CourseBachelor Honours DegreeBPharmSciAdv(Hons)

P3002 Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours)

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) (P3002) is a 4 years full-time, 192-credit-point, bachelor honours degree course from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, taught at Parkville. Map your units semester by semester with the MonMap planner.

Credit points
192
Duration
4 years full time
8 years part time
Campus
Parkville
On campus
Guaranteed ATAR
82

This is the 2024 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisite map

The 2024 handbook lists no units for P3002 itself. Pick an area of study to see its units.

Overview

This advanced version of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science is designed for high-achieving students who expect to pursue honours studies and a career in pharmaceutical science, the science of medicines. A flexible course, it covers the multi-disciplinary chemical and biological science base used in researching and developing reliable, accessible and effective medicinal products.

A pharmaceutical scientist is trained to select new targets for drug therapy that arise from basic research. As a pharmaceutical scientist graduate you will have the scientific and technical knowledge to translate new targets into reliable, accessible and effective treatments for patients.

During the first two years you will develop an understanding of the foundations of pharmaceutical science and of the relationships between the different disciplines and their distinct roles in drug discovery and development. In your third year, you will have the opportunity to choose elective units that excite and inspire and represent the state-of-the-art in pharmaceutical science education. You will develop specialist knowledge and techniques and an understanding of the application of pharmaceutical methods and of professional practices in the workplace and the laboratory. The course encourages the development of strong research, communication, life-long learning and teamwork skills and provides practical and theoretical training in planning, undertaking and documenting scientific research projects.

You will study with one of the largest and most productive groups of pharmaceutical researchers in Australia, the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. You will graduate having worked in industry-standard facilities, such as our chromatography and mass spectrometry platforms, state-of-the-art confocal, super-resolution and biomedical imaging instruments, world-leading analytical pharmacology capabilities, structural biology platforms including NMR and Cryo-EM and a range of synthetic medicinal chemistry and drug delivery infrastructure. With therapeutic programs in central nervous system and cardio-metabolic diseases as well as global health, you will be well prepared for postgraduate study or for employment in the global pharmaceutical industry.

We acknowledge very high-achieving students by offering access to our scholars program. This provides exclusive learning opportunities, including:

  • an annual networking event 
  • invitations to key Faculty events and seminars
  • a dean's scholarship
  • a listing in the annual Faculty Prize Giving Program

Course structure

Rules
To remain in the course you are required to achieve at least a distinction average (70%) across all units studied up until and including the end of the third year of the degree. 

If you are a high achieving student admitted to the Scholars Program you are required to maintain a distinction average in each year of the course or you will be transferred out of the Scholars Program and will not receive the program benefits or the Scholars award.

In order to progress to the fourth year, you must complete 144 credit points and achieve a minimum of a distinction average (70%) in 24 credit points of Level 3 units in the relevant pharmaceutical science specialisation. If you do not meet this standard you will exit the course with a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science degree.
Common first four semesters96 credit points
Final four semesters96 credit points
The handbook's description of this structure

The course includes all the requirements of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, developing through four themes. The first two, enabling science studies and pharmaceutical science studies, culminate in an applied projects and the honours research project.

Part A. Enabling science studies

Foundation studies in bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, physical chemistry and physiology will underpin further studies in the degree. It will also provide an introduction to the key areas of scientific communication and practice and scientific research methodology.

Part B. Pharmaceutical science studies

This will provide you with practical and theoretical skills and knowledge. You will learn to develop, apply and communicate concepts and theoretical frameworks.

Part C. Applied project and Part D. Honours research program

The studies in A. and B. culminate in an applied project and advanced industry experience and the honours research program that will extend your knowledge and provide you with a high level of expertise in critical writing, thinking and independent analysis and research.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolments for each semester of study.

The course comprises 192 points of pharmaceutical science units.

The course develops through theme studies in: Part A. Enabling science studies (72 points), Part B. Pharmaceutical science studies (54 points) Part C. Applied project (18 points) and Part D. Honours research project (60 points).

To remain in the course you are required to achieve at least a distinction average (70%) across all units studied up until and including the end of the third year of the degree. High achieving students admitted to the Scholars Program are required to maintain a distinction average in each year of the course or they will be transferred out of the Scholars Program and will not receive the program benefits or the Scholars award.

In order to progress to the fourth year, you must complete 144 credit points and achieve a minimum of a distinction average (70%) in 24 credit points of level three units in the relevant pharmaceutical science specialisation. If you do not meet this standard will exit the course with a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science degree.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Enabling science studies (72 points)

You must complete:

  • BPS1011 Human physiology 1: Cells to systems
  • BPS1021 Medicinal chemistry 1: Structure
  • BPS1031 Physical chemistry 1: Equilibria and change
  • BPS1012 Human physiology 2: Body systems
  • BPS1022 Medicinal chemistry 2: Reactivity and biomolecules
  • BPS1032 Physical chemistry 2: Solutions, surfaces and solids
  • BPS2011 Pharmacology 1: Biochemical signalling
  • BPS2021 Synthetic chemistry 1: Structure and reactivity
  • BPS2031 Analytical methods 1: Principles and applications
  • BPS2041 Drug delivery and pharmacokinetics
  • BPS2012 Pharmacology 2: Drug action
  • BPS2032 Analytical methods 2: Investigation design 

Part B. Pharmaceutical science studies (54 points)

You must complete:

  • BPS1041 Scientific inquiry
  • BPS1042 Pharmaceutical science in context
  • BPS2022 Drug discovery and design
  • BPS2042 Drug development

You must complete four of the following units:

  • BPS3011 Disease focussed pharmacology
  • BPS3021 Biotechnology
  • BPS3031 Computational drug design
  • BPS3041 Synthetic chemistry 2: Advanced methods 
  • BPS3051 Pharmaceutical product development
  • BPS3061 Industrial formulation 

and one of the following units:

  • BPS3022 Microbiology and immunology
  • BPS3032 Toxicology and advanced pharmacology
  • BPS3042 Advanced experimental spectroscopy
  • BPS3052 Applied pharmacokinetics/dynamics and nanotechnology

Part C. Applied project (18 points)

  • BPS3012 Applied pharmaceutical science: From concept to market
  • BPS3072 Advanced professional experience (12 points)

Part D. Honours research program (48 points)

You must complete the pre-honours research project (12 points) in semester 2 of the third year and the remaining units (48 points) in the final year. 

You must complete:

  • BPS4001 Advanced Pharmaceutical Science (Coursework) (12 points)
  • BPS4002 Research in Pharmaceutical Science (36 points)

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

  1. 1

    demonstrate advanced knowledge of pharmaceutical science

  2. 2

    demonstrate advanced skills in the methods and processes in one or more areas of pharmaceutical science

  3. 3

    make valid judgements through critical thinking, and synthesise information from a range of sources to provide innovative solutions to scientific problems

  4. 4

    communicate effectively in a variety of modes, to informed professional audiences and for a range of purposes

  5. 5

    think globally and consider pharmaceutical issues from a variety of perspectives, and apply international standards for research practices in pharmaceutical sciences

  6. 6

    demonstrate initiative and intellectual independence, and collaborate effectively in a multi-disciplinary team

  7. 7

    demonstrate leadership, and professional and ethical behaviour.

Entry requirements

Guaranteed ATAR and selection rank

82; International: UERT Year 12/Foundation Band 5 (90-92.49); UERT Post-Secondary Band 3+ (Distinction+)

Other applicants

All applicants must satisfy the equivalence of the VCE subject prerequisites. VCE VET studies will be considered. Studies must have been completed no more than 10 years prior to admission.

Relevant work experience is only used in fine-tuning selection.

VET: Due to strong competition for places, Certificate IV or Diploma graduates are unlikely to be offered a place.

University: Preference is given to applicants who have completed the equivalent of a full year of study in an undergraduate degree (e.g. science or biomedical science). A high level of academic achievement at a tertiary level is required. Prerequisite studies in Chemistry, English and Mathematics can be met at either the VCE or tertiary level.Other: Studies at Monash College (other than MUFY) are not suitable for entry into Pharmaceutical Science Advanced.

English language

Monash Level A, that is: IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test

Pathways

Articulation agreement: Ngee Ann Polytechnic (1+3) Exp: 28-Oct-23

Articulation agreement: China Pharmaceutical University (2.5+2) Exp: 21 Jan 2026

More information

Progression to further studies

Successful completion of this course may provide credit toward a Monash master's by coursework degree and will provide the preparation necessary to undertake a master's by research degree or a doctoral (PhD) degree.

Notes for students

You can enrich your degree to hone your academic and professional skills with a range of flagship rich educational experiences. These flagship rich educational experience units may be credited utilising your free electives, or alternatively in place of your discipline specific electives (up to 6 credit points) if approved by the faculty. For information please see Flagship Rich Educational Experiences.

Other information

This advanced version of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science is designed for high-achieving students who expect to pursue honours studies and a career in pharmaceutical science, the science of medicines. A flexible course, it covers the multi-disciplinary chemical and biological science base used in researching and developing reliable, accessible and effective medicinal products.

A pharmaceutical scientist is trained to select new targets for drug therapy that arise from basic research. As a pharmaceutical scientist graduate you will have the scientific and technical knowledge to translate new targets into reliable, accessible and effective treatments for patients.

During the first two years you will develop an understanding of the foundations of pharmaceutical science and of the relationships between the different disciplines and their distinct roles in drug discovery and development. In your third year, you will have the opportunity to choose elective units that excite and inspire and represent the state-of-the-art in pharmaceutical science education. You will develop specialist knowledge and techniques and an understanding of the application of pharmaceutical methods and of professional practices in the workplace and the laboratory. The course encourages the development of strong research, communication, life-long learning and teamwork skills and provides practical and theoretical training in planning, undertaking and documenting scientific research projects.

You will study with one of the largest and most productive groups of pharmaceutical researchers in Australia, the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. You will graduate having worked in industry-standard facilities, such as our chromatography and mass spectrometry platforms, state-of-the-art confocal, super-resolution and biomedical imaging instruments, world-leading analytical pharmacology capabilities, structural biology platforms including NMR and Cryo-EM and a range of synthetic medicinal chemistry and drug delivery infrastructure. With therapeutic programs in central nervous system and cardio-metabolic diseases as well as global health, you will be well prepared for postgraduate study or for employment in the global pharmaceutical industry.

We acknowledge very high-achieving students by offering access to our scholars program. This provides exclusive learning opportunities, including:

  • an annual networking event 
  • invitations to key Faculty events and seminars
  • a dean's scholarship
  • a listing in the annual Faculty Prize Giving Program

Common questions

How long is Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours)?

4 years full time, 192 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 8 semesters of full-time study.

What ATAR do I need for Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours)?

The guaranteed ATAR listed for 2024 entry is 82.

Where can I study Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours)?

At Parkville.

How do I plan my Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification
Bachelor Honours Degree
AQF level
Level 8
Credit points
192
Full time
4 Years
Part time
8 Years
Maximum time
8 years
Faculty
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
CRICOS code
077237J
Abbreviation
BPharmSciAdv(Hons)
Award titles
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) (Scholars Program)Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours)