Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
University of South Australia
About
This unique double degree covers all aspects of the pharmaceutical industry, from drug discovery and development to commercialisation, marketing, product management and the distribution of medicines.
You will graduate with broad career prospects, gaining an advanced understanding of drugs and their effects as well as developing the practical skills and knowledge needed to provide advice and pharmacy care to consumers.
The opportunities are endless, with the ability to gain valuable International industry experience through study tours or overseas placements.
You can enter this degree in two ways – by either commencing the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science or the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours).
To be eligible, you will need to achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 5 or more by the end of your second year.
What you'll need Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements.
These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements.
Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.
Structure
| Course name | Area and cat no | Units | Reference | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For students commencing in the BACHELOR OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, please refer to the IBPA program home page for the first and second year courses. | ||||
| THIRD YEAR | ||||
| First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3) | ||||
| Drug Development | PHAR 2009 | 4.5 | ||
| Dosage Form Design 3 | PHAR 3024 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics | PHAR 2006 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmacology 2 | PHAR 2020 | 4.5 | ||
| Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6) | ||||
| Pharmacy Practice 1 | PHAR 1009 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmacy Practice 2 | PHAR 2017 | 4.5 | ||
| Dosage Form Design 4 | PHAR 3025 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| Pharmacology C | PHAR 2022 | 4.5 | ||
| FOURTH YEAR | ||||
| First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3) | ||||
| Pharmacotherapeutics Practice 1A | PHAR 3018 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 1 | PHAR 3020 | 4.5 | ||
| Quality Use of Medicines | PHAR 3021 | 4.5 | ||
| Elective | 4.5 | |||
| Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6) | ||||
| Pharmacotherapeutics Practice 1B | PHAR 3019 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 2 | PHAR 3022 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmaceutical Commercialisation | PHAR 3013 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmaceutical Industry Experience | PHAR 3014 | 4.5 | ||
| FIFTH YEAR | ||||
| First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3) | ||||
| Pharmacy Practice 3 | PHAR 4023 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| Advanced Therapeutics | PHAR 4018 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| Professional Placement | PHAR 4017 | 13.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6) | ||||
| Pharmacy Practice 4 | PHAR 4024 | 4.5 | ||
| AND EITHER | ||||
| Issues in Contemporary Pharmacy Practice | PHAR 4019 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| AND | ||||
| Pharmacy Management Essentials | PHAR 4014 | 4.5 | ||
| OR | ||||
| Frontiers in Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Science | PHAR 4025 | 9 | Note(s): 7 | |
| For students commencing in the BACHELOR OF PHARMACY, please refer to the IBPH program home page for the first and second year courses. | ||||
| THIRD YEAR | ||||
| First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3) | ||||
| Pharmacotherapeutics Practice 1A | PHAR 3018 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 1 | PHAR 3020 | 4.5 | ||
| Dosage Form Design 3 | PHAR 3024 | 4.5 | ||
| Elective 1 | 4.5 | Note(s): 4 | ||
| Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6) | ||||
| Pharmacotherapeutics Practice 1B | PHAR 3019 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 2 | PHAR 3022 | 4.5 | ||
| Dosage Form Design 4 | PHAR 3025 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| Drug Discovery | PHAR 2010 | 4.5 | ||
| FOURTH YEAR | ||||
| First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3) | ||||
| Drug Development | PHAR 2009 | 4.5 | ||
| Quality Use of Medicines | PHAR 3021 | 4.5 | ||
| Elective 2 | 4.5 | Note(s): 4 | ||
| Elective 3 | 4.5 | Note(s): 4 | ||
| Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6) | ||||
| Pharmaceutical Commercialisation | PHAR 3013 | 4.5 | ||
| Pharmaceutical Industry Experience | PHAR 3014 | 4.5 | ||
| Elective 4 | 4.5 | Note(s): 4 | ||
| Therapeutics, Nutrition and Exercise | PHAR 3026 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| FIFTH YEAR | ||||
| First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3) | ||||
| Pharmacy Practice 3 | PHAR 4023 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| Advanced Therapeutics | PHAR 4018 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| Professional Placement | PHAR 4017 | 13.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6) | ||||
| Pharmacy Practice 4 | PHAR 4024 | 4.5 | ||
| AND EITHER | ||||
| Issues in Contemporary Pharmacy Practice | PHAR 4019 | 4.5 | Note(s): 7 | |
| AND | ||||
| Pharmacy Management Essentials | PHAR 4014 | 4.5 | ||
| OR | ||||
| Frontiers in Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Science | PHAR 4025 | 9 | Note(s): 7 |
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
This program is for students of the University of South Australia studying in the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science/Bachelor of Pharmacy double degree with a competitive GPA.
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites
Assumed Knowledge
Learning outcomes
Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements. Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.
This double degree will equip you with the knowledge, expertise and practical skills needed to embark on a range of diverse roles in the ever-changing field of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science.
You will develop a strong understanding of drug product development, drug use in the community, trends and developments affecting drug formulation in the future. You will also complete a pharmacy-related research project and be able to tailor your study to particular areas of interest when you select from a range of elective courses.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to gain practical industry experience when you complete a field placement or an industry-focused research project under the supervision of an academic or staff member.
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.
Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:
Our affiliation with several internationally-renowned research groups, the UniSA Cancer Research Institute and Centre for Cancer Biology provide you with valuable networking opportunities and industry contacts.
You will also complete a minimum of 80 hours in an industry project or placement relating to your area of interest, during which time you will further expand your professional network. Examples of recent placement providers include Mayne Pharma, BTG plc, Forensic Science SA, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), CMAX, Vaxine Pty Ltd and many more.
Examples of industry projects, as well as tasks students have undertaken at placement sites have included developing better detection methods for skin cancer (Mayne Pharma), improving a vaccine formulation (Vaxine Pty Ltd) and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals (SAHMRI).
Your career
The advanced and broad range of knowledge learned through this qualification means you are well placed to gain employment in a wide range of exciting roles, from drug development and clinical trials, to a professional career in community, hospital or industrial pharmacies.
With new drug developments and enhanced therapeutic developments, pharmacists and pharmaceutical science professionals have more career options than ever before. In fact, the long-term job prospects in this field is expected to experience very strong growth,1 which is great news for graduates.
To be successful you will need to be meticulous, accurate and results-driven. You may be communicating directly with patients, so exceptional interpersonal skills are also vital.
Employment opportunities are diverse and you will be qualified to take on professional roles in many areas, including:
- evaluation of medicines by government regulatory agencies
- identification and measurement of drugs by analytical laboratories
- clinical trials that test the efficiency of medicines in patients
- interrogation of medicine usage to improve health outcomes and minimise health costs
- marketing and sales of medicines for human and veterinary use
- research and development of new drugs and medicines
- manufacturing and quality control to ensure high quality medicines are produced
- intellectual property and patent law.
You will also be able to work as a qualified pharmacist in a range of settings, including:
- hospitals
- pharmacies
- compounding or critical care services
- infectious disease services
- defence services
- pharmaceutical industry
- academia and research.
1Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2019.
This double degree is only available to students studying the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science or Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) who have met the grade point average (GPA) requirements and have been made an offer into the degree.
Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.
Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
Our student support services will make your life at university easier. We want you to be successful, and if you need help, we're here to assist. We provide a full range of support services, including:
- academic counselling
- personal counselling
- social support services, including family support and nearby childcare
We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.
You will have access to:
- Purpose-built Pharmacy Laboratories in our new $247m University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute
- Chemistry Laboratory
- Biology Laboratory
- Pharmacy Practice Integrated Learning Suite (PPILS)
Institution
