Medicine & Health

Pharmacy

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Students from our health professional programs learning in UNSW Medicine & Health’s facilities

Play a vital role in patient care

Pharmacy explores the development of drugs and their medicinal effects on the human body. Pharmacists are medicines experts who have specialised knowledge about the chemical, biological and physical properties of medicines.

While pharmacists are often recognised as health professionals who dispense medicines, the profession is now expanding into the provision of more advanced health services, including:

  • reviews of how medicines are used by individual patients
  • evaluations of how medicines are used in healthcare systems
  • vaccine administration
  • becoming a part of general practice and aged care services

Join one of the world's top medical faculties

UNSW Medicine & Health is creating the leaders of tomorrow. We have connections with some of Australia’s best hospitals, private practices and health organisations. You’ll be learning in world-class facilities across our Kensington campus, rural and metropolitan teaching hospitals, and research centres and institutes. Hands-on training starts in year one, giving you time to grow as a healthcare professional. You’ll complete a broad range of clinical placements to ensure you become a well-rounded, competent practitioner.

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

Prepare for career success

With a pharmacy degree, you can pursue a wide range of careers across many different settings. Community pharmacists are often the first point of contact for patients and carers in the healthcare system. Roles in community pharmacy may involve dispensing prescriptions, medication counselling and health promotion/education.

Hospital pharmacists facilitate the safe and effective use of medicines within hospital settings. Roles in hospital pharmacy may involve reviewing medication charts, calculating dosages, managing side effects/medicine interactions, and providing medicines advice to patients, carers and other healthcare professionals.

In the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacists can pursue roles in drug development, regulatory affairs, clinical trials, medicines information and marketing. Pharmacists can also work in consulting, research, academia, medical writing, professional organisations (e.g., Australian College of Pharmacy), government agencies (e.g., NSW Poisons Information Centre), non-government organisations, general practice, aged care and the military.

Our programs

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How to become a pharmacist in Australia

  • UNSW's Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine/Master of Pharmacy degree is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC)* and is approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA)^. 

    As you approach the end of your degree, you’ll apply for provisional registration with the PBA, which will allow you to complete an internship under the guidance of a registered pharmacist.

    *The APC is the national accreditation authority for pharmacy education and training.

    ^The PBA is responsible for pharmacist registration and setting the standards for the profession. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) works in partnership with 15 National Boards, including the PBA, to ensure the public has access to a safe health workforce.

  • You’ll complete an accredited intern training program and 1824 hours of supervised practice. The intern training program needs to be approved by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) and the supervised practice arrangements need to be approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA).

  • The assessment for general registration includes a written exam and an oral (practice) exam.

    After successfully completing your accredited intern training program, supervised practice hours, and written and oral examinations, you’ll be eligible to apply for general registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA). This means you’ll be qualified to practice as a pharmacist in Australia.