Pharmacy

Bachelor degree/Master degree

As the experts in medicines, pharmacists play a vital role in improving the health of their communities. You’ll learn about how the body works, how medicines work, what pharmacists do, and how to provide comprehensive care as part of a team of health professionals.

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ATAR

88.1

Note Lowest Selection Rank to which an offer was made

84

Note Monash guarantee for 2023 entry

78.1

Note Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made

98.05

Note Lowest Selection Rank to which an offer was made

93.25

Note Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made

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2023
Pharmacy - P6001

Pharmacy - P6001

The world needs pharmacists. As the experts on medicines and the way they interact with the body, pharmacists play a vital role in improving the health of their communities. As the global population grows and ages, and as medicines become more complex, the need for pharmacists intensifies.

In 2020 we were named #2 in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Only Oxford ranks higher. In part, this is because we believe the world doesn’t just deserve more pharmacists; it deserves better pharmacists. We’ve launched the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Master of Pharmacy to ensure our graduates go out into the world equipped with a higher level of learning.

Same duration, higher qualification

The pathway to registration as a pharmacist in Australia generally takes five years. Traditionally, this has been structured as a four-year bachelor degree plus a one-year internship. Our BPharm(Hons)/ MPharm takes the same amount of time but instead you’ll graduate with a master as well as a bachelor. The BPharm(Hons) and Intern Training Program components of the program are accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council and approved by PharmBA.

Focus on the skills you need to make a difference

Our course ensures you have a thorough grasp of the underlying scientific disciplines – chemistry, biology, pharmacology and so on. But it also focuses on the key soft skills that make the difference between a good pharmacist and a great one. You’ll step up your skills through work placements in community pharmacies, hospitals, and other environments, practicing these skills while learning from some of Australia’s best pharmacists.

Enhance your studies with an international experience

Pharmacy is a global profession and we want you to experience that in your degree. As part of our program, you can apply for exchange opportunities to our Malaysia campus. You can also apply to complete projects and placements in the US, the UK and a number of developing countries. We work closely with preferred partners to ensure that our international activities are interesting and ethical.

At a glance

Subject prerequisites

English	Maths	Sciences / Other
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View specific scores and subjects

Location	On-campus at Parkville: Full time
Duration	5 years (full time)
Start date	First Semester (February)
Qualification	Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (Scholars Program), Master of Pharmacy

Fees

Information about fees

Course Handbook

Overview
Entry requirements
Course structure
Applications and Fees

Scholars program

We acknowledge very high-achieving students by offering access to our Scholars Program. This provides exclusive learning opportunities, including:

extra academic and professional mentoring from pharmacy graduates
leadership training through the ambassador program
a Dean's scholarship (domestic students only).

Please note that the BPharm(Hons)/ MPharm Scholars Program has a different VTAC code than the standard BPharm(Hons)/ MPharm. We encourage you to apply for both courses rather than just the Scholars Program to ensure you don’t miss your chance of receiving an offer.

Fully government subsidised

For Australian students, the entire program is subsidised by the government so fees are lower. In the event of any change to the Commonwealth Government policy to restrict access to CSP for graduate study, then full domestic fees will apply to the Masters component of the course.

Graduate Entry Pharmacy

Graduate Entry Pharmacy is for those of you who choose to study a more general science degree after high school, or didn’t meet our pharmacy course requirements at the end of Year 12. You’ll commence into third year of our Bachelor of Pharmacy/Master of Pharmacy program, eligible for registration as a pharmacist in just three years, including a paid internship.

For more information on Graduate Entry Pharmacy, including eligibility requirements, visit this page: https://www.monash.edu/pharm/future/courses/pharmacy/grad-pharmacy

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Student Experiential Placements (StEPs)

Our students spend up to 110 days on placement across the course of their degree. Find out why, and how we're preparing them to get the most out of it.

Entry Requirements (Domestic students)

You need to satisfy all of the following requirements to be considered for entry into this course.

Qualifications

Equivalent Australian Year 12

Recent secondary education

ATAR requirements

ATAR - Parkville

88.1

Note Lowest Selection Rank to which an offer was made

84

Note Monash guarantee for 2023 entry

78.1

Note Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made

ATAR - Parkville scholars program

98.05

Note Lowest Selection Rank to which an offer was made

93.25

Note Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made

ATAR Calculator

Monash is committed to admissions transparency. View the ATAR and student profiles for this course.

Subject prerequisites

All applicants must satisfy the following prerequisites or their equivalents.

Australian VCE subjects

English

Units 3 & 4: a study score of at least 27 in English (EAL) or 25 in English other than EAL

Maths

Units 3 & 4: a study score of at least 25 in Mathematical Methods (Any) or Specialist Mathematics

Sciences/Other

Units 3 & 4: a study score of at least 25 in Chemistry

IB subjects

English

At least 4 in English SL or 3 in English HL or 5 in English B SL or 4 in English B HL

Maths

At least 4 in Mathematics SL or 3 in Mathematics HL or 3 in Further Mathematics HL

Sciences/Other

At least 4 in Chemistry SL or 3 in Chemistry HL

VET Study

All applicants must satisfy the equivalence of the VCE subject prerequisites. VCE VET studies will be considered. Studies must have been completed no more than 10 years prior to admission. Relevant work experience is only used in fine-tuning selection.

VET: Due to strong competition for places, Certificate IV or Diploma graduates are unlikely to be offered a place.

Entire academic record: This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.

Applicants will not be admitted to this course solely on the basis of a VET qualification.

Higher education

University:

Preference is given to applicants who have completed the equivalent of a full year of study in an undergraduate degree (e.g. science or biomedical science). A high level of academic achievement at tertiary level is required. Prerequisite studies in Chemistry, English and Mathematics can be met at either the VCE or tertiary level.

Graduate entry pathway:

Applicants with a completed Bachelor level degree in a science-related discipline may apply for the graduate entry pathway which allows direct entry into the third year of the course after completion of a summer intensive unit. Graduate Entry Pathway students have the additional prerequisite requirement of a tertiary Physiology subject in order to be eligible for admission, along with the standard course entry requirements. For more information on Graduate Entry Pharmacy, including eligibility requirements, visit the faculty website.

Graduate entry is available for students with a completed undergraduate degree in a related science course, specifically a Bachelor of Biomedical Science. A credit precedence is set for students entering the course through this pathway; they must enter into a summer intensive unit PHR1001 (Bridge to Practice I) and pass prior to entering the third year of this course. The pathway is only open to eligible graduate students with a relevant completed degree, which must have been completed no more than ten years prior to application. As part of this accelerated pathway, successful applicants will also be required to complete an overload unit in the first semester of their third year entitled PHR1101 (Bridge to Practice II).

All applicants must satisfy the equivalence of the VCE subject prerequisites. Studies must have been completed no more than 10 years prior to admission.

Entire academic record: This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.

Work and life experience

Multiple pathways to this course

Applicants who have successfully completed Year 12 are eligible to apply for this course.

Applicants with no formal secondary or tertiary qualifications are not eligible to apply for this course. This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.

There are many ways to gain entry to a course at Monash. If you don't meet our entry requirements, there are pathways to help. More about alternative pathways...

Additionally, we recognise that some applicants may have experienced difficulties that have disadvantaged them when applying for university. We offer a range of special admissions schemes that may help you gain entry to your chosen course, including pathways for Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students. .More about special admissions schemes...

All applicants must satisfy the equivalence of the VCE subject prerequisites. Studies must have been completed no more than 10 years prior to admission.

Alternative qualifications and prerequisites

For other domestic and international qualification entry requirements and scores for this course use the study credit and admissions eligibility search.

English requirements

Applicants must also meet the English language requirements.

University entrance requirements

Minimum entrance requirements for admission to Monash University Australia.

Extra Requirements

Police and Working with Children checks are required for Student Experiential placements (StEPs) and/or the Professional Experience Placement (PEP) program in clinical and community settings in the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours). Students will be required to obtain and pay for a police check and Working with Children check prior to undertaking the clinical and community placements in the course.

Before commencing professional experience placements students are required to show records that they have been immunised in line with the Department of Human Services' list of immunisation for health workers.

For further information or for clarification contact the placement program coordinator at pep@monash.edu.

The course develops through the six themes, the first three being Structure and Function of the Body, Drug Structure, Disposition and Action, and Professional Practice, which come together in the final three themes, Comprehensive Care, Inquiry and Innovation and Professional Experience respectively. This course will develop the relevant practical and analytical skills you require for pharmacy practice, as well as your generic skills such as oral and written communication, critical thinking, inquiry, learning for life, numeracy and information literacy and leadership.

A. Structure and Function of the Body (How the Body Works)

These studies will provide you with the foundational understanding and knowledge of the human body, including how cells, molecules and organs ensure proper functioning of the body. This will include studies of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry relevant to pharmacists. You will be able to predict the outcome of cell and organ dysfunction, as well as effectively communicate aspects of how the body works.

B. Drug Structure, Disposition, and Action (How Medicines Work)

You will learn the important aspects for a molecule to become a medicine, and how medicines produce their effects. This will include studies of medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics relevant to pharmacists. These studies will equip you with fundamental and applied knowledge required to understand and assess pre-formulation, formulation, manufacturing and packaging of pharmaceutical products. This includes the understanding and application of how medicines get absorbed, distributed and eliminated from the body and mechanisms and time-course of drug response in the body.

C. Professional Practice (What Pharmacists Do)

These studies will equip you with the sociocultural context in which the pharmacist and the client operate, social and health practice issues, ethical, legal context of pharmacy, relevant professional and social values, attitudes and behaviours necessary for practice. You will develop the communication and practical skills to apply the knowledge and skills you have gained to promote and contribute to the quality use of medicines and to the health of the community.

D. Comprehensive care

Through these studies you will acquire knowledge about diseases and disorders and their management. You will develop an understanding and application of the relationship between pathophysiology and the rational design and clinical use of drugs in the management of various health conditions. You will gain and apply the knowledge and critical thinking skills in the enabling sciences, pharmaceutics and pharmacy practice to optimise pharmacotherapy in clinical practice.

E. Inquiry and Innovation

F. Professional Experience

Embedded practice experiences during Stage 1 will prepare you to achieve the necessary competencies to enter the preregistration period. This will include 12 weeks in a variety of clinical settings to develop and give context for your skill development.

Once you enter Stage 2, you will undertake the Pharmacy Board of Australia required pre-registration year including the National Alliance for Pharmacy Education Intern Training Program (ITP) accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council. You will develop your skills in the workplace, focusing on the competencies required to practice as a registered pharmacist. You will also complete the Monash University Pharmacy Intern Foundation Program (IFP) that recognises additional professional knowledge and skills gained whilst working in a Monash credentialed training site.

In order to enrol in the Intern Training Program and Intern Foundation Program, you must have arranged to undertake your internship under the supervision of a preceptor approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Making the application

Future students

Semester one (February)

Applications for on campus studies should be made online through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre

Apply through VTAC

Current Monash students

You may apply to transfer from another Monash course. Transfers are a competitive process. You may apply mid-year for available courses however consideration will be given as to whether you will be able to follow your course progression.

Please note that if you apply for a course transfer, you should still enrol in your current course as if you were continuing so as not to jeopardise your enrolment in the Faculty if your transfer application is unsuccessful. More about Course Transfer...