- Do you want a vocational programme?
- Do you want a more in depth knowledge of clinical pharmacy and hospital pharmacy?
- Are you interested in improving the effective use of drugs in the healthcare system?
- Do you want the option of going on to pursue doctoral studies?
The pharmacy programme is a diverse study programme, comprising theoretical and practical teaching in areas of life and physical sciences, as well as social sciences.
Programme structure
The programme is 120 ECTS and is organised as two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study.
The programme is made up of:
- Mandatory courses, 64 ECTS
- Restricted electives, 6 ECTS
- Professional training, 10 ECTS
- Research project, 40 ECTS
Organisation of teaching
This programme is taught in Icelandic but most textbooks are in English.
Main objectives
The programme aims to provide students with a thorough knowledge of pharmacy, equipping them to meet the EU requirements for pharmacist education.
Other
By completing at least nine months of vocational training, including six months in a pharmacy or hospital pharmacy, students who have completed the MS in pharmacy qualify as pharmacists in all EU/EEA countries. The professional licence is issued by the Directorate of Health.
Students who complete the programme with a first class grade may apply for doctoral studies
BS-degree in Pharmacy with a final grade of 6,5 or higher.
The programme is organised as a vocational programme at the Landspítali University Hospital and shall take 3 years for a student in 50% studies. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor at the beginning of the programme, who shall be responsible for the student for the duration of the programme. The programme is composed of two 30 ECTS mandatory courses, as well as a 30 ECTS research project.
In order to receive an MS in Clinical Pharmacy, a student must receive a minimum grade of 6.0 in each course.
.
- CV
- Statement of purpose
- Reference 1, Name and email
- Reference 2, Name and email
- Supporting documents for an online application(Icelandic only)
- Statement on interests and goals(Icelandic only)
Further information on supporting documents can be found here
Programme structure
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
This programme does not offer specialisations.
- First year
- Fall
- Biostatistics I
- Pharmacy Laws and Regulations
- Integrated Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Spring 1
- Toxicology
- Ethics
- Clinical Therapeutics
- Communication
- Basic training in clinical pharmacy II
- Pharmacoepidemiology
Biostatistics I (LÝÐ105F)
This course is an introduction to statistics in the life sciences. The course covers the following topics. Types of data: categorical data, count data, data on continuous variables. Descriptive statistics; numerical statistics and statistical graphs. Probability distributions, the binomial distribution, the Poisson distribution and the normal distribution. The definitions of a random sample and of a population. Sampling distributions. Confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Comparison of means between groups. Statistical tests for frequency tables. Linear and logistic regression with ROC analysis. Survival analysis with the methods of Kaplan-Meier and Cox. The course is based on lectures and practical sessions in computer labs. In the practical sessions exercises are solved with the statistical software package R and the RStudio environment.
Pharmacy Laws and Regulations (LYF129F)
The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of laws, regulations, and other policy decisions regarding health care, pharmaceuticals and pharmacists as well as the implementation of laws and regulations and the role of pharmacists in the health care system. Lectures will provide basics, but students will simultaneously work on assignments related to the subject matter.
Integrated Pharmacology (LYF106F)
The course reviews symptoms, etiology, pathophysiology and management of common diseases with emphasis on drug actions and interactions. Diseases in the following subspecialities are discussed: Cardiology, respiratory medicine, nephrology, hematology, geriatrics, dermatology and psychiatry. Case histories are examined and the mechanisms of drug action and side effects dissected to the molecular level.
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (LYF122F)
The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of fundamental concepts in development and production of biotechnological based drugs (biologics). The production process for biologics manufactured via mammalian cell lines will be covered as well as the required analytical methods for their characterization. The following types of biologics will be covered: Antibodies (traditional and monoclonal), peptide-based drugs and protein-based drugs. The concept of quality by design (QbD) will be explained in addition to good manufacturing practice (GMP) that is required for biologis marketed within the EU/EEA (EU GMP Annex 2). Safety and toxicological profiles of biologics will also be discussed. Lastly, new methods releated to therapeutical applications of biologics will be discussed, including gene therapy and nuclotides. This course is based on a cooperation with experts within the biotechnology industry in Iceland.
Toxicology (LYF213F)
In this course the students will learn to understand the pathophysiology of toxicology such as adverse reactions, drug induced diseases or toxicity. Toxicological studies required prior to clinical trials I, II and III will be studied as well as risk management.
Ethics (LYF215F)
The aim of this course is to provide students with insight into ethics and training in ethical thinking through analysing and debating realistic challenges in healthcare.
The course is intended as preparation for clinical training in a pharmacy setting and practical clinical pharmacy.
Clinical Therapeutics (LYF217F)
During the course basic concepts used in clinical pharmacy will be reviewed. Emphasis will be on teaching students to take accurate drug history, interpret laboratory results and to use that information to identify, solve and prevent pharmaceutical problems. Students will learn about the classification of pharmaceutical problems and drugs interactions and will be introduced to the practice of providing evidence-based information regarding medications to other health care professionals. In preparing for practical training students will be introduced to the main medical and drug databases and drug prescribing and medical records computer systems used at the hospital. Practical training of the course will find place at the National University Hospital (LSH) where students will become familiar with and participate in clinical practice as performed by pharmacists. Students will also receive training in setting up and presenting real patient cases in a concise way.
Communication (LYF219F)
The aim of this course is to provide students with a basic knowledge of interview techniques, communication and information gathering in healthcare.
The course is intended as preparation for clinical training in a pharmacy setting and practical clinical pharmacy.
Basic training in clinical pharmacy II (LYF222F)
The course is an internship program for pharmacy students. The course administrator will locate a pharmacy and mentor for each student who works in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science. The pharmacist mentor will guide the student during the course. The student works assignments at the selected pharmacy.
Pharmacoepidemiology (LYF220F)
The goal of this course is firstly to introduce the students to the basics of epidemiology and how it is related to health sciences and statistics. This knowledge is used to further examine research questions within the realm of pharmacoepidemiology. Lectures will provide basics, but students will simultaneously work on assignments related to the subject matter. Fundamentals of epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology covered: risk, outcome, causation, transmission of disease and measuring risk, study design, role of chance, confounding and bias in epidemiology, drug utilization studies, systematic review and meta-analysis, ethical considerations in epidemiology and pharmacovigilance. Important research questions in pharmacoepidemiology and how it can be used in clinical decision making and policy. Checklists used to measure quality of clinical trials and epidemiological studies.
- Second year
- Fall
- Human Resource Management
- Managerial economics and health services
- Organic Chemistry 3
- Sustainable Development, Environmental Policy and Resource Management
- Introduction to Environment and Natural Resources
- Public Health: Science, Politics, Prevention
- Project Management
- Theoretical Foundations of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Not taught this semesterIntroduction to economics for MA students
- Medicinal Chemistry/Drug Design
- Herbal Remedies/Natural Products
- MS project
- Interdisciplinary cooperation in health sciences
- Spring 1
- MS project
Human Resource Management (VIÐ194F)
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the latest key theories in human resource management and that they gain understanding and proficiency in using key HRM theories. Theories of HRM are covered in detail and the goal is that students understand the importance of HRM as a field of study and as an important function within organizations. Key aspects of HRM will be covered and it is important that students familiarize themselves with the course concepts through lectures and discussion sessions where they will work on the solution of practical cases.
Managerial economics and health services (HJÚ142F)
The course aims at introducing students to economical issues as well as managerial accounting affecting health services. The same issues affect all factors whether the institutions in question are large or small and no matter if publicly or privately held. The appearance of these factors will be studied and how to affect them in a positive way. Concepts addressed:
- Supply, demand, factors of production, elasticity.
- Variable-, fixed-, direct- and indirect costs
- Taxation and externalities. Private- and public goods.
- Trade and comparative advantage. Circular flow of the economy.
- Cost of living, indexes and national accounts.
- Financial accounting, income statement and balance sheet.
- Cost accounting, managerial benchmarks.
Organic Chemistry 3 (EFN515M)
Generation of carbanions and their reactions, such as alkylation of enolates, C vs. O alkylation, aldol condensation and acylation of carbons. Decarboxylation and formation of double bonds will also be covered, along with organometallic chemistry. General and specific laboratory techniques of synthesis and analysis and the use of databases (Scifinder). Spectroscopic identification of all compounds. 75% of homework must be turned in in order to be allowed to take the exam.
Sustainable Development, Environmental Policy and Resource Management (UAU101F)
Various incentives, policies and management initiatives are used to influence human behavior, to limit the ecological footprint (EF), and to promote sustainable development. This course focuses on environmental and resource management and policy - in the context of sustainable development (SD). The course is broken to three sessions. In the first session we assess the concept SD from various perspectives - followed by an attempt to operationalize the concept. We compare the concepts growth and SD and ask if the two are compatible and discuss sustainability indicators. In the second session we critically examine various tools that are frequently used in environmental and resource decision-making, such as formal decision analysis, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis in addition to valuing ecosystem services. In the third session we examine the ideological foundations behind environmental and resource policy, and assess various policy and management initiatives for diverse situations in a comparative international context. Examples are much based on student interests but possible examples include bottle-deposit systems, ITQ's, voluntary approaches and multi-criteria management.
Introduction to Environment and Natural Resources (UAU102F)
The increase in human numbers and the scale of economic activity has put humans in a position to greatly influence environmental and resource change. Explaining the extent and impact of this influence or selecting and designing appropriate management methods is well beyond the theory and analytical tools of individual disciplines, such as economics, ecology, social or physical sciences. Before introducing the perspective and tools of various disciplines students must have at a minimum a basic understanding of the driving forces behind in addition to the physical and ecological principles of environmental and resource change. The aim of this course is to provide such a background. Some of the topics covered are:the ecological footprint, population growth, economic growth, technology and the environment, natural capital and ecosystem services, diversity as a resource, soil degradation, Pollution and health, Air, water and soil pollution. Climate change and ozone depletion. Urban smog and pollution from heavy industry. Municipal and hazardous waste. Freshwater resources, Marine resources. Forests and wetlands. Energy resources and Energy and the environment.
Public Health: Science, Politics, Prevention (LÝÐ101F)
The course provides an overview of definitions, history, aims, legislation, methods and ethical considerations in public health and public health sciences. The course lays emphasis on global public health as well as on the Icelandic health care system, its administration and funding in comparison with health care systems in other nations. An overview is provided on Icelandic and international databases on health and disease and possibilities for their utilization in research and policy making for health promotion. In addition, current public health issues at each time are emphasized.
Project Management (VIÐ172F)
The course covers both the management of individual projects and the management of projects in an organization. Both theoretical and practical aspects will be covered. Students will gain a good understanding of the elements of project work and project management in business operations and the ability to manage individual projects. Students will learn the structure of the program, progress, and termination of projects. Students will also learn to use software and technology for project management. Students are introduced to projects in an international environment and Agile ideology. The student will be an emphasis on putting on project management in Icelandic business environment and use of information technology.
Please note, students must log in and purchase the book Project Management, The Managerial Process on the McGraw-Hill website. Further information can be found on the course's Canvas page.
Theoretical Foundations of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VIÐ186F)
The aim of the course is to give students an overview of the theoretical foundations of innovation and entrepreneurship and prepare them for further studies, both academic and applied.
The course will cover the most prominent theories and unresolved questions within the field; students will review the latest academic articles and learn about tools to analyze major innovation trends in the economy.
Introduction to economics for MA students (HAG124F)
The goal of the course is to introduce to students the basic theories and methods of modern economics, both microeconomics and macroeconomics. The microeconomics part covers the following topics: consumers and market demand, demand elasticity, firms and different competition conditions in markets, consumer surplus, producer surplus and welfare. The macroeconomics part discussed important topics in macroeconomics such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth and discusses basic theories of macroeconomics concerning the development of an economy in the short and long run.
Medicinal Chemistry/Drug Design (LYF302F)
The course will introduce different aspects of drug chemistry and drug development. Lectures: Drug receptors, activity assays, quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), computer assisted drug design, designing and defining compound libraries, ADMET properties and some drug development examples. A project will also be included in this course.
The project is to set up a Wikipeida page on subject matter linked to Drug Design.
Herbal Remedies/Natural Products (LYF310F)
The course covers the most commonly used herbal remedies/natural products with the aim of enhancing communication skills of students in conveying reliable information to consumers and other health-care professionals. Aspects covered include constituents claimed benefits, scientific research on efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, contraindications. Quality control. Laws, executive orders on herbal remedies.
MS project (LYF301L)
The final project is a requirement for a MS degree in pharmacy, where students work independently, yet supervised by an academic staff. The final product of the research is a thesis and a presentation.
Interdisciplinary cooperation in health sciences (HVS501M)
The course (2 ECTS) is especially aimed at students who have completed at least three years of undergraduate studies in clinical disciplines within the field of health sciences. It is a prerequisite for the clinical course Interdisciplinary clinical cooperation: The HealthSquare (2 ECTS) (health care service for university students). The course is based on the theories of interprofessional education and various teaching strategies will be used in order to encourage active participation of students. Students will work together in interdisciplinary groups. The course is mainly focused on interdisciplinary theories, professionalism, interdisciplinary cooperation, team work and ethical decisions in health care.
Assessment (pass / fail) is based on project work, activity in project work and exams that take place in electronic form in the teaching cycle.
Teaching arrangements:
Students are divided into interdisciplinary study groups at the beginning of the semester that plan and execute their own meeting times and hand in their final assignments before the end of October.
MS project (LYF301L)
The final project is a requirement for a MS degree in pharmacy, where students work independently, yet supervised by an academic staff. The final product of the research is a thesis and a presentation.
- Fall
- LÝÐ105FBiostatistics IMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
This course is an introduction to statistics in the life sciences. The course covers the following topics. Types of data: categorical data, count data, data on continuous variables. Descriptive statistics; numerical statistics and statistical graphs. Probability distributions, the binomial distribution, the Poisson distribution and the normal distribution. The definitions of a random sample and of a population. Sampling distributions. Confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Comparison of means between groups. Statistical tests for frequency tables. Linear and logistic regression with ROC analysis. Survival analysis with the methods of Kaplan-Meier and Cox. The course is based on lectures and practical sessions in computer labs. In the practical sessions exercises are solved with the statistical software package R and the RStudio environment.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF129FPharmacy Laws and RegulationsMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide an understanding of laws, regulations, and other policy decisions regarding health care, pharmaceuticals and pharmacists as well as the implementation of laws and regulations and the role of pharmacists in the health care system. Lectures will provide basics, but students will simultaneously work on assignments related to the subject matter.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF106FIntegrated PharmacologyMandatory (required) course12A mandatory (required) course for the programme12 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course reviews symptoms, etiology, pathophysiology and management of common diseases with emphasis on drug actions and interactions. Diseases in the following subspecialities are discussed: Cardiology, respiratory medicine, nephrology, hematology, geriatrics, dermatology and psychiatry. Case histories are examined and the mechanisms of drug action and side effects dissected to the molecular level.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF122FPharmaceutical BiotechnologyMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide an understanding of fundamental concepts in development and production of biotechnological based drugs (biologics). The production process for biologics manufactured via mammalian cell lines will be covered as well as the required analytical methods for their characterization. The following types of biologics will be covered: Antibodies (traditional and monoclonal), peptide-based drugs and protein-based drugs. The concept of quality by design (QbD) will be explained in addition to good manufacturing practice (GMP) that is required for biologis marketed within the EU/EEA (EU GMP Annex 2). Safety and toxicological profiles of biologics will also be discussed. Lastly, new methods releated to therapeutical applications of biologics will be discussed, including gene therapy and nuclotides. This course is based on a cooperation with experts within the biotechnology industry in Iceland.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites- Spring 2
LYF213FToxicologyMandatory (required) course4A mandatory (required) course for the programme4 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionIn this course the students will learn to understand the pathophysiology of toxicology such as adverse reactions, drug induced diseases or toxicity. Toxicological studies required prior to clinical trials I, II and III will be studied as well as risk management.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF215FEthicsMandatory (required) course2A mandatory (required) course for the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide students with insight into ethics and training in ethical thinking through analysing and debating realistic challenges in healthcare.
The course is intended as preparation for clinical training in a pharmacy setting and practical clinical pharmacy.Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF217FClinical TherapeuticsMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionDuring the course basic concepts used in clinical pharmacy will be reviewed. Emphasis will be on teaching students to take accurate drug history, interpret laboratory results and to use that information to identify, solve and prevent pharmaceutical problems. Students will learn about the classification of pharmaceutical problems and drugs interactions and will be introduced to the practice of providing evidence-based information regarding medications to other health care professionals. In preparing for practical training students will be introduced to the main medical and drug databases and drug prescribing and medical records computer systems used at the hospital. Practical training of the course will find place at the National University Hospital (LSH) where students will become familiar with and participate in clinical practice as performed by pharmacists. Students will also receive training in setting up and presenting real patient cases in a concise way.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in classLYF219FCommunicationMandatory (required) course2A mandatory (required) course for the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide students with a basic knowledge of interview techniques, communication and information gathering in healthcare.
The course is intended as preparation for clinical training in a pharmacy setting and practical clinical pharmacy.Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF222FBasic training in clinical pharmacy IIMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course is an internship program for pharmacy students. The course administrator will locate a pharmacy and mentor for each student who works in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science. The pharmacist mentor will guide the student during the course. The student works assignments at the selected pharmacy.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in classLYF220FPharmacoepidemiologyMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe goal of this course is firstly to introduce the students to the basics of epidemiology and how it is related to health sciences and statistics. This knowledge is used to further examine research questions within the realm of pharmacoepidemiology. Lectures will provide basics, but students will simultaneously work on assignments related to the subject matter. Fundamentals of epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology covered: risk, outcome, causation, transmission of disease and measuring risk, study design, role of chance, confounding and bias in epidemiology, drug utilization studies, systematic review and meta-analysis, ethical considerations in epidemiology and pharmacovigilance. Important research questions in pharmacoepidemiology and how it can be used in clinical decision making and policy. Checklists used to measure quality of clinical trials and epidemiological studies.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites- Fall
- VIÐ194FHuman Resource ManagementRestricted elective course7,5Restricted elective course, conditions apply7,5 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the latest key theories in human resource management and that they gain understanding and proficiency in using key HRM theories. Theories of HRM are covered in detail and the goal is that students understand the importance of HRM as a field of study and as an important function within organizations. Key aspects of HRM will be covered and it is important that students familiarize themselves with the course concepts through lectures and discussion sessions where they will work on the solution of practical cases.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse taught in period IHJÚ142FManagerial economics and health servicesRestricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course aims at introducing students to economical issues as well as managerial accounting affecting health services. The same issues affect all factors whether the institutions in question are large or small and no matter if publicly or privately held. The appearance of these factors will be studied and how to affect them in a positive way. Concepts addressed:
- Supply, demand, factors of production, elasticity.
- Variable-, fixed-, direct- and indirect costs
- Taxation and externalities. Private- and public goods.
- Trade and comparative advantage. Circular flow of the economy.
- Cost of living, indexes and national accounts.
- Financial accounting, income statement and balance sheet.
- Cost accounting, managerial benchmarks.
The course is taught if the specified conditions are metPrerequisitesEFN515MOrganic Chemistry 3Restricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionGeneration of carbanions and their reactions, such as alkylation of enolates, C vs. O alkylation, aldol condensation and acylation of carbons. Decarboxylation and formation of double bonds will also be covered, along with organometallic chemistry. General and specific laboratory techniques of synthesis and analysis and the use of databases (Scifinder). Spectroscopic identification of all compounds. 75% of homework must be turned in in order to be allowed to take the exam.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesUAU101FSustainable Development, Environmental Policy and Resource ManagementRestricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionVarious incentives, policies and management initiatives are used to influence human behavior, to limit the ecological footprint (EF), and to promote sustainable development. This course focuses on environmental and resource management and policy - in the context of sustainable development (SD). The course is broken to three sessions. In the first session we assess the concept SD from various perspectives - followed by an attempt to operationalize the concept. We compare the concepts growth and SD and ask if the two are compatible and discuss sustainability indicators. In the second session we critically examine various tools that are frequently used in environmental and resource decision-making, such as formal decision analysis, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis in addition to valuing ecosystem services. In the third session we examine the ideological foundations behind environmental and resource policy, and assess various policy and management initiatives for diverse situations in a comparative international context. Examples are much based on student interests but possible examples include bottle-deposit systems, ITQ's, voluntary approaches and multi-criteria management.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesUAU102FIntroduction to Environment and Natural ResourcesRestricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe increase in human numbers and the scale of economic activity has put humans in a position to greatly influence environmental and resource change. Explaining the extent and impact of this influence or selecting and designing appropriate management methods is well beyond the theory and analytical tools of individual disciplines, such as economics, ecology, social or physical sciences. Before introducing the perspective and tools of various disciplines students must have at a minimum a basic understanding of the driving forces behind in addition to the physical and ecological principles of environmental and resource change. The aim of this course is to provide such a background. Some of the topics covered are:the ecological footprint, population growth, economic growth, technology and the environment, natural capital and ecosystem services, diversity as a resource, soil degradation, Pollution and health, Air, water and soil pollution. Climate change and ozone depletion. Urban smog and pollution from heavy industry. Municipal and hazardous waste. Freshwater resources, Marine resources. Forests and wetlands. Energy resources and Energy and the environment.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLÝÐ101FPublic Health: Science, Politics, PreventionRestricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course provides an overview of definitions, history, aims, legislation, methods and ethical considerations in public health and public health sciences. The course lays emphasis on global public health as well as on the Icelandic health care system, its administration and funding in comparison with health care systems in other nations. An overview is provided on Icelandic and international databases on health and disease and possibilities for their utilization in research and policy making for health promotion. In addition, current public health issues at each time are emphasized.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in classCourse taught first half of the semesterVIÐ172FProject ManagementRestricted elective course7,5Restricted elective course, conditions apply7,5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course covers both the management of individual projects and the management of projects in an organization. Both theoretical and practical aspects will be covered. Students will gain a good understanding of the elements of project work and project management in business operations and the ability to manage individual projects. Students will learn the structure of the program, progress, and termination of projects. Students will also learn to use software and technology for project management. Students are introduced to projects in an international environment and Agile ideology. The student will be an emphasis on putting on project management in Icelandic business environment and use of information technology.
Please note, students must log in and purchase the book Project Management, The Managerial Process on the McGraw-Hill website. Further information can be found on the course's Canvas page.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse taught in period IVIÐ186FTheoretical Foundations of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipRestricted elective course7,5Restricted elective course, conditions apply7,5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of the course is to give students an overview of the theoretical foundations of innovation and entrepreneurship and prepare them for further studies, both academic and applied.
The course will cover the most prominent theories and unresolved questions within the field; students will review the latest academic articles and learn about tools to analyze major innovation trends in the economy.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse taught in period IINot taught this semesterHAG124FIntroduction to economics for MA studentsRestricted elective course7,5Restricted elective course, conditions apply7,5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe goal of the course is to introduce to students the basic theories and methods of modern economics, both microeconomics and macroeconomics. The microeconomics part covers the following topics: consumers and market demand, demand elasticity, firms and different competition conditions in markets, consumer surplus, producer surplus and welfare. The macroeconomics part discussed important topics in macroeconomics such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth and discusses basic theories of macroeconomics concerning the development of an economy in the short and long run.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse taught in period ILYF302FMedicinal Chemistry/Drug DesignMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course will introduce different aspects of drug chemistry and drug development. Lectures: Drug receptors, activity assays, quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), computer assisted drug design, designing and defining compound libraries, ADMET properties and some drug development examples. A project will also be included in this course.
The project is to set up a Wikipeida page on subject matter linked to Drug Design.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF310FHerbal Remedies/Natural ProductsMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course covers the most commonly used herbal remedies/natural products with the aim of enhancing communication skills of students in conveying reliable information to consumers and other health-care professionals. Aspects covered include constituents claimed benefits, scientific research on efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, contraindications. Quality control. Laws, executive orders on herbal remedies.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF301LMS projectMandatory (required) course45A mandatory (required) course for the programme45 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe final project is a requirement for a MS degree in pharmacy, where students work independently, yet supervised by an academic staff. The final product of the research is a thesis and a presentation.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsHVS501MInterdisciplinary cooperation in health sciencesMandatory (required) course2A mandatory (required) course for the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course (2 ECTS) is especially aimed at students who have completed at least three years of undergraduate studies in clinical disciplines within the field of health sciences. It is a prerequisite for the clinical course Interdisciplinary clinical cooperation: The HealthSquare (2 ECTS) (health care service for university students). The course is based on the theories of interprofessional education and various teaching strategies will be used in order to encourage active participation of students. Students will work together in interdisciplinary groups. The course is mainly focused on interdisciplinary theories, professionalism, interdisciplinary cooperation, team work and ethical decisions in health care.
Assessment (pass / fail) is based on project work, activity in project work and exams that take place in electronic form in the teaching cycle.
Teaching arrangements:
Students are divided into interdisciplinary study groups at the beginning of the semester that plan and execute their own meeting times and hand in their final assignments before the end of October.Online learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in class- Spring 2
LYF301LMS projectMandatory (required) course45A mandatory (required) course for the programme45 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe final project is a requirement for a MS degree in pharmacy, where students work independently, yet supervised by an academic staff. The final product of the research is a thesis and a presentation.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsSecond year- Fall
- LÝÐ105FBiostatistics IMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
This course is an introduction to statistics in the life sciences. The course covers the following topics. Types of data: categorical data, count data, data on continuous variables. Descriptive statistics; numerical statistics and statistical graphs. Probability distributions, the binomial distribution, the Poisson distribution and the normal distribution. The definitions of a random sample and of a population. Sampling distributions. Confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Comparison of means between groups. Statistical tests for frequency tables. Linear and logistic regression with ROC analysis. Survival analysis with the methods of Kaplan-Meier and Cox. The course is based on lectures and practical sessions in computer labs. In the practical sessions exercises are solved with the statistical software package R and the RStudio environment.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF129FPharmacy Laws and RegulationsMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide an understanding of laws, regulations, and other policy decisions regarding health care, pharmaceuticals and pharmacists as well as the implementation of laws and regulations and the role of pharmacists in the health care system. Lectures will provide basics, but students will simultaneously work on assignments related to the subject matter.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF106FIntegrated PharmacologyMandatory (required) course12A mandatory (required) course for the programme12 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course reviews symptoms, etiology, pathophysiology and management of common diseases with emphasis on drug actions and interactions. Diseases in the following subspecialities are discussed: Cardiology, respiratory medicine, nephrology, hematology, geriatrics, dermatology and psychiatry. Case histories are examined and the mechanisms of drug action and side effects dissected to the molecular level.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF122FPharmaceutical BiotechnologyMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide an understanding of fundamental concepts in development and production of biotechnological based drugs (biologics). The production process for biologics manufactured via mammalian cell lines will be covered as well as the required analytical methods for their characterization. The following types of biologics will be covered: Antibodies (traditional and monoclonal), peptide-based drugs and protein-based drugs. The concept of quality by design (QbD) will be explained in addition to good manufacturing practice (GMP) that is required for biologis marketed within the EU/EEA (EU GMP Annex 2). Safety and toxicological profiles of biologics will also be discussed. Lastly, new methods releated to therapeutical applications of biologics will be discussed, including gene therapy and nuclotides. This course is based on a cooperation with experts within the biotechnology industry in Iceland.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites- Spring 2
LYF213FToxicologyMandatory (required) course4A mandatory (required) course for the programme4 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionIn this course the students will learn to understand the pathophysiology of toxicology such as adverse reactions, drug induced diseases or toxicity. Toxicological studies required prior to clinical trials I, II and III will be studied as well as risk management.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF215FEthicsMandatory (required) course2A mandatory (required) course for the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide students with insight into ethics and training in ethical thinking through analysing and debating realistic challenges in healthcare.
The course is intended as preparation for clinical training in a pharmacy setting and practical clinical pharmacy.Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF217FClinical TherapeuticsMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionDuring the course basic concepts used in clinical pharmacy will be reviewed. Emphasis will be on teaching students to take accurate drug history, interpret laboratory results and to use that information to identify, solve and prevent pharmaceutical problems. Students will learn about the classification of pharmaceutical problems and drugs interactions and will be introduced to the practice of providing evidence-based information regarding medications to other health care professionals. In preparing for practical training students will be introduced to the main medical and drug databases and drug prescribing and medical records computer systems used at the hospital. Practical training of the course will find place at the National University Hospital (LSH) where students will become familiar with and participate in clinical practice as performed by pharmacists. Students will also receive training in setting up and presenting real patient cases in a concise way.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in classLYF219FCommunicationMandatory (required) course2A mandatory (required) course for the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide students with a basic knowledge of interview techniques, communication and information gathering in healthcare.
The course is intended as preparation for clinical training in a pharmacy setting and practical clinical pharmacy.Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF222FBasic training in clinical pharmacy IIMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course is an internship program for pharmacy students. The course administrator will locate a pharmacy and mentor for each student who works in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science. The pharmacist mentor will guide the student during the course. The student works assignments at the selected pharmacy.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in classLYF220FPharmacoepidemiologyMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe goal of this course is firstly to introduce the students to the basics of epidemiology and how it is related to health sciences and statistics. This knowledge is used to further examine research questions within the realm of pharmacoepidemiology. Lectures will provide basics, but students will simultaneously work on assignments related to the subject matter. Fundamentals of epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology covered: risk, outcome, causation, transmission of disease and measuring risk, study design, role of chance, confounding and bias in epidemiology, drug utilization studies, systematic review and meta-analysis, ethical considerations in epidemiology and pharmacovigilance. Important research questions in pharmacoepidemiology and how it can be used in clinical decision making and policy. Checklists used to measure quality of clinical trials and epidemiological studies.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites- Fall
- VIÐ194FHuman Resource ManagementRestricted elective course7,5Restricted elective course, conditions apply7,5 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the latest key theories in human resource management and that they gain understanding and proficiency in using key HRM theories. Theories of HRM are covered in detail and the goal is that students understand the importance of HRM as a field of study and as an important function within organizations. Key aspects of HRM will be covered and it is important that students familiarize themselves with the course concepts through lectures and discussion sessions where they will work on the solution of practical cases.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse taught in period IHJÚ142FManagerial economics and health servicesRestricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course aims at introducing students to economical issues as well as managerial accounting affecting health services. The same issues affect all factors whether the institutions in question are large or small and no matter if publicly or privately held. The appearance of these factors will be studied and how to affect them in a positive way. Concepts addressed:
- Supply, demand, factors of production, elasticity.
- Variable-, fixed-, direct- and indirect costs
- Taxation and externalities. Private- and public goods.
- Trade and comparative advantage. Circular flow of the economy.
- Cost of living, indexes and national accounts.
- Financial accounting, income statement and balance sheet.
- Cost accounting, managerial benchmarks.
The course is taught if the specified conditions are metPrerequisitesEFN515MOrganic Chemistry 3Restricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionGeneration of carbanions and their reactions, such as alkylation of enolates, C vs. O alkylation, aldol condensation and acylation of carbons. Decarboxylation and formation of double bonds will also be covered, along with organometallic chemistry. General and specific laboratory techniques of synthesis and analysis and the use of databases (Scifinder). Spectroscopic identification of all compounds. 75% of homework must be turned in in order to be allowed to take the exam.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesUAU101FSustainable Development, Environmental Policy and Resource ManagementRestricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionVarious incentives, policies and management initiatives are used to influence human behavior, to limit the ecological footprint (EF), and to promote sustainable development. This course focuses on environmental and resource management and policy - in the context of sustainable development (SD). The course is broken to three sessions. In the first session we assess the concept SD from various perspectives - followed by an attempt to operationalize the concept. We compare the concepts growth and SD and ask if the two are compatible and discuss sustainability indicators. In the second session we critically examine various tools that are frequently used in environmental and resource decision-making, such as formal decision analysis, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis in addition to valuing ecosystem services. In the third session we examine the ideological foundations behind environmental and resource policy, and assess various policy and management initiatives for diverse situations in a comparative international context. Examples are much based on student interests but possible examples include bottle-deposit systems, ITQ's, voluntary approaches and multi-criteria management.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesUAU102FIntroduction to Environment and Natural ResourcesRestricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe increase in human numbers and the scale of economic activity has put humans in a position to greatly influence environmental and resource change. Explaining the extent and impact of this influence or selecting and designing appropriate management methods is well beyond the theory and analytical tools of individual disciplines, such as economics, ecology, social or physical sciences. Before introducing the perspective and tools of various disciplines students must have at a minimum a basic understanding of the driving forces behind in addition to the physical and ecological principles of environmental and resource change. The aim of this course is to provide such a background. Some of the topics covered are:the ecological footprint, population growth, economic growth, technology and the environment, natural capital and ecosystem services, diversity as a resource, soil degradation, Pollution and health, Air, water and soil pollution. Climate change and ozone depletion. Urban smog and pollution from heavy industry. Municipal and hazardous waste. Freshwater resources, Marine resources. Forests and wetlands. Energy resources and Energy and the environment.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLÝÐ101FPublic Health: Science, Politics, PreventionRestricted elective course6Restricted elective course, conditions apply6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course provides an overview of definitions, history, aims, legislation, methods and ethical considerations in public health and public health sciences. The course lays emphasis on global public health as well as on the Icelandic health care system, its administration and funding in comparison with health care systems in other nations. An overview is provided on Icelandic and international databases on health and disease and possibilities for their utilization in research and policy making for health promotion. In addition, current public health issues at each time are emphasized.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in classCourse taught first half of the semesterVIÐ172FProject ManagementRestricted elective course7,5Restricted elective course, conditions apply7,5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course covers both the management of individual projects and the management of projects in an organization. Both theoretical and practical aspects will be covered. Students will gain a good understanding of the elements of project work and project management in business operations and the ability to manage individual projects. Students will learn the structure of the program, progress, and termination of projects. Students will also learn to use software and technology for project management. Students are introduced to projects in an international environment and Agile ideology. The student will be an emphasis on putting on project management in Icelandic business environment and use of information technology.
Please note, students must log in and purchase the book Project Management, The Managerial Process on the McGraw-Hill website. Further information can be found on the course's Canvas page.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse taught in period IVIÐ186FTheoretical Foundations of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipRestricted elective course7,5Restricted elective course, conditions apply7,5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of the course is to give students an overview of the theoretical foundations of innovation and entrepreneurship and prepare them for further studies, both academic and applied.
The course will cover the most prominent theories and unresolved questions within the field; students will review the latest academic articles and learn about tools to analyze major innovation trends in the economy.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse taught in period IINot taught this semesterHAG124FIntroduction to economics for MA studentsRestricted elective course7,5Restricted elective course, conditions apply7,5 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe goal of the course is to introduce to students the basic theories and methods of modern economics, both microeconomics and macroeconomics. The microeconomics part covers the following topics: consumers and market demand, demand elasticity, firms and different competition conditions in markets, consumer surplus, producer surplus and welfare. The macroeconomics part discussed important topics in macroeconomics such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth and discusses basic theories of macroeconomics concerning the development of an economy in the short and long run.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesCourse taught in period ILYF302FMedicinal Chemistry/Drug DesignMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course will introduce different aspects of drug chemistry and drug development. Lectures: Drug receptors, activity assays, quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), computer assisted drug design, designing and defining compound libraries, ADMET properties and some drug development examples. A project will also be included in this course.
The project is to set up a Wikipeida page on subject matter linked to Drug Design.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF310FHerbal Remedies/Natural ProductsMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course covers the most commonly used herbal remedies/natural products with the aim of enhancing communication skills of students in conveying reliable information to consumers and other health-care professionals. Aspects covered include constituents claimed benefits, scientific research on efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, contraindications. Quality control. Laws, executive orders on herbal remedies.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesLYF301LMS projectMandatory (required) course45A mandatory (required) course for the programme45 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe final project is a requirement for a MS degree in pharmacy, where students work independently, yet supervised by an academic staff. The final product of the research is a thesis and a presentation.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsHVS501MInterdisciplinary cooperation in health sciencesMandatory (required) course2A mandatory (required) course for the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course (2 ECTS) is especially aimed at students who have completed at least three years of undergraduate studies in clinical disciplines within the field of health sciences. It is a prerequisite for the clinical course Interdisciplinary clinical cooperation: The HealthSquare (2 ECTS) (health care service for university students). The course is based on the theories of interprofessional education and various teaching strategies will be used in order to encourage active participation of students. Students will work together in interdisciplinary groups. The course is mainly focused on interdisciplinary theories, professionalism, interdisciplinary cooperation, team work and ethical decisions in health care.
Assessment (pass / fail) is based on project work, activity in project work and exams that take place in electronic form in the teaching cycle.
Teaching arrangements:
Students are divided into interdisciplinary study groups at the beginning of the semester that plan and execute their own meeting times and hand in their final assignments before the end of October.Online learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in class- Spring 2
LYF301LMS projectMandatory (required) course45A mandatory (required) course for the programme45 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe final project is a requirement for a MS degree in pharmacy, where students work independently, yet supervised by an academic staff. The final product of the research is a thesis and a presentation.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsAdditional information The University of Iceland collaborates with over 400 universities worldwide. This provides a unique opportunity to pursue part of your studies at an international university thus gaining added experience and fresh insight into your field of study.
Students generally have the opportunity to join an exchange programme, internship, or summer courses. However, exchanges are always subject to faculty approval.
Students have the opportunity to have courses evaluated as part of their studies at the University of Iceland, so their stay does not have to affect the duration of their studies.
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences strives to produce pharmacists with a first class education, equipped to pursue a career in pharmacy or further study in Iceland or abroad.
The breadth of the programme means that graduates are in demand on the job market and have a range of opportunities open to them. Pharmacists can find work in various different fields, most commonly in the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacies, marketing or hospitals.
An education in this area can open up opportunities in:
- Drug design and production
- Quality control and records
- Marketing, import and export of drugs
- Consulting, monitoring, management and drug dispensing in pharmacies
- Advising other healthcare professionals
- Organisation and oversight of medication
- Manufacturing of drugs and dietary supplements
This list is not exhaustive.
Tinktúra, the society for pharmacy students, organises a busy social calendar and advocates for student interests.
Tinktúra is a member of international organisations for pharmacy students, IPSF and EPSA, which share information between all students on academic and professional developments and innovation in pharmacy. Tinktúra is also a member of IAESTE, an international organisation for students studying the physical and health sciences.
Students' comments Students appreciate the University of Iceland for its strong academic reputation, modern campus facilities, close-knit community, and affordable tuition.Helpful content Study wheel
What interests you?
How to apply
Follow the path
Contact us If you still have questions, feel free to contact us.
Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesWeekdays: 10-12 am and 1-3 pmGeneral serviceStudents can use the Service Desk as the point of access for all services. Students can drop in at the University Centre or use the WebChat on this page.
Share