Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours

The world of medicine is rapidly advancing. UNE's innovative Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours course is Australia's first and only accredited undergraduate pharmacy degree and can be studied online, with intensive schools, as well as on campus. Our course emphasises scientific rigour, clinical experience, and develops your critical thinking skills to ensure you are prepared for the vital and changing role of pharmacy in Australia's collaborative healthcare environment.

Why study the Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours with UNE?

UNE's flexibly delivered Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours program is available to study either online or on campus (Note: we expect the option for on-campus study to be available in Trimester 1, 2024). In fact, we were the first university to offer the Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours by distance education.

If you are studying online, our mandatory on campus intensive schools in Armidale allow you to take advantage of our modern teaching and research facilities.

Develop a strong foundation in basic and pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutics, pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacy practice and explore a range of dynamic career opportunities in healthcare and industry.

What makes our course different?

Study online with Australia's first Australian Pharmacy Council accredited pharmacy degree offered by distance education. Our course gives you opportunities to:

• Explore clinical placements in rural and regional areas. We encourage you to seek out clinical placements in rural and regional communities, which are at the heart of UNE's research and teaching programs. As a student at UNE you may be eligible to apply to the Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme, valued at $10,000 per annum per student.*
• Learn contemporary skills in our professional practice laboratory with model dispensary and dedicated formulation laboratory, ensuring that you graduate ready to operate in a clinical workplace.
• Complete specialist modules as part of your degree, including Mental Health First Aid, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's (PSA) "Support the Supply of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines", and vaccination training, opening the door to enhanced professional practice opportunities upon graduation.
• Develop your interest in a specialist area of pharmacy as well as critical thinking skills with the independent Honours research project undertaken in your final year (or, if you are studying part-time, in your second last year of study).
• Graduates consistently rate UNE with the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide, Australia's largest independent higher education rating organisation.
• Study with the experts in online education. In fact, UNE is Australia's longest continuous provider of distance (now online) education.

In the second and fourth years of the degree, you will complete 7 weeks of practical work experience (approx. 270 hours). This practical component includes clinical placement in community and hospital pharmacies, with one week full time in a rural community pharmacy. Placements are integrated with coursework units during normal university trimester times.

Assumed knowledge for this course is NSW HSC level (or equivalent) Chemistry and Mathematics. We offer introductory units and Bridging Courses in Chemistry and Mathematics for students who do not have the recommended background knowledge. We also recommend that you have a knowledge of Biology, and have completed the equivalent of NSW HSC Mathematics Extension 1. For students who do not have a background in science, we offer the Bachelor of Scientific Studies. If you don't have a Science background, please give serious consideration to including the Bachelor of Scientific Studies as a preference when you submit your application. Alternatively, consider enrolling for the Bachelor of Scientific Studies in the first instance, and on successful completion of eight units, you can transfer to the Bachelor of Pharmacy (with Honours) with some credit (advanced standing) for units you have completed.

• Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours graduates are eligible to apply to enrol for the research degree, the Master of Philosophy. Those who have the appropriate level of Honours are eligible to apply to enrol for the Doctor of Philosophy.

The Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme enables students from rural and remote areas to undertake university studies in pharmacy. Up to 30 scholarships are offered annually, with a value of $10,000 per annum per student.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus

Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.