Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

As a pharmaceutical science student, you will benefit from our national and international industry connections, experienced staff and purpose-built teaching spaces.

This flexible degree allows you to gain specialist knowledge that supports your career goals including research and development, manufacturing and quality control, and drug development.

We offer state-of-the-art teaching facilities, including purpose-built pharmacy laboratories where you will learn skills in drug development and pharmaceutical sciences.

Our teaching staff are also renowned researchers, so you will be learning from leading academics.

You may also have the opportunity to gain valuable international industry experience, through study tours or overseas placements in countries like the Philippines and China.

During the first year you will develop an understanding of basic sciences. You will also focus on career development and factors influencing the pharmaceutical industry domestically and internationally.

During the second and third years you will focus on:

• pharmaceutical sciences (including formulation)
• pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
• drug discovery, development and commercialisation.

This degree places a unique emphasis on the development and commercialisation of a range of pharmaceutical products, such as injections, tablets, creams and ointments.

You will then get the opportunity to fine-tune your study to your own personal interests and career aspirations when you choose from a range of elective courses during your final two years.

You may choose to specialise in areas such as:

• research and development (including drug discovery)
• manufacturing and pharmaceutical chemistry (including quality control)
• drug development (including clinical trials)
• business (including sales, marketing, legal, regulatory and drug information).

You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.

The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly growing, due in part to an ageing population and technological advances that make it easier and more cost-effective for new medications to be created and tested. This broadening market means graduates of this degree enjoy excellent job prospects.

As a pharmaceutical science professional, you should be interested in science and technology and have a passion for preventing illness and treating disease to improve the quality of life for humans and animals.

Employment opportunities are diverse and you will be qualified to take on professional roles in many areas, including:

• evaluation of medicines by government regulatory agencies
• identification and measurement of drugs by analytical laboratories
• clinical trials that test the efficiency of medicines in patients
• interrogation of medicine usage to improve health outcomes and minimise health costs
• marketing and sales of medicines for human and veterinary use
• research and development of new drugs and medicines
• manufacturing and quality control to ensure high quality medicines are produced
• intellectual property and patent law.

Where can my interest in science take me?

View our guide on Science Careers for more information.