Universities and Online Degrees Guide

North West University

Bachelor of Pharmacy

The Bachelor of Pharmacy in Biology is offered by North West University.

Program Length: 4 YEARS.

Bachelor of Pharmacy offered by the North West University at the Faculty of Health Sciences

The profession of a pharmacist is dynamic, information driven, patient-orientated and takes responsibility for medicine in all its facets by acting as a:

• Supervisor of medicine;
• Formulator, producer, distributor and controller of safe, effective and quality medicine;
• Advisor on the safe, rational and applicable usage of medicine;
• Provider of essential clinical services including screening tests and referral services;
• Provider of health care education and information;
• Provider of pharmaceutical care by accepting responsibility for the outcomes of therapy and by being actively involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of pharmaceutical care plans; and
• Provider of cost-effective and efficient pharmaceutical services.

What does the Pharmacy degree entail?

To equip students with knowledge, skills and competencies in order to render professional pharmaceutical services as members of a health team.On successful completion of the program and the compulsory internship pharmacists should have the following competencies:

• Organisation and control of the production, packaging and
• Quality insurance of pharmaceutical products;
• Organisation and control of the acquisition, storing and
• Distribution of pharmaceutical material and products;
• Dispense and ensure the optimal use of prescribed medicine;
• Provide pharmacist initiated treatments of patients and ensure the optimal usage of medicine;
• Provide education and information on health care and medicine;
• Improve community health and provide relevant information and advise; and
• Part-take in research to ensure the optimal usage of medicine.

Fields of study.

A young qualified pharmacist has a wide choice of career possibilities depending on his or her own preference.  It includes Community Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy (private and public) and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry.  Other career possibilities include Wholesale pharmacists, healthcare managers, medicine control officers.  These occupations exist in the form of medical aid funds, local and central governments ect.  Research occupations also exist at universities and colleges as well as the MRC - thus a variety of diverse occupations which will suit your needs and preferences.

Manner of presentation and duration of the programme.

The program is presented full-time and covers a period of four (4) years. On completion of the degree, and before registration as a pharmacist at the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), students must complete a yearlong internship at a community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy or in the pharmaceutical industry. Students may also complete an academic internship (usually two years) at the university during which the successful students obtain an M degree. After internship (general or academic) and the successful completion of an admission exam, students may register as a pharmacist.

Newly qualified pharmacists are obliged by law to complete one year of community service before they enter the labour market.

Career options
Community Pharmacy
Hospital Pharmacy (private and public)
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry
Wholesale Pharmacists
Healthcare managers
Medicine control officers
These positions are available at medical aids, local governments, the central government, etc.

Requirement
Mathematics level 5 (60 - 69%) and Physical Sciences at level 5 (60 - 69%).
Selection: Academic paper selection.
Duration: 4 years.