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The University of Western Australia (UWA)

  • 22% international / 78% domestic

Pharmacology

  • Non-Award

Pharmacology provides a modern understanding of how medicines produce their effects on the body and how such knowledge is used to alleviate suffering caused by disease.

Key details

Degree Type
Non-Award
Duration
3 - 4 years full-time
Course Code
MJD-PHARY
Study Mode
In person

About this course

As a student majoring in Pharmacology, you'll learn how common drugs target specific receptors in body tissues, exerting effects as either agonists or antagonists. You will also explore the major biochemical pathways that are activated when drugs interact with their respective receptors. Other key topics include pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, drug dependence, toxicology, pharmacogenomics and drug discovery. This major provides an appreciation of how drugs produce changes in such key bodily functions as blood pressure, lung performance or pain perception. Since pharmacology is a very practical area of science, theoretical concepts from lectures are reinforced and expanded upon during regular laboratory classes. You'll be taught by leading lecturers who are actively engaged in modern biomedical research.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you're interested in studying this major, find out the admission details below.

Minimum entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements

Below you'll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65
  • 79
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 270
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 330
Trinity College Foundation
  • 300
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 66
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 60
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 80
Below you'll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).
Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65
  • 79
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 270
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 330
Trinity College Foundation
  • 300
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 66
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 60
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 80
Admission requirements
For applicants with recent secondary education, information on admission criteria is available on our entry requirements page or on the UWA Handbook for course specific requirements and prerequisites.
Admission requirements
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
English competency
Chemistry / biology requirement

Applicants are required to have completed Chemistry ATAR and Biology ATAR or Human Biology ATAR or equivalent. Students without these prerequisites will be required to complete bridging units in their first year.

Chemistry / biology requirement

Study locations

Perth

Career pathways

Careers and further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways
UWA graduates in Pharmacology have pursued a number of pathways including research in a hospital (diagnostic or research lab), employment in a pharmaceutical industry (research or commercial setting), clinical trials coordinators, state or federal regulatory agencies with oversight for drug use, science education (secondary or tertiary sector) and vocational study. As with most other biomedical disciplines, the prospects of satisfying employment are enhanced by completing an honours or higher degree.
Career Pathways UWA graduates in Pharmacology have pursued a number of pathways including research in a hospital (diagnostic or research lab), employment in a pharmaceutical industry (research or commercial setting), clinical trials coordinators, state or federal regulatory agencies with oversight for drug use, science education (secondary or tertiary sector) and vocational study. As with most other biomedical disciplines, the prospects of satisfying employment are enhanced by completing an honours or higher degree.
Further Study
This major provides a basis for further training in pharmacology leading to a research career or to further study in complementary fields such as pharmacy, medicine, dentistry and science education. Students who continue on to study the Master of Pharmacy (two years full time or equivalent) and complete an internship in a community or hospital pharmacy will be eligible to register to practise as a pharmacist in Australia and New Zealand.
Further Study This major provides a basis for further training in pharmacology leading to a research career or to further study in complementary fields such as pharmacy, medicine, dentistry and science education. Students who continue on to study the Master of Pharmacy (two years full time or equivalent) and complete an internship in a community or hospital pharmacy will be eligible to register to practise as a pharmacist in Australia and New Zealand.

Course structure

Students who do not have ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, are required to complete MATH1720 in their first year.

Level 1
Core

Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Human Biology or ATAR Biology will need to take ANHB1101 OR BIOL1130 OR IMED1001 in first semester to meet prerequisites for SCIE1106. IMED1001 is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine or Biomedical Engineering [MJD-EBMEG].Students without ATAR Chemistry will need to take CHEM1003 in first semester to meet prerequisites for SCIE1106.

Option

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Bridging

Take units if applicable:

Level 2

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