Study Pharmacy
Change people's lives. Make a difference.
Save up to 81% on course fees
with a Commonwealth Supported Place1
5 Stars
for full-time employment2
Hands-on Learning
over 900 hours of clinical placement in diverse settings
- Undergraduate students gain up to 904 hours of clinical placement experience, one of the highest totals in Australia.
- Learn from experienced pharmacists and practising clinicians in hands-on settings from Year 1.
- Train in real-world clinical environments at JCU's health precincts in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay.
- Finish your undergraduate degree in three years through an accelerated course structure, or complete your postgraduate studies in only one year, part-time.
- Graduate ready to register as a pharmacist with the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
- Further your skills and qualifications with JCU’s Australian-first Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists.
Fast facts
Location: Cairns, Townsville, Mackay
Starts: January
Entry requirements:* ATAR: 76
Prerequisites: English (Units 3/4,C), General Mathematics (Units 3/4,C)
Recommended knowledge: Chemistry (Units 3/4,C)
*This web page is intended as a general guide for domestic students commencing 2026 or later. Prospective domestic students and all international applicants should contact the University to confirm admission requirements and the availability of courses. Information is correct at the time of publishing. James Cook University reserves the right to alter any course or admission requirement without prior notice.
Professional accreditation
This degree is accredited with conditions by the Australian Pharmacy Council and approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia as a qualification leading to registration as a pharmacist in Australia. Students will be registered with the Pharmacy Board of Australia for the duration of their study.
What career possibilities are there?
JCU Pharmacy graduates are prepared for work across a range of industries and settings. You could work as a community or hospital pharmacist, consultant or industrial pharmacist, or in primary care teams, aged care, defence, drug development, education or health service management.
Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists
Location: Townsville*, Darwin**, Launceston***
Starts: January (Townsville, Darwin and Launceston), September (Townsville)
Duration:1 year part-time
Entry requirements:^ General registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia with no conditions and currently working in community or hospital practice in Australia. Pharmacists holding provisional registration and are near the end of their intern training require approval from the Head of Discipline.
*Mostly online delivery with some on campus attendance for residentials and OSCE assessment.
**Darwin location is restricted to pharmacists practicing within the Northern Territory who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, or who hold an Australian work visa with study rights.
***Launceston offering is being delivered to support the Tasmanian Department of Health's Pharmacist Prescribing Initiative. Priority entry into the course will be given to applicants who have been awarded a Tasmanian Government subsidy. Applications from others will be considered if places remain available.
Please note that all face-to-face residential classes and face-to-face examinations will be conducted as follows:
- Townsville applicants: Residentials and examinations will be held in Brisbane.
- Launceston applicants: Residentials and examinations will be held in Launceston.
- Darwin applicants: Residentials and examinations will be held in Darwin.
^This web page is intended as a general guide for domestic students commencing 2026 or later. Prospective domestic students and all international applicants should contact the University to confirm admission requirements and the availability of courses. Information is correct at the time of publishing. James Cook University reserves the right to alter any course or admission requirement without prior notice.
What career possibilities are there?
Graduates deliver expanded primary-care services, improve medication management and may progress to further research degrees.
"The placement opportunities have been a real highlight, allowing me to put my knowledge into practice in real-world settings. I’ve also appreciated the variety of placement locations — from community to hospital, and rural to urban areas — which gives you a broader perspective on where this degree can take you."
Seren Horan
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) – Alumni
Winner of the 2025 Queensland round of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Pharmacy Student of the Year competition
Read Seren's story
"I chose JCU for its focus on rural and tropical health, which is something I wanted to focus my career as a pharmacist on... the smaller class sizes and the level of support and resources at JCU really helped my journey as a student."
Abbey Marshall
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) – Alumni
Queensland Student Pharmacist of the Year
Read Abbey's story
"What makes JCU’s Full Scope Pharmacy Program exceptional is how hands-on it is. We didn’t just learn theory, we practiced physical assessments, like using the otoscope for ear exams and doing respiratory and gastrointestinal assessments. Having these skills means you’re prepared to manage real cases in the community. Since completing the course, I’ve been able to help patients with conditions I couldn’t before, and it’s been so rewarding to finally put these skills to use."
Demi Pressley
Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists – Alumni and Course Trainer
Chief Pharmacist at Alive Pharmacy Group and a prescribing community pharmacist in Cairns
Choose your JCU course, confirm that you meet the entry requirements, and note the QTAC code or course code.
If applying for entry into a bachelor's degree please submit your application via QTAC. For all other applications please apply via the JCU Application Portal.
Ready today for tomorrow
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