International Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences

About the Programme

The International Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPPHM) is the result of a collaborative effort between Republic Polytechnic and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Australia. It offers polytechnic students in the field of the pharmaceutical sciences an additional pathway to gain a degree.

IPPHM admits students who have enrolled in the third year of Republic Polytechnic’s Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPHM) programme. These students will have to complete specified elective modules during their three years at Republic Polytechnic to apply for admission to the second year of the Bachelor of Pharmacy or Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science course at Monash University.

Studying in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

As the Bachelor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science course at Monash University is offered by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, students will have the opportunity to work closely with pharmacists, practitioners and research scientists in diverse domains of pharmacy, integrated therapeutics and applied pharmaceutical sciences where pharmacy practice and research is at a cutting edge.

Bachelor of Pharmacy

The Bachelor of Pharmacy course provides graduates with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of biological and chemical sciences, applied pharmaceutical sciences, integrated therapeutics and pharmacy practice and the professional skills and generic attributes which underpin the profession of pharmacy.

The faculty places a strong emphasis on the practical elements of the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree; all students studying pharmacy at Monash participate in the Professional Experience Placement (PEP) program. The course is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council.

To be registered as a pharmacist in Australia, graduates must complete an additional one-year internship program under the supervision of the Pharmacy Board of Australia. Monash University offers an approved internship course that can lead to a postgraduate qualification, the Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice.

Graduates will find careers in many different areas of practice including community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, education and academia, industrial pharmacy and research and development.

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

The Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science offers two unique specialty areas – formulation science and medicinal chemistry. Students getting a major in formulation science will learn how to formulate, design and evaluate pharmaceuticals, while students getting a major in medicinal chemistry will learn about how drugs work, how drugs are designed and how drugs are made.

Graduates will gain a broad range of skills, which traverse the full range of the drug development cycle and open up industrial, academic and commercial career paths. The degree is a job ready science degree which will equip graduates with the necessary skills to work in industry or research.

Graduates will be able to find employment in the pharmaceutical industry as pharmaceutical scientists. Opportunities also exist in associated industries such as food, agricultural, chemical and cosmetics. Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree programme, students who do well may go on to undertake their honours year.