Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) at the University of Tasmania is a four-year degree that prepares you to register as a pharmacist in Australia. It's an honours-level qualification, which means it includes a research component alongside the professional coursework. You'll study the science of medicines, how drugs work in the body, how they're formulated, how they're dispensed safely, and then apply that in real pharmacy settings.

The course is structured over four years of full-time study, with units of study and credit points making up each year. As a pharmacy degree in Australia, it combines lectures, laboratory work, and clinical placements in community and hospital pharmacies. The honours component involves a research project or thesis in your later years, where you investigate a question in pharmacy practice or pharmaceutical science under supervision. Work-integrated learning is a core part of the degree: you'll spend time in pharmacies, working with registered pharmacists, building the practical skills and professional judgement you need for registration.

To practise as a pharmacist in Australia, you need to complete an accredited pharmacy degree, then undertake a period of supervised practice and pass the registration exam with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. This degree is accredited for that purpose. The University of Tasmania has strong links with the local health system and pharmacy industry, and the honours research component gives you a taste of inquiry that can lead to further study or specialised roles.

This course suits school leavers and mature-age students who want a hands-on health career with a strong science base. You'll need to be comfortable with chemistry and biology, and you'll need good communication skills, pharmacists are among the most accessible health professionals, and you'll be advising patients daily. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements for international applicants are IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for this course, with equivalents accepted. Check the official CRICOS register and the university's page for current tuition and full details.

• Community pharmacist, working in retail pharmacies, advising patients and dispensing medicines.
• Hospital pharmacist, part of multidisciplinary teams in public and private hospitals.
• Pharmaceutical industry roles, in research, development, manufacturing, or regulatory affairs.
• Primary care and aged care pharmacy, supporting medication management in clinics and residential facilities.
• Further study, honours can lead to a PhD or specialised clinical roles.

Australian industries that hire pharmacy graduates include community pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies, hospital pharmacy departments, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and government health agencies. Registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia is required to practise as a pharmacist.