Can I become a cosmetic formulator with a Pharmacy degree?

Hi people.

Could anyone advise me on this topic? I know that Chemistry would most likely be the most obvious option, but would studying a subject like Pharmacy also be valid (and I believe: Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry etc. are valid, but I'm not too sure so input would be appreciated).


You see, I feel like I would enjoy the content of a Pharmacy degree much more than a Chemistry degree, and I have a part-time job in a pharmacist (I really enjoy it), but as the career prospects seem rather precarious at the moment, I was wondering if studying Pharmacy would also facilitate me having one of my "dream jobs" as a cosmetic formulator?


Would my Chemistry ability be too weak if I were to study Pharmacy? Would it be ok if I were to do further study (not including just going back and doing a Chemistry Bsc, that would just be a waste of time when I would already have a MPharm)?

Thanks people

do you mean a cosmetic scientist? I think the difficulty is if you did an mpharm you might not get a postgraduate loan if you needed to fund one for future study and if you don't plan to be a pharmacist anyway then it wouldn't be worth it. A bsc like this could be more appropriate http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/pharmaceutical-cosmetic-science-bsc-hons-degree/pharmaceutical-and-cosmetic-science-bsc-hons.aspx

Pharmacy is an allied health care profession, and very different from all the other degrees you have listed as a result. If you are not interested in becoming a dispensing pharmacist, then a pharmacy degree is probably not a great option to consider. However, as @claireestelle noted, there are plenty of relevant courses which are perhaps more directly related to the area.

Pharmaceutical Science courses, especially those that have specialisms in the area, are likely to be very relevant. Pharmacology courses might be relevant, although they focus a little more on the biomedical side than on the physical science aspects. A Chemical Engineering course could be extremely relevant, depending on the role you would want to go into in the area - although some might focus more on other areas than cosmetics (it also contains relatively little chemistry and is mostly maths and physics - so whether the course would be preferable in that respect depends on your background and interests as well).