Course overview
The Doctor of Pharmacy (an extended master degree) prepares you for pharmacist registration through advanced clinical training in expanded practice areas such as prescribing and complex medication management, alongside a one-year integrated internship.
Designed for graduates of Curtin’s Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) or equivalent accredited pharmacy degrees, this course represents the next stage in an integrated pharmacy registration pathway. Entry is competitive and based on academic performance.
Beyond traditional dispensing roles, pharmacists are taking on an increasingly central role in patient care, contributing to prescribing, clinical decision-making, and collaborative management of complex health needs within multidisciplinary teams.
This qualification develops your advanced clinical capability alongside your professional judgement, communication, and leadership skills. You’ll be prepared to manage complex medication-related problems, prescribe, support medicine optimisation, and lead safe, patient-centred care across a range of settings including hospitals, general practice, aged care and community pharmacy.
On completion, you’ll be eligible to sit the registration exams (subject to accreditation) and use the title ‘Doctor of Pharmacy’.
This can be a physically and mentally challenging course. Please familiarise yourself with the inherent requirements before applying.
Career outcomes
The role of pharmacists is rapidly evolving, with expanded scope in prescribing, vaccination and medication review. Demand for pharmacists continues to grow, with strong employment outcomes for graduates (Source: ).
Careers
- Registered pharmacist
- Clinical pharmacist
- Hospital pharmacist
- Community pharmacist
- Credentialled pharmacist (medication review)
- Aged care pharmacist
- General practice pharmacist
- Medicines policy advisor
- Academic or researcher
Industries
- Community pharmacy
- Hospitals and health services
- Aged care
- Primary care (general practice)
- Government and regulatory agencies
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Research and academia
- Public health
Professional accreditation and recognition
The program is seeking, but has not yet been granted, accreditation from the Australian Pharmacy Council and approval from the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
Subject to accreditation, graduates will be eligible to sit the required examinations for general registration as a pharmacist in Australia.
Your student experience
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Course structure
This four-trimester course builds on the pharmacy knowledge and professional foundations developed through Curtin’s Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), advancing your capabilities in clinical pharmacy, therapeutics and patient-centred care.
You’ll develop advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills, learning to interpret signs and symptoms, conduct structured patient assessments, and apply skills in evidence-informed medicine use to inform treatment decisions.
A key focus is pharmacist prescribing, including medicine selection, dose calculation, monitoring and deprescribing within Western Australia’s legal and professional frameworks.
You’ll gain expertise in managing complex and high-risk patients, including those living in aged care, through medication management reviews and individualised care plans. Throughout the program, you’ll critically evaluate clinical evidence, guidelines and policy to support decision-making and quality use of medicines, while building research skills through literature review and proposal development, data collection and analysis.
Extensive work-integrated learning and engagement with professional pharmacy organisations such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Advanced Pharmacy Australia, alongside industry partners in community and hospital pharmacy, will strengthen your professional networks and prepare you for contemporary practice.
Detailed course structure and unit information
For detailed information and course structure, visit our .
Entry requirements
A Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), or equivalent from another Australian university. Entry to the course is competitive, and strong academic achievement is required.
Course-specific requirements
You’ll also need to meet any specific requirements to be eligible to apply for this course.
Study credit and support
You may be able to receive credit for recognised learning (CRL) from past study or professional experience, which could reduce the time it takes to finish your course.
Find specific details about CRL for this course on the .
Additional information
Notes about this course
Make sure you check the course notes for any other important information.
Fees
Scholarships
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How to apply
Follow these steps to make sure you’re eligible, prepared and ready to apply for your course.
Check entry requirements
Entry requirements differ by course and your previous work and study experience.
Prepare your documents
The documents you need may vary depending on your course and application pathway.
Check application deadlines
Deadlines vary by course and whether you’re applying as a domestic or international student.
Your application pathway
To apply for this course, you’ll apply directly to Curtin via our online applications portal.
Choose your preferred campus to find the application opening and closing dates for this course before you apply.
Select your preferred campus
| Intake | Applications open | Applications close |
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 3, 2029 | 14 May 2029 | 9 Aug 2029 |
Location and delivery
Thinking about starting soon? Course availability can vary by location and study period. for details on when and where you can start your studies.
For full entry requirements, fees and information for international students, visit the course page.
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