What's it like to be a JCU Pharmacy student?

James Cook University is the second oldest university in Queensland, and Australia’s leading university in the tropics.
In response to a critical pharmacy workforce shortage in the north, James Cook University developed a Bachelor of Pharmacy program in close consultation with local pharmacists. JCU Pharmacy has built a reputation in north Queensland and nationally for the program based on the quality of its graduates. Staff and students continue to raise the profile of JCU Pharmacy at both state and national levels.
So what’s it like to study pharmacy at James Cook University? Former OzTREKK student, Matthew, chatted with us recently about his experiences at JCU Pharmacy School and offered to be featured in a student profile. 
Take it away, Matthew…

To me, studying pharmacy at JCU was a decision I had made a bit later in my life. I had completed an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree prior to moving to Townsville, where I realized that I had a keen interest in not just science, but its application to a health profession. Moving to Australia was a decision I made based on family, which turned out to be the best decision I have personally ever made.
Thus far, the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at James Cook University has well exceeded any expectations I had, which were high to begin with. The faculty and students encourage student involvement right from the first day of classes, and are really focused on getting everyone involved and making everyone feel welcome. I am enjoying the course PC1004 – “Introduction to Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences,” as students are quickly introduced to various concepts applicable to the pharmacy profession. The course allows the students to feel connected to the pharmacy community right away in their first year of study, which is something I look for and appreciate in a health degree program.
Life in Australia is very different from Canada when you consider its climate, but very much similar when you compare the atmosphere and kind-hearted nature of the people. The students will find that Australians are widely multicultural, much like Canada, as thus far I have learned a lot about different cultures, especially the Australian people themselves. Townsville is a small city, and having been born and raised in a small Canadian city myself, I enjoy the parallels between them, as they have helped me to adapt tremendously. A major difference, as one would suspect, is the beaches and wildlife, which I have been fascinated with since moving to Townsville.

James Cook University Bachelor of Pharmacy Program

Program: Bachelor of Pharmacy
Location: Townsville, Queensland
Semester intake: February
Duration: 4 years
Application deadline: While there is no set application deadline, applicants are strongly encouraged by the university to submit their applications before the end of September for the February intake.

Entry Requirements

Applicants to the James Cook University’s Bachelor of Pharmacy program are required to have completed their high school diploma. Applicants should have completed Grade 12 English, Chemistry, and Math to meet program prerequisites.
If you have commenced or completed a university degree or any post-secondary studies, your most recent studies will be assessed in terms of your grades. If you have not completed the necessary prerequisite subjects in your post-secondary studies, your high school transcripts will then be assessed for prerequisite subjects.

Apply to James Cook University Pharmacy School!

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Do you have questions about JCU Pharmacy School and about studying pharmacy at Australian universities? Contact OzTREKK’s Australian Pharmacy Schools Officer Rachel Brady at rachel@oztrekk.com, or phone Rachel toll free at 1-866-698-7355.