Bachelor of Pharmacy
at Charles Sturt University, New South Wales.
A four-year APC-accredited pharmacy degree taught at the Wagga Wagga and Orange campuses, with a strong rural-practice focus. Includes substantial placements in regional community and hospital pharmacies across the Local Health Districts of inland NSW.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the Charles Sturt University Bachelor of Pharmacy. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 77.1 | UAC |
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
Most recent published cutoff is 77.1 for the 2025 intake.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
CSU runs the Bachelor of Pharmacy as a four-year Australian Pharmacy Council accredited degree leading to AHPRA Pharmacy Board of Australia provisional registration. Year one covers chemistry for pharmacy, biology and physiology, pharmacy practice foundations, professional ethics and indigenous health. Year two layers pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics (formulation), pharmaceutical microbiology and clinical pharmacy practice introduction. Year three carries advanced pharmacology, therapeutics for major disease groups (cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, neurological), clinical placement and dispensing practice. Year four runs hospital and community pharmacy clinical placements, advanced therapeutics, pharmacy management, capstone research and transition to internship. APC accreditation requires extensive clinical placement across the degree.
Example first-year subjects
- Chemistry for Pharmacy
- Human Biology and Physiology for Pharmacy
- Introduction to Pharmacy Practice
- Professional Practice and Ethics
- Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety
- Pharmacy Numeracy and Calculations
How you will be assessed
- Clinical placement supervisor evaluation
- OSCE practical exams in simulation pharmacy environments
- Dispensing and patient-counselling assessments
- Mid-semester tests and final exams in chemistry, pharmacology and therapeutics
- Group case-based therapeutic projects
- Capstone research literature review
Placement and industry experience
APC accreditation requires extensive structured clinical placement across community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and a research or specialty placement. CSU rotates students through Western and Murrumbidgee LHDs (rural and regional hospitals across inland NSW) hospital pharmacy departments, large community pharmacy chains (Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, TerryWhite Chemmart, Amcal) and independent community pharmacies in Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and online. Most placements are unpaid for credit, although some final-year placements include limited stipends or paid intern positions. The internship year after graduation is paid at the relevant award rate.
Career outcomes
- Graduates complete a one-year intern program and work as registered pharmacists across rural and regional NSW community pharmacies and Local Health District hospitals.
- First-year jobs include intern positions at Murrumbidgee, Western and Southern NSW Local Health Districts, community pharmacies in Wagga Wagga, Orange and Dubbo.
- Many alumni continue in rural pharmacy practice, take on pharmacy ownership or pursue hospital pharmacy specialty practice and postgraduate study.
Professional accreditation
- Australian Pharmacy Council
- AHPRA Pharmacy Board of Australia registration eligible (with internship)
Typical first jobs
- Pharmacy intern at community pharmacy chains
- Pharmacy intern at NSW Health hospital pharmacy
- Registered pharmacist after intern year and registration exam
- Hospital pharmacist (ward, ICU, oncology, paediatrics)
- Community pharmacist with optional pharmacist-owner pathway
- Industry pharmacist in pharma manufacturing and regulatory affairs
Graduate starting salary
$60,000 - $75,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Graduates undertake a one-year supervised internship in a community or hospital pharmacy (paid intern position) under AHPRA provisional registration, complete the Pharmacy Board of Australia registration exam, and apply for full AHPRA registration as a Pharmacist. Postgraduate options include Master of Clinical Pharmacy, Master of Pharmacy Practice, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), and specialty endorsements (consultant pharmacist, accredited pharmacist for medication management reviews, vaccination authorisation). The Pharmacy Programs Administrator manages incentive programs and accreditation for community-pharmacy services.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with strong chemistry and biology foundations
- Those interested in medicine and therapeutics but preferring a four-year pathway
- People comfortable with detailed numerical work in dispensing
- Students happy to work in community or hospital pharmacy roles
- Those willing to do a one-year supervised internship after graduation
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting clinical patient diagnosis and treatment
- Those who struggled with senior chemistry
- Anyone unwilling to do the year-long internship and registration exam after graduation
Related courses at CSU
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Charles Sturt University handbook and on UAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/csu/bachelor-of-pharmacy.