PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science in India: Admission, Syllabus, Colleges, Salary & More (2025)

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The field of Medicinal chemistry science is going tremendously, hence having a PhD degree in it can be a huge boost in the career of any student. In the last few years, especially after Covid-19 the talk around drug discovery and research is at an all time high. And, this increasing demand invites a large number of students towards PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science in India. Though many students try to get admission in the best PhD universities in India, but very few are actually able to get it.

1. Introduction

PhD in Medicinal chemistry science is the go-to course for the students who are very passionate about drug development,, and the interface of chemistry and pharmaceutical science. Many students are pursuing a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science in India because it is a rewarding academic route. Also, the evolving demands in healthcare and biotech, has exponentially multiplied the income of the PhD graduates in the field..

2. What is a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science?

A Medicinal Chemistry Science PhD is nothing but a research-focused doctoral program which explores how chemicals interact with biological systems with the prime objective to develop therapeutic drugs. The course is research based and it involves advanced study in organic chemistry, and biotechnology. The scholars studying here learn to analyze molecular structures and drug responses and later on engage in drug synthesis, and toxicological studies.

PhD Medicinal Chemistry Sciences is largely pursued by the Medicinal students who have done their masters and who are interested in innovation in drug discovery and pharmaceutical development.

3. Admission Process

Usually, the PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science admission process is very simple. All students must do is follow these steps to do it easily:

First of all, students must look for the online application through university portals
In second step, students will be asked for research proposal submission
Usually many universities have PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science entrance exams
Later on, it is followed by personal interview or research discussion

4. Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science is very straightforward and students must take care of the following criteria:

Master’s degree in:
- M.Pharm in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- M.S. Pharm
- M.Tech (Pharma)
- M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry
Minimum of 55%-60% aggregate marks, however 5% relaxation is offered for the reserved students.
For working professionals, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is mandatory

Additionally, UGC-approved institutions also accept candidates with valid national-level fellowships for admission to PhD Medicinal Chemistry Science in India.

5. Entrance Exams

Some of the most common entrance exams for the admission in Medicinal Chemistry Science.

GPAT for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science
CSIR NET Medicinal Chemistry Sciences syllabus
NIPER Joint Entrance Examination
UGC NET or GATE

6. Syllabus & Research Topics

The PhD Medicinal Chemistry Science syllabus is not the same but it varies with the colleges that one chooses. Typically, PhD Medicinal Chemistry Science syllabus includes:

Semester I

Basics of Drug Action
Logic in Organic Synthesis I
Spectral Analysis
Separation Techniques
Biostatistics
General Laboratory Experience

Semester II

Drug Design
Stereochemistry & Drug Action
Logic in Organic Synthesis II
Drug Metabolism
Pharmacological Screening
Chemotherapy & Industrial Processes

Research Topics:

Neurodegenerative drug design
Bioactive molecule synthesis
Nano-chemistry in drug delivery
Cancer therapeutics
Drug metabolism & pharmacokinetics

7. Top Colleges for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science in India

There are many top-tier colleges for PhD in India. And, we have listed some of the best colleges for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science in India:

College/University	Location	Annual Fee
Mind Power	Uttarakhand	₹50,000/semester
NIILM University	Haryana	₹40,000/semester
Doon Global University	Uttarakhand	₹50,000/semester
Shridhar University	Rajasthan	₹50,000/semester
Sanskriti University	Uttar Pradesh	₹95,000/year
HRIT University	Ghaziabad	₹95,000/year

8. Duration and Fee Structure

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science duration and fees:

Full-Time	3 to 4 years
Part-Time	4 to 6 years

Typical Fee Range:

University Type	Fees
Public	₹15,000 to ₹84,000/year
Private	₹50,000 to ₹1,10,000/year

9. Career Scope and Salary

The reason why PhD in Medicinal Chemistry is becoming very popular is because it has a lot of opportunities in different sectors of the market. And, the PhD Medicinal Chemistry Science salary in India largely depends on experience, and employer. It has been found that Entry-level roles usually start at ₹2.5–₹3 LPA and senior researchers can earn up to ₹6 LPA.

Job Titles:

Research Scientist
Postdoctoral Fellow
Assistant Professor
Medicinal/Analytical Chemist
Principal Investigator

10. Jobs and Top Recruiters

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science jobs and scope:

Drug discovery & design labs
Pharmaceutical formulation & QA/QC
Biotech startups & MNCs
Academia & research institutions

Top Recruiters for PhD Medicinal Chemistry Science:

Sun Pharma
Zydus Cadila
Biocon
Cipla
Lupin
NIPER research labs
Syngenta
Piramal
Cadila Healthcare
Ranbaxy

11. Online, Part-Time & Distance Options

Many students prefer part-time or distance options for studying Medicinal Chemistry Science PhD. However, Medicinal Chemistry Science PhD online programs in India are limited due to lab requirements, many universities offer flexible formats:

Part-time PhD options available at:

Doon Global University
Shridhar University
Sanskriti University

Such programs are tailored for working professionals, provided they meet the research infrastructure criteria at their workplace.

12. Best Universities Abroad for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science

Harvard University
University of Cambridge
ETH Zurich
National University of Singapore
Monash University

13. FAQs

Q1. What is the eligibility for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science?

The eligibility for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science is very straightforward and all students have to do is to have a master’s degree in a relevant field such as M.Pharm, or M.Sc. with at least 55%-60% marks.

Q2. Is GPAT compulsory for PhD Medicinal Chemistry Science?

GPAT is preferred but not mandatory because there are other qualifying exams like CSIR NET, and UGC NET that are also accepted.

Q3. Can I pursue a part-time PhD Medicinal Chemistry Science course?

Yes, there are many universities such as Doon Global, Shridhar University that offer part-time formats with flexible schedules.

Q4. What is the average salary after completing the PhD?

The reason why so many Indian students want to pursue PhD is because of the value it brings. It has been reported that on average, a PhD holder earns between ₹2.6 LPA to ₹5.9 LPA and it depends on the domain and role.

Q5. Are there online PhD options in this domain?

No, because of the course being largely research based, hence online PhD options in Medicinal Chemistry Science are not available, however, distance and part-time hybrid models are available.

Conclusion

All in all, it is not hidden that a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science in India has become a powerful academic credential. As the course allows the students to unlock diverse career pathways in pharma, and research, PhD in Medicinal Chemistry Science has become a go to option for the students who have completed their masters in medicine. Hence, wait no more, prepare for the entrance exams and contact us for the smooth admission in your dream PhD colleges in Medicinal Chemistry Science.