Ready for a challenging course of study?

Introducing the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced with Honours

This course now has CRICOS approval (077237J) and is avalible for international students.

This degree is designed to prepare students for postgraduate study or a research career in the global biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

Pharmaceutical science is the chemistry, biology and technology of medicines. It plays a core role in improving human health and wellbeing by researching and developing reliable, accessible and effective treatments for patients.

In addition to a solid foundation in fundamental science, you'll gain research know-how across all years of study via multiple research projects. This course includes an honours year. Added benefits include the opportunity to attend research seminars, meet with academic mentors and develop leadership  skills through the faculty's Student Ambassador program.

Three majors areas of study

Students in the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced with Honours can choose from three major areas of study - drug discovery biology, formulation science and medicinal chemistry. During the first year and a half of your course, you'll gain a broad understanding of each area before selecting  a specialisation in second year.

  • Drug discovery biology
    Drug discovery biology explores the biotechnological aspects of drug design and evaluation. You will learn how to discover and evaluate new targets and study the biological effects of drug candidates. Graduates will have the knowledge and expertise to be    employed in translating drug targets into pharmaceutical products, both in industry and academia.
  • Formulation science
    If you specialise in formulation science, you will learn how to formulate, design and evaluate pharmaceuticals. The formulation science and chemistry knowledge our graduates gain also means they are ideally suited to exciting careers developing, cosmetics, foods,    agricultural chemicals, veterinary products, paints and inks and many such consumer goods.
  • Medicinal chemistry
    Medicinal chemistry is at the intersection of biology and chemistry. It is specialised chemistry that deals with how drugs work, how drugs are designed and how drugs are made. Our graduates gain a broad range of these skills, which traverse the full range of    the drug development cycle and open up industrial, academic and commercial career paths.

Course details

Campus: Parkville

Duration (years): 4 (full-time) (3 years of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced + 1 year of honours)

VCE prerequisites: Units 3 and 4, a study score of at least:

  • 30 in English (ESL) or 25 in any other English, and
  • 25 in chemistry, and
  • 25 in mathematical methods (CAS) or specialist mathematics.

International Baccalaureate (IB) prerequisites: A score of at least:

  • 4 in English SL or 3 in English HL or 5 in English B SL or 4 in English B HL, and
  • 4 in chemistry SL or 3 in chemistry HL,and
  • 4 in mathematics SL or 3 in mathematics HL.

ATAR: This is a new course and so does not have a 2012 clearly-in ATAR. Students should aim for an ATAR in 90s.