This four-year degree is your first step to becoming a pharmacist. It prepares you for the one-year internship program that you need to successfully complete in order to gain Australia-wide registration.

Once you've successfully completed the degree and the internship, you can practise in any area of pharmacy in Australia, including community or hospital pharmacy.

Alternatively, the degree provides you with a foundation from which you can progress with further studies to achieve a range of other career opportunities.

As an RMIT pharmacy student you’ll benefit from a supportive academic community with diverse research strengths. You’ll be able to gain real-world experience through work placements in both hospital and community pharmacies.

You’ll develop a sound scientific base in studies that include biochemistry, biostatistics, human biology, genetics, microbiology, immunology and cell biology.

In-depth knowledge of pharmacology, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutics and therapeutics is gained along with an understanding of drug development, clinical trials, regulatory affairs and pharmacovigilance.

Career Outcomes

Pharmacists prepare and dispense medicines in many forms. They also give patients advice on how to take or use their medicines in the safest and most effective way.

Pharmacists advise members of the public and other health professionals about both prescription and over-the counter medicines. They provide advice regarding which medicines to select, how much to take, how different medicines interact with each other, and any potential side effects.

Pharmacists also work in the research and development of medicines and other health-related products and they can manage pharmacies or pharmaceutical companies.

On completing this degree you need to undertake a one-year internship in order to gain Australia-wide registration.

On successful completion of the degree and your internship year, you can work in:

• community pharmacies
• hospital pharmacies
• the pharmaceutical industry (quality control, sales, marketing, and management)
• the bio-pharmaceutical industry
• clinical trials administration
• drug information agencies
• drug regulation for government or companies
• consulting to industry
• pharmacy professional organisations
• pharmacy academia
• medical research and communications

Graduates have gone on to work at a range of organisations including:

• Royal Melbourne Hosptial
• Alfred Hospital
• Austin Hospital

Professional recognition and accreditation

After the successful completion of internship and an examination, you'll be eligible for registration as a pharmacist with the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

A reciprocal registration also exists with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand, allowing registration after a reduced period of working under supervision.