This program provides a direct pathway to a professional postgraduate qualification in Pharmacy leading to registration as a pharmacist in Australia.

The course builds upon previous tertiary studies in basic or applied science. Entry requires a bachelor degree with a major sequence in biomedical/biophysical science, or equivalent.

Master of Pharmacy graduates are eligible for registration as pharmacists in Australia following successful completion of a compulsory pre-registration traineeship.

The School and its Master of Pharmacy program are provisionally accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) following review by the New Zealand and Australian Pharmacy Schools Accreditation Committee in 2006/2007.

The program will provide two years (six trimesters) of full-time intensive instruction in the areas of:

• pharmacy practice
• clinical pharmacy
• pharmaceutics
• medicinal chemistry
• biomedicine and population health
• research
• and includes clinical placements in a community and hospital Pharmacy.

Prospective students lacking prerequisite knowledge may complete additional approved undergraduate units prior to enrolment. The philosophy underpinning the academic content of the program prepares graduates to meet the future health care needs of the community, provide leadership in the profession of pharmacy, and (through the nexus between teaching and research at UWA), have a strong background for employment in the pharmaceutical / drug research industries.

Students with an undergraduate degree in pharmacy will not normally be accepted into this program.

If you are interested in enrolling in the Master of Pharmacy, please fill in the Expression of Interest form. 

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Core units

Academic Year 1

Semester 2, July - October (trimester 1 of program)

• PHCY8601 Pharmacy Practice I 
• PHCY8610 Pharmaceutics 
• PHCY8611 Pharmaceutical Technology
• CHEM8612 Medicinal Chemistry I 

Summer Teaching Period, January - February (trimester 2 of program)

• PHCY8615 Pharmacy Placement I - Community Pharmacy

Semester 1, March - June (trimester 3 of program)

• PHCY8605 Clinical Science for Pharmacy I
• PHCY8606 Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics
• CHEM8613 Medininal Chemistry II
• PUBH8763 Leadership and Management of Health Services

Academic Year 2

Semester 2, July - October (trimester 4 of program)

• PHCY8617 Clinical Science for Pharmacy II
• PHCY8602 Pharmacy Practice II
• PHCY8608 Health Systems and Pharmacoeconomics
• PHCY8604 Pharmacy Management

Summer Teaching Period, January - February (trimester 5 of program)

• PHCY8616 Pharmacy Placement II - Hospital Pharmacy

Semester 1, March - June (trimester 6 of program)

• PHCY8603 Pharmacy Practice III
• PHCY8609 Current Developments in Nutrition, Health and Biotechnology
• PHCY8614 Pharmacy Research Project

Prior to registration, graduates of the programme must have completed 2500 hours of (paid) practical training in a pharmacy. Up to a maximum of 500 hours can be credited prior to graduation, while the remaining 2000 hours must be completed after graduation. The Pharmaceutical Council of W.A. administers these traineeships, which are assessed by examinations set by the Pharmaceutical Council of W.A. and the Australian Pharmacy Examining Council.

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Admission requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in science with a major sequence in biomedical/biophysical science, or equivalent; and demonstration to the Faculty of adequate knowledge of each of the following areas of basic science at a tertiary level: physiology and anatomy, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry; mathematics/statistics. Physics (or equivalent) is highly recommended.

Applicants must provide a clean National Police Certificate from their home country before enrolling and citizenship papers.

Please check that you have the necessary academic background when applying for entry to the course.

Domestic students

All UWA coursework programs: English Language Competence

International students

For those whose native language is not English, satisfactory performance in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or equivalent, with a score of 7.5 (new Australian Pharmacy Council requirements from July 1, 2009) and no band less than 7.5 is required (the General IELTS test is not acceptable). Requirements in the Occupational English Test (OET) remain unchanged and a score of either ‘A’ or ‘B’ in each of the four sections of the OET is acceptable.

The University accepts international students holding recent bachelor degrees from an Australian university as proof of English competency.

Course enquiries

Professor Alan Everett
Telephone: +(61 8) 6488 3317

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