GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test) is a computer based online national level examination for facilitating institutions to select suitable students for admission in postgraduate pharmacy programs (M.Pharm). GPAT was conducted by AICTE till 2018. From 2019 GPAT will be conducted by NTA.
Bachelor's degree holders in Pharmacy (4 years after 10+2, including lateral entry candidates) and those who are in the final year of B. Pharmacy course are eligible for appearing in GPAT examination. B. Pharmacy 1st year to 3rd year students (in the respective year of examination) are NOT ELIGIBLE to appear in GPAT.
Candidates who qualify the GPAT are issued scorecards. The scorecard is valid only for one year from the date of announcement of the results.The detailed merit list will be provided to the respective State Governments for allotting the students through central counseling or otherwise as per their notified admission procedure. In case there is no central counseling Scores awarded will be used for admission in the AICTE approved Institutes/University Departments
The GPAT exam is organized in various locations across India. The GPAT Examination Office reserves the right to add/change/amend the examination cities/centres at any point of time up to the time of actual conduct of examination.
No Age Limit, as of now. The age of candidates has not been specified as one of the GPAT eligibility criteria by the conducting body.
Admission to postgraduate programmes with MHRD and other government scholarships/assistantships in pharmacy colleges/institutes is open to those who qualify through GPAT. GPAT qualified candidates with Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy are eligible for admission to Master/Doctoral program in Pharmacy. To avail the scholarship, the candidate must secure admission to such a postgraduate programme, as per the prevailing procedure of the admitting institution. However, candidates with Master's degree in Pharmacy may seek admission to relevant PhD programmes with scholarship/assistantship without appearing in the GPAT examination. Some institutions specify GPAT qualification as mandatory even for admission of self-financing students to postgraduate programmes. GPAT qualified candidates are also eligible for the award of Junior Research Fellowship in CSIR Laboratories and CSIR sponsored projects.
Merely securing good score in GPAT may not guarantee a seat in pharmacy colleges. Institutes like NIPER conduct entrance test for students who qualify at GPAT and admit students who score well in the test. BITS Pilani admits students into its M. Pharmacy programme based on the score obtained in the entrance examination the institute conducts. The eligibility criterion is B. Pharmacy with at least 60 per cent marks.