Information for Future Students - Find a Program The University of Adelaide Australia
Public browsing [Login]
You are here: Find a Program > B.E(Pharm)
text zoom: S | M | L
Printer Friendly Version
Find a Program in 2010

Glossary and FAQs

Glossary of Terms
Commonly used terms and expressions you'll encounter while preparing for study at university.

Frequently Asked Questions About:

  1. Fees & Charges
  2. Academic Programs
  3. Applying to the University of Adelaide
  4. Scholarships
  5. Important Dates

Make an Enquiry

Enquire online anytime
Use the online enquiry form

Student Centre Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri:
8:45am-5:00pm
Tues: 9:30am-5:00pm
[Current Local Time]

Phone: +61 8 8303 7335
(Country and interstate callers toll free on 1800 061 459)

Program Outline

Pharmaceutical engineers are vital to improving health and the well being of society through the development, large scale production, packaging and delivery of health-care products. Graduates will be capable of directing development, commercialisation and manufacturing of components within the pharmaceutical industry.

With a global shortage graduates will command lucrative national and international career opportunities. Pharmaceutical engineers work in industries such as pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, biotechnology, biomedical, food and food additives, nutrition, cosmetics and personal products. Pharmaceutical engineering is extremely rewarding for many different reasons. Working in the health industry as an engineer, speeding up delivery time of drugs to patients, making medications more affordable and more widely available, and designing new drugs to target very specific parts of the human body with fewer side effects. Pharmaceutical engineering is a high-tech program with an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to post-genomic engineering. It takes a sustainable approach, minimising waste and maximising the use of by-products.

The degree is concerned with pharmaceutical process improvement. Students learn how to develop drug formulation processes at an industrial scale with high levels of efficacy and how to improve the economical delivery, manufacturing and packaging, and design of pharmaceutical products.

 

Program Structure

The first two years of the program build a scientific and engineering foundation for the more specialist pharmaceutical engineering courses which predominate in the third and fourth years. The degree is concerned with pharmaceutical process improvement. Students will learn how to develop drug formulation processes at an industrial scale with high levels of efficacy, and how to improve the economical delivery, manufacturing and packaging, and design of pharmaceutical products. Students are required to complete 12 weeks of approved work experience.

return to top

Admission Information

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions information for this program.

I am a:

Domestic applicants

Not a domestic applicant? ?

2009 CSP IB 30
SATAC Code 324451
2009 CSP TER 83.95
HESS group ? General
Annual tuition fees ?
Commonwealth-supported place: $7,567
Mid-year entry? Subject to availability
Enquiries Student Centre

Selection Criteria ?

Year 12 applicants
You must not have completed more than 4 years full time equivalent university study (96 units). You compete for a place with your Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER).
Prerequisites ?
SACE Stage 2: Mathematical Studies and TWO of Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Specialist Mathematics IB: either Mathematics (SL grade 4/HL grade 3) and TWO of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (SL grade 4/HL grade 3); or, Mathematics (HL grade 3) and ONE of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (SL grade 4/HL grade 3)
Alternative entry pathways
  • Higher Education applicants
    You must have completed at least half a year full time equivalent higher education study. A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA.
  • VET applicants
    You must have completed an AQF Diploma or above. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award.
  • Special Entry applicants
    You must be 18 years or over before February 1st of the year that you will be studying, you must not have studied more than 2 years full-time equivalent higher education in the last 2 years and you must not hold a completed higher education level award. If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is weighted such that the verbal component contributes 35% and the quantitative component contributes 65% to your overall score. Personal Competencies (PC) and Employment Experience (EE) statements may also contribute to your rank. If you submit a PC or EE statement, and one of these ranks higher than your STAT score, then the highest ranking statement will contribute 50% to your overall rank and the STAT will contribute the remaining 50%. If you do not submit a PC or EE statement, or if the statements have a lower rank than the STAT, then you will compete for a place on the basis of your STAT result only. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Scheme. See Wilto Yerlo for further information.
  • Without formal qualifications?
    You may be eligible for our special access schemes.

How to Apply ?

SATAC Code: 324451

International applicants

Not an international applicant? ?

International TER 80
IB 26
IELTS Total 6 [more info]
Annual tuition fees ? International student place: $25,000
Mid-year entry? Yes
Enquiries Student Centre

Selection Criteria ?

Prerequisites ?
Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics
Equivalent Scores
International TER 80
IB 26
IELTS
Total
Reading
Listening
Writing
6
5.5
5.5
6

How to Apply ?

International applicants applying with Australian year 12 results

Not an international applicant applying with Australian year 12 results? ?

International TER 80
Annual tuition fees ? International student place: $25,000
Mid-year entry? Yes
Enquiries Student Centre

Selection Criteria ?

Prerequisites ?
SACE Stage 2: Mathematical Studies and TWO of Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Specialist Mathematics IB: either Mathematics (SL grade 4/HL grade 3) and TWO of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (SL grade 4/HL grade 3); or, Mathematics (HL grade 3) and ONE of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (SL grade 4/HL grade 3)
return to top

Areas of Specialisation

Pharmaceutical Engineering

return to top

Study Plans

The study plans ? given are examples of pathways through this degree. For a complete description, see the program rules.

Level I

Semester 1

Semester 2

* Students who have undertaken SACE Stage 2 Specialist Maths will be required to enrol in Maths IA followed by Maths IB. Students who have not taken SACE Stage 2 Specialist maths will be required to enrol in Maths IMA followed by Maths IA and Maths IB in summer semester to complete the requirements at Level 1.

^ Students with a Subject Achievement score of at least 13 in SACE Stage 2 Chemistry or equivalent must enrol in CHEM 1100 Chemistry IA / CHEM 1200 Chemistry IB. All other students must enrol in CHEM 1101 Foundations of Chemistry IA / CHEM 1201 Foundations of Chemistry IB.
Level II

Semester 1

  • CHEM ENG 2014 Process Engineering IIA (3 units)
  • CHEM 2510 Chemistry IIA (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 2012 Principles of Pharmaceutical Engineering (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 2010 Introduction to Process Simulation (3 units)

Semester 2

  • CHEM ENG 2011 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 2018 Process Engineering IIB (3 units)
  • BIOCHEM 2501 Biochemistry II: Metabolism (3 units)
  • CHEM 2540 Medicinal & Biological Chemistry II (3 units)
Level III

Semester 1

  • CHEM ENG 3024 Professional Practice III (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 3035 Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications A (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 3034 Pharmaceutical Engineering Applications B (3 units)
  • PHARM       2100 Drugs, Chemicals & Health (3 units)

Semester 2

  • CHEM ENG 3026 Pharmaceutical Engineering Projects & Expt Design III (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 3019 Pharmaceutical Plant Design & Process Engineering (3 units)
  • CHEM         3214 Medicinal & Biological Chemistry III (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 3021 Advanced Pharmaceutical Unit Operations (3 units)
Level IV

Semester 1

  • PHARM 3009 Fundamentals of Drug Development (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG xxxx Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (Validation & Regulation) & Packaging Systems (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 4018 Industrial Economics & Management (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG xxxx Particulate Processes & Colloid Science (3 units)

Semester 2

  • CHEM ENG xxxx Pharmaceutical Plant Design Project (includes lectures on Process Safety & Management) (6 units)
  • CHEM ENG xxxx Pharmaceutical Engineering Research Project (3 units)
  • Elective (3 units)
Electives
  • LAW xxxx Intellectual Property Law (3 units)
  • MECH ENG 2019 Dynamics & Control I (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG 4008 Biochemical Engineering (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG xxxx Statistical Quality Control (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG xxxx Design of Batch Processes (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG xxxx Materials in Biomedical Applications (3 units)
  • CHEM ENG xxxx Molecular Engineering (3 units)

return to top

Career Opportunities

Pharmaceutical Engineers can work in diverse fields such as: 

  • Pharmaceutical
  • Nanotechnology
  • Biotechnology
  • Biomedical
  • Food & Food Additives
  • Nutrition
  • Cosmetics & Personal Products

Graduates will be capable of directing development, commercialisation and manufacturing of components within the pharmaceuticals industry. With a global labour shortage, graduates will command lucrative national and international career opportunities. Further graduates of this program will have the flexibility and option to practice as a Chemical Engineer.



return to top

Graduate Attributes

The objective of the undergraduate Chemical Engineering programs is to produce graduates with following attributes:

  • The ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large.
  • In-depth technical competence in at least one chemical engineering discipline.
  • Ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance.
  • Ability to function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams; with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team manager.
  • Understanding the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development.
  • Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them; and expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, and capacity to do so.
  • Ability to focus on the integration of process safety considerations with environmental concerns, waste minimisation, and control system specifications.
  • Confidence to tackle real-world problems and issues central to engineering and to work as individuals and cooperatively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
  • Enthusiasm and interest for undertaking life-long learning and the continual updating of their engineering skills.

return to top

Professional Accreditation

The program is designed to provide the necessary academic requirements for professional membership of Engineers Australia and many overseas engineering bodies.

return to top

Work Placement

Students are required to complete 12 weeks of approved work experience.

return to top

Further Information

Please direct enquiries to the Student Centre
Phone: +61 8 8303 7335 (toll free 1800 061 459)

The annual Open Day and Information Night events provide an excellent opportunity to see our campus, meet with academics, and discuss your study options.

return to top

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Last updated: Thursday, 27 Aug 2009

Program Talks

The World of Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics

Listen to the Open Day Talk

Make sure you have JavaScript enabled and get the Flash Player to see this media content.

Learn how the right choice of program can prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career. This discussion will highlight the future of engineering and computer science and the importance of mathematics in relation to relevant issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, the mining boom and information and communication technology industries.