BEFORE STARTING YOUR APPLICATION - Call the RAQA Office at 267-468-8559 or qara2@temple.edu.
We welcome your interest in the Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance (RAQA) graduate programs of Temple University School of Pharmacy. This page answers many questions about our program.
ABOUT THE RAQA GRADUATE PROGRAM
The Master of Science in RAQA is designed for professionals working in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and biopharmaceutical industries. It is considered the largest and most comprehensive graduate program of its kind. Established in 1968, it was the first graduate program in RAQA in the world. We offer additional master's degree programs and many certificates in industry specialties, which students may earn as they pursue the MS.
The MS in RAQA requires the completion of 12 courses of 3 credits each. It is classified as STEM.
Courses are offered evenings and weekends in three semesters a year: fall (Sept - Dec), spring (Jan - Apr), and summer (May - Aug).
Courses are conveniently offered online, allowing international students living outside of the U.S. to complete their degree. **Please note that there are no on-campus courses so students do not qualify for an F-1 visa. International students living in the U.S. are not permitted to enroll in these courses.
Students may accelerate their studies by taking four courses a semester over three semesters provided they have permission from the Graduate Studies Office. Tuition increases accordingly.
TUITION
Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.
SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, UNIVERSITY JOBS, and INTERNSHIPS
There are no full-time or part-time scholarships for the RAQA program.
There are no teaching assistantships or fellowships.
TOEFL REQUIRED
Applicants to the MS in RAQA must be fluent in written and spoken English, since oral presentations and written papers are required in courses. The pharmaceutical industry uses a specialized regulatory language which contains acronyms and unique terminology. Industry regulatory and quality positions require strong written and oral language skills. For these reasons, the TOEFL or IELTS is required.
- The minimum scores that Temple accepts for the TOEFL are:
- 585 for the paper version (PBT)
- 230 for the computer version (CBT)
- 85 for the Internet-based version (IBT).
The minimum IELTS is 6.5.
If you have not achieved the minimum TOEFL score, your application will not be considered. There are no exceptions.
PURSUING ONLINE COURSES AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
International students may take online courses, but only if they are living outside of the U.S. There are no on-campus courses so students do not qualify for an F-1 visa. International students living in the U.S. are not permitted to enroll in these courses.
IMPORTANT WEB SITES
- Office of International Students and Scholars: Information on U.S. visas, housing for Temple students, and any additional fees for international students.
- World Education Services (WES): Transcript and degree evaluation service
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Determines proficiency in the English language
EVALUATION OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRANSCRIPTS
Do not apply until you have received your undergraduate degree. If you apply too early, your application will be rejected.
We encourage you to use WES (a Credential Evaluation Service) to evaluate your transcript. The process takes approximately one week. Applications that do not contain a WES may be denied.
When ordering the evaluation from WES, please stipulate that you need:
- Full report showing all courses taken;
- GPA equivalent for the courses taken; and
- Degree equivalent in the U.S.
This complete information is required, since your credentials must demonstrate that you earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree and the equivalent of a U.S. GPA of 3.0.