All About Studying Masters in Pharmacy in Canada: A Complete Guide for International Students

Let us first make you familiar with the reasons why Masters in Pharmacy in Canada is considered to be so popular among the international population:

• Growth of pharmacy as a market: The pharmacy market in Canada is set to increase rapidly because of a 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 related 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.
• Quality Education: Canada is known to offer international students with an education which is exemplary and academic standards which are the best in the world. Pharmacy universities in Canada are especially known for their ground breaking research.
• Availability of scholarships: Pharmacy colleges in Canada are also known for offering scholarships to international students in Canada in the range of 3,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD per annum.

Suggested: What are the job opportunities after graduation in Canada?

Master of Pharmacy in Canada is a tad bit different from other masters’ programs taught in Canada. The M Pharm course in Canada is taught as a research or a thesis or non-thesis course. The course runs for a time span of 2-3 years. Some universities offering the masters in pharmacy in Canada also offer students with specialisations in fields like pharmaceutics, drug design, clinical pharmaceutics, etc.

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

Related Discussion: What is the entrance exam for M Pharm in Canada?

The requirements for Masters in Pharmacy in Canada are quite similar and basic. Most of the universities in Canada require the completion of an evaluation exam by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC), so as to register as a pharmacist in Canada. Let us check out the requirements to study in canada after B Pharmacy:

1. Bachelor's Degree
2. Evaluation exam
3. English proficiency test scores
4. Additional requirements like interview 

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

1.    Bachelor's Degree

For international students applying to MPharm in Canada, either of the conditions given below or a combination of these conditions are required to be fulfilled:

• BSc degree in Pharmacy or related field from a recognised university
• BPharm degree in a recognised university
• Experience in the pharma industry

2.    English proficiency test scores

As international students, it is essential for you to have an 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.

3.    Additional Requirements

Additional requirements such as an interview are required by some universities for students applying for MSc Pharmacy in Canada. The interview is essential as nursing is quite significant for a field in any nation, students are interviewed for background, history, criminal checks, and other related things. A few universities may also ask for GRE scores/ resumes/ work experience and other additional requirements.

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The admission process for most of MPharm in Canada for international students is quite simple to pursue, 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 masters in pharmacy program in Canada.
• Submit the application form along with the application fee.
• Submit all the required documents and requirements asked by the particular university.
• You may also be asked for an interview process.
• Apply for a scholarship or financial aid, if available at the university.
• Wait for the admission decision.

The cost of studying various after B Pharmacy courses in Canada, overall lies somewhere between CAD 30,000 to CAD 50,000 annually for the top colleges.

The masters in pharmacy in Canada for international student fees along with the cost of attendance has been tabulated below:

Therefore, the cost of living for masters in pharmacy in Canada for international students can range from 15,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD annually, depending on your standard of living.

Universities offering MS in Pharmacy in Canada, or MSc Pharmacy in Canada are known for having stellar research, along with providing international students with education which is top notch. With high-tech labs, excellent hands-on experiences, and outstanding placement opportunities, pharmacy universities in Canada have stood out like never before.

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

A masters in Pharmacy degree is much more valuable than a PG diploma in pharmacy in Canada.

• Though the diploma has a lower cost of attendance associated with it, a master’s degree has its own advantages in terms of value of the degree along with a 3-year work permit as compared to a 1-year work permit in case of PG diploma.
• The M Pharm fees in Canada can cost approximately 30,000 CAD to 50,000 CAD, and a PG diploma lies in the range of 20,000 CAD to 30,000 CAD.

If you are willing to pursue M Pharm in Canada, you can definitely get your hands on numerous scholarships offered by top universities and MPharm colleges in Canada.

Some of the scholarships to cover masters in pharmacy in Canada for international students’ fees have been tabulated below:

Suggested: Best scholarships for Masters in Canada!

Now that you are aware of masters in pharmacy in Canada for international students’ fees, let us look at the career opportunities after completing the program in Canada:

Courses after B Pharmacy in Canada can present you with humongous career opportunities upon graduating in the field of pharmacy. Some regions in Canada like British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Brunswick etc, particularly have a shortage of pharmacists. This greatly increases your chances of getting a job after pursuing pharmacy in Canada.

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

• PhD or PharmD in various specialisations like pharmacology, pharmaceuticals, pharma business
• Commercial or business research
• Health focussed business/ startups
• Clinical research associate
• Consultant pharmacist
• Pharmaceutical chemist
• Get placed in health institutions/ hospitals/ clinical organisations
• Become an educator in the field of pharmacy

For a better understanding of how careers post MS in pharmacy in Canada look like, we have tabulated the salaries for various pharmacy job profiles below:

Related Discussion: What is the scope of pharmacy in Canada? Any idea?

Pursuing a master’s degree in the field of pharmacy in Canada can definitely land you a high paying job. Top pharma universities in Canada will present you with the correct infrastructure meant for research purposes, along with an unforgettable experience. Also, due to the dearth of pharmacists in Canada, the masters of pharmacy in Canada will present you with a bright future. To seek help in choosing the best, speak to our Yocket counsellors today.