Step into advanced pharmacy practice with programmes designed for working professionals who want to grow, specialise and make a meaningful impact in health.
Why study postgraduate Pharmacy?
Postgraduate Pharmacy at Otago is designed for pharmacists who want to expand their clinical scope, deepen their scientific expertise or take on leadership roles in health with confidence. You will deepen your understanding of medicines, explore how to optimise therapy and strengthen your ability to improve patient wellbeing.
Whether you want to advance your clinical practice, become a prescriber, influence medicines policy or explore pharmaceutical research, there is a programme that fits your goals. You will learn to ask sharper questions, work alongside other health professionals and contribute to discoveries that improve health in New Zealand and beyond.
Career opportunities
With a postgraduate pharmacy qualification from Otago, you can expand your scope and step into advanced or specialised roles. Graduates go on to work as:
- Clinical pharmacists in hospital or community settings
- Pharmacist prescriber or advanced practitioner
- Pharmaceutical scientists or research associates
- Policy, regulatory or medicines safety advisers
- Educators or lecturers within pharmacy training and academia
What it’s like to study at this level
As a postgraduate student, you balance advanced coursework with applied learning. You may complete research, a dissertation or a thesis, depending on your programme. Many of Otago’s clinical and distance options allow you to keep working while you study.
You will learn from academic staff who are active researchers and experienced pharmacists. You will collaborate with peers, refine your clinical and research skills and explore the challenges shaping modern pharmacy practice.
This is for you if ...
You will benefit most from postgraduate pharmacy study if you are a registered pharmacist or have a strong grounding in medicines, patient care and scientific reasoning. These programmes suit people who are curious, motivated and ready to balance work with advanced learning and leadership development.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Pharmacy as an undergraduate at Otago.
Advance your pharmacy career with Otago
Here you learn from world-leading researchers and experienced clinicians within a postgraduate community that supports your growth. Our online and flexible programmes are designed for working pharmacists who want to advance without stepping away from practice.
You’ll benefit from modern facilities, strong mentorship and teaching shaped by active research. You’ll be part of a school that not only teaches pharmacy but also helps shape its future.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmacy (PGCertPharm)
A coursework programme, aimed at practising pharmacists wishing to extend their skills and knowledge, that can be completed in two years
Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing (PGCertPharmPres)
A coursework programme, aimed at pharmacists already involved in patient care, that can be completed in two years by distance study
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (PGDipClinPharm)
A distance-taught, coursework programme for registered pharmacists that can be completed with full-time (one-year) or part-time study (maximum four years)
Master of Clinical Pharmacy (MClinPharm)
A primarily distance-taught, advanced degree for working registered pharmacists, requiring a significant supervised research project, culminating in a thesis.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Engage in original research leading to a doctoral thesis, supported by comprehensive academic and social networks
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
PHCY papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHCY210 | 2026 | Introduction to Pharmacy | 12 points | Semester 1 |
| PHCY211 | 2026 | Fundamental Pharmaceutical Science | 48 points | Semester 1 |
| PHCY220 | 2026 | Integrated Modules A | 60 points | Semester 2 |
| PHCY310 | 2026 | Integrated Modules B | 60 points | Semester 1 |
| PHCY320 | 2026 | Integrated Modules C | 60 points | Semester 2 |
| PHCY410 | 2026 | Elective Studies A | 15 points | Full Year |
| PHCY420 | 2026 | Pharmacy Practice Leadership and Management | 15 points | Full Year |
| PHCY430 | 2026 | Elective Studies B | 15 points | Full Year |
| PHCY431 | 2026 | Structured Practical Experiential Programme | 20 points | Full Year |
| PHCY432 | 2026 | Applied Pharmacotherapy and Patient Care | 55 points | Full Year |
| PHCY480 | 2026 | Honours Research Project | 36 points | 1st Non standard period (10 November 2025 - 7 November 2026) |
| PHCY485 | 2026 | Applied Pharmacotherapy and Patient Care for Honours | 58 points | Full Year |
| PHCY510 | 2026 | Evidence-Based Practice | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2027 |
| PHCY511 | 2026 | Patient-Centred Care | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2027 |
| PHCY520 | 2026 | Applied patient-centred care | 30 points | Semester 1 (16 February 2026 - 17 June 2026) |
| PHCY521 | 2026 | Elective topics in patient-centred care | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| PHCY590 | 2026 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (1 March 2026 - 31 August 2026), 1st Non standard period (1 February 2026 - 31 July 2026), 2nd Non standard period (1 April 2026 - 30 September 2026), 2nd Non standard period (1 March 2026 - 31 August |
| PHCY621 | 2026 | Pharmacy Prescribing: Access and Equity | 30 points | Semester 1 (16 February 2026 - 17 June 2026), Semester 2 |
| PHCY622 | 2026 | Pharmacist Prescribing | 30 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
Contacts
School of Pharmacy
Tel +64 3 479 7271
Email pharmacy@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/pharmacy
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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