Our student and alumna discuss how they overcame their fears about returning to study, and found job satisfaction.
About us
The University is ranked first in Australia and fiftj in the world for graduate employability in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2017.
Find out more.The University has been educating and training pharmacy students and researchers for over 100 years.
Find out more.
The Master of Pharmacy offers an entry pathway to fast-track your career into the pharmacy profession. This course is an accredited and innovative two-year graduate-entry coursework program designed to prepare you for all aspects of the pharmacy profession, including leadership in innovative and evidence-based practice.
As a pharmacy student, you will learn from internationally-renowned, award-winning academics as you develop advanced clinical skills and experience. You will benefit from outstanding and effective teaching and research, exposure to modern clinical settings and access to the latest technology, facilities and teaching laboratories, placing you in a cohort of the most desirable pharmacy graduates in Australia.
With a strong practical focus, underpinned by evidence-based practice and research, you will develop valuable knowledge, skills and experience in all aspects of the pharmacy profession. Your studies will consist of a variety of blended learning opportunities including lectures, tutorials, labs, small group work, problem-based learning, as well as clinical placements across the community, hospital and industry sectors.
The Master of Pharmacy also offers a limited number of six-week summer research scholarships, providing you with a unique research experience with renowned academics. The Master of Pharmacy is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) and allows graduates to progress towards registration as a pharmacist in Australia. On completion of this degree, and following the compulsory pre-registration training period required for all candidates (including an Intern Training Program), you will be eligible for registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia and able to practise as a professional pharmacist.
Students are advised that it is a requirement of our pharmacy programs that they participate appropriately in all classroom and examination tasks, including role plays and group work involving all genders. The School is unable to exempt students from these tasks for legal reasons.
To assist students to make informed choices about their study, we have identified and set out the Inherent Requirements for coursework award courses in pharmacy.
The University of Sydney welcomes and encourages applications from students with disabilities, and from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Where there are physical, intellectual, cultural, religious or other factors that impact on a student's ability to meet the Inherent Requirements, the University will make reasonable adjustments to assist the student to meet the requirements. Please read the Inherent Requirements carefully as you consider your course choices.
There are no majors for this course.
To be eligible to apply for the Master of Pharmacy applicants will need to fulfill the following criteria:
1. A bachelor's degree from an Australian institution or equivalent
2. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA), currently 5.0 over 7.0 (equivalent to 65% at USYD), or Graduate Australian Medical Admissions Test (GAMSAT), currently 55 with 50 in each section, or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), currently 8 (previous test version) / 500 (new test version).
3. 48 credit points, or equivalent, in six prerequisite subjects at university level (candidates can enrol in the course with 12 credit points of prerequisite subjects outstanding as long as these units of study are completed by the end of the first year of the Master of Pharmacy.):
4. English language proficiency of IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each band (if relevant)
Course transfers from current Master of Pharmacy programs across Australia will be considered. Subject exemptions are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
International pharmacy graduates are accepted provided pharmacy registration has been within the last ten years. It is not a requirement to have a GPA, MCAT or GAMSAT for this application.
Applicants with relevant professional experience (eg pharmaceutical industry or related research area) within the last ten years will be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is not a requirement to have a GPA, MCAT or GAMSAT for this application.
All applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelor degree in order to be considered for admission. The bachelor degree must be completed by the time of enrolment for the year in which the applicant intends to commence the Master of Pharmacy program.
Applicants who have undertaken a bachelor degree in an accelerated program are eligible to apply only after completion of the full degree.
The University will calculate your GPA on receipt of your application.
All prerequisite subjects must have been completed in the last ten years. Students can enrol in the program with 12 credit points of prerequisite subjects outstanding as long as these subjects are completed by the end of the first year of the Master of Pharmacy program. Some prerequisites may be offered through The Summer School at the University of Sydney prior to the commencement of Semester 1.
The University of Sydney welcomes and encourages applications from students with disabilities, and from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Where there are physical, intellectual, cultural, religious or other factors that impact on a student’s ability to meet the Inherent Requirements, the University will make reasonable adjustments to assist the student to meet the requirements. Please read the Inherent Requirements carefully as you consider your course choices.
The academic requirements that are displayed are applicable to currently available courses only, and are updated annually in October and may be changed without notice. The Handbooks Online and the University of Sydney Calendar are the official legal source of information relating to study at the University of Sydney, and you are referred to those documents.
Students are required to meet the inherent requirements for coursework award courses in Pharmacy.
The clinical experience program in the Master of Pharmacy reflects the contemporary healthcare environment. Students undertake 3 x two-week block placements during their first year. Students also have a further 2 x two-week block placements in their second year. By the end of their second year, all students have had at least five, two-week block placements in clinical experience. The block placements are carried out at hospital and community pharmacies and include opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, professional organisations and in rural health settings.
Before you can attend a placement, you need to have certain clinical placement checks and clearances. You will need a criminal record check and evidence of vaccinations. The checks can be completed after your enrolment in the course. You will need to supply your proof of vaccination documents when you attend your placement (including any existing records of vaccinations from your home country). All documents requested are to be provided in English. If not in English, a certified translation is required to be provided.
Enrolment into the pharmacy program will require that you are registered as a student with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
To become a registered pharmacist, graduates of this course must complete 1,824 hours (one year) of supervised practical training and an Intern Training Program in order to register with the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
Indicative Postgraduate Student Contribution Amount
The student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Indicative Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee
The tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increase
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html.
Visa/MasterCard surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa or MasterCard. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
Indicative International Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Students
The tuition fee for international postgraduate students is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the tuition fees. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html. In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through a government approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government. Further information is available from https://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/living-costs/health-insurance.html.
Visa/MasterCard surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa or MasterCard. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
