- How long it takes
- 3 to 4 years
- full time
- Entry ATAR
- From 60.05
- Lowest offered at La Trobe University, 2026
- How you can study
- Online or on campus
- Includes a work placement
- Leads on to
- Pharmacist
- $101,700 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 15 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Bachelor of Pharmacy asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in chemistry and biology
- a careful and accurate approach to work
- good communication skills with people from all walks of life
- an interest in medicines and how they help people
Before you start
Year 12 with chemistry is the usual requirement, though five of the fifteen providers here do not name a particular prerequisite subject. Selection is competitive: of the eight providers publishing a 2026 selection rank, the lowest is 60.05 and the highest 78.85.
Where this course can take you
The study that can follow this course.
Jobs you can do with it
Pharmacist
Pharmacists check and dispense prescription medicines, advise patients on how to take them safely and act as the last clinical check before a medicine reaches someone.
A step towards this job. What else you need
Median pay$101,700
In demand
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
Where you can study this course
There are 15 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Curtin University (opens in a new tab)
Curtin University
Bentley, WA
4.2from 1,745 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 76.05 lowest
- (80.9 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
What students like
- Staff are helpful and welcoming
- Support services help students through hard times
What to weigh up
- Enquiries can take a while to answer
- Website for Griffith University (opens in a new tab)
Griffith University
Gold Coast, QLD
4.3from 1,317 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 69.05 lowest
- (77.05 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Fee
- $9,600 a year
- (Government-supported place)
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and approachable
What to weigh up
- Tutors can be slow to reply to emails
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Website for University of Canberra (opens in a new tab)
University of Canberra
Canberra, ACT
4.0from 487 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 68.6 lowest
- (76.6 median, 2024)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
What students like
- Staff are helpful and friendly
What to weigh up
- Teaching quality varies between staff
- Website for University of Tasmania (opens in a new tab)
University of Tasmania
Cradle Coast, Hobart, Launceston, TAS
4.2from 775 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Website for La Trobe University (opens in a new tab)
La Trobe University
Bendigo, VIC
4.3from 1,101 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 60.05 lowest
- (75.05 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly and supportive
What to weigh up
- Admin and support can be slow to respond
- Some find courses light on practical content
Charles Darwin University
Casuarina, NT
4.2from 619 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 72.6 lowest
- (75.6 median)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Website for James Cook University (opens in a new tab)
James Cook University
Cairns, Mackay, Townsville, QLD
4.3from 591 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 69.45 lowest
- (76.2 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
- Fee
- $9,314 a year
- (Government-supported place)
What students like
- Staff are friendly and helpful
- Support services and learning resources are useful
RMIT University
Bundoora, VIC
3.8from 1,757 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 65.55 lowest
- (81.5 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Bachelor of Pharmacy.
- Pharmaceutical chemistry and the science of medicines
- Pharmacology and how drugs act on the body
- Dispensing, compounding and medicines supply
- Clinical placements in community and hospital pharmacy
- Patient counselling and medication review
- Law, ethics and professional practice
Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It prepares you for a career as a pharmacist, with roles including pharmacist, pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant. The work is more clinical than it used to be, covering vaccination, medication reviews and chronic disease advice alongside dispensing. Most pharmacists work in community pharmacies, with hospital and industry roles taking most of the rest.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Year 12 with chemistry is the usual requirement, though five of the fifteen providers do not name a particular prerequisite subject. Selection is competitive. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.
Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?
Yes. You need registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia through Ahpra, which comes after the degree, a year of supervised practice and the written and oral examinations. The degree alone does not permit practice.