Pharmacy is a high-demand course in Australia. With the need for more skilled pharmacists in Australia, studying pharmacy in Australia has become a greatly valued cause. The universities in Australia offer degrees in pharmacy such as Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Pharmacy. With these degrees, you can work in places such as community and hospital pharmacies. Additionally, the jobs for pharmacists are growing by the day making room for more career opportunities for recent graduates. Furthermore, these professionals have good earning incomes as well as flexible work schedules.
Australia has some of the top-ranked universities that provide world-class education. Therefore, these prestigious universities offer a comprehensive program for both Bachelor’s and Master’s in Pharmacy in Australia. However, gaining admission to study pharmacy in Australia does not come on a silver platter. You must have the basic requirements that are needed by these universities before you can be accepted to study pharmacy in Australia.
In this piece, I will walk you through the basic requirements that are needed for studying pharmacy in Australia.
Requirements for Studying Pharmacy in Australia
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Complete your Secondary Education
You must have completed your secondary education before you study pharmacy at an undergraduate level in Australia. Additionally, you must have a certificate that is equivalent to the Australian year 12 qualification. Furthermore, you must also have a Grade Point Average of 60% at your senior secondary level.
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Meet the Minimum ATAR score
This is an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank score that is used to screen applicants. The minimum score for pharmacy is between 78-80%. Therefore, you need to have high grades in your subjects to be able to meet this score. However, this score can vary between universities.
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Submit your Academic Transcripts
You must submit an academic transcript of all your previous education. This transcript must contain all your courses and grades that you have studied. Additionally, you need to make sure that your transcript is written in English.
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Letters of Recommendation
You must submit at least three recommendation letters during your application. You need to get them from your previous lecturers or teachers. Therefore, your recommendation letters should not be from a friend or family member.
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Statement of Purpose
Some universities in Australia will require you to write a statement of purpose as part of the admission process. You will be asked to write a statement of purpose explaining your motivations for studying pharmacy. Additionally, you must write why you are interested in studying pharmacy in Australia and your career plans.
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English Proficiency Test
You will be required to write an English Language proficiency test if English is not your first language. Additionally, you must show proof of your English proficiency test. You can write tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE. The minimum score for IELTS is 6.5. While the minimum score for TOEFL is 79 and PTE is 64. However, the test and test score can vary depending on your country and Australian university.
Requirements for Obtaining a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy
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Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree
You must have completed at least a three-four year bachelor’s degree. This degree must be in science, pharmacy or other related fields. Additionally, this degree must be from a recognised institution.
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Have a Relevant Work Experience:
Some universities will require you to have a minimum of two years of work experience as a registered pharmacist. However, you can also have experience in a related professional field.
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Meet the minimum Cumulative Grade Point (CGPA)
You need to have a good CGPA to be able to study for a master’s degree in pharmacy in Australia. It would be best if you had a CGPA of at least 5.0 on a 7.0-point scale(60%).
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English Proficiency Test
You need to write an English Language proficiency test if English is not your first language. Additionally, you must show proof of your English proficiency test. You can write tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.0. While the minimum score for TOEFL is 96 and PTE is 68. However, the test and test score can vary depending on your country and Australian university.
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Take the GAMSAT Exam
The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is used to test the knowledge of aspiring applicants. The exam is held twice a year in March and September. Additionally, the scores for this exam are valid for only four years.
How to Apply
Firstly, you need to select the university in Australia that you will be applying to. Secondly, you should visit the school’s website and fill out the application form.
Duration
The duration of studying pharmacy in Australia depends on the degree you wish to pursue. The bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete while the master’s degree takes two years to complete.
Tuition Fees
The tuition fee for studying pharmacy in Australia depends on the degree you are applying for as well as your country. Generally, It costs an average of 31900 AUD – 52440 AUD/yearly to study a bachelor’s or master’s program in Pharmacy in Australia. However, this may vary based on the university you are applying to. Additionally, International students pay higher tuition fees.
Universities in Australia that Offer Pharmacy
- The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia
- The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland
- University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania
- Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland
- University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales
- Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
- University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales
- Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland
- University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia
- James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, and Cairns, Queensland
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria
- Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne, Victoria
- University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
- Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Albury-Wodonga
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia
In Conclusion, you should check with each university directly before applying to see if your qualifications meet their entry standard. Furthermore, you need to ensure that you submit all the documents that are needed while making your applications. Additionally, ensure that you make your applications early enough before the deadline. You can reach out to us for further assistance and inquiries.
Good luck!