and legalised diploma, passport, medical certificate
• ✓ Preparatory language year for the Russian-taught track

Detailed costs

Pharmacy tuition starts at €3,200 per year and varies by university and city: regional institutions charge less than those in Moscow. Fees are paid directly to the university, with no financial intermediary.

Beyond tuition, the annual budget includes housing, daily living and compulsory medical insurance. University dormitory housing is the most economical option, from about €30 to €90 per month depending on the city; a shared flat costs more. Daily living (meals, transport) ranges from €140 to €260 per month, and medical insurance is around €180 per year.

The first year adds one-time costs of about €900 (visa, document translation, flight). In total, a realistic all-inclusive annual budget usually falls between €5,500 in regional cities and €8,000 in Moscow.

• ✓ Tuition: from €3,200 / year
• ✓ University housing: ~€30 to €90 / month
• ✓ Daily living: ~€140 to €260 / month
• ✓ Medical insurance: ~€180 / year
• ✓ One-time first-year costs (visa, translation, flight): ~€900

Partner universities offering this programme

Pharmacy is studied within the medical and pharmacy faculties of RusStudy’s partner state universities. The choice of institution depends on the city, the budget and the preferred language of instruction.

Explore our institution pages to compare living environment, city and costs before finalising your application:

Career paths and diploma recognition

A pharmacist diploma from an accredited Russian state university opens roles in community and hospital pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry, quality control and research. Its strong scientific dimension also leads towards later specialisations.

In Tunisia, medicine, pharmacy and engineering programmes from the partner state universities benefit from equivalences recognised by the supervising ministry. Actual practice remains subject to diploma equivalence followed by registration with the relevant professional body.

Internationally, Russian public universities appear in recognised directories and their diplomas are accepted for equivalence across many countries in the Maghreb, subject to each country’s national rules.