Overview 2024
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students
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For years prior to 2015, please view the Course and Unit Handbook Archive
View the current year's course page
“At school I really liked maths, mostly because I like solving problems, and that’s what I love about Pharmacy. I can help people from all walks of life solve a variety of problems.”
Pharmacists play a central part in collaborative health care teams. Working alongside doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, they're essential in helping people manage their health as the medication experts.
Our relationships with leading pharmacists and service providers in Tasmania and abroad inform your learning experiences. These connections provide significant work-integrated learning opportunities throughout your studies, and we ensure you can take advantage by offering a minimum of 480 hours of professional experience placement during your studies. Combined with our low student/teacher ratio, you receive a highly supported education with
significant industry experience upon graduation. This puts you in high demand with future employers, helping you enjoy the highest median salary of pharmacy graduates in the country*.
After you graduate and complete a paid internship, you can apply to register as a pharmacist in Australia. Pharmacists are vital in both large and small communities, and are found in the private and public sector, in metropolitan and rural regions around the country.
You could also find a career in research, vaccinations, medication review, industry relations, medication advisory in government and non government organisations, or the armed forces.
Catalyst Program
Are you a high achiever and want to get the most out of your University experience? The Catalyst Program combines your Bachelor degree with scholarships, extracurricular experiences, special events, and networking opportunities. It was created for outstanding students, just like you. Learn more about the Catalyst Program
*Good Universities Guide 2021
Course objectives
We provide you with a specialist education in the basic and clinical pharmaceutical sciences, enabling you to gain the skills and attitudes required for the responsible practice of pharmacy.
You will gain the skills and knowledge required to work in community pharmacies, hospitals and other parts of the health system. The degree will enable you to demonstrate the competencies required for registration as a pharmacist in Australia.
During your studies, you will develop your clinical pharmacy expertise on drugs and diseases to optimise the use of medicines across the healthcare system, learn to communicate effectively with patients and other members of the health care team, and develop the skills required to source, prepare and supply medicines accurately and efficiently.
Our pharmacy graduates are globally recognised for the quality of their clinical pharmacy skills and ability to transform pharmacy practice, going on to work in the wider community, hospitals, research facilities and even the military.
You'll be taught by some of Australia's leading pharmacists. Our staff are passionate about what they teach, including researchers from our highly successful Unit for Medication Outcomes Research and Education (UMORE).
Learning Outcomes
Practical experience
Professional experience placements make you career ready
We offer a minimum of 480 hours of professional placements during your studies, as well as significant laboratory and project experiences. This hands-on learning begins right from first year, and culminates in the second semester of your final year where you will spend the entire time on professional experience placements and professional skills workshops (PEP).
Placements can be conducted here in Tasmania, as well as in Australia and even internationally (travel restrictions pending). Previous students have completed their clinical placement in countries including Canada and the United Kingdom.
In your final year, you will also participate in real-world group-based collaborative research projects in clinical settings. As the hub for pharmaceutical teaching and research in Tasmania, our industry, community, and government connections provide you with a range of options for these projects.
Learn from active researchers and their vital projects
You'll learn from our international experts in medication safety and pharmacy practice, benefiting from their experience during your classroom studies, and while working on your rewarding projects. They draw upon their research in modern, community oriented projects that include supporting the Tasmanian Government to manage COVID-19, reducing sedative use in aged care, and the benefits of integrating pharmacists in emergency departments.
As a quota course with a limited intake, this also means you will have a low staff/student ratio throughout your degree, providing unmatched access to your lecturers, our facilities, and project opportunities.
"The placements were by far my favourite aspect. In my final year, I was on placement for the entire second semester and was immersed in the field learning about and gaining confidence in what would be my future profession."
All students enrolling in College of Health and Medicine programs which include a professional experience placement component, laboratory and/or field activity are required to establish and maintain their capacity to practice safely via Safety in Practice Requirements compliance documentation. Please see the Entry Requirements section for further details.
Work placement
Guaranteed professional experience placements
We offer a minimum of 480 hours of professional placements during your studies, as well as significant laboratory and project experiences. This hands-on learning begins right from first year, and culminates in the second semester of your final year where you will spend the entire time on professional experience placements and professional skills workshops (PEP).
Placements can be conducted here in Tasmania, as well as in Australia and even internationally (travel restrictions pending). Previous students have completed their clinical placement in countries including Canada and the United Kingdom.
Career outcomes
I chose the University of Tasmania as I wanted to take advantage of its reputation for high quality learning environments while also being able to enjoy everything Tasmania has to offer.
In 2021, 92% of our students gained full-time employment within four months of graduating, with most of our graduates go on to practice as registered pharmacists in the community or in hospitals, working with other healthcare professionals and with consumers in an expanding range of roles that optimise the consumers' medication management.
A degree in pharmacy from the University of Tasmania will open up a range of career options. These include employment in community pharmacies, hospitals, general practices and many other health settings. You may choose to pursue a career utilising your skills in other ways, such as medicationmanagement review, pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality control, research, academia, biomedical sciences, or the armed forces.
We also offer further opportunities to advance your career through additional study in our postgraduate courses in Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical
Science, and Research.
"If I had to pick a highlight of my career so far, it would be implementing governmental state-wide policies within the Health Department."
Postgraduate study
If you successfully complete this course, you may be also be eligible to apply for a range of other postgraduate courses including Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas and Masters by coursework and research.
If you wish to prepare for a career in research, you can complete a traditional research Honours degree to enable entry to a PhD program, and an overload Honours option is available. You can complete a traditional research Honours program within the four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy with Applied Honours program. This involves a completion of a 50% overload in Year 4. If you complete this pathway will graduate with the Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours (54B). This pathway can also be completed after graduation full or part-time.
Professional Accreditation
Australian Pharmacy Council
Course structure
Year 1
CSA157 Pharmaceutical Science and Practice 1 integrates two areas of study: Pharmaceutical Science and Pharmacy Practice.Pharmaceutical Science is the study of the formulation, manufacture, stability and efficacy of pharmaceutical dosage forms. Pharmacy Practice is the study of the role of…
Credit Points: 25
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CSA157 Pharmaceutical Science and Practice 1
This unit is designed to introduce students to human cells and tissues and the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, defence, musculoskeletal and neuroendocrine systems in the human body. The unit will include: (a) the basic facts and concepts relating…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Hobart | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Rozelle - Sydney | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
This unit is designed to introduce you to the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and digestive systems of the human body. The regulation of body temperature will also be studied in the unit. The unit will…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Hobart | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Rozelle - Sydney | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
This unit (along with Chemistry 1B in Semester 2) is the required prerequisite for students intending to major in Chemistry and for those intending to proceed to any second-year chemistry unit. The unit builds on the introduction to chemistry given…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit (along with Chemistry 1A in Semester 1) is the required prerequisite for students intending to major in Chemistry and for those intending to proceed to any second-year chemistry unit. The unit builds on the introduction to chemistry given…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Year 2
CBA221 provides pharmacy students with understanding of the following core areas of biochemistry and molecular biology: (a) structure and function of important biological macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins; (b) structure, function and metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates and…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
Pharmacy Skills and Practice 2 integrates aspects of drug delivery and formulation with Pharmacy Practice, which relates to the role of the pharmacist in optimising the use of medicines and improving health outcomes. Students will develop their dispensing process as…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit will commence with a review of the immune system and its response to microbe presentation (natural and artificial), with links to theoretical and practical aspects of vaccination. This is followed by an examination of medical microbiology, including mechanisms…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
View all details for CSA207 Clinical and Pharmaceutical Microbiology
This unit covers fundamental features and current methods involved in the medicinal chemistry and drug development process. The unit emphasises on lead identification, lead optimisation and the introduction of new drugs into clinical practice. It deals with specific case studies…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CSA225 Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Development
Pharmacology is the field of science that studies the function of drugs, their effects to living systems and how these living systems handle them. Since it describes the mechanisms of action of drugs in the body and the various interactions…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
Pharmacology is the field of science that studies the function of drugs, their effects to living systems and how these living systems handle them. Since it describes the mechanisms of action of drugs in the body and the various interactions…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
It is paramount that health professionals can appropriately appraise and apply the available evidence to individual patients; this requires the research evidence to be assessed in terms of risk and benefit in the context of the patient’s circumstances and the…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
Year 3
CSA306 (Therapeutics in Practice 3B) is designed to build upon students existing knowledge of pharmacology, physiology, microbiology and evidence-based health, in order to develop the clinical knowledge and skills necessary to deliver pharmaceutical care. The unit covers the pathophysiology and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
This unit studies factors influencing the bioavailability and disposition of medications, and the application of this information to optimise the quality use of medicines in clinical practice. Particular emphasis is placed on the clinical role of the pharmacist and problem-solving…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Summer school | ||||
| Hobart | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Hobart | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 3 | ||||
This unit is designed to introduce Bachelor of Pharmacy with Applied Honours (54A) students to the concepts, principles and practical skills of research methodology required to develop a research proposal for a clinical pharmacy research project designed to investigate or…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Hobart | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
CSA322 is designed to build upon your existing knowledge of pharmacology, physiology, microbiology and evidence-based health, in order to develop the clinical knowledge and skills necessary to deliver pharmaceutical care. Topics include the pathophysiology and therapeutic principles relevant to the…
Credit Points: 25
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
Pharmacy Skills in Practice 3A focuses on the issues and concepts associated with professional pharmacy activities and clinical pharmacy practice. You will be introduced to a range of topics, including quality use of medicines, pharmaceutical care, patient counselling and communication…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 1 | ||||
Pharmacy Skills in Practice 3B focuses on the issues and concepts associated with professional pharmacy activities and clinical pharmacy practice. You will build on your knowledge of introductory material covered in Pharmacy Skills in Practice 3A to focus on the…
Credit Points: 25
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
| Cradle Coast | Health Study Period 2 | ||||
Year 4
Therapeutics in Practice 4 is designed to further develop the student’s ability to determine the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic management for a range of medical conditions. Drug therapy is the cornerstone for the management of most if not all common medical…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
A study of the clinical pharmacokinetics of individual drugs and groups of drugs, sources of inter-patient variability in pharmacokinetics and the application of pharmacokinetics in practice. As with Clinical Pharmacokinetics 3, particular emphasis is placed on the role of the…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
CSA430 Pharmacy Practice offers an advanced pharmacy practice teaching program incorporating placements. Placements are offered in teaching sites throughout Tasmania, and where possible, mainland Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Placement blocks will provide students with the opportunity to experience…
Credit Points: 50
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
CSA457 Pharmacy Skills in Practice 4A focuses on concepts associated with professional and clinical pharmacy practice. It builds on material studied in Pharmacy Skills in Practice 3A and 3B. The unit consists of three main areas: community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy…
Credit Points: 25
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
Entry requirements
For Domestic students
This course is not accepting applications.
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you’re not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, the admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Enquire online for advice on the application process and the available pathways to study.
Domestic applicants who recently completed secondary education (completed in the past two years)Applicants are ranked by ATAR and offers made based on the number of places available. In 2021, the lowest ATAR to receive an offer into this course was 70.90. The lowest ATAR to receive an offer may change from year to year based on the number of applications we receive.
Applicants who have recently completed senior secondary studies but have not received an ATAR may still be eligible for admission. We will consider your subject results on a case-by-case basis when we assess your application.
Domestic applicants with higher education studyTo be eligible for an offer, applicants must have:
- Partially completed an undergraduate course at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent). Applicants must have completed at least two units of study (equivalent to 25 UTAS credit points). If an applicant has failed any units the application may be subject to further review before an offer is made.
You must also meet the subject prerequisites listed below.
Domestic applicants with VET / TAFE studyTo be eligible for an offer, you must have completed a Diploma or higher in any field. You must also meet the subject prerequisites listed below.
Domestic applicants with work and life experienceApplicants without senior secondary, tertiary or VET / TAFE study can complete a personal competency statement.
Applicants may be eligible for an offer if they have relevant work and / or life experiences which demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this course.
Subject PrerequisitesThese prerequisites apply to students from all educational backgrounds.
To be an eligible for an offer, you must have studies or experience equivalent to a satisfactory achievement in the following Tasmanian Senior Secondary subject:
- Mathematics Methods (MTM315117/MTM415117, or General Mathematics (MTG315120) or Mathematics Specialised (MTS415118) or Mathematics Methods Foundation (MTM315117); and
- Chemistry (CHM415115)
You can enquire online for information on interstate and international equivalents to the Tasmanian senior secondary subject above. If you have not met this prerequisite, you will need to complete a UTAS foundation unit before you start your course.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONIf your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.
We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course.
SAFETY IN PRACTICE REQUIREMENTSThis course includes compulsory work placements. All students must meet the course’s Safety in Practice Requirements before their first placement. This includes external clearances to work with children and vulnerable people and completing a first aid certificate. The safety in practice requirements are completed separately to the course admission application.
For International students
This course is not accepting applications.
All international students will need to meet the minimum English Language Requirements, University General Entry Requirements and any course specific requirements such as pre-requisite subjects, if applicable.
English Language RequirementsThis degree requires an IELTS (Academic) of 6.5 with no individual band less than 6.0, or a PTE Academic score of 58, with no score lower than 50 or equivalent.
For students who do not meet the English Language Requirement through citizenship or prior studies in English in an approved country, evidence of an approved English language test completed within the last 2 years must be provided. See the English Language Requirements page for more information.
General Entry RequirementsAdmission to undergraduate courses at the University of Tasmania requires the completion of qualifications equivalent to a 12th year of education in Australia.
Please review the equivalent undergraduate entry requirements to see the minimum requirement relevant to your country. The ATAR information for this course is located in the “For Domestic Students” section of the entry requirements on this page.
You can also meet the General Entry Requirement for this course with the following qualifications or prior studies:
- Completion of an equivalent AQF Diploma or higher
- Complete or incomplete (minimum 25 credit points) of previous tertiary study at Bachelor level or higher
If you do not meet the minimum requirements, we offer the Foundation Studies Program.
Course Specific RequirementsThe following course specific requirements must be met to be eligible to study this degree.
To be an eligible for an offer, you must have studies or experience equivalent to a satisfactory achievement in the following Tasmanian Senior Secondary subjects:
- Chemistry (CHM415115) or equivalent
- Mathematics General (MTG315115) or Mathematics Methods Foundation (MTM315117) or equivalent
If you have not met a required pre-requisite, you will need to complete a University of Tasmania Foundation Studies Program before you start your course.
Safety in practice requirements
This course includes compulsory work placements. All students must meet the course’s Safety in Practice Requirements before their first placement. This includes external clearances to work with children and vulnerable people and completing a first aid certificate. The safety in practice requirements are completed separately to the course admission application.
Credit transfer
As per Rule 6: Part 3 Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning, students may submit an Application for Credit.
Articulation
Students who are eligible for the Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours (54B) will be identified at the end of Year 2 of the Bachelor of Pharmacy with Applied Honours (54A) based on their GPA. Students with at least a credit average will receive an invitation to enrol in the Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours (54B). The Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours (M4C) is also available for graduates with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. The M4C is designed for students who choose not to enrol in the Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours (54B) but who may wish to progress to a research higher degree. Safety in Practice Compliance All students enrolling in College of Health and Medicine programs which include a professional experience placement component, laboratory and/or field activity are required to establish and maintain their capacity to practice safely via Safety in Practice Requirements documentation.
Detailed Admissions Information
Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
This is a full-fee course, which means you’ll need to pay the full amount for your studies. Commonwealth Supported Places are not available in this course. However, there are still support options available for eligible students to help you manage the cost of studying this course.
You may be able to fund all or part of your tuition fees by accessing a FEE-HELP loan from the Australian Government. FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists domestic full-fee students to pay for University, which is repaid through the Australian Tax System once you earn above a repayment threshold. This means you’ll only have to start repaying the loan once you start earning above a specific amount
Our scholarships and prizes program also offers more than 400 scholarships across all areas of study. You can even apply for multiple scholarships in one easy application.
Further informationDetailed fee information for domestic students is available at Scholarships, fees and costs, including additional information in relation to the compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Scholarships
Scholarships for domestic students
We have a range of opportunities for students from all backgrounds.
Whether you’re looking for financial support or relocation assistance, experiencing educational disadvantage or seeking recognition of academic or sporting achievement, we have a scholarship for you.
International students completing years 11 and 12 onshore in Australia can also apply for the same scholarships available to domestic students, so long as they meet the eligibility requirements.
For 2022, support scholarships are automatically assessed as part of your course application. Merit and diversity scholarship applications open on in August.
For more information, visit Domestic Scholarships.
If you are a regional or rural student, you may also be interested in the Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme offered by the Rural Pharmacy Administrator.
Scholarships for international students
We offer many scholarships for international students. They can be awarded on merit or to provide access to university. Our scholarships can help you with your fees or with your move to Tasmania.
For more information, visit International Scholarships.
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
Catalyst Program
Are you a high achiever and want to get the most out of your University experience? The Catalyst Program combines your Bachelor degree with scholarships, extracurricular experiences, special events, and networking opportunities. It was created for outstanding students, just like you. Learn more about the Catalyst Program
How can we help?
Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.
- Domestic
- 13 8827 (13 UTAS)
- International
- +61 3 6226 6200
- Course.Info@utas.edu.au
- Online
- Online enquiries