Applying to Pharmacy School in Canada

Would you like to be a pharmacist one day? There are 11 pharmacy schools in Canada in which one can enroll to obtain their pharmacy degree. Look at the links below to get a quick summary on what post-secondary courses and other requirements needed to apply to that specific pharmacy school. Most pharmacy schools require at least 2 years of undergraduate education in order to complete pre-requisite requirements. The interview process varies between each school as some do panel style or multiple mini interviews. Click on the link or contact the school’s faculty of pharmacy on how you can apply to the pharmacy program of your choice.

University of British Columbia

University of Toronto

• PCAT is not required for admission.
• To be considered for admission, an applicant must have completed 60 credits of post-secondary coursework with a minimum average of 65% (or 2.50 GPA on a 4 point scale). However, having a high 70 to low 80 admission average is considered competitive to score an interview. The average GPA for the Class of 2020 was 80% (or 3.67 on a 4 point scale).
• Interviews are conducted following the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format where applicants rotate through several interview stations and respond to situational and behavioural based questions.
• There are 224 seats in the Entry-to-Practice PharmD program per year

Toronto Admission Requirements

• PCAT is not required for admission
• Minimum 70% average
• If minimum requirements are met will be offered multiple mini interviews (MMI)
• Requires an undergraduate physiology course to be completed before applying

University of Alberta

University of Waterloo

• Admission to the program is based on academics and ability to perform well in full-time study coursework (based on your transcript) as well as career goals, knowledge of the profession and overall interpersonal and communication skills (based on the other requirements including the pharmacist consultation form, letter of intent and an online interview)
• For students who have done their pre-requisite courses in Alberta, having a GPA of 3.5 or greater is considered competitive. However, students with a slightly lower GPA average have been considered depending on other admission considerations. For out-of-province students, they must present a higher GPA average of 3.7 or higher to be considered competitive. Both in-province and out-of-province are considered within the same pool of students.
• There are about 130 spots each year

• PCAT is not a requirement
• Must complete Computer Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer) Test
• During interview process a fundamental skills assessment will be completed
• Preferable to have pharmacy experience beforehand as need reference letter from a pharmacist

University of Saskatchewan

University of Ottawa

• There are three constituent factors in the admission process to the PharmD program at the University of Saskatchewan. These factors are as follows: academic performance (weighted 60%), a Test of Critical Skills (30%), and a personal video interview (10%).
• Prerequisites to application include the completion of 60 U of S credit units of pre-pharmacy courses (or equivalent course credits at other universities)and a minimum overall average of 70%. The deadline for application is February 15 of the year of admission.
• Generally 76 seats in province, 14 seats out of province for 90 total seats.
• One seat is available for self declared aboriginal applicants. You can also apply for the one seat under special consideration for compassionate reasons

UOttawa Admission Requirements

• Newest PharmD program in Canada with first cohort starting in September 2023!
• Admission cycle begins the fall of 2022
• Main objective of this program is to train more bilingual pharmacists to answer patients needs in French minority settings
• Minimum of 2 years of full-time university studies (60 credits or equivalent)
• Minimum overall average of 75% (B+)
• Required prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of 75% (B+) in each
• CASPer test completed in French
• Admission interview completed in French
• Ability to follow a university program in French
• Ability to work in a bilingual environment
• There are 50 seats in this PharmD program
• For more information, please refer to our website https://med.uottawa.ca/en/pharmd

University of Manitoba

Université de Montreal

• preference given to Manitoba residents
• https://umanitoba.ca/student/admissions/programs/pharmacy.html
• PCAT is not a requirement

Montreal Admission Requirements

• Admission is based on :
  • 80% academic record
  • 20% CASPer Test score
  • (an applicant can be invited for an interview if judged necessary)
• PCAT is not a requirement
• Pass the French Admission Test (obtain a score of at least 850/990 on the International French Test)
• 200 new students per year (typically half from the college network and half from the university network)
• French-speaking candidates from Ontario and Maritime provinces have priority over the French-speaking candidates of other provinces

Dalhousie University

Université Laval

Dal Admission Requirements

• For September 2021 admission, will require at least two full-time academic years of prerequisite courses.
• Preferences are given to maritime residents

Laval Admission Requirements

• Applicants for the PharmD are evaluated according to the excellence of their academic record, their CASPer situational judgment test results and the results of an autobiographical questionnaire.
• Students from other provinces are welcome to apply, however if they are English-speaking, the student must complete an International French test and obtain a score of at least 860/990
• French-speaking candidates from Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have priority over the French-speaking candidates of other provinces
• 192 new students a year
  • half of the students accepted comes from the college network and the other half of the students comes from a university network
    • the autobiographical questionnaire is only for the candidates coming from the university network!

Memorial University of Newfoundland

MUN Admission Requirements

• No PCAT required
• Minimum 70% average required to be eligible for an interview
• Only 96 interviews are offered per year
• Interviews must be completed in person
• There are both written and oral sections
• The seat reservation is  35 for NL residents, one of which is for an Aboriginal student. 5 are open to anybody from Canada or international.