Program Overview

Doctor of Pharmacy

Overview

The Doctor of Pharmacy is a postgraduate coursework degree that provides advanced study in the areas of pharmacy practice, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, and health systems. The course includes practical training in community and hospital pharmacy.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the Doctor of Pharmacy can pursue careers in community and hospital pharmacy, aged care, primary care clinics, the pharmaceutical industry, government health departments, and rural or remote healthcare. Opportunities also exist in research, academia, and public health.

Career Options

• 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.
• Hospital Pharmacy: Hospital pharmacists work together with doctors, nurses, and specialists to ensure optimum care for every patient.
• Consultant Pharmacy: Consultant pharmacists work in general practice alongside general practitioners to review a patient's medications to optimise their therapy.
• Other careers for pharmacists: Many other career paths are also open to pharmacy graduates, including working for pharmaceutical companies, government organisations, or opting for a career in academia and research.

Fees and Scholarships

Domestic Student Fees

• For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study.
• Fees are subject to annual indexation.

International Student Fees

• Annual course fee: $48,600.00 (2025)
• 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.

Admission Requirements

Prerequisites

• Chemistry: Year 12 ATAR Chemistry or a tertiary chemistry unit
• Mathematics OR Statistics: Year 12 ATAR Mathematics or a tertiary mathematics or statistics unit
• Microbiology: A tertiary microbiology unit
• Pharmacology: A tertiary pharmacology unit

English Competency

• English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA.
• 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.

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.

Course Structure

Year 1

• Take all units (60 points):
  • MICR5833 Antimicrobial Agents (6)
  • PHCY5601 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice (6)
  • PHCY5602 Integrated Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Pharmacy Practice 1 (6)
  • PHCY5606 Foundations of Primary Care (6)
  • PHCY5610 Physical Pharmacy and Biopharmaceutics (6)
  • PHCY5611 Medicinal Product Formulation (6)
  • PHCY5615 Pharmacy Placement I (12)
  • PHCY5618 Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analysis (6)
  • PHCY5619 Medicinal Chemistry for Pharmacy (6)
  • PHCY5631 Professionalism in Action Part 1 (0)

Year 2

• Take all units (60 points):
  • PHCY5603 Applied Pharmacotherapy (6)
  • PHCY5609 Fundamentals of Research in Pharmacy (6)
  • PHCY5612 Integrated Therapeutics and Pharmacy Practice (6)
  • PHCY5613 Management and Economics in Pharmacy (6)
  • PHCY5614 Pharmacy Research Project (12)
  • PHCY5616 Pharmacy Placement II (12)
  • PHCY5630 Applied Pharmacology for Pharmacists (6)
  • PHCY5632 Professionalism in Action Part 2 (6)

Work Integrated Learning

• There are two experiential learning placements in the course, exposing students to the practice environment and providing 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.

Course Accreditation

• The Doctor 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.