Postgraduate

Master of Pharmacy

This course provides advanced study in the areas of pharmacy practice, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapy and health systems, and includes practical training.

Contact us

Address

Student Central

The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009

Telephone

131 UWA (131 892)

International

(+61 8) 6488 1000

Hours

8.30am - 5pm AWST, Monday - Friday

Frequently asked questions

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Careers and further study

Explore the career opportunities available to you.

Career Pathways

What career paths are there for pharmacists?

Community Pharmacy
The most visible face of pharmacy is the community pharmacy. Community pharmacists are often the first point of contact for members of the community who need health advice or someone to talk to about their health concerns. This role as a primary health care provider carries a lot of responsibility as decisions need to be made about the best plan of action for your patient and whether referral to another health care professional is warranted. This responsibility requires not only sound professional judgement but also excellent communication skills. A pharmacist needs to be a good, empathetic listener and be able to communicate complex scenarios in a way that helps members of the general public understand their health issues and the various treatment options that may be available to them. This puts pharmacists in a position of trust and allows them to develop strong and often very long lasting professional relationships with their patients. For many pharmacists, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of their profession. There are also new roles evolving all the time for the community pharmacist, including immunisation, pain management, wound care and diabetes care. 

Hospital Pharmacy
A small army of pharmacists are an integral part of the health care team in hospitals, working together with doctors, nurses, and specialists to ensure optimum care for every patient. Often pharmacists become involved in clinical trials conducted in the hospital to evaluate the worth of a new therapeutic agent, or in hospital based research to look for new and better ways to manage patients and their medications. Hospital pharmacists may also specialise in a particular area of health care (for example oncology or infectious diseases) and become expert in the pharmaceutical management of what are often very difficult and complex health conditions. They also need to be excellent communicators, not only in their interactions with the patients on the wards, but also in their role as a member of an inter-professional health care team.

Consultant Pharmacy
These pharmacists work in general practice alongside general practitioners to review a patient's medications to optimise their therapy - this may occur in the home or at aged care and special needs facilities. All too often a patient becomes ill because their medications are not being taken correctly and this leads to a significant number of hospital admissions. Pharmacists have a role in preventing these unnecessary and unfortunate occurrences and in improving health outcomes.

Other careers for pharmacists
Many other career paths are also open to pharmacy graduates; some graduates work for pharmaceutical companies in the areas of marketing, regulatory control, clinical trial co-ordination, manufacturing, quality assurance or research in drug design and development; others become involved with government organisations or opt for a career in academia and research. With a sound scientific and clinical education, there are a wide range of options to suit individual interests and career aspirations.
What career paths are there for pharmacists?

Community Pharmacy
The most visible face of pharmacy is the community pharmacy. Community pharmacists are often the first point of contact for members of the community who need health advice or someone to talk to about their health concerns. This role as a primary health care provider carries a lot of responsibility as decisions need to be made about the best plan of action for your patient and whether referral to another health care professional is warranted. This responsibility requires not only sound professional judgement but also excellent communication skills. A pharmacist needs to be a good, empathetic listener and be able to communicate complex scenarios in a way that helps members of the general public understand their health issues and the various treatment options that may be available to them. This puts pharmacists in a position of trust and allows them to develop strong and often very long lasting professional relationships with their patients. For many pharmacists, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of their profession. There are also new roles evolving all the time for the community pharmacist, including immunisation, pain management, wound care and diabetes care. 

Hospital Pharmacy
A small army of pharmacists are an integral part of the health care team in hospitals, working together with doctors, nurses, and specialists to ensure optimum care for every patient. Often pharmacists become involved in clinical trials conducted in the hospital to evaluate the worth of a new therapeutic agent, or in hospital based research to look for new and better ways to manage patients and their medications. Hospital pharmacists may also specialise in a particular area of health care (for example oncology or infectious diseases) and become expert in the pharmaceutical management of what are often very difficult and complex health conditions. They also need to be excellent communicators, not only in their interactions with the patients on the wards, but also in their role as a member of an inter-professional health care team.

Consultant Pharmacy
These pharmacists work in general practice alongside general practitioners to review a patient's medications to optimise their therapy - this may occur in the home or at aged care and special needs facilities. All too often a patient becomes ill because their medications are not being taken correctly and this leads to a significant number of hospital admissions. Pharmacists have a role in preventing these unnecessary and unfortunate occurrences and in improving health outcomes.

Other careers for pharmacists
Many other career paths are also open to pharmacy graduates; some graduates work for pharmaceutical companies in the areas of marketing, regulatory control, clinical trial co-ordination, manufacturing, quality assurance or research in drug design and development; others become involved with government organisations or opt for a career in academia and research. With a sound scientific and clinical education, there are a wide range of options to suit individual interests and career aspirations.
Pharmacy Study and Careers Panel

Pharmacy students and grads discuss their exciting careers in all aspects of pharmacy practice

Pharmacy career panel

Find out how Pharmacy can open up a wide range of career paths for you

Pharmacy course overview

Hear from our national Intern Pharmacist of the year Wint Ye Phu

HEAR FROM A GRADUATING STUDENT

Master of Pharmacy graduate Hayley May Sach

Further Study

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course.

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required. More information on how fees are calculated.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

RELEVANT SCHOLARSHIPs

Rural placement scholarships

This program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health as part of the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement.

Learn more about available scholarships below:

RELEVANT SCHOLARSHIPs

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.
RELEVANT SCHOLARSHIPS

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme

This program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health as part of the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement.

Learn more about the scholarship:

RELEVANT SCHOLARSHIPS

International Student Fees

Annual course fee
2024
$46,100.00
2025
$48,600.00

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Find out more about international student tuition fees and visit the fee calculator for the relevant course fees.

Fees are subject to annual indexation.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Admission requirements

If you’re interested in furthering your career by studying this postgraduate course, find out the admission details below

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

Master of Pharmacy - Prerequisites

To be eligible to enrol in the Master of Pharmacy Program, you will need to have successfully completed studies in Chemistry and Mathematics at either Year 12 or tertiary level, and tertiary level Microbiology and Pharmacology units.  

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place. 

Graduate applicants require at least two successful years of full-time or equivalent degree studies undertaken in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America. Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 7.0. For more information visit ELC requirements.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
University graduate

Graduate entry to Pharmacy

Bachelor degree holders or students who are in progress of their first bachelor’s degree may be eligible to apply for graduate entry into the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm).  

Graduate entry into the MPharm is a competitive process based on selection WAM.

University graduate
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

Selection WAM Calculation

The selection Weighted Average Mark (sWAM) forms part of the eligibility and selection criteria for entry into this course. The UWA Admissions team will calculate the sWAM. Applicants must meet the specified minimum sWAM to be considered for a place in this course.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

How to apply

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Ready for the next step?

Find out how to apply through our simple online application process. 

We'll guide you through our entry requirements, admission pathways available to you and application deadlines for your chosen course. 

We can’t wait for you to join us!  

Apply now

Course details

This program provides a direct pathway to a professional postgraduate qualification in Pharmacy for registration as a pharmacist in this country. The Australian government predicts strong employment growth for pharmacists over the coming years, partly due to the expanding role of pharmacists in healthcare delivery.

About the course

This master's degree course provides advanced study in the areas of pharmacy practice, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapy and health systems, and includes practical training in community and hospital pharmacy.


Master of Pharmacy

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • This course begins in January. This course works on non-standard teaching periods and requires attendance on-campus.
Weekly contact time
  • The estimated time commitment for a standard full-time enrolment is approximately 46 hours per week (over 13 weeks) which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.
Level of study
  • Postgraduate
Course Code
  • 51500
CRICOS code
  • 051547J
Master of Pharmacy
Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • This course begins in January. This course works on non-standard teaching periods and requires attendance on-campus.
Weekly contact time
  • The estimated time commitment for a standard full-time enrolment is approximately 46 hours per week (over 13 weeks) which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.
Level of study
  • Postgraduate
Course Code
  • 51500
CRICOS code
  • 051547J
Full time/part time duration
  • 2 years (6 trimesters)
Degrees course is available in
  • Master of Pharmacy
Master of Pharmacy

Important dates

Intake Periods
  • January 2025
Application Open
Application Close
  • Saturday 31 August 2024 for domestic and international students.

Refer to Admissions Requirements for information on eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Reasons to study Pharmacy

  • Every student participates in a work based training (e.g. placements in community and hospital pharmacies), providing an insight into the various career pathways and an opportunity to grow your professional connections with pharmacists and healthcare practitioners.
  • Eligible students can participate in alternative placements in rural Australia and International locations.
  • Small yearly intake means students benefit from a lot of one-to-one interaction with academic and professional staff, particularly in the area of Pharmacy Practice, which greatly enhances students' professional interpersonal skills.
  • Through close association with other health professions at UWA, pharmacy students engage in genuine inter-professional learning during the course
  • Taught by world renowned academics who are leaders in their field.
Hear from UWA Master of Pharmacy students and academics

Master of Pharmacy

Who should study a Master of Pharmacy?

This degree is for people who:

  • Have an empathetic personality
  • Are good communicators  
  • Can see themselves working closely with other health care professionals
  • Like the thought of a career that comes with a lot of challenges and carries a lot of responsibility but can be tailored in many different, exciting ways
Student Experience

Janesha Rangi

Student Experience
Janesha Rangi
Master of Pharmacy

Graduate outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Understand the foundations of pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences
  • Demonstrate knowledge in primary care and clinical therapeutic areas, and patient assessment and consultation
  • Provide socially accountable person-centred care to address the needs of individuals and the wider community
  • Apply principles of pharmacy business management to develop a pharmacy business plan
  • Retrieve, critically evaluate and apply evidence in professional practice
Master of Pharmacy

Course accreditation

The Master of Pharmacy (51500) is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) and is approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia as a qualification leading to registration as a pharmacist in Australia.

Graduates are eligible to register to practise as a pharmacist in Australia after completion of an internship in a community or hospital pharmacy.

Graduate Pathways

If you’re interested in this area of study, gain an advantage by choosing to complete a Graduate Pathway which sees you combine your first degree with your second.
Master of Pharmacy

Work integrated learning

There are two experiential learning placements in the course exposing students to the practice environment and provide a platform for students to develop their professional, communication and clinical skills.

The first placement will be at a community pharmacy and the second rotation will offer students an opportunity to experience a range of hospital pharmacy environments.
Master of Pharmacy