Honours degree of Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

Course code: 2631 + Course abbreviation: BPharmSc(Hons) + Total credit points required: 48 + 1 year full-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Parkville - F/T only)

Course description

This honours year is designed to prepare students for entry to a higher degree by research. The program is overseen by the associate dean (graduate studies) and the graduate studies committee. The honours disciplines are offered in the principal areas of medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical biology, pharmaceutics and pharmacy practice. The final decision on the offering of honours disciplines will depend upon the availability of resources for supervision, laboratory space and materials.

Course objectives

To: develop students skills in research including research planning in conjunction with their project supervisor, experimental techniques, data analysis and scientific writing; provide students with a research-oriented degree suitable for entry into pharmaceutical science industries; provide future higher degree candidates with advanced knowledge in pharmaceutical science and research methodology; encourage students to become technically competent to use analytical instrumentation, conduct experimental procedures and methodologies; provide the opportunity for students to undertake data manipulation and analysis and understand the interpretation of data; provide a forum for students to communicate the outcomes of the research project orally and in writing

Entry requirements

The prerequisite for entry to the honours year is a bachelors degree in pharmacy or other related field with an average overall credit grade or higher in the final year of the course, or equivalent qualifications and experience deemed by the faculty board to be suitable preparation for the candidate’s proposed field of study.

Course structure

Course requirements

The honours degree consists of 20 per cent coursework and 80 per cent supervised research undertaken in any of the faculty’s departments.

Students enrol in one of the following full time units. Each unit contains a combination of research and coursework activities, based on one specific pharmaceutical science research area:

VCP6121 Pharmaceutics
VCP6131 Chemistry
VCP6141 Pharmacology
VCP6151 Pharmacy Practice

The course consists of (a) compulsory coursework including an induction program and topics applicable to the research interests of the student, and (b) supervised research. The latter component can be based in any area that falls within the interests of the faculty's departments (pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical biology and pharmacology, pharmacy practice).

With permission of the graduate studies committee, it may also be possible to undertake a portion of the research in an external institution (eg a hospital or industry laboratory). If a substantial portion of the research work is to be carried out in an external institution, the graduate studies committee may require a person within that institution to act as an associate supervisor. The internal (faculty) supervisor is responsible for the overall research program at an academic level.

Contact details

Research programs officer - telephone: +61 3 9903 9635, fax: +61 3 9903 9581, email: info@vcp.monash.edu.au

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