Study pharmacy at the University of Sydney
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from as far as away as Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory attended the inaugural University of Sydney Pharmacy Indigenous Camp held this week.
Carissa James from Lismore in northern NSW, and Alana Purcell from Cairns in Queensland, were among 22 high school students who attended the four-day Pharmacy Indigenous Camp (SydPIC). SydPic was aimed at boosting the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders currently employed in the pharmacy profession.
With fewer than 50 registered pharmacists in Australia who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, course coordinators Drs Nial Wheate and Rebekah Moles believe it is imperative more Aboriginal pharmacists be trained, particularly in regions where Aboriginal communities are lacking health professionals.
Dr Nial Wheate believes the shortage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacists has been a result of lack of engagement with high school students about career options in pharmacy.
“We developed the camp to bring together interested students from all around Australia to get a taste of what it’s like to be a pharmacist and experience university life first-hand.
“During the camp the students took part in pharmacy workshops and laboratory sessions. They produced their own aspirin, a standard tablet and hand creams.”
They also visited metropolitan pharmacies of varying sizes and specialty, a site that produces Webster packs and a pharmacy based within a a major hospital.
“We aimed to give our potential students a clearer idea of what to expect when studying at university and more particularly a career in pharmacy,” Dr Wheate said.
Dr Rebekah Moles says recent reports show that while Aboriginal people often consider pharmacists as more accessible and less intimidating than other health professionals, to date pharmacists have had little or no training in Aboriginal health or cultural issues and consequently may fail to convey the correct messages about medication usage in terms understood by their clients.
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University of Sydney Bachelor of Pharmacy
The Bachelor of Pharmacy covers the study of the chemical, physical, pharmaceutical, and pharmacological properties of medicinal substances and the application of these in the pharmacy profession.
The degree requires four years of full-time study for both the pass degree and the Honours degree. There are two semesters per year and no mid-year entry. The first year is a foundation year in which students study biology, chemistry, and basic pharmaceutical sciences and are introduced to pharmacy. The remaining three years are devoted to higher levels of biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences, together with specialized clinical pharmacy studies. During third and fourth year, considerable time is spent in clinical placements in community and hospital pharmacies, where valuable practical experience is gained.
Admissions Criteria/Entry Requirements for Canadians
- Applicants are required to have completed their high school diploma in order to be eligible for entry to the Sydney Bachelor of Pharmacy program.
- Assumed knowledge: Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology or Physics. To study in the Bachelor of Pharmacy, you are expected to have knowledge of these subject areas. Grade 12 Physics is also recommended but not required.
- If you have commenced or completed a university degree or any post-secondary studies, your most recent studies will be assessed in terms of your grades. If you have not completed the necessary prerequisite subjects in your post-secondary studies, your high school transcripts will then be assessed for prerequisite subjects. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
University of Sydney Master of Pharmacy
The Master of Pharmacy is a two-year degree by coursework with a full-time study load. A minimum of 96 credit points of course material will be delivered over four semesters as well as two additional non-standard teaching sessions. The course commences in late February/early March.
Students in the faculty are taught by and interact with world-renowned academics and have access to teaching laboratories that are leading world best practice, providing them with excellent technology.
Admissions Criteria/Entry Requirements for Canadians
To be eligible to apply to the Sydney Master of Pharmacy program, you must have the following:
- Completed an undergraduate degree
- Achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average (cGPA) or a minimum score on the MCAT
- Completed a minimum of 42 out of 54 credit points at the university level in the seven prerequisite subjects listed below
Please note that your application outcome will be determined by the Sydney Faculty of Pharmacy and that they will assess your academic eligibility for the program.
In order to be eligible for entry to the Master of Pharmacy, you will also need to provide evidence that you have completed university-level studies in chemistry, pharmacology, physiology, human biology, biochemistry, calculus, and statistics.
OzTREKK Australian university partners that offer pharmacy programs:
Learn more about pharmacy programs in Australia. Contact OzTREKK Pharmacy Admissions Officer Rachel Brady for more information about studying in Australia, and about pharmacy programs at Australian universities.
