Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
at Monash University, Victoria.
A four-year APC-accredited honours pharmacy degree at the Parkville campus, taught at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Strongly research-oriented with placements across Melbournes major hospitals, community pharmacies and pharmaceutical industry.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the Monash University Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours). 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 | ATAR cutoff not published | VTAC |
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | VTAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | VTAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official VTAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First and second year cover the foundational sciences for pharmacy: pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics, human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and microbiology. Monash also runs early professional-practice subjects with introductory pharmacy placements. Third year deepens pharmacotherapy across major body systems, dispensing practice, clinical communication and medication-safety. Clinical placements in community pharmacy, hospital and aged care begin in earnest. Fourth year is the honours capstone year with advanced clinical pharmacy electives, a research project and a final clinical placement block. After graduation, students complete a 1500-hour supervised intern training year before AHPRA registration as a pharmacist.
Example first-year subjects
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Pharmaceutics
- Introductory Pharmacology
- Foundations of Pharmacy Practice
- Microbiology for Pharmacy
How you will be assessed
- Final exams in pharmacology and pharmacotherapy
- Dispensing OSCEs and case-based practical assessments
- Laboratory practical reports
- Clinical placement assessments and supervisor reports
- Honours research project
- Pharmaceutical calculations tests
- Patient counselling role-plays
Placement and industry experience
Australian Pharmacy Council accreditation requires approximately 200 hours of placement across the degree, supplemented by a post-graduation 1500-hour supervised intern training year before AHPRA registration. Monash arranges placements through major Melbourne hospital networks and community pharmacy chains.
Career outcomes
- Graduates complete an intern training year and work as registered pharmacists across Monash Health, Alfred Health and large community pharmacy networks in Melbourne.
- First-year jobs typically include hospital intern positions, community pharmacy intern roles and graduate positions in pharmaceutical industry and regulatory affairs.
- Many alumni move into specialty hospital pharmacy practice (oncology, ICU), pharmaceutical research, regulatory roles at the TGA or postgraduate clinical research.
Professional accreditation
- Australian Pharmacy Council
- AHPRA Pharmacy Board of Australia registration eligible (with internship)
Typical first jobs
- Pharmacy intern in major Melbourne hospital networks
- Community pharmacy intern at chains (Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, TerryWhite)
- Hospital pharmacist after intern year and registration
- Industry roles in pharmaceutical companies (CSL, GSK, Sanofi)
- Regulatory affairs officer at the TGA or industry
- Medicines information pharmacist
- Aged-care and consultant pharmacist after additional credentialing
Graduate starting salary
$68,000 - $85,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/jobs/pharmacist. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
The standard pathway is the 1500-hour intern year, AHPRA registration and practice as a community or hospital pharmacist. Postgrad options include the Master of Clinical Pharmacy, specialty practice in oncology, ICU or mental health, Master of Public Health, Master of Pharmaceutical Science and PhD pathways. Many pharmacists also move into pharmaceutical industry, regulatory affairs at the TGA or medicines-information roles.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with strong chemistry and biology backgrounds
- People interested in medicines and how they interact with the body
- Patient learners comfortable with extensive memorisation
- Calm communicators good with detailed patient counselling
- Self-starters who pursue research or industry internships
It is probably not for you if
- Students who dislike chemistry or memorisation-heavy study
- Those who prefer humanities-style essay work
- People uncomfortable with detailed regulatory protocols
- Students unable to commit to a 1500-hour intern year after graduation
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at Monash
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Monash University handbook and on VTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/monash/bachelor-of-pharmacy.