Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
Degree Level Undergraduate
Year 2021
You're viewing degree information for International students
You're considered an International student if you are:
- NOT an Australian or New Zealand citizen
- NOT an Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders)
Program Code
IHPC
Prerequisites
One of the following:
SACE Stage 2 Biology
SACE Stage 2 Chemistry
SACE Stage 2 Physics
More info
Assumed Knowledge
None
Fees
2021: AUD$ 39,700 per annum (per 1.0 EFTSL)
Admissions
Student Profile
English Language Requirements
- IELTS total [6.5]
- IELTS reading [6.5]
- IELTS writing [6.5]
- IELTS speaking [6.5]
- IELTS listening [6.5]
International Admission by Country
See full entry requirements
CRICOS Code
088337C
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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.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND- Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
OR
Higher education study- 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
Vocational Education and Training (VET)- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma level or above
OR
Work and life experience- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites
One of the following:
SACE Stage 2 Biology
SACE Stage 2 Chemistry
SACE Stage 2 PhysicsAssumed Knowledge
NoneEnglish language entry requirements
In addition, international students who speak English as a second language must have obtained one of the following standards within the last two years prior to admission. Possession of one or more of these qualifications, in addition to the academic entry requirements, does not, in itself, guarantee a place at the University of South Australia. Applications are considered on an individual basis and selection is competitive. Where previous study/work experience was conducted in English, the application must be accompanied by certified documentation from the educational institution/employer certifying that the language of instruction/employment was English.English language testSee equivalence table for other qualifications and English Language tests accepted by UniSA (PDF)- IELTS total [6.5]
- IELTS reading [6.5]
- IELTS writing [6.5]
- IELTS speaking [6.5]
- IELTS listening [6.5]
Admission Requirements by Country
Bangladesh HSC 4 Canada High School (OSSD) 75 Eynesbury FSP 370 German Abitur 2.3 India (best 4) 70 Kenya KCSE (average) B+ Malaysia STPM (best 3) 9 Malaysia UEC 26 Norway GPA 4 Pakistan HSSC 85 Sri Lanka A Levels (best 3) 9 Sweden GPA 15 UK Board GCE A Levels/HK Board 9 Vietnam 8.5 Australia 80 IB (best 6) 29 USA SAT (1600) 1270 HKDSE 18 Nepal NEB 2.81
Degree overview
- South Australia’s only professionally accredited pharmacy degree, providing the pathway to become a registered pharmacist.
- One of four universities in Australia to be a member of the prestigious National Alliance for Pharmacy Education (NAPE).
- Study at one of the top 5 universities for graduate careers, student satisfaction and teaching quality in Pharmacy.1
- Gain professional practice experience when you complete placements in community and hospital pharmacies.
- Study in UniSA’s new $247 million state-of-the-art UniSA Cancer Research Institute.
- Benefit from more than 50 years’ experience in pharmacy education.
- Learn from a University that has well-above world standard research in Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences.2
- Learn in our on-campus, purpose-built pharmacy laboratories and pharmacy practice suite.
- Benefit from our industry connections and strong links with internationally renowned research concentrations.
- Gain two qualifications with just one extra year of study when you complete Australia’s only double degree in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science.
1ComparED (QILT): Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-19 – Full-time Employment Indicator and Course Experience Questionnaire 2018-19 — Overall Satisfaction and Teaching Quality Indicators (Undergraduate). Public universities only.
22018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
Snapshot
This is South Australia’s only professionally accredited pharmacy degree, providing the pathway to become a registered pharmacist. With purpose-built on-campus learning facilities, internationally-recognised teaching staff and strong professional and clinical links with industry, we are the choice for aspiring pharmacy students.
Our on-campus facilities provide access to cutting edge technology systems including a pharmacy laboratory where you will receive hands-on experience in pharmaceutical and biological sciences to develop the skills needed to understand and prepare medicines. You will also benefit from our new purpose-built pharmacy practice suite where you will develop the clinical service delivery skills necessary to improve patient health outcomes, such as medication reviews, accurate dispensing of medicines and provision of expert knowledge, preparing you for a range of career possibilities.
Key focuses of this degree include:
- developing skills in pharmaceutical, biologic and chemical sciences
- professional pharmacy practice and patient centred care
- providing personalised drug information and expert advice for patients
- preparing, studying and monitoring medicines and their use
- inter-professional practice and communication
- university-organised clinical placements in community and hospital pharmacy sectors.
As an honours student you will develop advanced skills in research, focusing on an area of specialisation in pharmacy and related sciences.
You may also have the opportunity to enter into a double degree with a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science with just one extra year of study. To be eligible, you'll need to receive a grade point average (GPA) of 5 or more in your second year.
What you'll need
Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements. Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.
All students enrolled in a program leading to professional registration must be registered with the relevant National Board. The registration process is undertaken by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with the University providing notification to AHPRA following enrolment in the program.
What you'll learn
This honours degree will equip you with the knowledge, skills and practical expertise needed to embark on a career in the ever-changing field of pharmacy.
As an honours student there is also a strong focus on research, and you will graduate with the skills needed to undertake and manage research projects in a health-related setting.
During your first two years you will study:
- Foundations in pharmaceutical sciences and clinical skills
- Common diseases and their management
- Understanding healthcare systems and the roles of healthcare professionals
- Collecting and interpreting health information to provide individualised patient care
- Ethical pharmacy practice including responsible and legal control and supply of medicines.
During the third and fourth years you will study:
- Clinical decision-making principles and interprofessional practice
- Compounding and formulation of medicines
- Advanced pharmacy practice service delivery.
- Quality use of medicines
- Research skills and professional communication
- Clinical trials and international regulation of medicines
In fourth year, you will also complete professional placements in community and hospital-based pharmacy settings, with opportunities for rural and international experiences.
Study hours
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:
- Simulated patient interactions
- Practical skills assessments
- Quizzes
- Examinations
- Group projects and presentations
- Professional portfolios.
Global opportunities
Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. Australian and international students may have the option to do an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas. We have links with universities worldwide. You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.
Take a look at the global opportunities available.
Honours
This is a four-year, professional degree with honours, which means the courses you will study are of a very high standard. Graduating with an honours degree will set you apart from the crowd, ensuring you have a competitive edge and are ready for a career in industry, research or further postgraduate study. You will have a competitive edge, ready for broad career opportunities including patient facing clinical practice in settings such as primary care and hospital pharmacy, pharmaceutical industry, government regulation or further postgraduate study and research.
The honours component includes a minimum of one year of advanced studies in professional practice and research skill development. You will undertake clinical placements with a range of industry providers, including hospitals and professional settings. You will also have the opportunity to work alongside world leading research groups and clinicians, current student project partners including SAMHRI, the UniSA Cancer Research Institute and the South Australian hospital network.
Why Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) is the only pathway to becoming a pharmacist in South Australia. We are the only South Australian provider of pharmacy education, and one of the four universities in Australia to be a member of the prestigious National Alliance for Pharmacy Education (NAPE).
Graduating with a higher-level qualification honours degree will set you apart from the crowd, ensuring you have a competitive edge and are ready for broad career opportunities including patient facing clinical practice in settings such as primary care and hospital pharmacy, pharmaceutical industry, government regulation or further postgraduate study and research.
We offer a state-of-the-art, purpose-built pharmacy laboratory to develop skills in drug development and pharmaceutical sciences. Additionally, our Pharmacy Practice Integrated Learning Suite (PPILS) is where you will learn to dispense medicines, counsel patients and develop the clinical service delivery skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice. The suite simulates patient interactions for the provision of over-the-counter medicines assisted by new touchscreen technology which is the first of its type in Australia and only second internationally. This technology provides students with virtual access to the entire product range that would be held in a pharmacy.
Students have exposure to world-class research conducted by the UniSA Cancer Research Institute.
Dr Jacinta Johnson, recipient of the 2018 Early Career Pharmacist award
Dr Jacinta Johnson is a UniSA Lecturer and Pharmacy graduate who was the recipient of the 2018 Early Career Pharmacist award.
Video courtesy of the PSA Excellence Awards 2018, sponsored by Symbion.
Your career
In Australia, growth in the pharmacy profession has been on the rise, with career prospects continuing to look very strong, having an expected 13,000 job openings over the next five years.1
Pharmacists are the medicines experts in the healthcare team. To be successful as a pharmacist you will need to have an interest in the care, health and wellbeing of individuals and the community. You will also need to have an interest in the physical sciences and acknowledge the significance of the social sciences in the development of a health professional. The ability to work without supervision and with a high degree of accuracy under pressure is essential, as is a willingness to develop high-level problem-solving skills.
In addition, you should be motivated to take on an intellectual challenge, have a desire to gain expert specialised knowledge in your discipline, and a strong interest in research. You will need to be meticulous, accurate and results-driven, and possess exceptional communication skills to manage interactions with patients and other professional.
With new therapeutic developments and expanding clinical roles pharmacists have more career options than ever before, which is great news for graduates.
Pharmacists gain employment in:
- hospitals
- 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.
As an honours student you may also choose to pursue a career in research – graduates with honours degrees are highly sought after by prospective employers, particularly within university and research settings. The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) qualifies students for registration as a pharmacist, however, to become a practicing pharmacist, you will need to undertake the Pharmacy Intern Training Program at UniSA or another institution.
Other postgraduate opportunities include the Master of Clinical Pharmacy.
Where can my interest in science take me?
View our guide on Science Careers for more information.
1Australian Government Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2023 Small Business Projections.
Professional accreditation and recognition
The program is accredited with the Australian Pharmacy Council.
Successful completion of the program satisfies the academic requirements for registration as a pharmacist with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. Eligibility for registration is determined by the Pharmacy Board of Australia and includes a suitably recognised and appropriate period of supervised training.
Industry facts
How to apply for international students will give you helpful information about the application process at the University of South Australia. When you are ready, apply through our International Application System. If you would like to talk to someone near you about studying at the University of South Australia, we have agents all over the world who can assist you. Find an Education Agent in your country.
Alternative Pathways
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
International
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
Scholarships
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
Vice Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship
Recipients can get a 50% reduction on tuition fees for up to four years of full-time study for selected degrees.
International Merit Scholarship
Recipients can get a 25% reduction on tuition fees for their first year of study for selected degrees.
Your study experience and support
As a student at the University of South Australia you will have unique access to work placement opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events, internships, guest speakers and more.
Our campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform. We have health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and great student lounges. You will also have access to a range of community clinics, which provide professional and cost effective services in areas of health, law and psychology. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and lots more.
Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
Student services
International Student Services will make your life at university easier. We want you to be successful, and if you need help we will be there to assist. Support services include:
- careers advice
- help with student visas and health cover
- personal counselling
- academic counselling
- fees and finance help
- common rooms
- prayer rooms
- security officers
- services offered through our student association, USASA
- accommodation services
We also offer study support from our Learning Advisers. You can work with them face-to-face or online. They are here to help you develop academically and professionally during your studies. They also offer help with the English language. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.
24/7 digital environment
Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.
Your study spaces
You will have access to:
- Purpose-built Pharmacy Laboratories, Pharmacy Collaborative Teaching room and Pharmacy Student common area in our new $247m University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute
- Pharmacy Practice Integrated Learning Suite (PPILS)
- Chemistry Laboratory
- Biology Laboratory
You will also be able to experience a range of on-campus spaces including modern lecture theatres, collaborative teaching rooms, and relaxed student lounges.
Your program director
After completing my Pharmacy training in Birmingham and London, UK, I moved to Adelaide as a Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy. My major teaching passion is the integration of the key elements of physical and clinical pharmacy, namely pharmaceutics, pharmacology and therapeutic decision making into the development of fundamental pharmacy practice.
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How to apply?
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
You can access our online International Application System through our How to Apply page. The International Application System is an easy and secure online application and acceptance process. You will have visibility of your application through the secure online portal with the ability to download offer documents, submit your acceptance and make a payment.
Alternatively you can submit an application through one of the University's registered Education Agents.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC http://www.satac.edu.au/.
If you are applying for the UniSA Study Abroad or Study Abroad Plus program, you can submit your application online here.
Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Masters by Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit http://unisa.edu.au/resdegrees. -
Is there a closing date for applications?
There is no closing date for submitting your application however the admissions process takes between one and three weeks from the date that we receive your application and all required supporting documentation.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC. Key dates for applications can be found here.
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What credit can I receive for previous studies?
You may be eligible to receive credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving credit will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
The amount of credit you may be eligible to receive is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions team.
The best way to determine your eligibility to receive credit or advanced standing is to apply using our International Application System which can be found on our How to Apply page. You will need to supply detailed syllabus documents with your application.
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Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
We also have many events throughout the year in Australia and overseas where you can speak with UniSA representatives about your area of interest. View our calendar of events in your home country by selecting the 'International' filter.
What others are saying
I have learnt so much and have developed a greater passion for research, particularly in clinical pharmacy. I also completed a placement at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where I gained so much from observing the ward pharmacists' day-to-day duties and interactions with patients.
Shaw Nee Khoo
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
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)
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
Hear from Lauren about her rural pharmacy placement in Whyalla