Thinking of applying for your master’s in pharmacy in Canada? Numerous institutions and universities offer a master’s in pharmacy in Canada for aspirants. The country is a major global pharmaceutical hub while offering attractive employment opportunities for skilled graduates. Canada has a shortage of qualified pharmacists, and hence the demand for these professionals is steadily on the rise.
MS in pharmacy in Canada is a two-year course that covers the study of diverse biological systems and chemicals and unearthing unique formulations for therapeutic medicines. M. Pharm is the post-graduate degree available for those willing to pursue the subject in Canada.
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Reasons for studying master’s in pharmacy in Canada
There are many reasons for studying master’s in pharmacy in Canada, including the following:
- Canada is home to the world’s highest-ranked institutions for pharmaceutical studies.
- There are excellent postgraduate pharmacy courses in Canada for international students that lead to rewarding careers with attractive salaries.
- The scope of pharmacy in Canada is vast in terms of research prospects and job positions in both the public and private sector entities.
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Best universities offering master’s in pharmacy in Canada
Here are the leading institutions for master’s in pharmacy in Canada for international students:
|
National Rankings |
Global Rank |
University |
|
1 |
25 |
University of Toronto |
|
5 |
119 |
University of Alberta |
|
7 |
166 |
University of Waterloo |
|
16 |
458 |
University of Saskatchewan |
|
20 |
601-650 |
University of Manitoba |
|
23 |
751-800 |
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) |
Key features of pursuing a master’s in pharmacy in Canada
- Reports state that six universities from Canada rank high in the global list within number 600. They rank high for MS in pharmacy.
- Higher education institutions offering specialization in pharmacy have rankings amongst the top-250 universities globally.
- Medicinal requirements have increased vastly for the aging population in Canada, leading to higher demand for pharmacy postgraduates.
- Leading universities include Dalhousie University, UBC, and the University de Montreal.
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Cost of studying MS in pharmacy in Canada
The average master’s in pharmacy in Canada fees are anywhere around USD 5,060-40,900 or roughly INR 3.76 lakh to INR 30.38 lakh. Visa application charges are approximately USD 235 or INR 17,461. Health insurance costs are around USD10,000 or INR 7.43 lakh. Average accommodation costs range between USD 4,500-10,500 or INR 3.34 lakh to INR 7.80 lakh per year. On average, food and groceries will cost roughly USD 3,000-4,000 or INR 2.22 lakh to INR 2.97 lakh. At the same time, transportation costs will hover around USD 600-1,100 or approximately INR 44,580 to INR 81,730.
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Requirements for Admission
Here are the application deadlines for applying online at universities in Canada:
|
Name of the Institution |
Timeline |
|
University of Toronto |
15 Jan 2022 |
|
University of Alberta |
Mar 1, 2022 |
|
University of Waterloo |
31 Aug 2021 |
|
University of Saskatchewan |
On the Rolling Basis |
|
University of Manitoba |
01 Mar 2022 |
|
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) |
Feb 28, 2021 / Jul 31, 2021 |
Here are the eligibility criteria for admissions:
- Four-year undergraduate course in science or any relevant area of study.
- Minimum GPA score requirement.
- Scores in standardized tests like GRE are not always needed.
- The minimum UG marks threshold is between 70-80% on average.
- Scores in English language proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS.
- CV/Resume.
Here are the documents needed for admission:
- CV/Resume.
- Standardized score sheets
- English language proficiency score sheets
- Official academic transcripts and mark sheets
- Valid passport and photograph
- Personal statement and references wherever required
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Legal Requirements
For studying MS in Canada, you should keep a few legal requirements in mind:
- The Canada Government is not giving student visas due to the pandemic scenario. Yet, universities are issuing their acceptance letters to international students, so stay updated about the same.Â
- Whenever the situation returns to normal, these students should instantly apply for their visas with full validity.Â
- For working part-time in Canada, aspirants should apply for their temporary work permits with the authorities.Â
- Students should offer suitable proof of funds to cover their tuition and living expenses.Â
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Course Curriculum
Due to the requirement for highly advanced training and knowledge-gathering in pharmaceutical sciences, an MS in pharmacy goes deeper into the core subject and several multi-disciplinary aspects as well. This includes analysis of policies, health-based communications, primary care technologies, and more. Here are some of the topics that are covered:
- Gene therapy
- Medicinal chemistry
- Drug development
- Advanced pharmacokinetics
- Systemic cancer treatment practices and principles
- Science grant writing
- Pharmacy education, geriatrics, health services design and aging
- Management of chronic diseasesÂ
- Strategic biopharmaceutical technology management
- Applied pharmaco-economics and health economicsÂ
Job Prospects after MS in pharmacy in Canada
The average salary of pharmacists in Canada has been rising over the last few years, indicating rising demand alongside. Average salaries usually hover between USD 95,000-253,000 with experience and skills (roughly INR 71.25 lakh to INR 1.90 crore). Job profiles include hospital pharmacists, medical sales representatives, community pharmacists, pharmacy practice assistants, medical sales representatives, QA/QC executives, regulatory affairs officers, research scientists, process development scientists, and pharmacy practice assistants. Sectors like biotechnology, retail, and health, and medicine absorb skilled graduates every year. At the same time, there are new jobs available in fields like clinical research, education, and more.Â
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Visa Procedure
You can apply offline or online for your student visa. You will have to visit the nearest visa application center in your city for submitting documents if you are choosing the offline format. If you choose the online mode, you must submit all documents online and visit to provide biometrics. After that, you may be called for a visa interview. The study permit from Canada will cover the duration of your course and three months thereafter.
You must provide proof of funds for supporting yourself throughout the course. You should be able to pay the minimum prescribed every month for studying in Canada. You will have to take a medical test before arrival as well.
Available Scholarships
Here are the scholarships that you can take a closer look at:
|
Name of the Institution |
Scholarship Name |
|
University of Alberta |
University of Alberta Thesis/Masters Recruitment Scholarship + Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship |
|
University of Saskatchewan |
University Dean’s Scholarship |
|
University of Manitoba |
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship |
|
MUN |
School of Graduate Studies Fellowship |
|
University of Toronto |
Ontario Graduate Scholarship + Ontario Trillium Scholarship |
|
University of Waterloo |
Ontario Graduate Scholarship + Ontario Trillium Scholarship + International Master’s Award of Excellence |
The scholarship amounts to study abroad in Canada may vary, depending upon the eligibility of the candidate and various other parameters. Other top picks include the Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarship and the Canadian Graduate Scholarship.
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FAQs
Q1. How long is a master’s in pharmacy in Canada?
A. An MS in pharmacy course in Canada requires 2-3 years on average. The structure of a conventional master’s course in the country is a little different than many other master’s programs in other disciplines. It is usually available as a non-thesis or thesis-based program for students. This is the key difference between these programs.
Q2. What is the salary of M Pharm in Canada?
A. M. Pharm graduates can expect salaries of USD 84,541 (INR 63.40 lakh) per year with experience and this may even go up to a handsome USD 106,592 (INR 79.94 lakh) per annum. Median hourly rates for Canadian pharmacists stand at USD 33.74 (INR 2,531), although pharmacists at the entry-level earn almost-similar salaries without many differences as per reports.
Q3. Can I do M Pharm in Canada?
A. Yes, you can do M. Pharm in Canada after completing your B. Pharm course in India. However, you will have to qualify for the English language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL. M. Sc. in Applied Clinical Pharmacology and M. Sc in Pharmacology are the two popular course options here. You must meet the other admission criteria, including minimum UG marks, educational background, scores in standardized examinations, etc. You should be completing any four-year Bachelor of Science degree which is relevant. The minimum score/GPA criteria aside, you will not have to provide the GRE scores in most cases.
Q4. Is Canada good for pharmacy?
A. Canada is one of the world’s leading destinations for studying pharmacy courses. The pharmaceutical and pharmacy course is immensely popular in the country, being offered across some of Canada’s top universities and other educational institutions. They collectively rank higher amongst the world’s leading 500-600 universities for pharmacy. Canada has a flourishing pharmacy sector with excellent job opportunities for skilled graduates in the field as well.
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