Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Entry score
ATAR 74.10
-
Duration
Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years -
Location
Melbourne city, Bundoora -
Fees
Next intake
February Entry score
IELTS 6.5
Duration
Full-time 3 years Location
Melbourne city, Bundoora Fees
AU$36,480 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February
Overview
Your career in pharmaceutical sciences
With a broad understanding of how medicines can be used to improve the quality of human life, you will be equipped with the skills to take on professional roles in many areas of this exciting industry.
What you will study
Pharmaceutical science is the science of developing new medicines. You will learn about the human body and the use of drugs to treat disease.
Details
Pharmaceutical sciences combines knowledge about the human body, chemistry and the action of drugs in the body and enables the pharmaceutical industry to deliver more reliable, accessible and effective treatments.
In addition to an understanding of pharmacology and physiology you will learn about the development of new drugs, the clinical use of medications, and the legal and regulatory aspects of medicine development within the pharmaceutical industry.
You’ll gain an understanding of biochemistry, biostatistics, human biology and cell biology, and an in-depth knowledge of therapeutics, pharmacology and toxicology, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology to prepare you for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
A highlight of this program is that it provides a direct pathway into RMIT’s industry-based Pharmaceutical Sciences Honours year (BH121) for eligible students.
The honours year provides extensive career experience in pharmaceutical and health-related industries.
The program emphasises professional skills for the pharmaceutical industry.
Employers and industry professionals contribute to the ongoing development of the program. Their involvement ensures that the program remains relevant to your needs as a graduate and to the needs of graduate employers.
Students are taught by experienced academics and industry partners. You will learn in small classes with excellent staff-student ratios in an intimate campus setting.
You can access extensive online resources through the myRMIT student portal.
The ongoing assessment throughout the semester includes tests, written essays and reports, oral presentations, group projects, research projects, and practical assignments.
Inside the course experience
Our graduates talk about studying pharmaceutical sciences at RMIT.
The degree has strong industry engagement, with established links with many pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organisations, hospitals and universities.
Employers and industry professionals contribute to all aspects of the program from curriculum development to teaching students. This ensures the program is up-to-date with the latest advances and industry trends, and graduates equiped with skills highly-valued by employers.
Many of our industry partners are RMIT alumni now working in the industry, who are keen to mentor current students along their path to careers in pharmaceutical science and related industries.
Year 1
You will study several general science courses to provide you with a sound scientific base. These include chemistry, biochemistry, biostatistics, human biology and cell biology. You are also introduced to pharmacology and toxicology.
Year 2
You will gain more in-depth education and training in the major discipline areas of pharmacology and toxicology, physiology and biochemistry.
Year 3
In your final year the focus is on how drugs are used to treat diseases along with pharmaceutical industry-related topics, including drug development and safety, the design and management of clinical trials, and drug regulations and medical information.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Bundoora Campus |
3 years full-time
6 years part-time
|
3 years full-time
|
BP311 | 092330J |
Choose a program structure
Program code: BP311
Career
RMIT pharmaceutical sciences graduates are highly skilled with advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in selected areas of biochemical, pharmacological and related health sciences.
The pharmaceutical industry is Australia's leading technology exporter and forms an expanding multi-billion dollar sector.
Graduates can work in:
- pharmaceutical and healthcare companies specialising in running clinical trials, managing medical information or registering new drugs
- universities, hospitals or biomedical research institutes developing new treatments
- organisations specialising in forensics, medical auditing or research governance
Graduates may join the following Australian professional societies:
Admissions
*ATAR refers to the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made (including consideration of any adjustments).
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options.
RMIT admits students from a range of educational pathways, including Year 12 results, previous higher education or vocational education study, work experience, and for some programs - interviews, auditions or portfolios.
To get a better understanding of admissions at RMIT, view our ATAR information.
The highest level of education you have previously completed will determine which category applies to you.
Entry to this program is competitive. Applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on their academic achievement, e.g., ATAR or GPA (including any adjustments).
Applicants with recent secondary education (current or within the past two years)
Successful completion of an Australian Year 12 senior secondary certificate of education or equivalent in 2016, 2017 or 2018. If applicable, this includes equity access schemes and any other adjustment factors.
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary access and participation of eligible students from SNAP partner schools.
Applicants with Vocational Education and Training study
Satisfactory completion of an Australian Certificate IV or above or equivalent.
Applicants with Higher Education study
Satisfactory completion of at least four courses (subjects) at an Australian undergraduate level or overseas equivalent.
Applicants with Work and Life Experience
Satisfactory completion of an Australian Year 12 senior secondary certificate of education or equivalent more then two years ago.
You must sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) Multiple Choice if:
- You have no prior Year 12, VET qualifications, HE results or relevant work experience that meet the minimum entry requirements for the program; and
- You are 19 years of age or over (as of 1 Jan 2019) and have not enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years.
The STAT Multiple Choice will satisfy Year 12 English and Year 11 Mathematics prerequisites. Applicants must meet all other prerequisites or equivalents. Learn more about RMIT STAT results.
Form: Non-Year 12 applicants may submit additional information if they would like it to be considered.
- For semester 1 intake, this can be completed through the VTAC Personal Statement online.
- For semester 2 intake, this can be completed through the personal statement in the Apply Direct application.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Indigenous Access Program will support your application into RMIT programs through an informal interview process with support from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Your relevant life, work, educational and training experience as preparation for study, in addition to any formal qualifications, are all considered.
Elite Athlete Program
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program (REAP) supports elite athlete and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 65% average (check calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post-secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
Chemistry and Mathematics or Physics; or
VCE Units 3 and 4 in Chemistry and one of Mathematics (any) or Physics, with study scores of at least 20.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 92 (with minimum of 20 in all sections)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Non-academic abilities you'll need to complete this program
Some inherent requirements for this program include:
- communication
- reading, writing and number skills
- concentration, memory and problem solving
- mental wellness and behavioural stability
- physical and mental endurance
- physical skills
- vision
View the full list of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences inherent requirements:
Some inherent requirements for this program include:
- communication
- reading, writing and number skills
- concentration, memory and problem solving
- mental wellness and behavioural stability
- physical and mental endurance
- physical skills
- vision
View the full list of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences inherent requirements:
Who are they for?
Inherent requirements apply to every applicant and may be worth considering if you are living with disability, long-term illness and/or a mental health condition.
Why do you need to know?
By understanding the types of activities you’ll participate in, and the non-academic abilities you may need in this program, you can:
- understand more about the program
- determine if you may need support during your studies
- make an informed decision about whether the program is suitable for you
What support is available?
If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, please discuss this with RMIT program staff or the Equitable Learning Services (ELS).
If you are living with disability, long-term illness and/or a mental health condition, we may be able to support you by making adjustments to activities in your program so that you can participate fully in your studies.
To receive learning adjustments, you need to register with ELS.
Pathways
A highlight of this program is that it provides a direct pathway into RMIT's industry-based Pharmaceutical Sciences Honours year (BH121) for eligible students.
Graduates will be equipped to undertake a research degree in biomedical science.
When you successfully complete this program you may be eligible for entry to the following programs:
Alternatively you may be eligible for entry into other RMIT honours or postgraduate programs.
Fees
In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958*.
* Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Additional expenses
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$303 maximum fee for 2019.
Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available. In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958.
In a CSP, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set each year by the Australian Government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of the courses in which you enrol, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
Courses (subjects) fall into one of three bands. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2019
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2019 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,566 per standard year |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,359 per standard year |
|
$10,958 per standard year |
HECS-HELP Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
SA-HELP Loans
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to the full amount of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You will only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2019 is $303.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2019 is AU$36,480.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$112,320.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.