Online Course Brochure

Bachelor of Pharmacy BPharm
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) BPharm(Hons)

CSU’s Bachelor of Pharmacy incorporates diverse practice such as community or hospital pharmacy, dispensing, medication management and health counselling to equip graduates with skills for immediate employment.

About the course

CSU’s Bachelor of Pharmacy course is the first pharmacy degree in Australia to be offered outside a metropolitan area. Pharmacists represent the major component of continuing healthcare for the community.

Students will study biomedical and applied sciences, develop knowledge and skills in health promotion, learn treatment of minor ailments, and become fluent in communication and health information management. Ample opportunities for employment exist for successful graduates, as there is a recognised demand for skilled practitioners, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Where it will take you

With skills relevant to both rural and metropolitan health care, graduates of the CSU Pharmacy program are in demand by employers, and are encouraged to work in regional areas where there is a critical need for health care professionals.

You can work in:

Your course is recognised by industry

CSU's Bachelor of Pharmacy is well respected in the pharmacy profession and is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council.

After graduation from Charles Sturt University, you (in common with all other Pharmacy graduates in Australia) are required to undertake a period of supervised training. Currently, in NSW, this period of pre-registration training is 2,000 hours and is concluded by an examination set by The Pharmacy Board of NSW. When that exam has been passed, you may register and practice pharmacy anywhere in NSW. Graduate pharmacists, registered in NSW, may also seek registration recognition anywhere within the Commonwealth of Australia.

The latest facilities

To make sure you are experienced using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:

Practical experience

During the course, students will complete periods of training (i.e. externships) primarily in a hospital or community pharmacy. The externships give the student the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge to real problems in the practice of pharmacy.

Course components

Primarily in the first and second year, students study core subjects in some basic sciences, including chemistry, mathematics and statistics, computer use, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, nutrition and molecular genetics.

To complement these scientific disciplines, there are subjects in various pharmaceutical sciences presented in the first three years. These subjects are organic and medicinal agents, pharmaceutical microbiology, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics. Together, the pharmaceutical science and the basic science subjects provide a solid foundation for studies in the professional aspects of pharmacy.

Specialist subjects include pharmacy practice, pharmacy residency, professional practice and therapeutics. There is an elective in the first session of the final year, which may be chosen from over 30 subjects in areas such as the arts and humanities, commerce, science, computing and health studies.

The elective allows you to follow and develop particular interests which may enhance your capacity to work in a variety of exciting careers.

Honours stream

To transfer into the Honours stream at the beginning of the third year, you must have obtained a Credit average in all first- and second-year subjects. Successful students will be included in a special program of Honours workshops and tutorials in third year and choose a project and potential supervisor during that year.

Graduation requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points (26 subjects) and pass all clinical practice placements. For students in the Honours stream, determination of the grade of Honours will depend on coursework performance in years three and four of the course as well as performance in the dissertation subject. Students will graduate from the Bachelor of Pharmacy with the award BPharm or BPharm(Hons).

Clinical requirements

Refer to the Clinical Requirements section following for information on:

Frequently asked questions

How many places are available each year?
Around 45 places are available on the Orange Campus and 65 places on the Wagga Wagga Campus.

Are there any prerequisite subjects?
There are no formal prerequisites for the Bachelor of Pharmacy but, as it is a science based course, it is assumed that students will have studied English Standard, chemistry and mathematics at Year 12 level. Interview panels may consider that the study of chemistry reflects a student’s interest in and aptitude for science but it is understood that not all rural schools offer chemistry at Year 12 level. If you have not studied chemistry in Year 12 and are accepted into the course, it is strongly recommended that you undertake a Study Link course before commencing.

What ATAR score do I need to get in?
Your academic record (ATAR/ENTER or previous university study) only becomes relevant if you succeeded in the interview. Entry to the course is competitive and an ATAR of at least 85.00, or Credit level GPA is expected.

What if I have not done Year 12?
If you have not completed Year 12 in the past 10 years or have not completed at least one full year of study at university, you may not be eligible for selection into the course. In that case you should contact us to ascertain your eligibility.

Will all applicants be called for an interview?
No. Applicants will be selected for interview on the basis of their supplementary application form. In most cases, interviews will be conducted in December and candidates selected for interview must attend in person (face-to-face). Interviews will be conducted on the Orange and Wagga Wagga campuses.

How many contact hours are involved?
You will have to attend lectures, tutorials and practical classes for up to 25-30 hours per week depending on the year of study.

Can the course be studied part-time?
No.

If I am offered a place in CSU's Bachelor of Pharmacy, can I defer?
Yes, for 12 months. It will not harm your application if you choose to decline an offer then reapply in subsequent years.

Can I sit the STAT and have the score considered?
This will not be necessary but may be considered if you already have STAT results from previous testing. If you are a non-recent school leaver, you will be selected depending on your performance in the interview and the GPA you achieved in university study.

If I am not accepted into CSU's Bachelor of Pharmacy the first time, what should I do?
First, you should make sure that pharmacy is the profession that you really want to pursue and seek career planning advice. If you have no Year 12 qualification or your ATAR/ENTER was not high enough, you should concentrate on qualifying for admission to the Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Clinical Science or another relevant university course with a view to reapplying for pharmacy in the future.

Can I apply to study on a full-fee paying basis?
No. All places in this course are Commonwealth supported (other than for International Students).

How much does it cost?
You can only study CSU's Bachelor of Pharmacy as a Commonwealth supported student and will be liable to pay the student contribution (HECS). Financial assistance is available through the various CSU scholarships available. In addition you will need to buy books - most subjects have prescribed text books, and often students purchase additional books to help with their studies. Scientific texts typically cost between $100 and $150 each. Second hand books are often available. There are costs associated with professional placement (travel and living). Some assistance with rural placement is available. Protective clothing (laboratory coat, and protective glasses) are also required from the first or second week of the course.

I am not an Australian resident. Can I apply?
Yes.

 

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This online course brochure is for prospective students. If you are a currently enrolled student, please consult the Charles Sturt University handbook