Studying Pharmacy in Canada

The general conditions for studying pharmacy in Canada

The duration of a pharmacy course in Canada is at least 5 to 6 years. The students must first take a 1 to 2 year course in basic sciences and then enter a 4-year course to study the profession of pharmacy. During this four-year course, the focus will be more on clinical competency and therapeutic knowledge courses. Subjects in these courses include physiology, microbiology, trauma physiology, clinical biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacology.
Also, after completing a bachelor’s degree and getting a degree in pharmacy, individuals may be preparing themselves for pharmacy specialization courses in Canada or for postgraduate courses in other courses in Canada:
• One-year residency program hospital
• One-year residency program in the pharmaceutical industry
• Master of Pharmacy and then Doctor of Pharmacy
• Continue to study in specialties such as geriatrics or menopause.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you are a foreign and non-English speaking student, having an appropriate language certificate will be one of the requirements for applying for a degree in pharmacy in Canada.

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Topics reviewed in this article:

• Scholarships and free education
• Tuition fees
• Student work
• Taking a look at the Canadian student visa
• Introducing Canadian universities to study pharmacy
• Working in Canada as pharmacists
• Getting a residence permit in Canada after graduation

Scholarships and free education

Canada is a country that does not have a free educational system. So it is possible to study pharmacy for free in Canada if you can take advantage of scholarships and grants. Having a strong academic resume, English language certificate and writing a suitable motivation letter (cover letter) can play a major role in getting scholarships. Some scholarships are partially funded scholarships and some are fully-funded scholarships and are mostly available in master’s degrees and up. In this section, you will be introduced to the scholarships programs that were offered last year in various countries and were suitable for graduates and volunteers in the field of pharmacy:

• 2019 MUCHE Industry funded HDR top up scholarship
• 2020 PhD scholarship in Biochemical Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• 2019 British Columbia University Scholarship for Masters and PhD Affiliated Fellowships in Canada
• Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cape Town, fellowship for Low- Or Middle-Income Countries

Tuition fees

The cost of studying pharmacy in Canada varies and depends on degree levels. Pharmacy is one of the most expensive fields to pay for college, and tuition fees can range from C $ 15,000 to C $ 45,000 depending on the type of university and its programs.

Student work

Student work is possible and available in Canada which means you can work while residing in Canada on a student visa, but you must meet certain requirements to get such a permit. A student who is studying in Canada by having a student visa can work in this country through the following ways:

• Working on campus: If you are enrolled in a full-time course
• Work in internships or co-op courses: if his/her field of study requires such a course
• Work outside of the university for 20 hours per week, if allowed

Taking a look at the Canadian student visa

International students who are applying to a pharmacy school in Canada are required to get a student visa in order to be present and reside in Canada as a student. It is important to note that a student can apply for a Canadian student visa if his/her university in Canada on the designated learning institution list (DLI).

Applicants who want to study in Canada by having a letter of acceptance from their desired university must submit their other documents to the nearest Canadian consulate and apply for a student visa:

• A passport which is valid until the end of the study courses in Canada
• Letter of acceptance from the desired faculty/college to study in the field of pharmacy
• Receipt of financial ability of at least 10 thousand Canadian dollars
• Passport photos
• Immigration medical examination (IME)
• English or French language certificate of (at least 6.5 IELTS Academic)
• Motivation letter (cover letter) to study in Canada
• Pay for a student visa application ($ 160)
• Translation of Qualifications from previous educational levels such as diploma or bachelor’s degree

Those who want to apply for a companion visa must add $ 4,000 to their financial means for their spouse, and C $ 3,000 per child added. Companion means a spouse and a child under the age of 18. The companion of the student will be in Canada on a tourist visa.

Introducing Canadian universities to study pharmacy

This section takes a look at Canadian universities and the courses they offer in pharmacy. Having an IELTS 6.5 or 7 language certificate is required to enter the field of pharmacy in undergraduate and graduate courses (bachelor’s and master’s degree).

Working in Canada as pharmacists

Upon successful completion of the course in Pharmacy in Canada, one must get a permit form the Canadian provincial or territorial authority in order to get a license and be able to work. In this regard, the applicant must pass a practical training course for pharmacists in his/her province and successfully pass the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination in Canada, administered by the Canadian Pharmaceutical Assessment Association (PEBC).

Those who have studied pharmacy may work in Canada in a variety of related fields, including: in pharmacies (both in hospital and outside of hospital), in the pharmaceutical industry, as a pharmaceutical care consultant, as a teacher, researcher or university professor, in the business and corporate sectors or in the government and military sectors.

Now, in this section we will take a look at the process of degree equivalency in Canada for people who want to study pharmacy in this country, and the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada, as well as the conditions of working in Canada as a pharmacist.

Foreign pharmacists who want to work in Canada must obtain a “qualification Certificate” from the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC). PEBC is, in fact, the national certification body for the profession of pharmacy in Canada. And these steps must be taken:

• Your degree must first be evaluated and approved by this institution.
• Once it is approved, you must pass two tests: MCQ and OSCE
• If you pass them, you will get the Certificate of Qualification
• Then you have to choose the province in which you want to work as a pharmacist
• Spending certain hours for training and internships in pharmacies
• Participating in the legal exam which is related to pharmacists’ regulations and getting a Pharmacist License.

Getting a residence permit in Canada after graduation

Students who are studying in Canada can work and reside in Canada after graduation. After studying in Canada, you can get a work permit after studying at PGWP. The duration of this course depends on the duration of your studies. It will be like:

• If the duration of your study course is less than 8 months, you will not be able to get PGWP
• If the duration of your study course is between 8 months to 2 years, you will get a work permit or PGWP for as much as the duration of your study course
• If the duration of your study course is 2 years or more, you will be allowed to work for 3 years after graduation.
• If you have studied for more than one course, the duration of your post-graduate work permit will be up to 3 years.

Students after working in Canada can apply for a permanent residence permit in this country through Express Entry programs. You must also have lived in Canada for 3 years after graduation to become a citizen of Canada or obtain Canadian citizenship.