Launched in 2001, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) in Chinese Medicine of the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), which is retitled Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) in Chinese Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2027, is Hong Kong’s only full-time, UGC-funded undergraduate Pharmacy programme in Chinese Medicine. HKBU is the Contractor, and the HKBU Chinese Medicine Hospital Company Limited is the Operator of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK).

Programme Aims

The programme aims to equip students with comprehensive knowledge in four key areas:

(1) authentication, identification, quality analysis, quality control, chemical modification, drug design and patenting of Chinese medicines (CMs) and derived products;

(2) new design of modern medicinal and pharmaceutical products;

(3) fundamental skills in research and development of medicinal and pharmaceutical products; and

(4) regulation and management of the pharmaceutical industry, both locally in Hong Kong and globally.

Programme Details

The programme encompasses pharmaceutical sciences, the identification, analysis, and quality control of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM), chemical modification and foundational skills in the development and production of new Chinese medicine drugs and pharmaceutical products, knowledge of pharmaceutical management in Hong Kong and internationally, and elective courses and practicum training. During the four-year programme, students are required to complete a 15-week practicum, and in the final year, students are required to carry out an Honours Project before graduation. Throughout the programme, research concepts and tools are emphasized, and the concept of “Whole Person Education” is upheld by providing student-oriented, adaptive and holistic learning through the General Education Programme.

4-year Study Schedule
Chinese Medicines Professional Courses
  • Medicinal Botany I & II
  • Medicinal Botany Lab
  • Fundamental Chinese Medicine
Pharmaceutical Sciences Courses
  • Organic Chemistry I & II
  • Organic Chemistry Lab I & II
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Biomedical Sciences Lab I
Practicum and Honours Project
  • Supervised Practicum I (Medicinal Botany)
Elective Courses

Nil

    University Language and General Education Courses
    • University Chinese
    • University English I
    • Culture and Civilization
    • Values and the Meaning of Life
    • University Life
    Chinese Medicines Professional Courses
    • Chinese Materia Medica
    • Phytochemistry
    • Phytochemistry Lab
    • Chinese Medicinal Formulae
    Pharmaceutical Sciences Courses
    • Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
    • Biomedical Science Lab IIB
    • Immunology and Microbiology
    • Pharmacology and Toxicology
    • Analytical Chemistry
    • Analytical Chemistry Lab
    • Organic Synthesis
    • Organic Synthesis Lab
    Practicum and Honours Project

    Nil

    Elective Courses
    • Free Elective
    University Language and General Education Courses
    • University English II
    • Quantitative Reasoning
    • Healthy Lifestyle
    • AI Literacies for Social Good
    Chinese Medicines Professional Courses
    • Herbal Pharmacology
    • Herbal Pharmacology Lab
    • Authentication of Chinese Materia Medica
    • Authentication of Chinese Materia Medica Lab
    • Unique Processing Methods of Chinese Medicines
    Pharmaceutical Sciences Courses
    • Introduction to Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences
    • Pharmaceutics
    • Pharmaceutics Lab
    • Pharmaceutical Preparation Analysis
    • Pharmaceutical Preparation Analysis Lab
    • Biopharmaceutics
    • Medicinal Chemistry
      Practicum and Honours Project

      Nil

      Elective Courses
      • Free Elective
      University Core and General Education Courses
      • Thematic Courses
      Chinese Medicines Professional Courses

      Nil

        Pharmaceutical Sciences Courses
        • Management of Pharmaceutical Affairs
        • Computational Chemistry and AI Drug Design
        • Training in National Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Examination
          Practicum and Honours Project
          • Supervised Practicum II & III
          • Honours Project I & II
          Elective Courses

          Any of the following courses:

          • Resources of Chinese Medicinal Plants
          • Health Care in Chinese Medicine
          University Language and General Education Courses
          • GE Capstone

          The above courses are taught in English/Putonghua/Cantonese.

          Supervised Practicum & Honours Project

          Starting in Year One, students attend practicum sessions that provide many opportunities to broaden their knowledge. During the summer break after the first year of study, students are required to attend a 2-week practicum in Medicinal Botany. During the summer breaks after the third and fourth years of study, they undertake practicums at either a pharmaceutical plant or an herbarium in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shaoguan, or Guangzhou. The arrangement is listed as below:

          Shenzhen Tsumura Medicine Co. Ltd. or Society of Practitioners of Chinese Herbal Medicine Limited

          To conduct the unique processing of Chinese material medica and examine the quality of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces.

          Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc. or Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited

          To learn the preparation methods and quality control of Chinese herbal medicines.

          Pharmacy department of Chinese medicines clinics in Hong Kong

          To practise the dispensing skill and pharmacy management in the clinics of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Yan Chai Hospital, Yan Oi Tong, Pok Oi Hospital and HKBU CM's clinics.

          Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

          To practise at the dispensing sector, storage room of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces, and decoction preparation sector.

          Toxicology Reference Laboratory, Princess Margaret Hospital

          To comprehensively master and understand the knowledge of drug analysis and testing.

          Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office, Department of Health

          To enhance the ability for quality control and identification of Chinese medicines.

          Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited (Tai Po Production and R&D Base)

          To acquire knowledge and understanding of the operation of GMP pharmaceutical factories.

           

          In the 4th year of studies, students are required to conduct an 8-month Honours Project under the supervision of professors in the School. Research topics are divided into four categories: Study in Authentication of Chinese Materia Medica and Medicinal Botany, Study in Phytochemistry Components and Quality Control, Study in Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Study in Chinese Herbal Preparation and New Drug Development.

          Admission Requirements

          The major student intake is Form six graduates with Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination results who applied via the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS). Applicants with suitable qualifications will also be considered by applying via non-JUPAS route. The approximate annual intake is 20-25.

          Application Procedures

          Applicants must satisfy the entrance requirements specific to their desired programmes of study IN ADDITION TO the General University Admission Requirements. Please click here for details about the General University Admission Requirements.

          Applicants must satisfy the entrance requirements specific to their desired programmes of study IN ADDITION TO the General University Admission Requirements. Please click here for details about the General University Admission Requirements. 

          Program Requirements#
          HKDSE

          Core Subjects

          English Language

          Level 3

          Chinese Language (Note 1)

          Level 3

          Mathematics

          Level 2

          Citizenship and Social Development

          Attained

          +

          2 Elective Subjects (Note 2+3)

          Level 3

          Note 1:No alternative Chinese language qualifications will be accepted in lieu of HKDSE Chinese language.
          Note 2:One elective must be Chemistry. [Combined Science (Chemistry, Biology) and Combined Science (Physics, Chemistry) will not be recognised as Chemistry (Applied to applicants in or before 2023 as Combined Science has not been offered since AY2021/22).]
          Note 3:The other elective must be any Category A subjects or M1/M2 (Extended Part of Mathematics Module 1 or Module 2).

           

           
          Others
          • High choice banding in JUPAS application is preferred.
          • School Reference Report will be specially considered.
          • Candidates may be required to attend an interview.

          #The requirements may review from time to time without prior notice. Please refer to the admission information announced by the HKBU Academic Registry as the updated information.

          Applicants seeking admission on the strength of qualifications other than HKDSE results should apply directly to the University. For information on the application procedures and admission requirements, please refer to the website of HKBU Academic Registry.

          Enquiries

          Tel: (852) 3411-2481 / 3411-2960
          Fax: (852) 3411-2461
          Email: bcmd@hkbu.edu.hk