Masters in Pharmacy in Canada: Universities, Fees & Scope

Also known as an M Pharm, a postgraduate degree in pharmacy aims at developing a sound understanding of pharmacy and training students to work as pharmacists, medical professionals, and researchers, amongst others. From working with patients in clinical scenarios to researching social and behavioural aspects of drug administration, opportunities in the field of pharmacy are wide-ranging and exciting. Further, when you study in Canada, you benefit from its vibrant culture and landscapes, student-friendly campuses and most importantly, the favourable cost of studying in Canada. This blog aims to provide the necessary details in regard to a masters in pharmacy in Canada and the universities which offer such courses. 

Particular	Specifications
Degree Level	Postgraduate (PG)
Full-Form	Master in Pharmacy
Duration of the Course	Two-three years
Mode of education	Full-time/ part-time
Eligibility Criteria	BSc degree with at least a Mid-B average Scores of IELTS or TOEFL
Average Fees Incurred	The fee ranges from USD 7,300 to USD 40,900 per annum
Leading Courses	MSC Pharmacology, MSc Pharmacy, MSc Applied Clinical Pharmacology, MPharm
Top Institutes	The University of Alberta, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University
Specialisations offered	Therapeutics, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacology
Employment Roles	Pharmacist (industry), Pharmacist (Retail), Pharmacist ( Community), Pharmacist ( Clinical), Hospital Pharmacist

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Why Study in Canada?

Masters in Pharmacy in Canada

The structure of a typical masters in pharmacy in Canada is slightly different than other masters in Canada. Running for a period of 2 to 3 years, it may be offered as research, thesis-based or as a non-thesis course. Further, students have the option to choose between full-time and part-time options. As for the curriculum, universities also offer graduate specialization subjects for students who want to gain expertise in particular subfields like drug design, pharmaceutics, biomolecular pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmaceutical sciences, etc. 

Top 10 Universities and Courses in Canada

Based on the QS World University Rankings 2022, we have shortlisted some of the highly recognized universities and courses for masters in pharmacy in Canada in the following table:

Name of the University	QS World University Rankings 2022	Popular Courses
University of Toronto	9	MSc in Pharmacology MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences MSc in Applied Clinical Pharmacology
The University of British Columbia	46	MSc in Pharmacology MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences
McGill University	=27	MSc in Pharmacology (Thesis) MSc in Pharmacology (Thesis)-Environmental Health Sciences
University of Alberta	126	MSc in Pharmacology MSc in Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences (Thesis-based)
University of Waterloo	=149	MSc in Pharmacy
Western University (Ontario)	–	MSc in Physiology & Pharmacology
Dalhousie University	–	MSc in Pharmacology MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Saskatchewan	458	MSc in Pharmacy MSc in Pharmacology
Queen’s University	=240	Master of Science in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences
University of Guelph	581-590	Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences

Eligibility Criteria for Masters in Pharmacy in Canada

The criteria of eligibility generally in practice for admission into a master’s in pharmacy in Canada are in line with other Canadian medical courses. The applicants need to fulfil at least one or a combination of the conditions mentioned below depending on the nature of the institution’s curriculum:

• BSc degree in a related field from a recognized university with at least a mid-B average in the last two years of a four-year Canadian degree (as per Canadian standards).
• Bachelor of Pharmacy from an accredited and certified institution in the candidate’s country that is considered at par with Canadian standards.
• Relevant experience in the field of Pharmacy along with the completion of a pharmacy residency program at the university.
• Further, one needs to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores, a statement of purpose, two/three letters of recommendation and a resume. Additionally, a handful of universities may also require GRE scores.

Note: This is only for indicative purposes. Students are advised to check the eligibility criteria of universities at their official websites for further information. 

University-Specific Eligibility Criteria and Deadlines

The following are the specific eligibility requirements at the top universities that provide masters in pharmacy in Canada:

University/College	GPA	IELTS	TOEFL
University of Toronto	77-79%	7.0	100
University of Alberta	78-81%	6.5	88
University of Waterloo	78%	7.0	90
University of Manitoba	78-81%	6.5	86
University of Saskatchewan	70% (60% in the last two years of UG are also accepted for Indian applicants)	6.5	86
MUN	75%	6.5	80

Legal Requirements

To appear for a conventional Masters in Canada, there are certain legal procedures that must be followed. From entry norms to Visa requirements, here are some of the things that you must keep in mind while going for education in Canada:

• In light of the worldwide pandemic, the Canadian Government is currently not issuing student Visas. However, students who wish to enter a University in Canada should stay updated with the Universities they prefer as Canadian colleges and universities are issuing letters of acceptance to international students.
• When the situation normalises, students must apply for a Visa with validity as long as the course duration, including the internship and part-time job duration.
• To work part-time in the country, students must apply for a temporary work permit with the Canadian authorities. The universities ensure that part-time work does not hamper course progression.
• The students must have proof of adequate funding that is required to pay for the tuition fee, as well as cover sustenance costs.

Course Curriculum

Owing to the need for specialized knowledge and training required to work in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences, a master’s in pharmacy in Canada dives deep into the core of pharmacy as well as into a range of multidisciplinary fields. This also includes topics such as health communication, policy analysis, technology in primary care, rural pharmacy practice and so forth. Take a look at the following list of subjects taken from University of Waterloo’s MSc in Pharmacy course listings to have an idea of what you can expect during the course.

• Medicinal Chemistry
• Gene Therapy
• Advanced Pharmacokinetics
• Drug Development
• Principles and Practices in Systemic Treatments in Cancer
• Strategic Management of Biopharmaceutical Technology
• Applied Health Economics & Pharmacoeconomics
• Special Topics: Pharmacy Education, Health Services Design, Geriatrics and Aging, Chronic Disease Management, etc
• Grant Writing in Sciences

Also Read: Canada Visa for Indian Students

Cost of Studying Pharmacy in Canada 

When it comes to the cost of studying in Canada, master’s degree programs in Pharmacy can somewhere range around 7,300-40,900 USD [roughly INR 5,51,000 – INR 30,88,000]. Tabulated below is the estimated average program fee charged by the top universities for masters in pharmacy in Canada:

University	Average Program Fee for 1 Year (in USD)
University of Toronto	39,926 (INR 29.4 lakhs)
University of Alberta	12,670 (INR 9.34 lakhs)
University of Waterloo	11,300 (INR 8.33 lakhs)
University of Saskatchewan	10,096 (7.4 lakhs)
University of Manitoba	19,648 (INR 14.4 lakhs)

Further, living costs can vary as per the city you will be living in. Accumulating different living expenses, the average expenses which can incur while studying for master’s in Pharmacy in Canada can be somewhere around 800 – 10500 USD [roughly INR 58,900 – 7,92,300 INR]. You can also calculate living costs in Canada as per your preferences through our Cost of Living Calculator!

How to Apply for Canada Student Visa?

Students must get study permits in order to attend desirable educational institutions in Canada. A study permit is normally valid for the duration of your course plus an additional 90 days. Assume your institute requires students to select programmes before enrolling on a conditional basis. In that situation, your student visa is valid for the duration of those programmes plus one year. If you are applying for a study permit, you should do it online. If the online application fails, you can apply on paper. 

Scholarships for Masters in Pharmacy in Canada

Wondering about your scholarship options available in Canada? Check out the popular masters in pharmacy in Canada for international students scholarships:

• University Dean’s Scholarship by University of Saskatchewan
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship-Ontario Trillium Scholarship International Master’s Award of Excellence by University of Waterloo
• Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship & Thesis/Course-based Masters recruitment Scholarship by University of Alberta
• University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
• Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship & Ontario Trillium Scholarship by University of Toronto

To know more, check out Scholarship in Canada for Masters!

Scope of Masters in Pharmacy in Canada

Graduates that have completed their studies in pharmacy in Canada are employed in a wide variety of fields such as health and medicine, retail, biotechnology, and so on. The starting salary for entry-level pharmacy postgraduates is around 70,000 USD on average. All Canadian universities that offer a master’s degree in pharmacy are ranked globally for their excellent graduate employability. The universities of Toronto, Alberta, and Waterloo are among the top 10 best in Canada for graduate employability. Furthermore, the opportunities for a postgraduate with a master’s degree in pharmacy are no longer limited to pharmacists, biotechnology labs, and retail. Jobs in research for novel medicines and their interactions are available at universities, clinical research institutes, and other institutions. Postgraduates in pharmacy, medical writers, and programmers now have access to a new sector of employment. Subject matter specialists collaborate with doctors and scientists to develop content and papers that effectively describe research and other clinical and regulatory documentation.

Also Read: PhD in Pharmacy

Jobs Prospects in Pharmacy 

Graduates after getting a degree of masters in pharmacy in Canada are able to land a job with generous pay. Here are some of the popular job profiles with their salary structure:

Job Profiles	Yearly Salary in INR
Clinical Research Associate	37,34,930
Medical Sales Representative	40,28,973
Pharmacologist	46,61,236
Regulatory Affairs Officer	38,54,172
Hospital Pharmacist	70,43,926
Research Scientist	68,08,170
Process Development Scientist	1,06,63,642
Pharmacy Practice Assistant	1,86,67,032

FAQs

Needless to say, researching the offered master’s in pharmacy in Canada and whether it suits you or not is a demanding task, let alone applying for it and securing admission. If you are stuck in this conundrum then the experts at Leverage Edu will guide you in taking the first steps towards building a bright future by helping you select the university using our AI-enabled tool.