Applicants to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program will be selected on a competitive basis. Composite qualifications including credentials, academic, and non-academic factors will be considered. Assessment of academic performance will include review of required courses and consideration of the overall cumulative average obtained at the post-secondary level. A Pharmacy Admission Information Form, a reference form, and a personal characteristic assessment, which will be used to assess non-academic qualifications in the initial screening of applications. Applicants reaching the second stage of the admissions process will participate in an interview and Fundamental Skills Assessment. The admissions committee will seek applicants who demonstrate both strong academic potential and, qualities and skills judged to be the most valuable for an effective career in pharmacy.
Admissions criteria are subject to change. See the School of Pharmacy website for the most up-to-date admission’s criteria published on an annual basis.
Academic Criteria
Consideration for admission to the first year of the undergraduate program will be given to candidates who:
- have successfully completed a minimum of 8.0 units at the post-secondary level,
- have obtained a minimum cumulative overall post-secondary average of 75% or equivalent, and
- have successfully completed specified required courses, or their equivalents as assessed by the School of Pharmacy.
The academic requirements may be completed at any university or college provided the institution is accredited and the courses are considered equivalent by the School of Pharmacy, to the aforementioned University of Waterloo courses.
Biology
BIOL 130 Introductory Cell Biology
BIOL 239 Genetics or any 300- or 400-level BIOL course substitute
BIOL 240 Fundamentals of Microbiology or any 300- or 400-level BIOL course substitute
Chemistry
CHEM 120 General Chemistry 1
CHEM 123 General Chemistry 2
CHEM 237 Introductory Biochemistry
CHEM 266 Basic Organic Chemistry 1
Science Labs
CHEM 120L General Chemistry Laboratory 1 or CHEM 123L General Chemistry Laboratory 2
Two lab courses from BIOL or CHEM offerings, with a minimum of one BIOL lab course
Calculus
MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences
English
Any one course (0.5 unit) from ENGL, SPCOM, humanities or social sciences subjects, that requires a significant amount of reading, critical thinking, analysis, and writing. The writing assignment(s), exclusive of exams, must comprise a minimum of 30% of the final course grade.
Statistics
STAT 202 Introductory Statistics for Scientists
Humanities and Social Sciences
Two courses, 1.0 full unit (two half units) from different subject areas in humanities or social sciences; no more than one additional 0.5 unit (one half unit) in English may be used to satisfy this requirement.
Non-Academic Criteria
Pharmacy Admission Information Form
A Pharmacy Admission Information Form (AIF) will be used to assess non-academic criteria such as personal qualities and extra-curricular accomplishments. It is important to adequately demonstrate motivation for and insight into the profession of pharmacy, through the personal statement in the AIF as well as work or volunteer experience in a pharmacy setting.
Personal Characteristic Screening
Applicants to the PharmD program are required to complete an online assessment of personal characteristics to assist with the selection process.
Reference
Applicants must provide contact information for someone who is prepared to provide a reference for them. Preference is for a pharmacist, but a physician or other healthcare professional familiar with the professional practice of pharmacy is also suitable. The referee cannot be a relative of the applicant.
Pharmacy Interview
Applicants who, on the basis of the academic and non-academic criteria, competitively rank among the premier pool of applicants, will be required to participate in an interview. This interview and a Fundamental Skills Assessment will form the basis for selection of the final pool of applicants who will be offered admission to the program.
Fundamental Skills Assessment
Applicants will be tested for their reading comprehension, ability to communicate in written form, and basic mathematical skills.
English Language Requirements
Applicants to Pharmacy must meet the English language requirements for the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo.
Applicants Presenting More Than Two Years of Post-Secondary
Applicants who have completed more than two years of post-secondary education in any program, including those who have completed one or more degrees, are advised that they must meet the requirements of, and will be considered for, admission to year one of the program.
Admission to a Reduced Course Load
Normally, students are required to take all courses for each respective term of the Pharmacy program during a specific academic year. However, students who have extenuating circumstances may request permission to undertake a reduced course load (for one or more terms or years). Only students who have a clearly identified need, as assessed by the University of Waterloo AccessAbility services office, may be considered for a reduced course load. Students requesting a reduced course load need to be mindful of a limitation that the maximum duration allowed for a student to complete the PharmD program is six years from the initial registration.
Special (Non-Degree) Students
Students may be admitted to various individual School of Pharmacy courses as special (non-degree) students provided places are available, the course prerequisites have been met, and the permission of the instructor is obtained. Priority for all courses will be given to degree students of the School of Pharmacy.