Bachelor of Pharmacy

Areas of study

The Bachelor of Pharmacy curriculum integrates four study streams:

Enabling knowledge base

Includes physical, organic and medicinal chemistry, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology and immunology.

Drug delivery

Deals with the formulation of medicines, pharmacokinetics (what happens to the medicine in the body) and the different dose-forms used in therapeutics.

Integrated therapeutics

Covers the major disease states, their epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, the chemistry and pharmacology of medicines used to treat these conditions, and the clinical and practice aspects of treating patients.

Pharmacy practice

Explores the role of the pharmacist, professionalism, dispensing, health and the individual, as well as healthcare in our society. Pharmacoepidemiology, the psychosocial aspects of medicine treatment, communication skills, patient counselling, and legal aspects of practice are also covered. During third and fourth year, students undertake Professional Experience Placements in hospitals, community pharmacies and in rural areas.

Units of study

Refer to the university's handbook for further information on individual units of study.

Bachelor of Pharmacy/Commerce

The Bachelor of Pharmacy/Bachelor of Commerce gives students the opportunity to add valuable business skills to their degree. The course covers the major areas of study from the Bachelor of Pharmacy and the Bachelor of Commerce.

Students complete the Bachelor of Pharmacy in the first four years at the Parkville campus (full-time) and then complete the Bachelor of Commerce in two years at the Clayton campus (either full or part-time). Most students opt to complete their internship year immediately following completion of the Bachelor of Pharmacy.