The pharmacy degree program in Germany has two primary nationwide educational objectives: training students to become pharmacists and preparing them for careers in research. Few other university disciplines are as interdisciplinary as pharmacy, as it addresses a wide range of questions, such as: What agents are available? How does a specific agent affect the body? How can the immune system be protected and strengthened? How should agents be administered, and in what dosage?
Pharmacist training is standardized nationwide, governed by the medical practice regulations for pharmacists, and is divided into three stages: the foundational studies (semesters 1–4) and the main study stage (semesters 5–8) at the university, followed by the "practical year."
At the heart of the training is the focus on medications and the legal mandate to ensure the proper and reliable supply of medications to the population. Future responsibilities of pharmacists include the development, production, testing, and distribution of medications, with particular emphasis on providing expert advice to customers and patients. To cover these diverse aspects, students engage with five core disciplines during their studies: Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Biology, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Pharmacology, and Clinical Pharmacy.
At Frankfurt, the pharmacy degree program is distinguished by close interaction between students and faculty, thanks to a well-balanced staff/student ratio. The highly structured program fosters a strong sense of community among students within each academic year. The active departmental student body also contributes to the positive learning environment, welcoming first-semester students with orientation events and advocating for student interests.
For over 15 years, the summer and winter schools of the Frankfurt School of Pharmacy have been an integral part of the program. Toward the end of the fourth semester, students travel with faculty to Austria for a week of intensive preparation for the first Staatsexamen. Alongside focused study sessions, the program includes a variety of cultural and recreational activities outside the usual university setting.
The highly active student body organizes the "Night of Science" every year in collaboration with students from other Riedberg departments, welcoming all those interested. To help graduates transition into employment, Faculty 14, together with the Young Chemists Forum of the GdCH and the Employment Agency, organizes the "Frankfurt Job Fair for Scientists" every November on the Riedberg campus.