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Discipline info for Australian students
Interested in Pharmacy?
Be at the forefront of creating and providing medicines by studying with South Australia’s No.1 university for graduate careers.1
Pharmacy is one of the most trusted professions in Australia and has enjoyed a strong presence in the community for over 150 years.2 With an expanding scope of practice and new opportunities to improve modern medicines, pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists play an integral role in maintaining community health and wellbeing.
We provide South Australia’s only pharmacy and pharmaceutical science degrees, and have more than 50 years’ experience in delivering pharmaceutical science education.
Career Pathways
From 2025, you can secure your place and simplify your journey into becoming a registered pharmacist through our new packaged Bachelor and Master study options.3 Study the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) or the double degree in Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) and continue straight into our new Master of Pharmacy, designed to future-proof your skills and satisfy your requirements for registration as set by the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
Applications will open in SATAC in August 2024 for direct entry into:
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (Pathway to Master of Pharmacy) (SATAC Code: 414525)
- Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (Pathway to Master of Pharmacy) (SATAC Code: 414526)
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
Our Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) is your first step to become a registered pharmacist. Develop the skills and knowledge to provide community-facing primary care, and communicate expert advice on medicines to professionals and the general public alike.
New in 2025: Master of Pharmacy
Our new Master of Pharmacy provides a framework to complete a year-long supervised internship and pharmacy intern training program (ITP) required as part of your accreditation requirements set by the Pharmacy Board of Australia. You will also hone your skills in research, leadership, and delivering competent, ethical and person-centric pharmacy practice, preparing you to be a competent primary healthcare provider.
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science and double degrees
Opportunities to improve medicines are increasing, both due to an ageing population with increased health needs, alongside technological advances which make it easier and more cost effective for new medications to be created and tested. Our Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science will have you ready to play a key role in the discovery, formulation, approval, evaluation and marketing of safe and effective medicines, using your scientific knowledge to improve health outcomes.
Expand your career opportunities and your breadth of knowledge by studying our double degree in Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) - the only one of its kind in Australia. This double degree is also available as a package with the Master of Pharmacy.
Our Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice gives graduates from the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) at UniSA or other institutions the opportunity to complete the pharmacy intern training program.
1ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-23– Full-time Employment Indicator (Domestic Undergraduate). SA public universities. 2Governance Institute of Australia, Ethics Index 2023. 3Academic criteria apply.
Key features
- Study South Australia's only professionally accredited pharmacy and pharmaceutical science programs.
- Become an expert in discovering, improving, and delivering modern medicines to improve health outcomes for Australians.
- UniSA is one of the four founding universities of Australia's prestigious National Alliance for Pharmacy Education (NAPE) and has strong ties to both national and international industry partners.
- Streamline your journey into becoming a registered pharmacist through packaged Bachelor/Master options.
- Gain practical experience in our on-campus, state-of-the-art pharmacy laboratory and pharmacy practice suite, and in real-world environments on work placements.
- Gain two qualifications with just one extra year of study when you complete Australia’s only double degree in pharmacy and pharmaceutical science
UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities,1 we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.
We offer South Australia’s only accredited pathways into becoming a registered pharmacist or pharmaceutical scientist, and have more than 50 years’ experience in teaching pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
Our pharmacy and pharmaceutical teaching staff are internationally recognised and have strong connections with local and global industry. We’re one of the four founding universities of Australia's prestigious National Alliance for Pharmacy Education (NAPE), which informs standards across the country.
Our state-of-the-art, purpose-built pharmacy laboratory is the best place to hone your skills using the latest technologies in drug development and pharmaceutical sciences. Build your confidence in our Pharmacy Practice Integrated Learning Suite (PPILS), where you’ll learn to dispense medicines, counsel patients and develop the clinical service delivery skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice. You’ll also get the opportunity to work on real-world projects and gain hands-on experience as part of your studies.
UniSA is Australia’s youngest university with a five-star rating for excellence,2 and this excellence shines through in our teaching. Our curriculum is informed by well above world-class research in pharmacy, pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences.3 We’re also one of Australia's Top 10 universities for pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and pharmacology.4,5
1Ranked #43, 2024 THE Young University Rankings. 22023 QS Stars Ratings. 32018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 4Ranked equal #9, Shanghai’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022. 5Ranked #10, 2024 QS Subject Rankings.
UniSA offers the following Pharmacy degrees
Choose your level of study
Short programs
Are you looking to upgrade your existing skills to enhance your career prospects? Or perhaps you just have an interest in a particular subject area and want to further your experience, skills and knowledge. We offer a suite of short programs that will allow you to build your knowledge and skill set.
Designed in collaboration between external partners and expert academics, program content is industry-relevant and up-to-date. Short programs include:
World-class partners for a world-class university
We are a globally connected university with over 2,500 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement.
Meet the Unstoppables
Meet some of UniSA's unstoppable graduates and explore how you can unlock your unstoppable career in Pharmacy with our world-class degrees.
Growth in Australia’s pharmacy professions is on the rise, with pharmacists working in a variety of environments across retail trade, health care and social assistance, or manufacturing. Career prospects are strong, with an expected 3,100 job openings expected up to 2026.1
Registered pharmacists are the medicine experts in a multidisciplinary healthcare team. As a registered pharmacist, you can work in health settings across:
- hospitals
- local pharmacies
- GP practices
- community services
- aged care settings
- pharmaceutical industry
- defence services
- regulatory bodies
- compounding or critical care services
- infectious disease services
- academia and research
Pharmaceutical science professionals are science experts qualified to take on professional roles in many areas, including:
- evaluation of medicines by government regulatory agencies
- identification and measurement of drugs by analytical laboratories
- clinical trials that test the efficiency of medicines in patients
- interrogation of medicine usage to improve health outcomes and minimise health costs
- marketing and sales of medicines for human and veterinary use
- research and development of new drugs and medicines
- manufacturing and quality control to ensure high quality medicines are produced
- intellectual property and patent law
1Australian Government National Skills Commission Employment Projections 2021
Global networks
As a globally connected university, our staff and students come from over 90 countries. We also have more than 2,500 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement.
Our students have completed placements and internships with organisations like:
- Community pharmacy banner groups including Amcal, ChemCentral, Chemist King, Chemist Warehouse, National Pharmacies, Priceline, Star Discount and TerryWhite Chemmart
- Public hospital pharmacy departments including Flinders Medical Centre, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Women’s and Children’s Hospital
- Independent community pharmacies
- HPS Pharmacies
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
- Therapeutic Goods Administration
- Drug and Therapeutics Information Service (DATIS)
- Mayne Pharma
- CMAX Clinical Research
- Australian Medicines Handbook
- Icon Group
Industry facts
Ask UniSA
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How do I apply?
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying. -
Is there a closing date for applications?
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Undergraduate
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Postgraduate
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
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What credit can I receive for previous studies?
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
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Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.
What others are saying
I decided to study pharmacy at UniSA because of my love of science and health. The quality of staff is exceptional and I had the opportunity to complete an eight week placement at Noarlunga Hospital in my final semester, which was invaluable.
Amanda Gardecki
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
I chose to study at the University of South Australia because I believe it has good reputation for its education quality, conducive study environment, high quality academic staff and research opportunities.
Wern Chern Chai
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
I enjoyed chemistry and biology in school and always knew I wanted to study pharmacy. This double degree provides a broader range of knowledge about medications; from their discovery and development through to what information patients need to know prior to taking medications. A highlight of my studies was being awarded the SA/NT Pharmacy Student of the Year.
Rebecca Tattingham
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
Having a highly interactive program meant we practised counselling skills in a simulated community pharmacy environment, which contained all the medications necessary to reflect real-life practice.
Fares Al-Sarawi
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice
Why study at UniSA?
As one of the most innovative universities in Australia and Asia, there are many reasons to study with us. Here are just three:
Accessible, helpful and flexible
We have six campuses, a 24/7 online learning environment, and we offer flexible study options like online and evening courses.
Graduate success
UniSA is South Australia's number one university for graduate careers.*
*ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-21 – Full-time Employment Indicator (Undergraduate). SA public universities.
A five star university
Five stars for research, employability, teaching, facilities, internationalisation, inclusiveness and innovation*
*2023 QS Stars Ratings
