VELS University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), established in 1992 as Vels College of Pharmacy by the Vaels Educational Trust, has grown into a leading center for pharmaceutical education and research. Since becoming a part of VISTAS in 2008, a Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, the school offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in pharmacy, all approved by AICTE, UGC, and PCI. The institution is known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, featuring advanced laboratories, modern computer facilities, and a well-stocked library that supports both academic learning and high-quality research. The B.Pharm programme is accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), further highlighting the school’s academic excellence. The department conducts collaborative research with reputed hospitals and organizations, and supports ethical research practices through its Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, aligned with CPCSEA norms, and a Human Ethics Committee adhering to ICMR guidelines. A well-equipped animal room facilitates experimental studies, while a generic medicine store under the Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) provides subsidized medicines. Regular campus interviews are organized to ensure strong placement opportunities for students, making the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at VISTAS a comprehensive hub for pharmacy education, research, and service.

Selection Committee of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) will conduct counseling for Pharmacy in Tamil Nadu

The online application for admission to Paramedical Degree Courses in Tamil Nadu Government Medical Colleges and Government quota seats in Self-Financing Colleges affiliated with The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, is available at www.tnhealth.tn.gov.in and www.tnmedicalselection.org. Candidates must regularly visit these websites for updates throughout the admission process, as the Selection Committee will not be held responsible for any consequences arising from failure to follow updates, notifications, or announcements published online. Those unable to access the online application can visit the nearest Government Medical College, Government Dental College, or Tamil Nadu Facilitation Centre (TFC) in districts without medical colleges, along with their parent or guardian and original certificates, to use the available facilities to apply. Applicants are strongly advised to download and carefully read the prospectus with their parents or guardians before completing the application, ensuring that all mandatory fields are properly filled. Incomplete or incorrectly filled applications will be rejected, and no requests for reconsideration will be entertained. In case of any confusion, candidates should refer to both Tamil and English versions of the prospectus for clarity.

B.Pharm Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for admission to the B.Pharm course in Tamil Nadu under the Government quota for the 2024–25 session, candidates must have passed the Higher Secondary Course examination conducted by the Tamil Nadu State Board or any other equivalent board with English as one of the subjects and a combination of Physics and Chemistry with either Biology, Botany and Zoology, or Mathematics. Candidates belonging to the OC, BC, BCM, and MBC/DNC categories must have secured a minimum of 40% aggregate marks in the specified subjects, while candidates from SC, SCA, and ST categories need only a pass in the qualifying subjects.

Procedure for Filling and Submitting the Online Application: Candidates must log in to either of the official websites www.tnhealth.tn.gov.in or www.tnmedicalselection.org to access and submit the online application. The application fee is Rs. 500/- and must be paid through the designated bank portal. Candidates are required to fill in all mandatory fields accurately and upload the necessary certificates as specified. Once the application is submitted, no request for changes in any of the details will be entertained under any circumstances. Only one application should be submitted; in case multiple applications are submitted, only one will be considered. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct at the time of submission.

The following documents must be uploaded in the specified sections of the application form:

1. Class X Mark Sheet
2. H.S.C. or Equivalent Examination Mark Sheet (both sides, endorsed by the competent authority)
3. Transfer Certificate obtained after completion of H.S.C. or Equivalent Course
4. Nativity Certificate (if applicable)
5. Community Certificate
6. Certificates for claiming Special Category seats, issued by the appropriate authorities in the prescribed format (refer to Annexure-I & Annexure-II (A) & (B))
7. Proof of Study Certificate from 6th to 12th standard (for those who studied in Tamil Nadu)
8. First Graduate Certificate (if claiming first graduate status in the family)
9. Parent's Community Certificate issued by the Revenue Authority of the Government of Tamil Nadu
10. Candidates must ensure that all required certificates are uploaded in the correct format and location while filling out the application.

Online Counselling Procedure: The schedule for online counselling will be published exclusively on the official websites, and candidates are required to lock their choices of colleges and courses within the specified timeframe. Admission to Paramedical Degree courses will be conducted through online counselling based on merit and in accordance with the rule of reservation. Counselling for Special Categories, such as Ex-Servicemen and Persons with Disabilities, will be conducted prior to the General Category counselling. Please note that there will be no re-allotment or change of college for candidates under the Special Category. To participate in online counselling, candidates must pay a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 250/- through the bank payment portal. During the choice-filling process, candidates can select any number of eligible courses and colleges. Allotments will be made based on the candidate's merit, preferences, and applicable reservation policies.

Reporting: Candidates who are allotted a seat must download their provisional allotment order and report to the assigned Medical College/Institution in person, along with the original certificates and copies, before the date and time specified in the allotment order. Only those candidates who have joined their course during the 1st phase of counselling will be eligible to participate in subsequent phases for re-allotment. The dates for such counselling will be published on the official websites and communicated to the Dean/Principal of the respective colleges. No individual notifications will be sent to candidates.

Pharm.D Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must be Indian citizens and natives of Tamil Nadu. They should have completed 17 years of age on or before 31st December 2024. The candidate must have passed the Higher Secondary Course (10+2) or its equivalent with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects, along with either Mathematics or Biology. Candidates who have completed a D.Pharm course are also eligible, but their admission will be based on their Higher Secondary marks, and the course duration will remain six years. For candidates from OC, BC, BCM, MBC, and DNC categories, a minimum of 40% aggregate marks in the qualifying subjects is required, whereas SC, SCA, and ST candidates need only a pass. Candidates who have studied under other equivalent boards must produce an eligibility certificate from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University before admission.

Procedure for Online Application Submission:

• Visit the official website: www.tnmedicalselection.net.
• Pay the application fee of Rs. 1000/- via the bank portal.
• Complete the online form and upload the required documents.
• Changes after submission will not be allowed.
• Only one application should be submitted. Multiple submissions will result in cancellation.

Required Documents:

• HSC or equivalent mark sheet (endorsed by the competent authority on both sides).
• Transfer certificate after completing the HSC or equivalent.
• Nativity Certificate (issued by Tamil Nadu Revenue Authority).
• Community Certificate (issued by Tamil Nadu Revenue Authority).
• 10th standard mark sheet.
• Proof of study from 6th to 12th standard (for candidates who studied in Tamil Nadu).
• First Graduate Certificate (if applicable).
• Parent Community Certificate (from Tamil Nadu Revenue Authority).

Important Points: Scheduled Tribe candidates must upload the community certificate from the Revenue Divisional Officer or higher authority; failure to do so will treat them as open category candidates. Providing false documents will lead to expulsion and legal action. Community certificates must be verified for authenticity before the candidate can proceed to the second year. Certificates from other states will not be accepted for reservation claims.

Merit List: The merit list is prepared based on normalized marks from the qualifying examination in relevant science subjects, calculated on a scale of 200. The weighted total is computed using either (Biology + Physics & Chemistry), (Botany & Zoology + Physics & Chemistry), or (Mathematics + Physics & Chemistry), whichever combination gives the highest score, accurate to two decimal places. Only marks obtained in the first appearance of the qualifying exam are considered; improvement or part-wise appearances are not valid. In case of a tie in total marks, the ranking is determined by marks in Biology or Botany & Zoology, then Chemistry, Physics, fourth optional subject, age (older preferred), and finally, a higher computerized random number. For candidates with a degree, marks from all years are converted to a base of 100, and tie-breaking is based on fewer final-year attempts, higher final-year marks, and age seniority. The merit list will be published online, and candidates will be called for counselling based on their merit rank.

Online Counselling Procedure (Single Window System):

• The Online Counselling Schedule will be published exclusively on the website. Candidates must lock their preferred choices of colleges and courses within the specified schedule. Admission to the Pharm.D Degree Course will be based on merit, following the applicable reservation rules.
• A processing fee of Rs. 500/- is required to participate in the online counselling. The fee should be paid through the bank payment portal online.
• During the choice filling process, candidates can select their preferred course and college based on merit. Seat allocation will depend on the availability of seats.

REPORTING:

1. The allotted candidates must download their provisional allotment order and report to the allotted Medical College/Institution in person, along with the originals and copies of required certificates, before the specified date and time mentioned in the allotment order.
2. Candidates who have downloaded the provisional allotment order but fail to join the course will not be eligible to participate in subsequent rounds of online counselling.
3. Only candidates who have joined the course during the first phase of counselling will be eligible for re-allotment in subsequent phases of counselling. The dates for these phases will be published on the website and informed to the Dean/Principal of the respective colleges. No individual notifications will be sent to candidates.
4. Vacancies arising after the first phase of counselling, as well as vacancies in new colleges (if any), will be filled from the waiting list through online counselling, if necessary.
5. Re-allotment will be conducted for the Pharm.D Degree course.
6. Individual requests for course or college transfers will not be entertained.
7. Mutual transfers will not be allowed.

M.Pharm Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must be Indian citizens and should possess a B.Pharm degree awarded by the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University or any other university recognized as equivalent by the same or the Pharmacy Council of India. Those who graduated from other universities must obtain an eligibility certificate from the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University at the time of admission. General category candidates must have secured a minimum of 55% aggregate marks in all semesters of B.Pharm, while SC, SCA, and ST candidates require at least 50%. Candidates who have already completed or are pursuing another postgraduate M.Pharm course, or who discontinued after the cutoff date, are not eligible to apply for two years. Applicants must upload relevant nativity and community certificates, Aadhaar card, and other supporting documents as specified. Service candidates applying under reserved seats must have completed two years of service by July 31, 2024. Those serving in private sectors or central government bodies will be considered under open quota. Additionally, differently-abled candidates with 40%–80% locomotor disability of lower limbs may apply under the reserved category.

Here is the procedure for filling the online application for admission to the M.Pharmacy course (as per the Tamil Nadu 2024–2025 prospectus):

PROCEDURE FOR FILLING THE ONLINE APPLICATION (M.Pharm 2024–2025):

Application Access: Visit the official websites: www.tnmedicalselection.org or www.tnhealth.tn.gov.in to fill and submit the application.

Upload Requirements: Upload recent passport-size photograph (taken after August 1, 2024) with a placard showing name and date. Upload all necessary enclosures (degree certificates, mark sheets, community certificate, etc.).

Application Fee:

• ₹1000 for general category.
• SC/SCA/ST of Tamil Nadu are exempted.
• Fee to be paid online only via debit/credit card, net banking, or RTGS.

Form Submission Guidelines: Only one application per candidate is allowed. Fill the application carefully incomplete/incorrect forms or missing documents will be rejected without notice.

Service Candidates: Must upload their service particulars signed and sealed by the forwarding authority, confirming two years of regular service as of 31.07.2024.

Documents to Upload:

• B.Pharm degree or provisional certificate
• All semester/year-wise mark sheets
• Permanent State Pharmacy Council registration
• Valid community and nativity certificates (if applicable)
• Birth proof
• Attempt certificate for final B.Pharm year
• Posting order (for service candidates)

Postal Address: Ensure correct and complete postal address is entered. Any change must be immediately informed to the Selection Committee.

COUNSELLING PROCEDURE:

1. (a) Admission to the M.Pharmacy course will be conducted through online counselling based on the candidate’s rank, following the reservation policy/roster system of the Government of Tamil Nadu and subject to existing and future Government Orders regarding reservations.
   (b) Candidates who did not register or lock their choices in the first round of online counselling will still be allowed to participate in subsequent rounds.
   (c) Once choices of specialty and college are submitted during online counselling, they cannot be changed. No requests for changes will be accepted after options are submitted.
   (d) Requests for college transfers will not be entertained. Re-allotment of seats, if required, will only be done during the second phase of online counselling.
   (e) Individual transfer requests for changing colleges will not be considered.
   (f) Mutual transfers between candidates are strictly not allowed under any circumstances.
2. Candidates selected for admission must submit a declaration at the time of joining, confirming that they may forfeit their admission if any suppression of facts is discovered during or after the admission process.
   If found guilty, their admission will be cancelled and they will be barred from applying for the M.Pharmacy course for the next two academic years (2025–2026 and 2026–2027).
3. Candidates who fail to register or lock their choices within the scheduled counselling time will not be considered for admission. However, if a valid reason is communicated in advance, the Selection Committee may allow them to participate in later rounds.
4. At the time of joining the allotted college, candidates must report in person with their original certificates and photocopies.
5. Any updates, changes, or important information related to the admission process will be made available only on the official websites: www.tnmedicalselection.net / www.tnhealth.tn.gov.in
   Candidates must regularly visit these websites from the date of application until the completion of counselling.
6. All candidates attending online counselling for the M.Pharmacy course must pay a non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 500/- through the online bank payment portal using Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking.
7. Candidates allotted seats in Government Colleges must pay Rs. 5,000/- through the online portal to download the allotment order. This amount will be treated as tuition fee and is non-refundable, even if the candidate does not join or discontinues the course.
8. Candidates allotted seats in Self-Financing Institutions must also pay Rs. 5,000/- through the online portal to download the allotment order. This amount will be adjusted against the tuition fee payable to the college. Any balance of the tuition fee must be paid at the time of joining. This fee is non-refundable if the candidate fails to join or discontinues.
9. Candidates who discontinue the course in Government Colleges after the cut-off date (xx.xx.2024) fixed by The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, or who fail to join after allotment during the final phase, must pay a discontinuation fee of Rs. 1,50,000/-.
   This must be paid to the Dean of the respective college via Demand Draft, drawn in favor of:
   "The Secretary, Selection Committee, Kilpauk, Chennai – 10", payable at Chennai.
   The candidate will not be relieved until the full penalty amount is paid.

D.Pharm: candidate must have completed 10+2 (HSC) with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects, along with either Biology or Mathematics. The minimum age requirement is 17 years as of 31st December of the admission year. There is no entrance exam for D.Pharm admissions in Tamil Nadu, and selection is typically based on the marks obtained in the qualifying examination. The course duration is 2 years, followed by 500 hours of practical training over a period of 3 months in a recognized pharmacy, as per the norms of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). The course is regulated by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Tamil Nadu, and is approved by PCI.

B. Pharm

B. Pharmacy (Practice)

M. Pharmacy (Pharmaceutics)

M. Pharmacy (Pharmaceutical Analysis)

M. Pharmacy (Pharmacy Practice)

Pharm. D

Pharm. D (Post Baccalaureate)