AU · Bachelor's
Monash University
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
Monash University
Course Overview
Monash University's Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) is ranked #2 globally for Pharmacy and Pharmacology (QS by Subject) — Monash is the only Australian institution in the QS top 10 for the subject. The 4-year accredited Honours degree leads directly to registration as a pharmacist with the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA) following a 12-month supervised internship and the PBA's national registration exam. The Parkville campus (immediately adjacent to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) houses the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), one of the world's leading drug discovery centres.
Sri Lankan applicants choose Monash Pharmacy because pharmacy is on the Australian Skilled Occupation List (long-term shortage), graduates qualify for the 485 Temporary Graduate Visa for 2 years post-study, and the path to permanent residency through skilled migration (subclass 189/190) is one of the most reliable routes for South Asian graduates. The PBA registration is also recognised by the Sri Lanka Medical Council Pharmacy Registry — returnees register without re-credentialing.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 passes in the Bioscience or Physical Science stream with grades A, B, B minimum, must include Chemistry AND one of Biology / Mathematics / Physics.
- check_circle Cambridge / Edexcel A Levels: AAB minimum, must include Chemistry AND one of Biology / Mathematics / Physics.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 33 points minimum with HL Chemistry at 6 or above + HL Biology / Maths / Physics at 5 or above.
- check_circle Police clearance certificate + Working with Children Check required before clinical placements (organised through Monash).
- check_circle Hepatitis B vaccination and other immunisation compliance required before clinical placements begin.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (min 7.0 in EACH section) — this is the PBA-mandated minimum for pharmacy programmes and is NOT waivable.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 94 Overall (min 24 in Listening, 24 in Reading, 27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking).
- check_circle PTE Academic: 65 Overall (min 65 in each section).
- check_circle Crucially: English-medium Bachelor's does NOT waive English testing for pharmacy programmes (PBA requires a fresh score in all four bands).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (AUD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | AUD 57,000 | Rs. 11,970,000 |
| OSHC Health Cover (4 years) | AUD 2,800 | Rs. 588,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Melbourne) | AUD 29,710 | Rs. 6,239,100 |
| Student Visa, Police Check, Vaccinations | AUD 3,500 | Rs. 735,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (4 years) | AUD 350,140 | Rs. 73,529,400 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the Australian 485 Temporary Graduate Visa for 2 years on completion, with direct pathways to permanent skilled migration (Pharmacy is consistently on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List). Monash Pharmacy grads complete a 12-month PBA intern year, sit the PBA registration exam, and place into Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, Terry White Chemmart, hospital pharmacy at Royal Melbourne / Peter Mac, and into pharma R&D at CSL, Mesoblast, AstraZeneca and Pfizer Australia. Sri Lankan returnees register reciprocally and join Hemas Pharmaceuticals, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Lanka Hospitals Pharmacy, and the regulatory affairs teams at multinational pharma offices. Registered Pharmacist starting salary in Australia: AUD 75,000–90,000 (LKR 15.7M–18.9M/yr).
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