Bachelor of Pharmacy

Overview

• Study chemistry, maths, anatomy and biology, before advancing to pharmacotherapeutics, epidemiology and pharamacoeconomics.
• Gain practical experience in our pharmacy counselling room, including prescription processing, product labelling, and the therapeutic use of over-the-counter medications.
• Gain real job experience through clinical placements, beginning in your second year.
• Prepare yourself for a career in community pharmacies, hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, and in drug regulatory and research roles.
• Graduates eligible for membership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Pharmacy Guild and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.

Details

Why choose this course?

QUT’s pharmacy degree is continually reviewed in close consultation with the profession to capture the latest practices and emerging trends in community and hospital pharmacy. Our  degree covers the essential scientific knowledge but also incorporates communication and business management units to ensure you understand the contemporary practice of pharmacy, including the challenges and opportunities of working in a retail or hospital environment. This course is embedded with work placements that allow graduates to confidently dispense medications and counsel patients when they enter the industry.

Course summary

During first year you will complete foundation studies in chemistry, maths, anatomy and biology. You will be able to practise your communication skills in QUT’s pharmacy counselling room, which operates like a real pharmacy counter. You will also be introduced to retailing skills and explore the operations of a community pharmacy, including prescription processing, product labelling, and the therapeutic use of over-thecounter (OTC) medications.

You will undertake your first clinical placement in a real pharmacy environment during second year. You will expand your counselling skills and increase your knowledge regarding a range of OTC and prescription medications used to treat cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract disorders. You will learn how to perform pharmaceutical calculations, prepare basic pharmaceutical products, and gain a deeper understanding of how drugs interact with the human body, producing their therapeutic and sometimes adverse effects. 

In third year you will spend three hours per week in a community or hospital pharmacy followed by a one-week full-time clinical placement in each semester. There is an emphasis on drugs used to treat central nervous system disorders, in addition to drugs prescribed for cancer and infectious diseases. You will learn how to prepare more complex product  formulations and cover topics that provide vital information to health professionals regarding the optimal choice of drug therapy for individual patients.

Final year focuses on the integration and applications of your studies into current pharmacy practice. A range of guest lecturers will present material regarding social issues and current practices in women’s and Indigenous health and you will study specialised topics including pharmacotherapeutics, epidemiology and pharmacoeconomics.

Career outcomes

Pharmacists are employed in a range of settings including community pharmacies, hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry and in drug regulatory and research roles. Community pharmacists are often the first health professionals contacted for medical advice and play a major role as health providers and educators for the general public. Hospital pharmacists work closely with doctors in a patient-care role, conduct and manage clinical drug trials, evaluate newly released medicines and prepare medicines for patients requiring specialised treatments.

Student registration

QUT automatically registers students enrolled in this course with the Pharmacy Board of Australia in accordance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009. Details about student registration are available from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency at www.ahpra.gov.au

Professional recognition

Following graduation, approximately 12 months of pre-registration training performed under the supervision of a registered pharmacist is required to meet the registration requirements of the Pharmacy Board of Australia. Further IELTS requirements may apply.

Graduates will be eligible for membership of a number of professional associations, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Pharmacy Guild and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.

Units

Entry requirements

Minimum academic requirements

Did you complete secondary school in Australia?

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

View all scholarships