Pharmacy Schools in Canada

Admission Statistics for Pharmacy Schools in Canada

Pharmacy school acceptance rates in Canada are extremely competitive. Average acceptance rates fall between 2% and 30%. This is partly due to the very limited number of seats and the high number of applicants. There are only 10 pharmacy schools in Canada, and they offer less than 100 seats on average each year. Many of these programs do not accept international students, and it is typically more difficult for even other Canadian students to get in if they are applying out of province. There are also French-language pharmacy programs in Canada, which are open only to fully bilingual or French native speakers.

Getting accepted to pharmacy schools in Canada is a challenge, but it is not impossible. While the numbers are intimidating, you can boost your chances of successfully getting into pharmacy school by being well prepared for the entirety of the application process.

Check out the list below for a list of pharmacy schools in Canada, their acceptance rates and admission statistics.

Dalhousie University

Enrollment #: 90

Acceptance Rate: 22.50%

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

Memorial University

Enrollment #: 40

Acceptance Rate: 15.63%

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

University of Alberta

Enrollment #: 50

Acceptance Rate: 27.40%

GPA: 3.6

PCAT Score: not required

University of British Columbia

Enrollment #: 224

Acceptance Rate: 36.78%

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

Laval University

Enrollment #: 192

Acceptance Rate: 11.66%

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

University of Manitoba

Enrollment #: 54

Acceptance Rate: N/A

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

University of Montreal

Enrollment #: N/A

Acceptance Rate: N/A

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

University of Saskatchewan

Enrollment #: 90

Acceptance Rate: 44.12%

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

University of Toronto

Enrollment #: 240

Acceptance Rate: 40%

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

University of Waterloo

Enrollment #: 120

Acceptance Rate: 21.82%

GPA: N/A

PCAT Score: not required

Application Requirements for Pharmacy Schools in Canada

The application requirements for pharmacy schools in Canada are generally the same at each school, and are very similar to the requirements for medical schools in Canada, too. All the pharmacy schools in Canada require applicants to have at least a 70% average, or a minimum of 2.5 GPA. Competitive candidates should aim for a GPA of above 3.5 for the most selective programs to have the best shot of getting in. Required coursework, like prerequisites for medical school, include a solid foundation of sciences, mathematics, humanities and social sciences.

There are also a limited number of spots in each program, and many of these seats are reserved for in-province applicants. If you are an out-of-province applicant or an international student, be sure to check requirements on the school website as they may be different for you.

Another requirement at some pharmacy schools in Canada is the PCAT and CASPer test. Only a handful of schools accept the PCAT but almost all of them consider applicants’ CASPer scores when deciding on interview invites. Familiarize yourself with Altus Suite or sign up for a CASPer test prep course well in advance of your application deadline.

For international students or bilingual speakers, you may be required to submit a language test score as part of your application. Typically, pharmacy schools in Canada accept the TOEFL or IELTS tests for English proficiency. The French-language pharmacy programs in Canada will conduct their interviews and CASPer testing in French.

The non-academic side of your application will include the pharmacy school personal statement, the admission interview, your pharmacist resume and at least 3 recommendation letters. In your personal statement, talk about why you want to be a pharmacist, your background, and strengths you will bring to the program. Your resume should include at least 2 to 3 years of relevant clinical experience, as this is a typical requirement of pharmacy schools in Canada, or at least strongly recommended. Your pharmacy school letter of recommendation needs to be excellent, and at least one should come from a practicing pharmacist who can write honestly about your work ethic and suitability. Pharmacy schools want to see if you embody the CanMEDS roles suitable for a future pharmacist, so your referees should be someone who knows you well and can articulate your strengths. For an idea of what a good medical school recommendation letter looks like, read some of our samples.

Finally, pharmacy schools in Canada also employ admission interviews, and favor the multiple-mini interview (MMI) format. You’ll need to know how to prepare for an MMI interview, and fortunately there are services such as MMI interview coaching or an MMI interview prep course to help you get ready for this type of evaluation.

Tips on Applying to Pharmacy School in Canada

Applying to pharmacy school is a long and tiresome process, and it demands serious dedication and thought put into it. It’s not enough to simply excel, you need to apply strategically and use all available tools to help improve your chances of successfully getting accepted. Below are some of our top tips for applying to pharmacy school in Canada.

Pharmacy School Application Timeline

Each pharmacy school in Canada may have its own deadlines and timeline for application cycles. Be sure to check CASPer test dates for your admission year as well! We will look at a timeline of pharmacy school application timelines in Canada next.

Working on your pharmacy school personal statement? Read this infographic for tips.

Pharmacy School Tuition and Costs

Pharmacy school tuition and fees, like medical school tuition, can be notoriously high. Fortunately, universities in Canada offer many financial aid solutions and benefits to students, and there are some pharmacy schools in Canada with lower tuitions and more affordable programs. Fees can vary for students depending on whether they are in-province or out-of-province applicants, too. The table below illustrates the tuition fees at Canada’s 10 pharmacy schools.

Pharmacy Schools in Canada Tuition Costs

University of Alberta

• Tuition (Canadian students): $21,873
• Tuition (International students): $24,780

University of Saskatchewan

• Tuition (Canadian students): $22,180
• Tuition (International students): $22,180

University of Waterloo

• Tuition (Canadian students): $22,180
• Tuition (International students): $22,180

University of Toronto

• Tuition (Canadian students): $18,060 (Ontario students); $18,600 (out-of-province)
• Tuition (International students): $47,120

Dalhousie University

• Tuition (Canadian students): $8,983.86
• Tuition (International students): $18,187.9

Memorial University

• Tuition (Canadian students): $15,334
• Tuition (International students): N/A

University of Manitoba

• Tuition (Canadian students): $20,500
• Tuition (International students): N/A

Université Laval

• Tuition (Canadian students): $16,180 (Québec students); $20,000 (out-of-province)
• Tuition (International students): $30,000

Université de Montréal

• Tuition (Canadian students): N/A
• Tuition (International students): N/A

University of Ottawa

• Tuition (Canadian students): N/A
• Tuition (International students): N/A

University of British Columbia

• Tuition (Canadian students): N/A
• Tuition (International students): N/A

Conclusion

Studying at any of the 10 pharmacy schools in Canada is a worthy but challenging investment. Pharmacy schools in Canada are selective and competitive, and their programs are not open to all students. However, the education you can receive is world-class, and the job prospects for graduate pharmacy students are excellent in Canada. If you plan to apply to any of Canada’s pharmacy schools, its imperative that you do your research, begin preparing your applications early and get as much help as you need to ensure you have the best chance of success.

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting 

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

TikTok

YouTube

Instagram

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

LinkedIn

Twitter