With an unrivalled reputation for excellence, the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Pharmacy offers a world-class professional pharmacy program, taught by internationally-renowned, award-winning academics that provides you with the ideal preparation for a career in pharmacy.

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Master of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Sydney is a five-year, full-time professional degree combining advanced scientific investigation with training in clinical practice and optimum patient care. Specifically, it covers the study of the chemical, physical, pharmaceutical, and pharmacological properties of medicinal substances and the application of these in the pharmacy profession.

Students connect with and learn from academics who are experts in their fields, and have access to the latest technology, facilities and teaching laboratories.

University of Sydney Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)/ Master of Pharmacy Practice Overview

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Master of Pharmacy Practice is a vertically integrated coursework degree which will prepare you for professional practice as a pharmacist. The course includes the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s intern training program and supervised practice requirements. Over the five years you will develop a comprehensive understanding of how medicines are developed and how medications affect the human body. Graduates will be eligible to apply for general registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia (after successfully completing the examination and other requirements).

You will complete a sequence of core units that meet the accreditation requirements for your profession, with a focus on the pharmaceutical and pharmacological properties of medicines, problem solving, clinical decision making, communication, building an evidence base, and delivering person-centred healthcare to a diverse population with a range of medical conditions. In addition to on-campus learning, you will also have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in different practice settings through Work Integrated Learning placements. Honours is integrated into the fourth year of the course and consists of an independent research program supervised by a member of the academic staff.

The master’s component 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).

Clinical Work Experience

The bachelor component of the degree has a mandatory clinical placement component, which must be completed as part of the award requirements for the course.

The clinical 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 organizations 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 fourth and fifth year of their course. This amounts to a total of 210 hours of clinical placements.

Entry Requirements

• Entry into the program for students holding Ontario Secondary School Diploma
  • minimum grade average of 79% in 6 university/college courses, including English
  • minimum grade average of 75% in mathematics
• Entry into the program for students holding British Columbia Certificate of Graduation
  • minimum grade average of 3.55 from all grade 12 subjects except Graduation Transition based on A=4, B=3, C+=2.5
• Entry into the  program for students holding Nova Scotia High School Completion Certificate
  • minimum grade average of 78% in 5 grade 12 courses.
• Assumed knowledge in Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry (also Physics is recommended).
• University (Tertiary) Record Holders
  • Very good tertiary record in at least one year of full-time study at Bachelor’s degree level (or part-time equivalent).
• Credit for previous study
  • If you have previously completed relevant other studies at tertiary level you may be eligible for credit for previous studies – also called ‘credit transfer’ or ‘advanced standing’ – for the Bachelor of Pharmacy.

Professional Recognition

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.

It is the student’s responsibility to contact their local credentialing body for re-entry pathways. The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) is the national certification body for the pharmacy profession in Canada. Upon returning, students must go through an evaluation procedure with the PEBC.