Overview 2022
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
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Pharmacy is considered to be one of Australia's most trusted professions.
The pharmacy degree at the University of Tasmania is a professionally accredited program, providing you with specialist skills and expertise in the basic and clinical pharmaceutical sciences. This is complemented by hands-on experience through professional experience placements, which help you gain the skills and attitudes required to become a registered pharmacist in Australia.
Pharmacists play a central part in primary health care teams. Working alongside doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, they're essential in helping people manage their health.
As a pharmacy student you will study various topics influencing human health such as:
- the role of a pharmacist
- how medications and their dosages are made
- how medications work in the human body
- using medications and other means to prevent and manage medical conditions
A relocation bursary is available to domestic students relocating from interstate who are commencing the Bachelor of Pharmacy (M3F) at the University of Tasmania in Semester 1, 2018.
Did you know?
100% of Bachelor of Pharmacy students from the University of Tasmania gained full-time employment within four months of graduating.
Course objectives
The main aim of the course is to provide students with a specialist education in the basic and clinical pharmaceutical sciences and to enable them to gain the skills and attitudes required for the responsible practice of pharmacy.
Practical experience
Professional Experience Placements
From year one of the Bachelor of Pharmacy you will gain plenty of practical experience during your degree. In year 4, the entire Semester 2 is professional experience placement (PEP). The University has strong partnerships with the health sector across Tasmania, Australia and internationally. Through these partnerships, you will have the opportunity to gain experience in a wide variety of urban and rural healthcare settings including community pharmacy, hospitals, aged care facilities and industrial pharmacies. We have had many students in their final year choose to complete their clinical placement in another country such as Canada or the United Kingdom.
The Faculty of Health supports students undertaking rural PEP by providing student accommodation at one of 16 sites in Tasmania (with access to more accommodation at some interstate locations). PEP will also prepare you for the workplace when you graduate allowing you to meet potential employers and gain exposure to the industry early on.In addition to experience in healthcare settings, you will also have the opportunity to:
- Access the latest technology and modern equipment in our pharmacy simulation lab
- Undertake interdisciplinary learning activities with students studying other health courses such as nursing and medicine
- Participate in community engagement activities such as Agfest and Open Day
"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 Faculty of Health 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.
Career outcomes
I really enjoyed science, in particular human biology and chemistry, but when considering career options my main focus was to work in healthcare. I wanted to work in a role that was patient orientated and in particular, had an influence on a person's life. I decided that pharmacy was the perfect combination of science and healthcare.
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.
Some pharmacists undertake additional accreditation to conduct medication reviews for consumers in their own home, or work in residential care facilities to ensure quality use of medicines.
Pharmacists can also have other roles in Australia and overseas related to:
- clinical trials
- the evaluation of new drug products
- manufacturing
- research
- quality control
- marketing of pharmaceuticals
- government health departments to assist with regulation, approval and supply of medications
"If I had to pick a highlight of my career so far, it would be implementing governmental state-wide policies within the Health Department."
Course structure
Year 1
Core Units
This unit involves a range of on-line and campus-based learning activities that introduce students to key concepts of health and healthcare, the pharmacy profession, roles of a pharmacist, quality use of medicines, government funding, regulatory bodies, the pharmaceutical industry and…
Credit Points: 25
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
Hobart | Spring school (November) | ||||
Launceston | Spring school (November) |
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
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 2 |
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 | Paramedicine Study Period 1 | ||||
Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
Rozelle - Sydney | Paramedicine 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 | Paramedicine Study Period 2 | ||||
Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Rozelle - Sydney | Paramedicine 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 in…
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 in…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
Launceston | Semester 2 |
Year 2
Core Units
CBA221 gives pharmacy students an 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
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 1 |
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
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 2 |
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
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
Hobart | Semester 2 |
View all details for CSA225 Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Development
This unit is designed to introduce students to pharmacology, which is the field of science concerned with the effect of drugs on living organisms. The knowledge of pharmacology is fundamental to the safe and effective use of medicines by health…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
Hobart | Semester 2 |
This unit is designed to introduce students to pharmacology, which is the field of science concerned with the effect of drugs on living organisms. The knowledge of pharmacology is fundamental to the safe and effective use of medicines by health…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
Hobart | Semester 2 |
Pharmaceutical Science and Practice involves the study of the of physical and chemical(physicochemical) principles which are important in the design of dosage forms andother pharmaceutical systems. This background physicochemical knowledge is thefundamental basis of how drugs are effectively delivered to…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 1 |
View all details for CSA255 Pharmaceutical Science and Practice 2A
The Evidence Based Health Care unit is a foundation course developing your ability to understand the concepts of evidence based practice in health care delivery and to apply its principles to your own health professional environment. This unit introduces you…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
Hobart | Summer school |
Year 3
Core Units
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 | Semester 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 | Semester 2 | ||||
Hobart | Summer school |
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 | Semester 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 | Semester 2 |
Year 4
Core Units
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
This unit is currently unavailable.
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 and…
Credit Points: 25
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart | Semester 1 |
Entry requirements
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
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
Relocation Bursary in Pharmacy
A relocation bursary is available to domestic students relocating from interstate who are commencing the Bachelor of Pharmacy (M3F) at the University of Tasmania in Semester 1, 2018.
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