Bachelor of Pharmacy

Degree Level Undergraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February

Campus
City East

Duration
4 year(s) full-time

Program Code
IBPH

SATAC Code
414101 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry Requirements
Selection Rank (Internal): 85.00 (for 2015)
View full entry requirements

Prerequisites
SACE Stage 2 Chemistry
SACE Stage 2 Physics
SACE Stage 2 Biology
More info

Assumed Knowledge
None

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

To be eligible for selection, applicants are required to:

Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and
- obtain a competitive ATAR, and
- meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C-
And ONE of the following prerequisites:
Alternatively, applicants can fulfil one of the following requirements with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements, and other academic requirements for the program:
- Complete secondary education qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points, or
- Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above, or
- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma level or above, or
- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a University Foundation Studies program
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites

SACE Stage 2 Chemistry
SACE Stage 2 Physics
SACE Stage 2 Biology

Assumed Knowledge
None
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

In 2017 all students will study the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours).

Aim

The program is intended to prepare students for a professional career in community, hospital or industrial pharmacy or in related professional careers.

Content & Structure

The Pharmacy program contains 6 general themes that are developed in an integrated manner across the 4 years (144 units of study) of the program. These are, broadly: scientific principles; communication and counselling skills; practice of pharmacy; development and formulation of medicines; medicines in disease treatment and health maintenance; research skills.

First year provides a foundation in scientific principles. Second year provides students with an understanding of medicines in disease treatment and health maintenance. Third year takes on a clinical focus, with the pharmacotherapeutics courses which build on the scientific principles covered in Years 1 and 2 to develop knowledge on the use of drugs in clinical settings and provide experience in influencing patient behaviour and medication use in the community. In fourth year, development and formulation of medicines takes on a futuristic focus (pharmacy in the future), and further development of skills for the practice of pharmacy occurs as students gain a greater understanding of contemporary practice by integrating previously acquired skills and knowledge, including an appreciation of pharmacy-related research.

Study at the new Adelaide University in 2026

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From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

Apply now to study with Adelaide University in 2026.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Chemistry 100	CHEM 1006	4.5
Human Physiology 100	BIOL 1049	4.5
Health and Society	HLTH 1025	4.5
Health Professional Essentials	PHAR 1008	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Chemistry 101	CHEM 1007	4.5
Human Physiology 101	BIOL 1050	4.5
Quantitative Methods in Health	MATH 1065	4.5
Pharmacy Practice 1	PHAR 1009	4.5
SECOND YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Fundamentals of Pharmacology	PHAR 2019	4.5
Dosage Form Design 1	PHAR 2014	4.5
Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics	PHAR 2006	4.5
Pharmacology 2	PHAR 2020	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Pharmacology 3	PHAR 2021	4.5
Dosage Form Design 2	PHAR 2016	4.5
Pharmacy Practice 2	PHAR 2017	4.5
Pharmacology 4	PHAR 2022	4.5
THIRD YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Pharmacotherapeutics Practice 1A	PHAR 3018	4.5
Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 1	PHAR 3020	4.5
Dosage Form Design 3	PHAR 3024	4.5
Quality Use of Medicines	PHAR 3021	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Pharmacotherapeutics Practice 1B	PHAR 3019	4.5
Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 2	PHAR 3022	4.5
Dosage Form Design 4	PHAR 3025	4.5
Nutrition, Exercise and Therapeutics	PHAR 3026	4.5
FOURTH YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Pharmacy Practice 3	PHAR 4023	4.5
Advanced Therapeutics	PHAR 4018	4.5
Professional Placement	PHAR 4017	9
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Pharmacy Practice 4	PHAR 4024	4.5
Nutrition and Therapeutics	PHAR 4021	4.5
Issues in Contemporary Pharmacy Practice	PHAR 4019	4.5
Pharmacy Management Essentials	PHAR 4014	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. All students in the Division of Health Sciences who, as part of their program, undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required, such as in field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate that they have a Department for Communities and Social Inclusion National Criminal History Record Check, which will be current for the duration of that activity. Interstate student placements require a National Police Certificate.

2. Student registration with the relevant board of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is required in order to study this program. Students who do not meet registration criteria and are refused registration by AHPRA, or who have their registration rescinded during the program, will be unable to continue in the program. Further information will be provided by the University with offer letters.

3. Students are required to satisfy the standards of dress and behaviour prescribed by institutions and facilities in which clinical or field placements are undertaken. Failure to satisfy such requirements may prevent them satisfying the requirements for completion of the course.

4. The conduct of the honours program will be in accordance with University Policy. Students who successfully complete the Honours program will be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours.

Notes

1. Students are advised that they may be required to spend at least one clinical or field placement outside Adelaide.

2. Students are required to undertake professional placements in registered pharmacies or accredited institutions and some of these placements may be held outside the normal teaching weeks of the University.

3. Students are strongly encouraged to study full-time. Students seeking part-time study must discuss this with the Program Director prior to enrolment. Part-time students are normally expected to complete the program in eight years or less.

4. If a student entering from previous studies were to gain 36 units (1 year) credit into this degree, the degree structure may need to be modified such that the student would be unable to undertake Honours within the Pharmacy degree. There is still the potential to undertake a full year Honours after the completion of the degree. As with all applications for credit, consultation will take place with the Program Director.

5. High achieving students may be invited to undertake the Honours program and selection is based on achieving a grade point average of 5 or above in the first 2.5 years of the program (and which must include at least 54 units captured within the program). A GPA-based ranked quota will apply for places in the Honours program. A conditional invitation to students who meet this requirement will be made after the resolution of academic results at the end of Study Period 2 of third year. This offer is conditional upon students maintaining at least a credit average at the completion of third year. A quota for places in the Honours program will apply.