Frequently Asked Questions

Dear prospective student:

At the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences we are committed to ensuring you have information available to you in a variety of formats. Please have a look at our FAQ's. We have compiled these based on the questions we receive. We hope you find them helpful and informative. However, if you find there is a question not addressed on your appropriate admissions topic, email us at phstud@ualberta.ca. 

Thank you for considering the University of Alberta's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences for your studies.

What is the main difference between Pharmacy and Pharmacology?

Pharmacology is a biological science and academic discipline that deals with the properties, uses and action of drugs and chemicals in living systems. A degree in pharmacology is a science degree that cannot be used in applying for a license to practice pharmacy.

Pharmacy, which does requires a knowledge of pharmacology, is a profession that requires a license in order to practice as a pharmacist. Only by obtaining an Entry-to-Practice Pharmacy degree are you allowed to become eligible for a license to practice as a pharmacist. Subjects studied in pharmacy include the pharmaceutical sciences (pharmaceutics, drug metabolism, medicinal chemistry and pharmacokinetics), but also physiology, pharmacology, therapeutics, disease states, law, communications, pharmacoepidemiology, management, and others, many topics of which are not taught at all nor do they form the main focus of a Bachelors degree program in pharmacology. The main responsibility of a pharmacist is to provide safe and effective use of medication for the patient. The pharmacist is also responsible for the legal distribution of scheduled drugs.

How many years is the Pharmacy program?
An Entry-to-Practice pharmacy degree takes four years, full-time to complete. This does not include the pre-professional courses (minimum 2 years 60 ucw).
How many students do we accept?
We admit 130 students per academic year.
Can I apply to start in January?
No, there are no winter intakes. All students begin the program in the fall (September).
How do I know if my courses are transferable?

If you are student attending a university or college in Alberta, there is an Alberta Transfer Equivalency Guide available online at www.acat.gov.ab.ca. If you attend a postsecondary institution outside of Alberta, please compare your course descriptions with those listed on Bear Tracks.

In taking these prerequisites at another post-secondary institution, it is your responsibility as the applicant, to make sure they are transferable to the University of Alberta.

Our office does not keep a record of transferable courses from outside Alberta.

Do I need letters of reference?
We do not ask or recommend letters of reference in the application procedure.
Where and when do I send in my transcripts?
Official transcripts are due by June 15th of the year you wish to apply. If you are currently a U of A student, we will automatically pull your transcripts. Transcripts will also be sent on your behalf if you apply through ApplyAlberta. However, out-of-province students must request their transcript be sent directly from the issuing institution to:

University of Alberta
Administration Building
11487 89 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 2E6
Do I need to take the PCAT or CASPer test?
No.
Can I take Spring and Summer session courses as part of my application?
Prerequisites can be taken in the Spring or Summer term. However, final transcripts must be in to the University by June 15th of the year you apply, so it is not possible to take Spring and Summer term courses the year that you are applying.
Can I apply directly from High School?
No. The Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences requires specific pre-professional courses taken at the university and/or college-level.

Which courses should I take in my Grade 12 year?

>> For students completing Grade 12: Register in the Faculty of Science for Pharmacy pre-professional courses.

>> For students completing Grade 11, please review the grade 12 courses required for the pre-pharmacy program in the Faculty of Science
What is the GPA "cut-off" for applying to Pharmacy?
Students who present an overall GPA lower than 3.1 will not be considered for admission. Alberta students who present an overall GPA of 3.5 or out-of-province students who present a 3.7 or higher, are best placed for competitive admission.
What courses should I take in university in order to prepare for Pharmacy?
Other than the prescribed prerequisites, you can take any courses that interest you as long as they are approved University level courses.
If I didn't do well in a Pharmacy prerequisite, should I retake the class?
If you did not do as well as you wanted in a pharmacy prerequisite, but still passed, you take the next level up in that subject area. When calculating the GPA for the required courses, we use the better grade. For example, Biology 107 -> Biology 207. You cannot retake a course that you did not fail; even if you are taking the equivalent of that course at another institution. It will be considered a repeat and ignored.
Do we accept out of province students?
Yes. All highly ranked out of province students are considered for admission
Is there an Out of Province quota?
No. However, a minimum GPA of 3.7 is suggested for out of province applicants attending Canadian post-secondary institutions outside of Alberta.
Do I need to have work or volunteer experience in a pharmacy in order to apply?
No. However, it is deemed to be very important and helpful to have an awareness of the pharmacy profession and the responsibilities of being a pharmacist before you apply.
When will I be advised if I am admitted?
The Admission Committee generally meets in June and applicants are notified shortly after decisions are made. Sometimes delays of notification are due to the applicant being placed on a reserve list in case applicants offered admission decline the offer.
What are the tuition costs?
Estimated costs are available through the University of Alberta's online calculator.
Where can I obtain information about housing?
Residence Services.
Is there a specific program offered at the University of Alberta for the pharmacy pre-requisite courses?
No. When you apply to do pharmacy pre-requisites courses, you enroll in another Faculty wherein you can take the required classes, e.g. Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences.

If you are applying to the Faculty of Science for your pre-requisites, you are not expected to declare a major or minor. Leave the Major/Minor field blank. However, if you do not gain admission to the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, you will be expected to declare a major for your second year in Science.
Am I required to take all of my Pharmacy pre-requisite courses in one year at college or university?
No. Many students take more time to achieve the minimum number of credits and prerequisites, many even completing a degree, before they apply to Pharmacy. What we want to see is that all the required courses are completed and that, if you choose to meet the requirements in more than the minimum tome period, that you maintain a full-time course load of, preferably, *30 credits or 5 courses in 2 consecutive terms, at least for one of those years.
As a licensed pharmacist what would be the average income I could expect to earn?
This is variable. Please see the Government of Alberta, Wage Information webpage.
Does it impact my admissibility if I take my prepharmacy education at a school other than the University of Alberta, or the University of Calgary, or another larger University?
No. We do not discriminate based on the school you come from, as long as the courses are approved as University level courses or equivalent to our prescribed prerequisite courses.

International Students

Steps when applying to the Entry-to-Practice pharmacy program:

International students will need to complete the prerequisites at a University level first. Our entrance requirements are found on our website here. You must meet the English Language Proficiency and Spoken English Proficiency requirements. These prerequisites can be taken at any University.

Applications must be received by March 1st of the year you wish to apply. Once you have applied, your application will be reviewed by an admissions advisor in the Office of the Registrar and they will let the applicant know what additional documents will be required for submission. Your transcripts would also be assessed for the required prerequisite courses.

Can I transfer into the Pharmacy program?
Unfortunately due to differences in pharmacy practice, it is not possible to transfer from a pharmacy program at another university outside of Canada or the United States and receive transfer credit for the Pharmacy program offered by us.
I have taken my Pharmacy degree in another country; how can I practice in Alberta?

The Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) is responsible for all requirements, processes, and decisions pertaining to the registration of pharmacists in Alberta. Please refer to the ACP website for current information and to obtain support related to Applying to ACP.

As part of the process in applying to ACP, internationally educated pharmacists are required to complete our Certificate to Canadian Pharmacy Practice (CCPP) program.

For general undergraduate information contact:

Undergraduate Student Services Office
2-53, Medical Sciences Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H1
Tel: 780.492.3362
Email: phstud@ualberta.ca