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Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada: A Complete Guide on B Pharmacy in Canada for international students

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Rohan Deshmukh
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Having some of the notable universities, Canada as a study destination has won several accolades in terms of its excellent education and high rate of returns. Pharmacy as a field is quite research intensive and requires a lot of hands-on experience, which is definitely inculcated in B pharmacy colleges in Canada. Also, due to the lack of an ample number of pharmacists, getting job opportunities post-graduation can be a cakewalk after studying B Pharmacy in Canada. Choosing the right course and university in an international territory can be a tough decision, and therefore we have brought you this blog covering every possible detail on Bachelor of pharmacy in Canada! 

Table of Contents:

  1. Why Study for Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada? 
  2. An Overview of Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 
  3. Eligibility and Admission Requirements to Study Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 
  4. Application Process to Study Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 
  5. Cost of Studying Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 
  6. Top Universities to Study Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 
  7. Scholarships to Study Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 
  8. Career Opportunities after Pursuing Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 

Why Study Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada?

Looking for reasons to pursue your Bachelors of Pharmacy in Canada? Don't worry, we have got you covered below! 

  • Growth of pharmacy as a market: The pharmacy market in Canada is set to increase rapidly because of the high consumption of pharma products. Also, the healthcare expenditure is even set to increase more than 11% of Canada’s overall GDP. 
  • Lack of pharmacists: Canada as a country has a greater demand for pharmaceutical products, and services, but lacks a professional workforce for the same. And so, according to the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CphA), there is a dearth of skilled pharmacists in Canada. 
  • Excellent job opportunities: Through various studies, it has been concluded that 90% of students applying for pharmacy courses in Canada are expected to land a job by the year 2028, with an increase of 13,000 job openings in the pharmaceutical sector. 
  • Outstanding education: Canada is known to offer international students an education that is exemplary and academic standards that are the best in the world. B Pharmacy colleges in Canada are especially known to offer international students with research-based experiences. 
  • Availability of scholarships: B Pharmacy colleges in Canada are also known for offering international students scholarships in the range of 3,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD per annum. 

Comprehensive guide on education system in Canada!

 

An Overview of Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 

B Pharmacy in Canada is usually a 4-year course taught at top universities and colleges in Canada. Undergraduate pharmacy courses in Canada for international students generally require 120 credits, divided into 30 credits in each of the four year time period. Some B Pharmacy colleges in Canada also offer specialisations within the 4-year program in areas like neuropharmacology, molecular pharmacology, drug delivery etc.

Let's highlight the major takeaways to study B pharmacy in Canada: 

Length of the program

4 years

Average tuition fee

30,000 CAD to 50,000 CAD

Mode of study

Full time/ Part-time 

Specialisations offered 

Pharmacology, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics, molecular pharmacology, drug delivery

Popular courses

BSc Pharmacology, BSc Pharmacy, BSc in Applied Clinical Pharmacology   

Top universities 

  • University of Toronto 
  • University of British Columbia 
  • University of Alberta 
  • McGill University 
  • University of Waterloo 

 

Eligibility and Admission Requirements to Study Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 

The requirements for the B pharmacy course in Canada are quite basic. Some of the prerequisite subjects to be eligible for applying to Bachelor of pharmacy in Canada for international students are calculus, chemistry, physics, biology and maths. Let us check out the requirements to study masters in pharmacy in Canada:

  • Academic transcripts from high school 
  • English proficiency test scores 
  • Additional requirements 

Let us now talk about the requirements to study B Pharmacy in Canada briefly: 

  • Academic Transcripts from High School 

For international students applying to Bachelor of pharmacy in Canada, academic transcripts from high school are required with an aggregate percentage of 70% (may change as per universities). 

  • English Proficiency Test Scores 

It is essential for you, as international students, to have English proficiency proof in terms of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or other tests. The minimum IELTS requirement to study pharmacy related courses in Canada for Indian students is a score of 6.5 or above. 

  • Additional Requirements 

Additional requirements such as an interview are required by some universities for students applying for undergraduate pharmacy courses in Canada for international students. A few universities may also ask for GRE scores/ resumes and other additional requirements. 

Eligibility Criteria & Requirements to Study in Canada!

 

Application Process to Study Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 

The application process at most B pharmacy colleges in Canada for international students is definitely an easy task, and can not be considered tedious, provided you have all the required documents, and follow the steps given below: 

  • Choose your course and a university to start your bachelor in pharmacy program in Canada.
  • Submit the application form along with the application fee. The application fee may range from 50 CAD to 100 CAD depending on the university you choose.
  • Submit all the required documents and requirements asked by the particular university.
  • You may also be asked for an interview process or additional requirements. 
  • Apply for a scholarship or financial aid, if available at the university. 
  • Wait for the admission decision. 

Complete guide on how to apply for universities in Canada?

An important aspect apat from application process is the B pharmacy in canada fees, which you will have to take into account. Let s discuss it in further sections

 

Cost of Studying Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 

The B pharmacy fees in Canada approximately starts from 30,000 CAD and goes up to 50,000 CAD annually depending on the program and the university chosen. The actual cost of living while pursuing bachelor of pharmacy in Canada for international students is determined by a number of factors, including your region, kind of accommodation, and personal preferences. 

You may expect the average cost of living to be between 10,000 and 12,000 CAD per year, or between 800 and 1,000 CAD per month. The cost of living is heavily influenced by the amount of money you pay for rent. On-campus housing costs between 3,000-7,500 CAD per year, whereas off-campus housing costs approximately 8,000 CAD - 9,000 CAD per year.

 

Top Universities to Study Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 

Top B pharmacy colleges in Canada are known for offering excellent hands-on experiences, and outstanding placement opportunities, to both international and domestic students. 

There is no doubt that most of the B Pharmacy colleges in Canada offer extensive research and have been ranked for their high research outputs all over the globe. 

We have curated a list of universities in Canada offering Bachelor of pharmacy: 

University 

QS World University Ranking 2022

Programs Offered 

Tuition Fee for international students (in CAD)

University of Toronto

10

BSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry 

BSc Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology 

47,120/ year

University of British Columbia

26

Bachelor of pharmaceutical sciences

BSc Pharmacology

42,396/ year

University of Alberta 

62

BSc in Pharmacy (with specialisation) 

30,090 / year

McGill University

25

BSc in Pharmacology 

49,171/ year

University of Saskatchewan 

201-250

BSc in Pharmacy 

Pharm D 

18,394/ year 

Scholarships to Study Masters in Pharmacy in Canada 

B pharmacy course fees in Canada can be quite overwhelming, but top universities and colleges offer several scholarships for international students in Canada in the range of 2,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD. The scholarships are usually merit based or need based, some scholarships are also offered by the Canadian and Indian governments. 

Some of the scholarships to study bachelors of Pharmacy in Canada have been tabulated below: 

Scholarship 

Eligibility 

Award (in CAD)

Outstanding International Student Award, University of British Columbia 

  • Outstanding academics and extracurriculars 
  • International student

Variable 

American Association of University Women- International Fellowships, University of Saskatchewan 

  • International women students 
  • Excellent academics

18,000

Ontario Trillium Scholarship, University of Waterloo 

  • International applicants 

20,000

International student Entrance Scholarships, University of Waterloo 

  • International applicants with 90% average 
  • Admission information form 

10,000

By now you must have a fair idea about how to 

 

Career Opportunities after Pursuing Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada 

After pursuing your B pharmacy in Canada, you can get an average salary of 30,000 CAD per annum. And due to the dearth of pharmacists in Canada, it has been observed that 90% of graduates from the pharmacy discipline can easily get hold of job opportunities in Canada upon completing their degree programs. Also, the salary increases with your experience in the pharmacy sector. 

Let us make you explore some career options after pursuing Bachelor of Pharmacy in Canada: 

  • Further studies (masters in pharmacy in canada) 
  • Health focussed business/ startups 
  • Consultant pharmacist
  • Process manufacturing
  • Government policy and regulatory affairs 
  • Medical devices sales and marketing 
  • Quality assurance management 
  • Pharmaceutical chemist
  • Get placed in health institutions/ hospitals/ clinical organisations
  • Become an educator in the field of pharmacy  

What are the job opportunities after studying in Canada?

Bachelor of Pharmacy in Canada is a highly sought after program, because of excellent infrastructure and quality education offered by top universities and colleges for pharmacy in Canada. After pursuing your B pharmacy in Canada, you can get hold of prominent career prospects, and definitely make a name in the industry. You can even move ahead in academia and pursue further education in the form of a masters in pharmacy in Canada itself!

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Bachelors in Pharmacy in Canada

Which are the top universities to study B pharmacy in Canada? 

What is the average bachelor of pharmacy in canada fees?

Is it easy to get a job after pursuing a B pharmacy course in Canada?

Are scholarships available after pursuing a Bachelor of pharmacy in Canada? 

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