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Pharmacy

Farmasi

The S1 Pharmacy program provides a comprehensive study of the pharmaceutical sciences — from the discovery and development of drug compounds, formulation, production, and quality control, through to distribution and patient care. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree (S.Farm). To practice as a pharmacist, an additional professional pharmacist program (Apt) and competency exam are required.

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Level S1 · 4 years
Market demand High and growing
Mid salary Rp 5–10 million /mo
01

Big Picture

DATA

Study medicine and health products in depth: from identifying active compounds, formulating preparations, testing safety and efficacy, production, quality control, to distribution and patient care. You understand how drugs work in the body, how to make them, and how to ensure their quality and safety.

Core courses

  • ›Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • ›Pharmacology
  • ›Pharmaceutics
  • ›Pharmacognosy
  • ›Pharmaceutical Biology
  • ›Formulation Technology
  • ›Pharmaceutical Analysis
  • ›Clinical Pharmacy
  • ›Pharmacy Management
  • ›Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
WHO THIS FITS

Interested in chemistry, biology, health. Enjoy precise, detailed work, care about others' safety, want to contribute to healthcare through pharmaceutical science — without becoming a doctor or nurse.

Education levels

how does it differ from other levels?
D3
D3 Pharmacy is a 3-year vocational program (96 credits per Kemenkes 2016 core curriculum) producing Tenaga Teknis Kefarmasian with an A.Md. degree. Focuses on practical technical skills to work as an assistant in pharmacies, hospitals, or the pharmaceutical industry. D3 graduates can continue to S1 Pharmacy through extension programs, but the additional duration varies depending on individual institutional policies.
D4
D4 Pharmacy is a 4-year applied bachelor's program producing Sarjana Terapan Farmasi (S.Tr.Farm). Deeper than D3 with emphasis on applied applications and pharmaceutical technology. This program is still relatively new and limited in availability in Indonesia — several Poltekkes Kemenkes have offered it.
S2
S2 Master of Pharmacy is a graduate program (generally around 2 years) for deepening research or specialization in specific fields such as clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical technology, or pharmacology. Graduates receive an M.Farm. or M.Si. degree depending on the program. Thesis required. Typically needed for careers in research, academia, or managerial positions in industry.
S3
S3 Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences is a doctoral program (generally 3–4 years) based on in-depth research. Graduates receive a Doctor (Dr.) degree. Dissertation required. Intended for those pursuing careers as principal investigators, professors, or senior scientists in the pharmaceutical field.

Often confused with…

what's the difference?
vsMedicine
Medicine focuses on diagnosing and treating patients directly. Pharmacy focuses on the drug itself: how it is made, its mechanism of action, and its distribution. Doctors prescribe; pharmacists ensure the drug is appropriate and safe.
vsBiology
Biology studies living organisms broadly. Pharmacy uses biological science but focuses specifically on its application to drugs and human health.
vsChemistry
Pure chemistry studies chemical structures and reactions broadly. Pharmacy applies chemistry specifically to drug compounds, formulation, and quality analysis.
vsFood Technology
Food Technology focuses on food production and safety. Pharmacy focuses on drugs and health products under far stricter regulations.

Myth vs Fact

MYTH Pharmacy graduates only work in pharmacies.
FACT S1 Pharmacy graduates can work in the pharmaceutical industry (production, QC/QA, regulatory affairs), hospitals, clinics, cosmetics companies, regulatory bodies like BPOM, research institutes, and entrepreneurship. Many positions do not require a pharmacist degree.
MYTH Pharmacy is easy, just memorizing drug names.
FACT Pharmacy requires a strong understanding of chemistry, biology, and mathematics. You understand drug mechanisms at the molecular level, design formulations, and analyze quality — not just memorize.
MYTH You can become a pharmacist immediately after S1.
FACT S1 Pharmacy gives you the S.Farm degree. To practice as a pharmacist, you must complete the Apoteker professional program (usually 1–1.5 years) and pass the competency exam (UKMPPA) as well as obtain an STR.
MYTH D3 Pharmacy is the same as S1 Pharmacy.
FACT D3 Pharmacy is a 3-year vocational program producing Tenaga Teknis Kefarmasian (A.Md. degree), focusing on practical skills. S1 Pharmacy is a 4-year bachelor's program with deeper theoretical and research foundations, producing an S.Farm who can continue to the Apoteker professional program.
02

Toolkit & Prep

GUIDE

Personal hardware & software you need to prepare before classes start — requirements vary by program. Expensive, heavy-duty equipment is usually provided by the campus.

MINIMUM LAPTOP SPEC

Laptop with minimum 8 GB RAM, Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 or equivalent, 256 GB+ SSD storage. No high-end GPU needed since no intensive 3D rendering, but useful for statistical data processing and report writing.

ESTIMATED STARTUP BUDGET
Rp 8–15 million

A one-time purchase that lasts through your studies.

Laptop
For data analysis, report writing, and presentations
Required
Lab coat
Required during laboratory practical sessions
Required
Safety glasses
Eye protection during practical sessions with chemicals
Required
Scientific calculator
For calculating dosages, concentrations, and formulations
Required
Indonesian Pharmacopoeia book
Official reference for Indonesian drug standards — usually also available at the campus library
Optional
Statistical software (R / Python / SPSS)
For research data analysis; R and Python are free, SPSS is paid
Optional
Molecular structure drawing software (ChemDraw / MarvinSketch)
For drawing chemical structures; MarvinSketch has a free version for students
Optional
Lab bag
For carrying stationery and practical session supplies
Optional
03

Facility Checklist

GUIDE

Questions specific to Pharmacy to bring to an open house or campus visit. Important facilities vary by program — these matter most.

Note: Myjor doesn't maintain a facilities database per campus. This is a tool for you to assess it yourself.

Does the campus have separate pharmaceutical chemistry laboratories for synthesis, analysis, and formulation?
What analytical instruments are available for student lab work (UV-Vis spectrophotometer, IR, HPLC, and others)?
Is there a dedicated laboratory for microbiology and sterility testing?
Does the campus have a pilot-scale production unit for simulating drug manufacturing?
What is the ratio of lab equipment per student — does every student get direct access?
Is there a collaboration with hospitals or pharmacies for clinical and community pharmacy practice?
Is access to pharmaceutical databases (such as Martindale, Micromedex, or similar) available for students?
How many hours per week is lab access available? Are there sessions outside regular class hours?
What are the standards for chemical storage and occupational safety in the laboratory (ventilation, fume hoods, MSDS)?
Does the campus have a medicinal plant garden or herbarium for pharmacognosy practice?
How many permanent lecturers are also practicing Pharmacists (Apt)?
Is there an internship program in the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, or pharmacies? How long is the duration?
Does the campus have a production unit that meets CPOB (Cara Pembuatan Obat yang Baik / Good Manufacturing Practice) standards?
Is there a computer laboratory with pharmacy software for pharmaceutical care simulation?

Tip: ask for a tour of the relevant labs/studios, not just the main building. Ask about access hours and whether undergrads can use the equipment.

04

Academic Quality

GUIDE

Three objective ways to assess a program's academic quality — including how to check them yourself.

A

Program accreditation status

Check the program's own accreditation rating (not just the campus's) on official sites. International accreditation is a plus for certain fields.

Unggul / A — top tier Baik Sekali / B Baik / C

Check at: BAN-PT (banpt.or.id) or the relevant LAM, & PDDIKTI (pddikti.kemdikbud.go.id).

B

Student–faculty ratio & how to calculate it

ratio = active students ÷ full-time faculty
Example: 600 students ÷ 25 faculty = 1 : 24
✓Ideal: ≈1:20 for STEM/science fields, ≈1:30 for social sciences/humanities (per Ministry of Education guidance).
!The smaller the second number, the more attention each student gets. Above 1:40 is worth flagging.
!Also check faculty qualifications (Master's/PhD) and whether there are industry practitioner lecturers.
C

Faculty research — relevant & current?

Look up faculty profiles and publications (Google Scholar / SINTA). For Pharmacy, look for those researching currently relevant topics:

Development of drug formulations from Indonesian natural materials (standardized herbal medicines)Molecular pharmacology and mechanisms of drug actionNanotechnology for drug delivery (drug delivery systems)Clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical services in hospitalsDrug quality analysis and counterfeit drug detectionPharmaceutical biotechnology (vaccines, antibodies, gene therapy)Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugsDevelopment of cosmetic preparations and health productsEvaluation of rational drug use and pharmacovigilanceFormulation technology for innovative preparations (controlled-release tablets, transdermal patches)

E.g., is there faculty researching AI, or cancer-related topics? Active research topics signal the program keeps up with the field.

ASK AT THE OPEN HOUSE

"What's this program's student–faculty ratio? What research topics are faculty currently working on? What percentage of graduates find field-relevant jobs within 6 months?"

05

Partnerships

GUIDE

Campus partnerships heavily shape internship, research, and career paths. Which partners matter varies by program — here's what's relevant for Pharmacy.

Hospitals for clinical pharmacy practice
Ask for a list of partner hospitals for clinical pharmacy internships. Request data on the actual number of students placed each year, not just a list of hospital names.
Pharmaceutical industry for internships
Are there active MoUs with pharmaceutical companies for internships? How many students are placed each year? Is there a joint research program?
Pharmacies and clinics for community practice
Is there a network of pharmacies or clinics for community pharmacy internships? How long are the rotations and how is the supervision?
Joint research institutions
Is there research collaboration with national research institutions (such as BRIN)? Can students participate in joint research projects?
Regulatory bodies (BPOM, Dinas Kesehatan)
Are there internship or visit opportunities at drug regulatory bodies to learn about food and drug supervision?
Apoteker professional program
Does the campus offer an Apoteker professional program? What percentage of S1 (bachelor's) graduates continue to the Apoteker program? How long is the duration and what is the cost?
Competency certification
Does the campus provide pharmacy competency certification training? Is the certification fee covered separately or included?
Active MoUs — mandatory verification
Request a list of MoUs that are still active (not just logos on a brochure). Ask for the number of students actually placed with each partner per year, not just the number of agreements.

Ask for a list of official partners with active MoUs — not just logos in a brochure. Ask how many students are actually placed each year.

06

Career & Salary

DATA
Entry
0–2 years
Rp 3–5 million
per month
Mid
3–6 years
Rp 5–10 million
per month
Senior
7+ years
Rp 10–20 million
per month
Career pathsSalary range /mo
Hospital pharmacist (requires Apt license + STR) Rp 4–8 million/month
Retail pharmacy or clinic pharmacist (requires Apt license + STR) Rp 4–7 million/month
QC/QA staff in pharmaceutical industry (available immediately after S1 bachelor's) Rp 4–8 million/month
R&D staff in pharmaceutical industry (available immediately after S1 bachelor's) Rp 5–10 million/month
Regulatory affairs in pharmaceutical industry (available immediately after S1 bachelor's) Rp 5–10 million/month
Medical representative / product specialist (available immediately after S1 bachelor's) Rp 5–10 million/month
Industrial pharmacist / medical science liaison (requires Apt license + experience) Rp 8–15 million/month
Pharmacy lecturer / academic (generally requires S2 master's) Rp 5–12 million/month
Researcher at research institute (generally requires S2/S3 master's or doctoral) Rp 5–10 million/month

Sources: Myjor 2024 industry salary survey (n=4,200), BPS, and job portals. Figures are medians, influenced by city, company, and experience.

Sources & References

The career & salary data above traces back to its sources. Click to expand/collapse the source list.