Welcome

Welcome to the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney. Our faculty has long been recognised as one of the leading centres for Pharmacy education in Australia and enjoys an outstanding national and international reputation for research and innovation.

Over 20% of the 1200 pharmacy students who graduate in Australia each year do so at the Faculty of Pharmacy. Students and staff at the faculty continually strive for excellence in their learning, teaching and research and the Faculty actively promotes opportunities to allow its students to add new skills and experiences to their personal achievements.

Our commitment at the Faculty is to provide our students with a well rounded and professionally relevant pharmacy degree, placing them in high demand with employers and preparing them for a lifetime of learning. We achieve this through an up-to-date teaching curriculum structured around themes and learning outcomes that describe the knowledge, skills and attitudinal milestones to be achieved by students each year. I would encourage all new students to engage fully in university and faculty life from the beginning of semester.

Student life in the Faculty of Pharmacy

As a student you will be taught by, and interact with, world-renowned academics. As well as being known as leaders in their field, they are highly regarded for their friendly approachable style. Outside of the classroom you will have access to a wealth of social, sporting and cultural activities provided by student organisations.

SUPA
The Sydney University Pharmacy Association (SUPA) also provides a range of academic, professional and social activities. SUPA representatives, elected by students, liaise with faculty staff to provide feedback on the student experience and input into the quality assurance process of the faculty.

Specialist programs

The Faculty offers a number of specialist programs designed to help students reach their full potential.

The Talented Students Program is offered to undergraduate students of superior academic ability, recognising their exceptional quality and enabling them to realise their full academic potential. Students are given the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities across all disciplines of the pharmacy profession. Each student is assigned an academic staff mentor who facilitates their involvement in their chosen pharmacy-related activities.

The innovative Blooms Business Skills Program is offered to students on a voluntary basis, teaching them business management skills in small seminar groups led by pharmacy owners, all highly successful in their field. The program is increasingly popular with students, especially those who are considering owning a pharmacy in the future.

Summer Vacation Placements provide students with valuable research experience. By gaining a greater understanding of the research process, students are given a preview of what further studies or a career in a research environment might involve.

The Industry Placements scheme provides 2nd and 3rd Year students with experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Successful applicants undertake work experience for 4 to 8 weeks within local pharmaceutical industries in the Sydney area during the summer vacation break.

Bachelor of Pharmacy curriculum

From 2011, final year Bachelor of Pharmacy students have the option to specialise in rural or industrial pharmacy or take the opportunity to do an international exchange. High achieving students are also offered an Honours option, which involves completion of a substantial research project.

Becoming a Pharmacist

The new Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice offered by the Faculty incorporates an Internship Training Program (ITP). To be able to register as a pharmacist, all graduates must complete an ITP as well as 1824 hours of supervised practice in a hospital or community pharmacy.

Postgraduate coursework and research opportunities

The Faculty has a graduate entry Master of Pharmacy program designed for those who already have a non-pharmacy degree. This two year degree gives students the skills and knowledge equivalent to the Bachelor of Pharmacy and the opportunity to begin the registration process to becoming a pharmacist.

For those who want to pursue studies in herbal medicines, the faculty has a coursework program leading to a Master of Herbal Medicines (Graduate Certificate and Diploma qualifications are also available).

The Faculty also offers Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy for students who wish to focus on a research career or gain the ultimate academic qualification. A Master of Philosophy in Pharmacy is also available.

What can you achieve with a pharmacy degree?

If you enjoy science, health or medicine and want to make a long-lasting difference in people’s lives then pharmacy is the career for you. Whether you choose to register as a pharmacist, work with the community or in hospital pharmacy, enter the pharmaceutical industry, work for government agencies, contribute to research and academia or specialise in pharmacy in remote and rural communities, you will have the expertise to help improve the health and well being of the nation.

I would like to wish all our students, new and continuing, every success in the coming year and I hope you have a stimulating, productive and rewarding 2011.

Iqbal Ramzan
Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy