Hear frequently asked questions about a career in pharmacy
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The University is ranked first in Australia and fourth in the world for graduate employability in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020.
Find out moreWe are ranked 24th in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology in the QS Subject Rankings 2020.
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The Bachelor of Pharmacy combines hands-on learning with clinical experience to give you a comprehensive understanding of how drugs are developed and how medications affect the human body. This program is your first step to becoming a registered pharmacist and sets you up to play a vital and rewarding role within the healthcare landscape.
Why study with us?
Completion of a major is not a requirement of the Bachelor of Pharmacy. Candidates have the option of completing one major. A major requires the completion of 24 credit points chosen from units of study listed during the fourth year of study.
In your first year you will study biology and chemistry and be introduced to pharmacy through foundational and social pharmacy studies.
The remaining three years of the course are devoted to higher levels of biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences together with specialised clinical pharmacy studies. In senior years, considerable time is spent in clinical placements in community and hospital pharmacies, where valuable practical experience is gained.
You will have the opportunity to undertake study in a pharmacy elective in your fourth year of study (industrial pharmacy or international) or to complete fourth-year advanced study and undertake an individual research project as an honours candidate.
Bachelor of Pharmacy
| Year | Sem | Unit of study | ||||
| 1 | 1 | Human Biology | Chemistry A (Pharmacy) | Foundations of Pharmacy | Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences | |
| 2 | From Molecules to Ecosystems | Chemistry B (Pharmacy) | Pharmacy Practice 1 | Physical Pharmaceutics and Formulation A | ||
| 2 | 1 | Drug Discovery and Design A | Microbiology and Infection | Therapeutic Principles | Physiology for Pharmacy | |
| 2 | Pharmacology for Pharmacy | Drug Discovery and Design B | Pharmacy Practice 2 | Physical Pharmaceutics and Formulation B | ||
| 3 | 1 | Pharmaceutical Skills and Dispensing A Cardiovascular and Renal Respiratory Endocrine, Diabetes and Reproductive Gastrointestinal |
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| 2 | Clinical Placement A and B Pharmaceutical Skills and Dispensing B Musculoskeletal, Dermatological and Senses Oncology and Anti-Infective Agents Neurology and Mental Health |
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| 4 | 1 | Clinical Placement C Pharmacotherapeutics Integrated Dispensing Practice Pharmacy Services and Public Health Pharmacy Management |
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| 2 | Novel Therapeutics | Interdisciplinary Health Project | Professional Practice | Clinical Placement D | ||
Click Here to download a full copy of the sample study plan with electives.
Mathematics and chemistry. Biology or physics are recommended. From 2019, this course will require a course prerequisite of mathematics (Band 4 or higher)
The award of honours in the Bachelor of Pharmacy recognises superior performance throughout the course.
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 by invitation only and is available in the fourth year of the program for high achieving students. On the basis of your previous results, you may be eligible to undertake an independent honours project in PHAR4830 Honours (24 credit points) during your final year, working under the supervision of an academic staff member.
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.
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 students to make informed choices about their study, we have identified and set out the Inherent Requirements for this course.
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' – for the Bachelor of Pharmacy.
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 clinical experience program in the Bachelor of Pharmacy 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 end of their fourth year, all students have had at least three, two-week block placements in clinical experience. Students undertake a two-week block placement during their third year. Students also have a further two two-week block placements in their fourth year.
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).
This course is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council.
To become a registered pharmacist, graduates of this course must complete 1,824 hours (one year) of supervised practical training and the Intern Training Program in order to register with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. International students will need to demonstrate an IELTS score of 7.5 or equivalent.
Learn more about career pathways for pharmacy graduates from Professor Andrew McLachlan AM, Head of School and Dean.
Director, Safescript
| 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 |
On completion of this course, students may enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice to complete the Intern Training Program.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Pharmacy seeking further academic studies in pharmacy are recommended to consider our postgraduate research courses, including Master of Philosophy (Pharmacy) and Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmacy).
Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount
The student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the calendar year in which you undertake your study in the course, and the specific units of study in which you enrol. For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs
Please note that for some courses there are additional costs in addition to the student contribution. Some of these additional costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Please consult the University's web page for more information: https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
Indicative International Tuition Fees for Undergraduate Students
The tuition fee for international undergraduate students is an indication of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount. For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the tuition fees. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html. In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through a government approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government. Further information is available from https://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/living-costs/health-insurance.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
