Undergraduate Pharmacy for International Students

Course Overview

From 2027, Monash University will introduce the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Doctor of Pharmacy, replacing the previous Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Master of Pharmacy*. This premier vertical double degree is an innovative, forward-thinking program from our world-leading faculty that seamlessly connects an undergraduate honours degree with an Extended Master's qualification, delivering a Doctor of Pharmacy.

The program directly addresses the shifting landscape of Australian healthcare and the expanding scope of practice for modern pharmacists. Further, gaining a Doctor of Pharmacy still allows you to graduate within five years—the standard time it takes to register as a pharmacist in Australia—while incorporating paid supervised practice (a paid internship) in the fifth year.

Our Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Doctor of Pharmacy graduates are precisely what the healthcare sector needs: confident medicine experts equipped with comprehensive scientific and clinical skills.

*An alternative exit Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) / Master of Pharmacy is still available; see below for details.

Pharmacist and patient talking over inhaler

Why Choose Pharmacy at Monash?

  • Gain a globally reputable education

    Monash is an undisputed leader in pharmacy education, currently ranked #2 in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology (2026 QS World Rankings by subject) and #1 in the Asia-Pacific. We have proudly ranked in the Top 5 globally for ten consecutive years.

  • Study an unmatched, first-of-its-kind degree

    This is Australia’s first pharmacy degree that allows you to gain professional registration, earn a salary as a working intern, and graduate with a prestigious Doctor of Pharmacy title all within a five-year timeframe.

  • A specialist campus and welcoming community

    You’ll be based at the Monash Parkville campus, a specialist campus dedicated entirely to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences located inside the world-renowned Parkville Biomedical precinct. A number of your classes are also held at the Monash City campus in the Melbourne CBD. Join a supportive community of peers and academics dedicated to the science, safety, and use of medicines.

A Unique and Flexible Degree Structure

Our Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Doctor of Pharmacy sees a curriculum uplift from our previous pharmacy programs, and has been specifically redesigned to meet new Australian pharmacy entry-to-practice standards. Students focus on developing clinical decision-making skills and understanding how to deliver person-centred care; they also learn about cultural safety, sustainability and digital literacy in healthcare, including responsible use of AI.

In the fifth and final year of the program, students undertake an accredited Intern Training Program, alongside paid supervised practice in a hospital or community pharmacy while completing electives that align to new and emerging roles for pharmacists in Australia, such as pharmacy aged care services and foundational prescribing education.

Our Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Doctor of Pharmacy provides an innovative and robust training pathway to becoming a registered pharmacist in Australia. However, we recognise that students have unique needs, and the course offers a variety of flexible pathways that also lead to registration. A number of alternative exits are available within the degree, including the options to exit after fourth year with a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)*, and also to exit with a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Master of Pharmacy after five years, with a reduced workload in the fifth year.

*Graduates undertaking this alternative exit pathway must complete additional requirements specified by the Pharmacy Board of Australia in order to become registered as a pharmacist.

Real-World Experience and Employability

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Doctor of Pharmacy provides varied and diverse opportunities to observe, practice and develop your pharmacy skills and knowledge in professional and simulated settings.

  • Student Experiential Placements: Across Years 2, 3 and 4, the faculty organises structured placements for students in community and hospital pharmacies.
  • Integrated Paid Supervised Practice: In Year 5, you’ll undertake paid work-integrated learning alongside an Intern Training Program and elective studies. Students are responsible for organising their own supervised practice position.
  • Active Learning and Authentic Assessment: The course emphasises active learning through interactive workshops and authentic, scenario-based assessments. These teaching and learning methods are proven to assist you to best engage with complex material and ensure that technologies like AI are used responsibly.
  • Skills Coaching: An integrated Skills Coaching program helps you build crucial employability and professional skills, including problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication.
  • International Experiences: Pharmacy is a global profession and we want you to experience that in your degree. There are options to study abroad in Malaysia, the US or Italy as part of our pharmacy program, with all studies counting for some credit.

Scholarships and funding

There are a number of faculty and university international student scholarships available, including the Pharmacy International Merit Scholarship.

Find out more about studying pharmacy at Monash