Career Options

The outstanding feature of this programme is that it combines a thorough scientific education with industry-specific knowledge. Students acquire in depth knowledge in various fields of Pharmaceutical Sciences, general scientific skills and gain an overview of the drug development process.

The programme prepares graduates for a career in the following fields:

• academic research (PhD studies)
• industry, e.g. research, development, quality management, regulatory affairs, pharmacoeconomics and marketing
  
• health authorities, e.g. medicinal product authorisation, licensing, market surveillance
  
• consulting
  

The ETH Zurich fosters an atmosphere of entrepreneurship and supports the foundation of spin-off companies based on its research achievements. At the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences several spin-off companies have been founded over the last decade: Covagen, Inositec, inSili.com, Philochem, pnn, Versantis, etc.

The pharmaceutical industry ranks amongst the most innovative and profitable sectors of the Swiss economy. Numerous international pharmaceutical companies have chosen Switzerland as location for their R&D departments or their headquarters. Furthermore, Switzerland has a dynamic biotech and medical device industry.