Find out where a degree in pharmacy can lead you
About us
The University is ranked first in Australia and fourth in the world for graduate employability in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022.
Find out moreWe are ranked 14th in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology in the QS Subject Rankings 2022.
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About this course
This course combines a bachelor's (Honours) and master's degree, culminating with the Pharmacy Board of Australia's intern training program and supervised practice requirements. This means you can apply for general registration as a pharmacist without further supervised practice*.
This degree brings together hands-on learning with clinical experience to give you a comprehensive understanding of how medicines are developed and how medications affect the human body. Your Work Integrated Learning experience, building on, and supporting your clinical knowledge, will position you well to play a vital and highly rewarding role as a healthcare professional and medicines expert from the day you graduate and register as a pharmacist.
*After successful completion of the Pharmacy Board registration examination and meeting the requirements for general registration set out in the Board's registration standards.
Why study with us?
What will you learn?
The course structure requires the completion of a cohesive sequence of core units of study to meet accreditation requirements, including Work Integrated Learning (e.g. at least six weeks of clinical placements, and 1,824 hours of supervised clinical practice).
You can complete an elective, or an international exchange in second year (equivalent to 6 credit points) and an independent research project in the fourth year of the degree.
Depends on your qualification, citizenship status
Find out about the funding opportunities available to you.
Prospective domestic students apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for a Commonwealth supported place . Refer to the UAC website for key dates. Separate scholarship deadlines apply, visit the scholarships website for details.
For other useful information, visit our How to apply page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Current students applying to transfer from a diploma to a bachelor's degree must apply through UAC.
Refer to the UAC website Separate scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships website for details.
Semester 1 (February)
Visit the How to apply page for detailed information on if you need to apply directly to the University or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). If you are a direct applicant, when you are ready to apply select the `Apply’ button on this course page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Closing dates
Semester 1 - 15 January of the commencing year.
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships website for details.
UAC Applicants: Refer to the UAC website
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 1 |
PHAR1911 (12 cp) Introductory Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences |
BIOL1008 (6 cp) Human Biology BIOL1009 (6 cp) (subject to approval) From Molecules to Cells and Organisms |
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Semester 2 |
PHAR1921(12 cp) Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms |
PHAR1922 (12 cp) How Drugs Work |
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Semester 3 |
PHAR2911 (12 cp) Professional Practice and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms |
PHAR2912 (12 cp) Therapeutic Principles |
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Semester 4 |
PHAR2921 (6 cp) Infectious Diseases |
PHAR2922 (6 cp) Respiratory |
PHAR2923 (6 cp) Quantitative and Qualitative Health Research |
Year Two Elective* (6 cp) |
Semester 5 |
PHAR3911 (12 cp) Cardiovascular and Renal |
PHAR3912 (6 cp) Musculoskeletal, Dermatological and Senses |
PHAR3913 (6 cp) Endocrine, Diabetes and Reproductive |
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Semester 6 |
PHAR3921 (12 cp) Neurology and Mental Health |
PHAR3922 (6 cp) Oncology and Immunology |
PHAR3923 (6 cp) Research Methods |
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Semester 7 |
PHAR49XX (12 cp) Integrated Professional Practice A |
PHAR4912 (12 cp) Pharmacy Management |
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Semester 8 |
PHAR4913 (12 cp) Pharmacy Honours |
PHAR49XX (12 cp) Integrated Professional Practice B |
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Semester 9 |
PHAR5912 (6 cp) Professional Practice: Cardiovascular and Respiratory |
PHAR5914 (12 cp) Pharmacy Work Integrated Learning A |
PHAR5913 (6 cp) Professional Practice: Mental Health |
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Semester 10 |
PHAR5921 (6 cp) Professional Practice: Diabetes |
PHAR5923 (12 cp) Pharmacy Work Integrated Learning B |
PHAR5922 (6 cp) Professional Practice: Oncology |
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* UoS taken from Tables O and / or S
The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) degree part has a mandatory clinical placement component, which must be completed as part of the award requirements for the course.
This clinical placement experience program reflects the contemporary healthcare environment. The block placements are carried out at hospital and community pharmacies, and include opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, professional organisations and in rural health settings.
By the completion of their course, all students will have had at least three, two-week block placements in clinical experience. At least one of those placements will be in a hospital setting. Students can expect that at least one of their placements may be outside of the Sydney metropolitan area, potentially in a rural location.
Students must undertake their placements in geographical areas that will provide them with a diverse range of professional experience. The placements take place across the third and fourth year of their course. This amounts to a total of 210 hours of clinical placements.
Before you can attend a placement, you need to have certain clinical placement checks and clearances. The checks can be completed after your enrolment in the course.
Enrolment into the pharmacy program will require that you are registered as a student with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
The Master of Pharmacy degree part requires the completion of 1,824 hours of Pharmacy Board approved supervised practice. Graduates can then apply for general registration as a pharmacist (after passing the Pharmacy Board of Australia registration examination and meeting the Board's registration standards). The supervised practice must be in accordance with the requirements set out in the Board’s Registration standard: Supervised practice arrangements.
Honours provides an important basis if you wish to branch into a specialised area and will be particularly useful if you're seeking employment in industry, government, hospital laboratories, research institutions, or considering continuation to postgraduate studies. Honours is available in the fourth year of the program** when you will undertake an independent honours project, working under the supervision of an academic staff member.
** To be eligible to commence honours students must have a WAM ≥ 65 (credit). Learn more about the benefits of Honours programs.
Inherent requirements are the essential tasks and activities necessary to be able to achieve the core learning outcomes of a course. They are specific to a particular course or discipline. To assist you to make informed choices about your study, we have identified and set out the Inherent Requirements for this course.
This degree is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council and is approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
NSW Higher School Certificate Mathematics Advanced or equivalent and Chemistry, Biology.
Recommended studies
Physics
Mandatory work component = 2030
This mandatory work component must be completed as part of the award requirements for the course.
Admission to this course is on the basis of the following criteria:
Admission pathways are open to domestic applicants on the basis of equity or other adjustment factors, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. For details, visit admission pathways.
This course has a mathematics course prerequisite. For details on the prerequisite, and how it applies to you, visit: Mathematics course prerequisites.
Very good tertiary record in at least one year of full-time study at Bachelor's degree level (or part-time equivalent). See details regarding previous tertiary study.
For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.
If you’ve already completed university-level or equivalent subjects, you may be able to apply for credit for previous study – also called 'credit transfer' or 'advanced standing' .
If you are applying through UAC you may apply for credit once you have enrolled in the course. If you are applying as a direct international applicant, you have the option of applying for credit as part of the course application process. You can also apply after enrolment. If you have studied a relevant course at a Singapore Polytechnic Institution, special information on credit transfer is available on the credit for previous study page.
The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Master of Pharmacy Practice is designed to prepare you for a broad range of future career options, including work in community or hospital pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry, a government agency, or research and academia. Some examples are:
Learn more about career pathways for pharmacy graduates from Professor Andrew McLachlan AM, Head of School and Dean.
| 2015 | Director Safescript, Real-Time Prescription Monitoring Implementation |
| 2014 | Director Medical Canabis Taskforce |
| 2008 | Chief Officer Drugs and Poisons Regulation |
| 2005 | Secretary National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee |
| 2001 | Senior pharmacist Therapeutic Goods Administration |
| 1992 | Community Pharmacist |
| 1991 | Bachelor of Pharmacy University of Sydney |
