5 answers
vivian
Student
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
1
Question
Updated
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i'm a Pharmaceutical Sciences diploma graduate from Tanzania and I'm struggling to choose the right bachelor's degree. Part of me wants to continue in healthcare, while another part is drawn to technology, business, and roles outside traditional pharmacy. How did you know you were choosing a degree that aligned with the life and career you truly wanted rather than the one you felt expected to pursue?
'm a Pharmaceutical Sciences diploma graduate from Tanzania and I'm struggling to choose the right bachelor's degree. Part of me wants to continue in healthcare, while another part is drawn to technology, business, and roles outside traditional pharmacy. How did you know you were choosing a degree that aligned with the life and career you truly wanted rather than the one you felt expected to pursue?
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5 answers
Wong Loke Yuen
Dean; Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
764
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Since you already have a background in pharmaceutical sciences, you could explore fields such as health technology, pharmaceutical marketing, healthcare management, clinical research, health informatics, or data analytics in healthcare. These careers allow you to use your healthcare knowledge while developing skills in technology or business.
Before choosing a bachelor's degree, you need to think about the kind of work you want to do every day. Do you enjoy working with patients, solving business problems, using technology, or analyzing data? The answers to these questions can help you choose a degree that matches your interests and long-term goals.
You can also speak with professionals working in these fields, take short online courses, and complete small projects to see what you enjoy most. Exploring different areas now can help you make a more confident decision.
Before choosing a bachelor's degree, you need to think about the kind of work you want to do every day. Do you enjoy working with patients, solving business problems, using technology, or analyzing data? The answers to these questions can help you choose a degree that matches your interests and long-term goals.
You can also speak with professionals working in these fields, take short online courses, and complete small projects to see what you enjoy most. Exploring different areas now can help you make a more confident decision.
LUCKY OGBE
2
Answers
Benin City, Edo, Nigeria
Updated
LUCKY’s Answer
1. Separate “Expectation” from “Alignment”
Expectation voice sounds like: “Pharmacy is stable. My family will be proud. It’s what I trained for.”
Alignment voice sounds like: “I lose track of time when I’m doing X. I’d do this even if no one clapped.”
Try this exercise:
Write 2 lists.
a) Roles I’d regret NOT trying”: Health tech, pharma business dev, hospital IT systems, med-tech sales, biotech startups, data analytics for healthcare, etc.
b) Roles I’d do only for status/security”: Be honest. If a BPharm only feels right because “everyone expects it,” flag it.
The goal isn’t to ditch healthcare. It’s to see if tech/business is pulling you away from pharmacy, or building on top of it.
2. Use your Diploma as a bridge, not a box
A Pharmaceutical Sciences diploma from Tanzania is actually a rare advantage in tech/business roles because you speak both languages: science + people.
3. Test before you commit 4 years
Don’t decide with your imagination alone.
a) Shadow/Info-interview 3 people: 1 hospital pharmacist, 1 person in health-tech, 1 in pharma business. Ask: “What’s a bad day like? What do you wish you knew at my stage?” LinkedIn makes this easy in Tanzania.
b) Run a 2-week micro-test: Take a free course. e.g. Google Data Analytics, Coursera “Digital Health”, or HubSpot Marketing. Do you dread it, or crave more?
c) Map the life, not just the job: Picture your day at 28. Do you want lab/hospital hours, startup pace, remote tech work, travel for business? Degree = lifestyle.
How others knew they chose right: They said it felt less like “settling” and more like “expanding.” They could still use their pharma knowledge, but they weren’t trapped by it.
You’re not betraying your diploma by pivoting. You’re compounding it.
Expectation voice sounds like: “Pharmacy is stable. My family will be proud. It’s what I trained for.”
Alignment voice sounds like: “I lose track of time when I’m doing X. I’d do this even if no one clapped.”
Try this exercise:
Write 2 lists.
a) Roles I’d regret NOT trying”: Health tech, pharma business dev, hospital IT systems, med-tech sales, biotech startups, data analytics for healthcare, etc.
b) Roles I’d do only for status/security”: Be honest. If a BPharm only feels right because “everyone expects it,” flag it.
The goal isn’t to ditch healthcare. It’s to see if tech/business is pulling you away from pharmacy, or building on top of it.
2. Use your Diploma as a bridge, not a box
A Pharmaceutical Sciences diploma from Tanzania is actually a rare advantage in tech/business roles because you speak both languages: science + people.
3. Test before you commit 4 years
Don’t decide with your imagination alone.
a) Shadow/Info-interview 3 people: 1 hospital pharmacist, 1 person in health-tech, 1 in pharma business. Ask: “What’s a bad day like? What do you wish you knew at my stage?” LinkedIn makes this easy in Tanzania.
b) Run a 2-week micro-test: Take a free course. e.g. Google Data Analytics, Coursera “Digital Health”, or HubSpot Marketing. Do you dread it, or crave more?
c) Map the life, not just the job: Picture your day at 28. Do you want lab/hospital hours, startup pace, remote tech work, travel for business? Degree = lifestyle.
How others knew they chose right: They said it felt less like “settling” and more like “expanding.” They could still use their pharma knowledge, but they weren’t trapped by it.
You’re not betraying your diploma by pivoting. You’re compounding it.
Thank you Lucky, 😊 i see what you did there I'm on the path to compounding it that's for sure.
vivian
Jeffrey Wallk
Systems & Knowledge Engineering
2
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Jeffrey’s Answer
It is completely normal to feel torn when you reach this crossroads. Graduating with a Pharmaceutical Sciences diploma in Tanzania gives you a strong foundation, but it doesn't mean you are locked into a traditional retail or hospital pharmacy role for the rest of your life.
The pharmaceutical industry is massive, and it increasingly intersects with technology, data, and business. You don't have to choose between healthcare and your other interests—you can combine them.
To help you align your degree choice with the career you actually want, look at how the industry is broken down into specific tracks, all of which rely heavily on technology and understanding local and regional healthcare constraints:
Track 1: Research & Development (R&D): This is for you if you love the science itself—discovering new formulations, testing compounds, and working in labs.
Track 2: Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance (QA): This track deals with drug submissions, government approvals, compliance, and technology transfer (moving a drug from the lab to the factory). It requires analytical thinking and an understanding of policy.
Track 3: Manufacturing Operations: This focuses on the actual production of medicines. It is highly technical, relying on automation, engineering, and supply chain management.
The Business & Tech Track:
If you want to move away from the lab or factory floor entirely, the commercial side of pharma is a great fit. This area focuses on capturing patient and disease needs within a corporate portfolio, managing clinical trials, marketing, launch planning, commercialization, and investment planning. It combines healthcare knowledge with business strategy and data analytics.
How to choose for yourself, not for others:
To separate what you want from what others expect you to do, ask yourself: What kind of problems do I want to solve every day? Do you want to solve scientific puzzles (R&D), operational and tech puzzles (Manufacturing/QA), or business and strategy puzzles (Commercial)?
Look at bachelor's degrees that bridge these gaps—such as Health Informatics, Pharmaceutical Business, Industrial Pharmacy, or even a general Business Administration or Information Technology degree with a focus on healthcare management.
Where do you feel your energy naturally goes when you read about these tracks? Let me know, and we can narrow down specific degree options that fit that path.
Jeffrey
The pharmaceutical industry is massive, and it increasingly intersects with technology, data, and business. You don't have to choose between healthcare and your other interests—you can combine them.
To help you align your degree choice with the career you actually want, look at how the industry is broken down into specific tracks, all of which rely heavily on technology and understanding local and regional healthcare constraints:
Track 1: Research & Development (R&D): This is for you if you love the science itself—discovering new formulations, testing compounds, and working in labs.
Track 2: Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance (QA): This track deals with drug submissions, government approvals, compliance, and technology transfer (moving a drug from the lab to the factory). It requires analytical thinking and an understanding of policy.
Track 3: Manufacturing Operations: This focuses on the actual production of medicines. It is highly technical, relying on automation, engineering, and supply chain management.
The Business & Tech Track:
If you want to move away from the lab or factory floor entirely, the commercial side of pharma is a great fit. This area focuses on capturing patient and disease needs within a corporate portfolio, managing clinical trials, marketing, launch planning, commercialization, and investment planning. It combines healthcare knowledge with business strategy and data analytics.
How to choose for yourself, not for others:
To separate what you want from what others expect you to do, ask yourself: What kind of problems do I want to solve every day? Do you want to solve scientific puzzles (R&D), operational and tech puzzles (Manufacturing/QA), or business and strategy puzzles (Commercial)?
Look at bachelor's degrees that bridge these gaps—such as Health Informatics, Pharmaceutical Business, Industrial Pharmacy, or even a general Business Administration or Information Technology degree with a focus on healthcare management.
Where do you feel your energy naturally goes when you read about these tracks? Let me know, and we can narrow down specific degree options that fit that path.
Jeffrey
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. I think i will go with health informatics if not Data science
vivian
JOLAYEMI IFEOLUWA
6
Answers
Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
Updated
JOLAYEMI’s Answer
Picture yourself at 28, sharing the exciting story of your career. Which path makes you feel proud and thrilled? Is it becoming a pharmacist, launching a healthtech company, or managing operations at a hospital? Remember, regret often comes from trying to please others. True satisfaction comes when your degree helps you make the impact you want. You've already accomplished a lot by earning your diploma and gaining experience. Now, any bachelor's degree you choose will build on that foundation. What excites you more right now—working directly with medicines and patients, or creating systems, products, or businesses?
Thank you! I really needed this perspective to make my decision.
vivian
John Easton CEng FIET FBCS CITP
Design large computer systems for companies
60
Answers
Winchester, England, United Kingdom
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Vivian
I spent 7 years studying Chemistry at university. I really enjoyed the subject (well, most of it) and thought everything was set in terms of my life direction. Then, on the train home after finishing for the final time, I had the realisation that what I thought I wanted to do wasn't in fact the case and that actually I never wanted to do Chemistry or something Chemistry-related ever again.
I changed to IT and have been here ever since! And that's absolutely fine. The learning from this that I share with many groups of students is that it is OK to change your mind. In no sense have you committed yourself to a given career and you can always change. It might take you a while longer to get where you want to go. You might get there by an unobvious route, but if that's what you want to do then go do it! And if, on the journey, you change your mind again, that's fine too.
Pharmaceutical Science is a great place to branch off from into other areas. Whether those areas are directly related, distantly related or completely unrelated doesn't matter. Go with what you feel like doing next and I'm sure it will work out for you.
I spent 7 years studying Chemistry at university. I really enjoyed the subject (well, most of it) and thought everything was set in terms of my life direction. Then, on the train home after finishing for the final time, I had the realisation that what I thought I wanted to do wasn't in fact the case and that actually I never wanted to do Chemistry or something Chemistry-related ever again.
I changed to IT and have been here ever since! And that's absolutely fine. The learning from this that I share with many groups of students is that it is OK to change your mind. In no sense have you committed yourself to a given career and you can always change. It might take you a while longer to get where you want to go. You might get there by an unobvious route, but if that's what you want to do then go do it! And if, on the journey, you change your mind again, that's fine too.
Pharmaceutical Science is a great place to branch off from into other areas. Whether those areas are directly related, distantly related or completely unrelated doesn't matter. Go with what you feel like doing next and I'm sure it will work out for you.
Thanks for the help.
vivian