Pharmacy Universities in Canada for International Students

Mar 4, 2024 | 8 min read

Get complete details about Pharmacy Universities in Canada for International Students. Check their Rankings, Fees, Requirements & Programs.

Pharmacy courses in Canada provide students with adequate knowledge about medicinal substances and their application for therapeutic uses. Top pharmacy universities in Canada for international students offer pharmacy courses at both undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to students from all over the world. Additionally, several certificates and diploma programs are also available for international students in the field of pharmacy.

Pharmacy is one of the top high-demand courses in Canada with a Master’s in Pharmacy student finding a job as soon as he/ she graduates. The need for postgraduates in pharmacy is on the rise due to a shortage of skilled pharmacists based on a survey by the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CphA). Master’s degree in pharmacy is offered an MS in Pharmacy or MPharm degree in specializations such as pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacology.

A Master’s in Pharmacy degree in Canada is a two-year program dealing with the study of chemicals and biological systems to gain formulations for therapeutic drugs. A combination of academic research, vocational training, and professional pharmacy skills are taught to students enrolled in a master’s in pharmacy program in Canada. Some of the best pharmacy universities in Canada for international students with their courses and fee details are discussed below.

Table of Contents

Top Pharmacy Universities in Canada
Why Study Pharmacy in Canada?
Admission Procedure of Pharmacy Universities in Canada for International Students
Scope of Pursuing Pharmacy Courses in Canada

Top Pharmacy Universities in Canada

Canada is home to some of the top-ranked universities in the world offering quality, affordable education in different fields of study. Several universities offer both undergraduate and graduate programs in pharmacy, pharmacology, and pharmaceutical sciences. Listed below are the top pharmacy universities in Canada for international students:

University of Toronto
University of Alberta
University of Waterloo
University of Manitoba
University of Saskatchewan
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)
University of British Columbia
University of Montreal
University of Sherbrooke
Dalhousie University

University of Toronto (U of T)

U of T is a global leader in higher education and research located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is ranked #4 by QS Rankings and #13 by ARWU Rankings. The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at University of Toronto offers a wide range of pharmacy programs to students belonging to different nationalities. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at U of T with their fee details are given below:

Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] in Pharmacology: $37,835
Master of Science [M.Sc] in Pharmaceutical Science: $20,379

Read More: University of Toronto

University of Alberta (U of A)

University of Alberta is a public institute located in the province of Edmonton, Canada. It is ranked #51 by QS Rankings and #51 by ARWU Rankings. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at U of A with their fee details are given below:

Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] in Pharmacy: $22,125
Master of Science [M.Sc] in Pharmacology: $13,980
Master of Science [M.Sc] in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: $13,980

Read More: University of Alberta

University of Waterloo (UWaterloo)

University of Waterloo is one of the top-ranked universities in Canada located in Waterloo, Ontario. It is ranked #173 by the QS World University Rankings. The School of Pharmacy under UWaterloo offers Canada's only co-operative education pharmacy program. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at UWaterloo with their fee details are given below:

Master of Science (MSc) in Pharmacy: $7,254
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmacy: $7,182

Read More: University of Waterloo

University of Manitoba (U of M)

University of Manitoba is a public research university located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is ranked #101 by QS Rankings and #201 by ARWU Rankings. The College of Pharmacy under U of M is one of the best pharmacy universities in Canada for international students offering undergraduate and graduate pharmacy courses to its students. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at U of M with their fee details are given below:

Master of Science [M.Sc] in Pharmacy: $8,493
Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] in Pharmacy: $8,473

Read More: University of Manitoba

University of Saskatchewan (USask)

University of Saskatchewan is a not-for-profit Canadian university located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is ranked #151 by QS Rankings and #301 by ARWU Rankings. The College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at USask offers the master’s (M.Sc.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degree programs in pharmaceutical sciences. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at USask with their fee details are given below:

Master of Science [M.Sc] in Pharmacy: $5,048
Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] in Pharmacy: $5,048
Doctor of Pharmacy [Pharma.D]: $13,265

Read More: University of Saskatchewan

Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)

Memorial University of Newfoundland is one of the largest universities on Canada’s East Coast located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It offers Canada's most hands-on pharmacy program through its School of Pharmacy. It is ranked #701 by QS Rankings and #301 by THE Rankings. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at MUN with their fee details are given below:

Master of Science [M.Sc] in Pharmacy: $3,624

University of British Columbia (UBC)

University of British Columbia s one of the oldest universities in the province located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC offers undergraduate and graduate pharmacy courses. UBC is ranked #34 in the world by THE Rankings and #51 by the QS World University Rankings. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at UBC with their fee details are given below:

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences: $30,573
MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences: $8,435.94

Read More: University of British Columbia

University of Montreal (UdeM)

University of Montreal is a public institution located in Montreal, Canada. It offers several pharmacy programs to students through its Faculty of Pharmacy. It is ranked #51 by QS Rankings and #51 by ARWU Rankings. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at UdeM with their fee details are given below:

Master of Science [M.Sc] in Pharmaceutical Sciences: $19,597
Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] in Pharmacology: $17,590

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University of Sherbrooke (UdeS)

University of Sherbrooke is one of the top pharmacy universities in Canada for international students offering a wide range of programs at different levels of education. It is a French-speaking university located in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It is ranked #401 by ARWU Rankings. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at UdeS with their fee details are given below:

Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] in Pharmaceutical Chemistry: $14,594
Bachelor of Pharmacology: $14,594
Master of Science [M.Sc] in Pharmacology: $13,065
Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] in Pharmacology: $11,727

Read More: University of Sherbrooke

Dalhousie University (Dal)

Dalhousie Universityis one of the prime universities of Canada located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It offers pharmacy programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels through its College of Pharmacy. It is ranked #251- #300 in the world by THE Rankings. Some of the pharmacy courses offered at Dal with their fee details are given below:

Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] Pharmacy: $18,027

Read More: Dalhousie University

Why Study Pharmacy in Canada?

Given below are some of the reasons why you should consider pursuing pharmacy courses from Canada:

International students have the chance to study at some of the best universities in Canada, which provides them with world-class facilities and top-notch amenities. There are around 6 top Canadian universities, ranked within the top 600 globally, that provide a master's degree in pharmacy.
In the pharmaceutical industry, there is a high demand for students and professionals with specific skills. A major portion of Canada’s population is aging, and hence, there is a need for professionals who have an excellent understanding of drugs and their outcomes.
An entry-level pharmacist typically earns around 33,000 USD per year.
In terms of the percentage of pharmacy students, retail pharmacists make up the majority.
Between 2016 and 2020, pharmacists in Canada increased by 8% overall. Around 34% of the pharmacists available were international grads.
With the emergence of new viruses and bacteria, health-boosting pills and other drugs are in huge demand. It is, therefore, worthwhile to pursue a pharmacy degree from Canada, despite the high costs involved.

Admission Procedure of Pharmacy Universities in Canada for International Students

In order to get accepted into Canadian universities, international students must meet certain requirements. Most universities in Canada have similar admissions requirements for pharmacy courses. For international students, admission requirements may differ from those for domestic students. Below you will find sections that describe in detail the application process, eligibility and documents required.

How to Apply?

For most popular Ontario institutions, including UToronto, applications for bachelor's degrees in pharmacy are submitted through OUAC. Other universities require international applicants to submit their undergraduate or postgraduate applications via the university website or a university-specific application portal. The amount of non-refundable application fees for international students varies on the basis of their choice of college. The application ranges from 75 CAD to 200 CAD.

Eligibility Criteria

Some of the general requirements to apply for pharmacy programs in Canada are listed below:

To apply for a bachelor’s program in pharmacy, applicants must have completed class 12th with at least an aggregate of 70% marks. Additionally, at least two of these subjects are required as your core subjects in 12th- physics, chemistry, biology.
Some universities require students to have a basic understanding of calculus.
Some pharmacy universities in Canada might also require standardized test scores like GRE.
To apply for PG programs in pharmacy, students must have a BSc degree in a relevant field, along with a mid-B average or equivalent in the last 2 years.
To pursue a master’s degree in pharmacy, relevant work experience in this field is required.

Documents Required

International students must prepare their documents in advance to apply for pharmacy universities in Canada. Following are the major documents required:

Completed application form
Academic transcripts
Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
A valid passport and student visa
Statement of Purpose
Proof of funds (10,000-11,000 CAD/year)
Statement of Purpose
Letters of recommendation (If required)
Resume/CV (if required)

Scope of Pursuing Pharmacy Courses in Canada

Bachelors in Pharmacy

A bachelor's degree in pharmacy from a Canadian university is not enough for you to work as a registered pharmacist. However, you can go for further studies in pharmacology or pharmacy or one of the related fields.

A PharmD is mandatory in Canada to become a registered pharmacist. An additional benefit of obtaining a bachelor's degree in pharmacy in Canada is that it opens up global career possibilities. It will also help you pursue higher education in other study abroad destinations around the world.

There are also options such as assisting pharmacists, working in biotechnology, retail, etc. You may earn around 75,000 to 77,000 CAD per year by taking up assisting roles or quality assurance and control jobs.

Although obtaining a bachelor's degree in pharmacy in Canada might not come with a lot of job opportunities, it can be the first step to your master's and further education both in Canada and abroad.

Masters in Pharmacy

A postgraduate in pharmacy course in Canada might lead you to one of the following data science careers:

Job Role	Median Salary (USD/year)
Regulatory Affairs Officer	43,388
QA/QC	58,000-60,000
Hospital Pharmacist	64,453
Community Pharmacist	95,550
Research Scientist	92,352
Process Development Scientist	144,651
Medical Sales Representative	90,000
Pharmacy Practice Assistant	253,216

Canada offers many job opportunities for pharmacy postgraduates. Many of them are absorbed into industries such as health and medicine, retail, and biotechnology. An entry-level pharmacy postgraduate typically earns 70,000 USD per year. In Canada, the master's in pharmacy programs offered at Canadian universities rank among the best in the world.

With a master's in pharmacy, opportunities are not limited to pharmacists, biotechnology labs, or retail. University, clinical research centers, and others also hire candidates for research on new drugs and their interactions.