Masters in Pharmacy in Australia : Top Universities & Prospects

Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology that deals with the study of drug action. A pharmacologist is responsible for studying how medicines work. Pharmacy is the science of preparing and distributing drugs studied and produced by pharmacologists. A pharmacist is authorized to prepare medical drugs such as capsules or medicated solutions for injections in the correct dosage.

Top Universities for Pharmacy in Australia 

Top five universities for Pharmacy in Australia

Source: University’s official website, QS WUR by Subject 2022

Cost of Studying MS in Pharmacy in Australia

Pursuing a Master of Pharmacy courses in Australia for international students is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You must plan and strategize in advance to ensure a smooth process, especially for your finances. As far as the tuition fee is concerned, the average fee ranges between AUD 22,000 (INR 11.74 lakh) to 50,000 (INR 26.68 lakh) annually. 

As an international student, you need an account for a host of expenses apart from your tuition fees. These expenses include pre-and post-arrival costs, travelling expenditures, house rent, groceries, internet / mobile bills, miscellaneous expenses, etc. 

Types of Masters in Pharmacy Courses in Australia

Types of pharmacy degrees in Australia at the graduate level 

Source: University’s official website 

Pharmacy Vs Pharmaceutical Science 

Pharmacy involves preparing and distributing the drugs prepared by the pharmacologists. On the other hand, Pharmaceutical science is a sub-discipline of Pharmacy that focuses on the foundation of drug discovery and development. It briefly examines three aspects; the impact of medicines on the human body, the safety of the medicines, and their effectiveness in terms of treating diseases.

Pharmacy focuses on teaching subjects such as Pharmaceutics, Concepts in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Disposition and primary health care. On the other hand, Pharmaceutical science involves the study of Analytical and Cell Culture Techniques, Laboratory Skills in Pharmaceutical and Chromatographic Science and applications of Chromatography in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research.

Industry Partners of Top Universities 

To promote industry and academic collaboration, Australian industries have partnered with top universities to help fund research and development. Some of the industry partners of top universities include:

Source: University’s official website 

Eligibility for Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm) in Australia 

The eligibility criteria for Master of Pharmacy (M.pharm) in Australia is mentioned below:

• A bachelor’s degree in pharmacy or a closely related discipline such as Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, etc. 

• Proof of language proficiency

• Clean criminal record

Note:  Some graduate programs may require you to be registered as a practicing pharmacist or possess some experience in the pharmaceutical industry. 

Documents Required for a Master’s in Pharmacy

Documents required to apply for a Master’s in Pharmacy include;

• A bachelor’s degree from an Australian institution or equivalent

• Educational transcripts

• Updated CV

• English language proficiency scores (IELTS, TOEFL)

• Personal statement 

Note: Some universities may also demand additional documents such as proof of residency status and proof of employment

Visa Process

On completing the application formalities for a Masters in Pharmacy in Australia, you must apply for a student visa (subclass 500). It allows you to stay in Australia for up to five years, starting from your enrolment date. Documents that need to be submitted when applying for an Australian student visa include:

1. Enrolment proof into an M Pharma course in Australia.

2. Valid Passport.

3. Fees for visa application.

4. Passport-sized photographs.

5. Statement of purpose, academic documents, and proof of work experience.

6. Proof of English Language Proficiency (ELP) and test scores.

8. Proof of finances.

9. Health Insurance Policy details.

10. Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)* statement.

*This indicates your intention in applying for the visa is to use it as a passage for your education. The GTE is an integrity statement clarifying that you will not misuse the student visa to gain residency in Australia. The visa application can be processed online after paying AUD 620 (INR 33,076). 

Intakes in Australia 

Australian The two major intakes for international students in Australia are given in the table below.

Source: Monash University official website 

Pre-Arrival Cost 

Study abroad aspirants should be aware of the expenses as they embark on their study abroad plans. Expected expenses before reaching Australia 

Source: Official websites

Cost of Living in Australia

Cost of living covers the accommodation costs, utilities, transportation, and food expenses. Though the cost of living in Australia depends on the city you want to live in, the average costs for each category are mentioned in the table below 

Source: Top university’s official website

Job Prospects after MS in Pharmacy in Australia 

The below table shows some of the top job roles for MS in Pharmacy graduates in Australia 

Top job roles for MS in Pharmacy in Australia 

Source: talent.com

Top Recruiters of Pharmacy Graduates in Australia 

Top recruiters of Pharmacy graduates in Australia

• Department of health, Tasmania 

• Guardian Pharmacy Ravenswood 

• NSW Health 

• The Infinity Group

• The Chemist Warehouse

University Scholarships for Masters in Pharmacy in Australia 

Source: University’s official website

Study in Australia with upGrad Abroad 

With upGrad Abroad, you can study programs such as Business Administration and Computer Applications at some of the renowned Australian universities. The advantage of choosing upGrad Abroad as your study partner is getting help with IELTS and PTE preparation. You get the flexibility to start your study program online for a specific duration and then switch to on-campus study. Apart from that, you would be eligible for a post-study work permit after graduation.