University of Technology Sydney

C04395v1 Master of Pharmacy (International)

Award(s): Master of Pharmacy (International) (MPharm(Int))
CRICOS code: 098389G
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 156
Course EFTSL: 3.5
Location: City campus

Notes

It is recommended that domestic and international students apply before 31 October. Applications will close once all places have been filled. It is recommended to apply early, as applications and eligibility for interview will be assessed on a rolling basis.

Indigenous applicants should apply via UTS Student Portal and will be contacted by the Professor of Practice in Indigenous Health with further information. Indigenous applicants are welcome to submit cultural and/or community referees to accompany their application.

Commonwealth Supported Places

There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) within this course that are competitive and allocated on merit. Applicants must indicate on their application if they wish to be considered for a CSP.

As applications are assessed progressively, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to be considered. Eligible applicants must accept their offer by the lapse date to retain their place.

  • Autumn 2024 closing dates:
    • Round 1: Sunday 26 November 2023
    • Round 2: Sunday 21 January 2024 (if places are available)

Please note that due to the competitive nature of the course, applicants may not receive your CSP outcome until commencement of Autumn B session. Refer to Postgraduate courses with Commonwealth Supported Places for more information.


Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Applications
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Rules and regulations
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

The Master of Pharmacy (International) is an accredited three-year graduate-entry degree leading to eligibility for registration as a pharmacist. The course is an Australian first, extending the Master of Pharmacy (C04252) program to include a one-year overseas clinical placement. This allows students to expand their knowledge even further, gaining practice-based experience of pharmacy in a global context and an understanding of the international factors that influence pharmacy practice and healthcare provision. Overseas clinical placements include those in Canada, Germany or the United Kingdom. Language and culture subjects cater to both beginners and students with prior language knowledge. The course is innovative and practice-based in approach, building on students' strong scientific foundation to provide specialist, comprehensive knowledge relevant to contemporary pharmacy practice. In addition to the pharmaceutical sciences, this includes professional pharmacy services, integrated therapeutics and the unique capstone subject, 96014 Molecule to Market. Two elective subjects provide students with the opportunity to individualise their studies.

Developed by leading pharmacy academics and an expert educational designer, the course's subject matter is delivered in an integrated, student-focused manner, making use of cutting-edge technologies and strong links with the pharmacy profession. Expert guest lecturers and practitioner teachers are utilised throughout the course to ensure relevance and real-world application of content.

In addition to the one-year international placement, students undertake clinical practice in a wide variety of settings sourced by UTS throughout the degree. This includes a guaranteed hospital pharmacy placement for eligible students. On-campus learning takes place in the Graduate School of Health's state-of-the-art education and research facility, which opened in 2019.

Course aims

The course aims to prepare graduates to be registered pharmacists who can succeed in a global context and work in expanded roles within changing medical, social, political and regulatory contexts. This is achieved by going beyond traditional educational models so students engage in self-directed and problem-based learning to develop leadership skills, gain experience with emerging technologies, develop independent thinking and cultural awareness, facilitate practice-based experience in pharmacy in another country and build a network of internationally recognised researchers, teachers and pharmacists.

Career options

Career options include: community pharmacy; professional pharmacy services; hospital pharmacy; drug research, design and development; professional roles in pharmaceutical industry; primary health care; consultancy; education; government and policy; the armed forces; and non-profit organisations.

Course intended learning outcomes

01.02 Reflect on knowledge, skills and attributes required for the evaluation and integration of emerging evidence into practice, promoting the growth of personal and professional learning and the education of others.
01.03 Analyse and synthesise knowledge of health science concepts and theory, and apply skills of scientific research and clinical reasoning to support decision-making in pharmacy practice.
01.10 Demonstrate resilience, independence, adaptability and leadership of self in a dynamic global environment, displaying a reflective and enquiring mind.
02.01 Demonstrate safe and competent operational, interpersonal and clinical skills for the benefit and care of patients and the wider community.
02.04 Engage in team undertakings, adopting a range of roles in diverse teams, building cohesion and maximising team contributions.
02.05 Demonstrate sound ethical, compassionate and respectful patient-focused care, taking responsibility for personal health and wellbeing.
02.06 Capably communicate to patients, their families, carers and members of the healthcare team, contribute to wider health education and promotion, choosing and adapting communication modes to address cultural and linguistic diversity.
02.08 Represent pharmacy perspectives in multidisciplinary environments, and optimise patient outcomes through self-awareness and acknowledgement of the contributions of other health care disciplines.
03.07 Integrate into daily practice knowledge of health systems and concerns in national and global communities, with awareness of the social and cultural contexts of health to meet the diverse needs of individuals and communities.
04.09 Acquire specialised knowledge and skills to inform professional cultural capability to work effectively with and for, Indigenous Australians across the pharmacy profession.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.

Entry is competitive and assessment is based on grade point average (GPA). Applicants must have also completed the following subjects at a tertiary level within the last 10 years and must provide relevant subject outlines with their application:

  • one pharmacology subject
  • two chemistry subjects
  • one biochemistry subject
  • one human physiology subject, and
  • one mathematics or statistics subject.

For prerequisite checking, students may submit a completed Prerequisite Assessment Table with their application. Prerequisite subject approvals are subject to change as they undergo an annual academic review (a new assessment is required for each new intake). Prior to applications opening, the Prerequisite Assessment Table may be submitted to GSH.Future@uts.edu.au for pre-assessment. A pre-reassessment is not required to apply and will not be conducted once applications open.

Prerequisites may be completed as non-award units at a recognised tertiary institution if students did not complete them as part of their undergraduate degree. Please note, all prerequisite subjects must be assessed and approved by the school. Prior to commencing a subject to fulfil this requirement, please request a pre-assessment by emailing gsh.future@uts.edu.au.

Selected applicants are required to undertake a short interview with a panel. Applicants are assessed in the areas of communication skills, interpersonal skills, interest in pharmacy, and commitment to pharmacy as a career.

Professional and clinical requirements

All successful applicants are required to:

  1. acquire a Working With Children Check and an Australian National Police Check
  2. complete a series of NSW Health forms including a Code of Conduct, and
  3. demonstrate evidence of protection against a number of specified infectious diseases.

Applicants who have already completed a pharmacy degree overseas are also required to submit a personal statement stating their motivation for wanting to repeat a pharmacy qualification.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: minimum 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each subtest; or TOEFL: internet based: minimum 94 overall with a minimum score of 24 for reading and listening, 23 for speaking and 27 for writing; or PTE: minimum 65 overall with a minimum score of 65 in each subtest.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Applications

Local students

Domestic applicants can apply directly.

Applications should include a certified copy of any relevant academic transcript(s), subject outlines, and any other relevant supporting documentation.

International students

International applicants apply via UTS: International.

International applicants, in addition to the above requirements, are required to obtain a police certificate/criminal clearance from every country they have resided in. If a country does not issue police certificates/criminal clearances, applicants are required to complete a Statutory Declaration for Overseas Students.

Course duration and attendance

The course is an intensive three-year, full-time degree including a one-year international placement. Students are not permitted to enrol part time.

In addition to coursework during sessions, students are required to undertake weekly clinical placements during session and block clinical placements during mid-session breaks.

Course structure

This course comprises a total of 156 credit points. Students undertake a total of 16 6-credit-point subjects, four 6-credit-point clinical subjects and two 18-credit-point international placement subjects.

Overseas study

Students complete a one-year placement at an international site.

Course completion requirements

STM90755 Core stream (Pharmacy) 108cp
STM91302 Core stream (Pharmacy International) 36cp
CBK90641 Electives (Pharmacy) 12cp
Total 156cp

Course program

A typical course program is provided below.

Autumn B commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn B Session
96001 Introduction to Pharmacy   6cp
96002 Concepts in Pharmaceutical Sciences   6cp
96003 Pharmaceutics   6cp
96004 Professional Services 1   6cp
96015 Clinical Practice 1   6cp
Spring B Session
96005 Professional Services 2   6cp
96006 Integrated Therapeutics 1   6cp
96007 Drug Disposition   6cp
96858 Evidenced-based Primary Health Care   6cp
96024 Clinical Practice 2   6cp
Summer session
96025 Clinical Practice 3   6cp
Year 2
Autumn B Session
96009 Professional Services 3   6cp
96010 Integrated Therapeutics 2   6cp
96011 Primary Health Care   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK90641 Electives (Pharmacy) 12cp  
Spring B Session
96077 International Placement 1   18cp
Year 3
Autumn B Session
96078 International Placement 2   18cp
July session
96017 Clinical Practice 4   6cp
Spring B Session
96012 Professional Services 4   6cp
96013 Integrated Therapeutics 3   6cp
96014 Molecule to Market   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
CBK90641 Electives (Pharmacy) 12cp  

Rules and regulations

Inherent Requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are inherent in or essential to the successful completion of a course. The inherent requirements framework for the Master of Pharmacy (International) is based on the following six themes:

  1. Legal and Behavioural Requirements;
  2. Communication Tasks – verbal; written; non-verbal;
  3. Cognitive/Intellectual Tasks – literacy; numeracy; knowledge and information;
  4. Sensory Tasks – visual; auditory; tactile;
  5. Physical Tasks – gross and fine motor requirements; and
  6. Sustainable Performance.

It is a requirement of this course to complete a number of clinical placements. Clinical placements involve a pharmacy student going into a clinical setting to undertake the practical components of the course required for registration. If a student has a condition or disability that prevents them from completing a placement, completion of the degree may be hindered. Students should consult the full inherent requirements.

Professional recognition

This program has been granted accreditation by the Australian Pharmacy Council and is approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia as a qualification leading to registration as a pharmacist in Australia.

Upon completion of the degree, graduates must complete a compulsory pre-registration training period and Intern Training Program in order to be eligible for registration.

International students

International students intending to apply for registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia must meet the Pharmacy English Language Skills Registration Standard.

Other information

Register to attend an information session and/or contact:
UTS: Pharmacy
email gsh.future@uts.edu.au
telephone +61 2 9514 1448