Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

Diploma in Pharmacy [D.Pharm] at Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala is a 2-year full-time on-campus programme (plus 3 months of mandatory practical training under a registered pharmacist, making the total duration 2 years and 3 months) regulated by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and affiliated to the Board of D.Pharm Examinations, Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Government of Kerala. The course covers pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, biochemistry, and hospital/clinical pharmacy, equipping students with the skills to work as licensed pharmacists. The total annual fee at this government institution is just Rs. 6,380, making it one of the most affordable pharmacy diploma programmes in the country. Admission is based on merit in the Plus Two (Higher Secondary) qualifying examination and is conducted through the LBS Centre for Science and Technology, Kerala. With 33 seats and the backing of a premier government medical college with a 2,094-bed teaching hospital, the D.Pharm programme here is highly sought after for its clinical exposure and government-backed quality education.

As of March 2026, the 2026-27 admission cycle is complete. The online application window for 2026-27 was open from July 14 to August 12, 2026, and the spot allotment for remaining seats was conducted on February 3, 2027. The 2027-28 admission cycle is expected to begin around July 2027, following the declaration of Kerala Plus Two (DHSE) results. Candidates are advised to monitor the official LBS Centre website (www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in) for the 2027-28 notification.

Key Points

The D.Pharm programme at GMC Kottayam is conducted under the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, which is part of the Government Medical College campus.
The course follows the Education Regulations 2020 (ER 2020) of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI).
Students get hands-on clinical training in one of Kerala's largest tertiary care hospitals with over 3,000 daily outpatients.
The course consists of two parts: Part I (1st year) with 5 papers and Part II (2nd year) with 6 papers, followed by 3 months of practical training under a registered pharmacist.
A minimum of 40% marks in each subject is required to pass.
After completing D.Pharm, graduates must register with the Kerala State Pharmacy Council to practice as a pharmacist.
Graduates are eligible to pursue B.Pharm (Lateral Entry) for further academic progression.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

GMC Kottayam D.Pharm Fees

The D.Pharm programme at Government Medical College, Kottayam is offered at a highly subsidised government fee structure as approved by the Government of Kerala vide G.O.(Ms)No.92/2023/H&FWD dated 19/04/2023. The annual fee is Rs. 6,380, which includes tuition fee, caution deposit, and other charges. Over the 2-year course duration, the total fee payable is Rs. 12,760, making it one of the most affordable pharmacy diploma programmes in India.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Year (Rs.)	Total for 2 Years (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	4,630	9,260
Caution Deposit	1,160	2,320
Other Fees	590	1,180
Total Fees	6,380	12,760

The caution deposit is refundable at the time of course completion, subject to no dues.
SC/ST and OEC (Other Eligible Community) candidates are eligible for fee concession/waiver as per Kerala Government norms; OEC candidates are exempted from fee payment at the time of allotment (they pay only Rs. 100 as token caution deposit).
Candidates belonging to communities listed under SEBC with annual family income up to Rs. 6 lakhs are also eligible for fee exemption.
Hostel facilities are available on campus. Hostel fees are nominal (approximately Rs. 50/month for room; mess charges are separate and vary). Hostel accommodation is not mandatory.
No EMI facility is applicable given the very low fee structure.
Application fee to LBS Centre: Rs. 600 (General) / Rs. 300 (SC/ST).

GMC Kottayam D.Pharm Admission 2026

Admission to D.Pharm at Government Medical College, Kottayam is conducted through the LBS Centre for Science and Technology, Kerala, based on merit in the Plus Two (Higher Secondary) qualifying examination. The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed. The 2027-28 cycle is expected to follow a similar timeline, with applications opening around July 2027 after the Kerala Plus Two results are declared.

College-Specific Admission Dates (2026-27 Cycle - For Reference)

Event	Date
Kerala Plus Two (DHSE) Exam 2026	March 2026
Kerala Plus Two Result 2026	May 2026
LBS Centre D.Pharm Admission Notification 2026	July 9, 2026
Online Application Start Date	July 14, 2026
Online Application Last Date	August 12, 2026
Rank List Publication	October/November 2026
Centralized Allotment Process	November 2026
Spot Allotment for Remaining Seats	February 3, 2027
Commencement of Classes (2026 Batch)	November/December 2026
D.Pharm Student Registration with DME	By March 24, 2027

Qualifying Exam Dates (2027 - Upcoming Cycle)

Exam	Dates
Kerala Plus Two (DHSE) Exam 2027	March 6 to March 28, 2027
Kerala Plus Two Result 2027	Expected May 2027
LBS Centre D.Pharm Admission Notification 2027-28	Expected July 2027 (Tentative)
Online Application 2027-28	Expected July-August 2027 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed the Higher Secondary Examination (Plus Two) of the Kerala State Board with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics as optional subjects, or an equivalent examination.
VHSE (Vocational Higher Secondary Education) candidates from Kerala with Group A (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics - NCERT syllabus) or Group B (Physics, Chemistry, Biology - NCERT syllabus) from 1994-95 sessions onwards are also eligible.
Candidates must have completed 17 years of age as on the date of notification. There is no upper age limit for general candidates (upper age limit of 49 years applies only to service candidates).
Only Indian citizens (including PIO/OCI cardholders) are eligible. Keralite and Non-Keralite Category I candidates are eligible for government seats.

Admission Process

Candidates apply online through the LBS Centre website (www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in) by submitting a single application for all diploma courses.
A rank list is prepared based on the total marks obtained in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics in the Plus Two qualifying examination (marks are normalized for candidates from boards other than Kerala DHSE).
Centralized allotment is conducted by the LBS Centre based on the rank list, category, and college preferences submitted by candidates.
After allotment, candidates must pay the fee and report to the allotted college for admission.
Spot allotment is conducted for seats remaining vacant after the regular allotment rounds.
Seat reservation: 50% State Merit, 10% EWS, 30% SEBC, 10% SC/ST (for government institutions).

GMC Kottayam D.Pharm Scholarships 2026

Students admitted to D.Pharm at Government Medical College, Kottayam can avail of several government scholarships and fee concession schemes. Given the very low fee structure of the course, the primary financial support comes through fee waivers and post-matric scholarship schemes for reserved category students.

Scholarship Schemes

Scholarship / Scheme	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST (e-Grantz)	SC/ST students; apply via egrantz.kerala.gov.in	Full tuition fee + maintenance allowance (as per GoI/GoK norms)
OEC Post-Matric Educational Assistance	Other Eligible Community (OEC) students	Full fee exemption at time of allotment; Rs. 100 token caution deposit
SEBC Fee Concession	SEBC communities with annual family income up to Rs. 6 lakhs	Full fee exemption under government/community quota
PM-YASASVI Post-Matric Scholarship	OBC/EBC/DNT students; apply via National Scholarship Portal	Maintenance allowance + other charges as per central scheme norms
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) - Post-Matric	All categories (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/EWS)	As per respective central/state scheme norms
Kerala State Merit Scholarship	Merit-based; for students with high Plus Two scores	As notified by the Government of Kerala
Minority Post-Matric Scholarship	Students from minority communities	As per central scheme norms via NSP

SC/ST students must apply through the e-Grantz portal (egrantz.kerala.gov.in) for post-matric scholarship.
OBC/EBC students must apply through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Applications for most scholarships open at the beginning of the academic year (typically August-October).
Students must have a valid AISHE code for their institution to apply for post-matric scholarships.
Income certificates, community certificates, and other documents must be submitted within the stipulated deadlines.

GMC Kottayam D.Pharm FAQs

Ques. Is there a separate entrance exam for D.Pharm admission at Government Medical College, Kottayam?

Ans. No, there is no separate entrance exam for D.Pharm admission in Kerala. Admission is purely merit-based, determined by the marks obtained in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics in the Plus Two (Class 12) qualifying examination. The LBS Centre prepares a rank list based on these marks and conducts centralized allotment.

Ques. What is the total fee for D.Pharm at GMC Kottayam, and are there any hidden charges?

Ans. The total fee for the 2-year D.Pharm course is Rs. 12,760 (Rs. 6,380 per year), which includes tuition fee, caution deposit, and other charges. There are no significant hidden charges. The caution deposit of Rs. 1,160 per year (Rs. 2,320 total) is refundable upon course completion. SC/ST and OEC students are eligible for full fee waivers. The application fee to LBS Centre (Rs. 600 for general / Rs. 300 for SC/ST) is a one-time, non-refundable charge.

Ques. After completing D.Pharm from GMC Kottayam, can I pursue B.Pharm?

Ans. Yes. D.Pharm graduates are eligible to apply for B.Pharm (Lateral Entry) admission, which allows direct entry into the 2nd year of the B.Pharm programme. In Kerala, B.Pharm Lateral Entry admissions are also conducted through the DME/LBS Centre. This is a popular pathway for D.Pharm graduates who wish to upgrade their qualification and career prospects.

Ques. What is the scope of D.Pharm from a government medical college compared to a private pharmacy college?

Ans. D.Pharm from GMC Kottayam carries significant advantages over private colleges. The clinical exposure in a 2,094-bed tertiary care hospital is unmatched, giving students hands-on experience in hospital pharmacy, drug dispensing, and patient interaction. The government fee structure is a fraction of private college fees (which can range from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1.5 lakh per year). Additionally, the DME-affiliated government colleges have strong credibility for government pharmacist recruitment.

Ques. What are the job opportunities after D.Pharm from GMC Kottayam?

Ans. After completing D.Pharm and registering with the Kerala State Pharmacy Council, graduates can work as:

Community/Retail Pharmacist (own medical shop or chain pharmacy)
Hospital Pharmacist (government or private hospitals)
Drug Inspector (after clearing the relevant state/central exam)
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Government Pharmacist (through Kerala PSC recruitment)

Starting salaries typically range from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month in the private sector, while government pharmacist posts offer pay scales as per Kerala Government norms.

Ques. How competitive is the D.Pharm admission at GMC Kottayam, and what Plus Two marks are typically required?

Ans. GMC Kottayam is one of the most sought-after government institutions for D.Pharm in Kerala, with only 33 seats available. The competition is high, especially for general merit seats. Based on past trends, candidates with aggregate marks of 85% or above in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics in Plus Two generally have a good chance of securing a seat in the general merit category. SC/ST and SEBC candidates may be admitted at relatively lower marks due to reservation. Candidates are advised to check the official LBS Centre rank list and previous year allotment data for a more accurate estimate.