MG-PHARM v.2 Master of Pharmacy
MPharm(Curtin)
Course CRICOS Code: 068621J
Registered full-time Duration:
2 Years
Course Overview
Master Degrees (Coursework) prepare students to apply advanced knowledge for professional practice, scholarship and further learning corresponding to AQF level 9 qualifications.
The Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) is a Graduate Entry Master (GEM) course to enable the students with a relevant Bachelor degree to complete training to become a pre-registered pharmacist. MPharm graduates who complete one year of supervised practice and meet other requirements of The Pharmacy Board of Australia are eligible to register as a pharmacist to practise in Australia. The MPharm course is comprehensive and includes chemical, biological, physiological, pharmaceutical and pharmacotherapeutics units. The course comprises 21 units, which include learning activities and research. Students also undertake community pharmacy and hospital placements, where students are supervised by a practising pharmacist, to develop skills in the clinical setting.
Course Accreditation
Graduates are eligible to apply for provisional registration as a pharmacist with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. A further period of supervised practice is required in order to be eligible for general registration as a pharmacist. The degree is recognised in Australia and New Zealand for registration as professional pharmacists. This course is fully accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council.
Professional Recognition
Graduates are eligible to apply for provisional registration as a pharmacist with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. A further period of 1824 hours of supervised practice is required in order to be eligible for general registration as a pharmacist.
Career Opportunities
Graduates are highly employable. They may seek a career in healthcare working in the fields of community, hospital or consultancy pharmacy. Graduates may also develop a career in the pharmaceutical industry which employs pharmacists in a number of areas including research roles in the development of medicines, production of pharmaceuticals, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, marketing and drug information. They may also work for the State or Federal Government in regulatory and policy roles.
Additional Course Expenses
Students are expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials. Students will require a laboratory coat and safety glasses. Students will also be required to purchase a uniform to wear whilst participating in course related fieldwork, clinical and placement related activities. Students will be required to complete a Senior First Aid qualification prior to undertaking placements in the second year of the course. For further information please refer: http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/schools-and-departments/pharmacy/fieldwork/
Course Entry and Completion Details
Applicants for a Master Degree (Coursework) are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://study.curtin.edu.au/. Subject to the duration of the course applicants usually require a Bachelor Degree or equivalent (and may require relevant work experience), Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma. Any specific course entry and completion requirements must also be met.
Applicants require a relevant Bachelor degree or higher, and a history of above-average grades (65%) across all tertiary studies. A lower average (minimum 60%) will be considered if applicants have attained a weighted average of 65% in the pre-requisites listed below. The Bachelor degree may be a qualification in Pharmacy assessed by the Australian Pharmacy Council as equivalent to an Australian Bachelor of Pharmacy and completed within the past 10 years, OR must include evidence of the following five (5) prerequisites completed within the past 10 years: (i) Mathematics (Applicable Mathematics or Mathematics 3A/3B or equivalent at senior secondary school level is also acceptable) or Physics AND (ii) Statistics or Research Methods with evidence of a Statistics component or Epidemiology AND (iii) Chemistry AND (iv) Biochemistry AND (v) Physiology or Pathophysiology or a related discipline. For international students, English language competency equivalent to an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no band lower than 7.0, is required. Applicants should refer to the Curtin website or Curtin Handbook for more information on specific admission requirements, including Inherent Requirements, for the Master of Pharmacy (Graduate Entry): https://study.curtin.edu.au/applying/application-requirements/master-pharmacy/ Applicants should refer to the Curtin website or Curtin Handbook for information regarding Inherent Requirements for this course: https://study.curtin.edu.au/applying/application-requirements/master-pharmacy/ Applicants for this course should refer to the fieldwork link on the Faculty of Health Sciences website for information regarding the mandatory health and legal checks: https://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/schools/pharmacy-biomedical-sciences/fieldwork/
Credit for Recognised Learning
Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/non-school-leavers/rpl.cfm
Pathway to Further Study
Graduates may qualify for entry to Doctoral degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au
Course Organisation
Master Degrees (Coursework) contain a series of units in a specialised area of study which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may also contain a range of majors/streams for students to choose from.
The course comprises 21 units, which include practical learning activities and research. Students complete study period one in addition to two usual semesters each year. Study period one in the first year of the course, an intensive six-week training program involving 15 hours weekly contact and continuous assessment, requires successful completion of two units introducing important concepts in pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacy practice. Four units are completed in semester one and four units in semester two. Second year commences with a community pharmacy placement in study period one, where students are supervised by a practising pharmacist. This is followed by four units in each of semesters one and two and a hospital pharmacy placement in the final study period. Students will also develop further research skills through a project during second year. Throughout this course, students use high-quality laboratories and facilities designed to enhance teaching and aid the development of essential practical skills. The school laboratories include a model dispensary, a manufacturing laboratory, an asepsis suite and laboratories for microbiological, chemical and pharmacological practical classes.
Course Learning Outcomes
A graduate of this course can:
1. apply extensive knowledge and expertise in the area of pharmacy and contribute to evidence based practice through scholarship
2. think creatively, critically and reflectively to generate innovative solutions for decision making in the provision of pharmaceutical services
3. access and critically analyse and synthesis information drawn from relevant sources
4. communicate effectively as a pharmacist with clients, colleagues, staff, other health care professionals and the general public in ways appropriate to the audience or situation
5. use current technologies applicable to pharmacy
6. demonstrate skills necessary for lifelong learning and contribute to the development of others
7. provide pharmaceutical services with sensitivity to political, social, cultural, geographical, technological and global influences
8. demonstrate understanding of cultural diversity, including Indigenous issues, and multiculturalism
9. work and collaborate effectively in a team and develop leadership skills in an ethical and professional manner
Duration and Availability
This fee-paying course is offered over six study periods on a full-time basis and is of two years' duration. Bentley campus will offer one intake annually in January.
Location and delivery Mode
| Year | Location | Period | All* | Internal | Partially Online Internal^ | External | Fully Online# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Bentley Perth Campus | Intensive Study Period 1 | Y | ||||
| 2022 | Bentley Perth Campus | Intensive Study Period 1 | Y |
The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.
* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.
^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.
# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.
| Course Structure | Hrs/Wk | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Study Period 1 | |||||
| PHAR1002 | v.1 | Pharmacy Practice 1 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| CHEM1006 | v.1 | Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 50.0 | |||||
| Year 1 Semester 1 | |||||
| PHAR2000 | v.2 | Foundations of Pharmaceutics | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| PHAR5010 | v.1 | Professional Pharmacy Practice 1 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| IMED5007 | v.1 | Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Medicinal Chemistry | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| IMED5009 | v.1 | Pharmaceutical Biology | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 1 Semester 2 | |||||
| PHAR2001 | v.2 | Pharmaceutical Formulation | 7.0 | 25.0 | |
| IMED2002 | v.1 | Integrated Pharmacology and Therapeutics 1 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| PHRM5006 | v.1 | Advanced Pharmacy Research Methods | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
| IMED5006 | v.1 | Antimicrobial Therapeutics | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Study Period 1 | |||||
| PHRM6008 | v.1 | Community Pharmacy Placement | 12.0 | 37.5 | |
| PHAR6008 | v.1 | Professional Pharmacy Practice 2 | 7.0 | 25.0 | |
| 62.5 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 1 | |||||
| IMED3006 | v.1 | Integrated Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| IMED6005 | v.1 | Integrated Pharmacology and Therapeutics - Central Nervous System | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| IMED6009 | v.1 | Advanced Pharmaceutics 1 | 11.0 | 25.0 | |
| PHRM6007 | v.1 | Advanced Pharmacy Research | 8.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 2 | |||||
| IMED3007 | v.1 | Integrated Pharmacology and Therapeutics 3 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| IMED6004 | v.1 | Advanced Pharmaceutics 2 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| IMED6006 | v.1 | Integrated Pharmacology and Therapeutics - Complex Cases | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| PHAR6007 | v.1 | Professional Pharmacy Practice 3 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Study Period 10 | |||||
| PHRM6009 | v.1 | Hospital Pharmacy Placement | 11.0 | 37.5 | |
| 37.5 | |||||
Further Information
If you need more course information, you may contact the relevant areas: For Current Students: Student Services Office, please click here for further details: http://students.curtin.edu.au/contact_offices.cfm. For Domestic Future Students: Curtin Connect Future Students, enquiries: https://future.connect.curtin.edu.au, Tel: +61-1300 222 888. For International Future Students: Curtin International, email: international@curtin.edu.au, Tel: +61-8-9266 7331.
Course Structure Disclaimer
Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within a normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.
Disclaimer
Information in this publication is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to change.
In particular, the University reserves the right to change the content and/or method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/ or to vary arrangements for any program.
This material does not purport to constitute legal or professional advice.
Curtin accepts no responsibility for and makes no representations, whether express or implied, as to the accuracy or reliability in any respect of any material in this publication.
Except to the extent mandated otherwise by legislation, Curtin University does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any reliance which may be placed on this material by any person.
Curtin will not be liable to you or to any other person for any loss or damage (including direct, consequential or economic loss or damage) however caused and whether by negligence or otherwise which may result directly or indirectly from the use of this publication.
International students
International students studying in Australia on a student visa can only study full-time and there are also specific entry requirements that must be met. As some information contained in this publication may not be applicable to international students, refer to international.curtin.edu.au for further information. Australian citizens, permanent residents and international students studying outside Australia may have the choice of full-time, part-time and external study, depending on course availability and in-country requirements.
