Known for being one of the key industries, the pharmaceutical industry in Canada has seen a sudden influx in terms of international student admissions lately. Pharmacy courses in Canada for international students are available in abundance and are in popular demand because of their excellent education quality. Also, according to the government of Canada, pharmacists are highly demanded in Canada as professionals.
So if you are looking to study pharmacy in Canada, you’re at the right place, as we will be talking about some of the best pharmacy schools in Canada, along with all the pharmacy-related courses in Canada!
Why Study Pharmacy in Canada?
Let us first make you familiar with the reasons why pharmacy courses in Canada for international students are so popular:
- 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 international students with scholarships in the range of 3,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD per annum.
Suggested: Best Scholarships in Canada for International Students!
An Overview of the Pharmacy Programs in Canada
If you are willing to study pharmacy in Canada, you should be well aware that most pharmacy colleges in Canada offer a BSc and an MSc degree in specialisations like pharmacology, pharmaceuticals, etc. The BSc pharmacy is a three year course, whereas the MSc pharmacy is a two year course. Many universities and colleges also offer a 1-year pharmacy course in Canada.
Let's highlight the major takeaways to study pharmacy in Canada:
|
Length of the program |
1-4 years |
|
Average tuition fee |
CAD 20,000 to CAD 50,000 |
|
Mode of study |
Full time/ Part time |
|
Specialisations offered (Masters) |
Pharmacology, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics |
|
Popular courses |
BSc Pharmacology, BSc Pharmacy, MSc Pharmacy, MSc Pharmacology |
|
Top Universities |
Suggested Articles
Top Universities and Colleges to Study Pharmacy in Canada
Universities offering pharmacy courses 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 the top pharmacy colleges in Canada for you below:
1. University of Toronto
Standing tall in the Canada pharmacy college list is the University of Toronto. The university has an international population of around 27,000 students, and is known for having an extremely high research output. The U of T also has a graduate employability ranking of #16 worldwide as per the QS Rankings.
|
QS World University Rankings 2023 |
34 |
|
QS Subject Ranking in Pharmacy 2022 |
9 |
|
Popular courses offered |
MSc Pharmacy, BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Chemistry, PhD Pharmacy |
|
Average tuition fee for international students |
CAD 57,030 per year |
2. University of British Columbia
With an international student population of around 15,300 students, the University of British Columbia carefully accommodates some of the best medical faculty in the world. UBC has been ranked in the top 20 public universities in the world, and counted as one of the best pharmacy schools in Canada.
|
QS World University Rankings 2023 |
47 |
|
QS Subject Ranking in Pharmacy 2022 |
32 |
|
Popular courses offered |
MSc Pharmacy, Master of pharmacy Leadership degree program, PharmD |
|
Average tuition fee for international students |
CAD 50,000 per year |
3. University of Alberta
U of A is famous for offering more than 200 UG and 500 PG programs to both international and domestic students. The university has a total student population of around 40,000 students coming from more than 150 countries. Also, graduating from U of A as an Alberta pharmacist, you will have the broadest scope of practice all over the globe.
|
QS World University Rankings 2023 |
110 |
|
QS Subject Ranking in Pharmacy 2022 |
85 |
|
Popular courses offered |
MSc Pharmacy, MSc + PhD, PharmD, Certificate to Canadian Pharmacy practice |
|
Average tuition fee for international students |
CAD 40,000 per year |
4. McMaster University
McMaster University is quite a popular university to study pharmacy courses in Canada for international students. With around 5,000 international students, McMaster University has been known to be Canada’s most research intensive university. The university offers a range of programs, including UG, PG, Diploma and Certificate programs.
|
QS World University Rankings 2023 |
152 |
|
Popular courses offered |
Biology and Pharmacology Co-op program |
|
Average tuition fee for international students |
CAD 44,000 per year |
5. McGill University
Counted as one of the best pharmacy universities in Canada, the McGill University is renowned across the globe because of its outstanding research capabilities and a highly valued education. The university houses approximately 10,000 international students and has an employability rate of 91% in medicine alone.
|
QS World University Rankings 2023 |
31 |
|
QS Subject Ranking in Pharmacy 2022 |
33 |
|
Popular courses offered |
BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, MSc Pharmacology |
|
Average tuition fee for international students |
CAD 49,171 per year |
Suggested:How to choose universities abroad?
Eligibility and Admission Requirements to Study Pharmacy in Canada
The requirements for the top pharmacy colleges in Canada are quite similar and basic. Let us check out the requirements to study pharmacy in Canada:
- Academic transcripts along with bachelors/masters degree
- English proficiency test scores
- Additional requirements like interview
Let us now talk about the Pharmacy requirements in Canada briefly:
1. Academic transcripts along with bachelors/masters degree
The most basic requirement to apply for top Canada pharmacy courses is to have academic transcripts for every level of study. For Indian students, most universities ask for a minimum percentage of 70%-80% in high school. A bachelor's degree with primary subjects like biology, chemistry, maths, biochemistry is usually preferred.
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 to BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, and MSc Pharmacology 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.
Suggested: Eligibility Criteria & Requirements to Study in Canada
Application Process to Study Pharmacy in Canada
The admission process for most of the pharmacy courses 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 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.
Suggested:Visa requirements in Canada
Cost of Studying Pharmacy in Canada
The cost of studying various pharmacy courses in Canada, overall lies somewhere between CAD 30,000 to CAD 50,000 for the top colleges. There are a lot of programs available in the field of pharmacy, including UG, PG, Diploma and Doctoral programs.
The pharmacy course in Canada fees for international students has been briefly tabulated below:
|
Program |
Fees (in CAD) |
|
BSc (Hons) Pharmacology |
40,000-50,000 |
|
MSc Pharmacology |
51,000 |
|
Diploma in Pharmacy |
30,000-40,000 |
|
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) |
40,000-45,000 |
Suggested: Complete breakdown of the cost of living in Canada for international students!
Career Opportunities after Pursuing Pharmacy in Canada
Some of the best pharmacy colleges in Canada provide international students like you, with humongous career opportunities upon graduating in the pharmacy field. Some regions in Canada particularly have a shortage of pharmacists, some of these regions are: British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Brunswick etc. This greatly increases your chances of getting a job after pursuing pharmacy in Canada.
Let us make you explore some career options for Pharmacy in Canada:
- Higher education in various specialisations like pharmacology, pharmaceuticals, pharma business
- Commercial or business research
- Health focussed business/ startups
- Clinical research associate
- Consultant pharmacist
- Pharmaceutical chemist
- Lab manager
- Get placed in health institutions/ hospitals/ clinical organisations
- Become an educator in the field of pharmacy
For a better understanding of how careers post pharmacy in Canada look like, we have tabulated the salaries for various pharmacy job profiles below:
|
Job profile |
Average Annual Salary (in CAD) |
|
Hospital Pharmacist |
64,000 |
|
Scientist |
144,651 |
|
Medical sales representative |
90,000 |
|
Research scientist |
92,000 |
|
Community pharmacist |
95,000 |
With an average annual salary of 30,000 CAD, pharmacy universities in Canada can provide you with a life-changing career upon graduation. Student life in Canada provides a balance of profound career and experiential learning. Also, due to lack of pharmacists, Canada can offer you an even more prosperous future than any other country. To seek assistance in choosing the right academics for this course, speak to our Yocket counsellors today.
