General 

Why U of T?

A Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy opens the door to diverse and rewarding health-focused careers. Consistently ranked as the top Faculty of Pharmacy in Canada, we offer a vibrant community of world-leading professionals and researchers, and endless opportunities for personal academic growth.  

Why choose pharmacy?

As trusted healthcare professionals, pharmacists occupy a special place in the community and in the broader healthcare system. Today, pharmacists apply their skills in a variety of work environments including community practice, hospital, education and the pharmaceutical industry. A degree in pharmacy gives you the opportunity to build a rewarding and diverse career based on your individual interests. 

What is the difference between a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and PhD?

The PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) is a second-entry undergraduate professional program. ‘Second-entry’ means it requires some university study for admission, whereas PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) programs are graduate research-intensive programs which typically require at least 6 years of university level study, including a 4 year BSc and a 2 year MSc program, for entry. Graduate degree programs (MSc and PhD) will not qualify you for licensure as a pharmacist – they are not professional designations. It is the ‘PharmD’ designation you will need to become licensed as a pharmacist in Canada. It is not necessary to complete a degree program to meet the academic admission requirements for our PharmD program – applicants are able to meet the academic admission requirements within only 2 years of university level study.  Once admitted to our PharmD program it will take 4 years to complete the program.

Is the PharmD program accredited?

In June 2020, the Doctor of Pharmacy program of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto has been awarded Accreditation status by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs for a six-year term ending June 30, 2026. The CCAPP was established to assess the quality of pharmacy professional degree programs in Canadian universities and to promote continued improvement in such programs. Each university seeking accreditation status for its Faculty of Pharmacy is required to demonstrate that it meets the standards established by the Council.

Application Process & Program Costs

How do I apply? 

Applicants must apply using the online application which is accessible directly from the Pharmacy website.  Please note that this application is not accessible through the Ontario Universities Applications Centre’s (OUAC) system. The online application is available starting in mid-September of each year, for the following September’s admission, and closes in early January.  For admission in September 2024 the application deadline is January 5, 2024.

When can I apply?

It normally takes 2 years of university level study to meet the academic requirements.  You would first become eligible to apply in the year in which you will be completing your 8th FCE (full-credit equivalent) and in which you will also be completing the minimum number of FCEs in each specified subject area as outlined in the Academic Requirements section. The subject requirements were updated as of the 2021 admission cycle and are broader and less content specific than in earlier admission cycle,  facilitating their completion within two years of study.

What is the tuition cost?

There are 3 levels of tuition fees.  For students who entered Year 1 of the PharmD program in September 2023 (i.e. for the 2023-2024 academic year) the tuition fee for domestic Ontario residents is $18,060.00 CDN. The tuition for domestic non-Ontario students is $19,530.00 CDN.  The tuition for international students is $49,480.00 CDN. In addition, there is a non-academic incidental/ancillary fee that is payable once per session and will be approximately $1,400.00 CDN.

If you are accepted into the program, additional fees for items like registration, lab equipment and required texts will apply. Please refer to the question 'What are the additional PharmD program fees?' below for more information.

How many new students are admitted each year?

Approximately 240 students are admitted to the PharmD program each year. Since many more candidates apply to the program than can be admitted, we are not able to offer admission to all qualified candidates. The number of applications can fluctuate from year-to- year, but is expected to be anywhere from 700 to over 1000.

I have completed a university degree. Does this make it easier to gain admission to the PharmD program? 

No. All applicants who meet admission requirements will be placed in the same applicant pool. Those who have completed one or more degrees will have no advantage over someone who has completed the minimum requirements for admission.

Is preference given to University of Toronto students?

No preference is given to University of Toronto students, or students from any other university.

Will I get special consideration as a “mature” student?

No. There is no special consideration  given for “mature” students. Note that all subject requirements must be completed at the undergraduate level within 10 years of the year for which you are applying.  If you completed the required subjects over 10 years ago, upgrading will be required at the undergraduate level.

I am not an Ontario resident. Can I still apply to the PharmD program?

Yes. All qualified applicants – from Ontario, from other provinces, from outside Canada – may apply for admission to the PharmD program.  There is no limit, within our class of approximately 240, for qualified non-Ontario residents including international students.  Applicants whose first language is not English may be required to provide proof of English facility.

Note: All international students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program must obtain a Study Permit and Co-op work permit.  The co-op work permit is required to allow participation in experiential rotations.  For more information on the process to apply for a Study Permit and Co-op Work Permit, including any relevant fees, please visit the Centre for International Experience (CIE) website at: https://internationalexperience.utoronto.ca/international-student-services/immigration/working-in-canada/co- op-work-permit/   

Do I need to submit letters of reference or other non-academic materials?

Reference letters and other materials (e.g. award letters, personal profiles, work experience records, etc.) are not required and not considered in our selection process. Please do not send these items in support of your application.

What are the additional PharmD program fees?

There are additional fees associated with course or program requirements that students will be required to pay.  Example of these fees are as follows:

  • If you are an international student you must obtain a Study Permit and Co-op work permit.   For more information on the process to apply, including any relevant fees, please visit the Centre for International Experience (CIE) website at: https://internationalexperience.utoronto.ca/international-student-services/immigration/working-in-canada/co- op-work-permit/   
  • Immunization: there may be costs associated with obtaining required immunizations (per your health care provider).
  • CPR/First Aid certification: this fee varies depending on the organization; however, you can expect to pay approximately $100 plus applicable taxes.  Students must be certified in CPR/First Aid throughout their registration in the PharmD program which means that there will be an additional fee for re-certification. You will submit your Immunization and CPR/First Aid certification to the Verified by Synergy Gateway platform. You can expect to pay a document verification fee of approximately $49.50 per year while registered in the PharmD program
  • Registration as a pharmacy student with the Ontario College of Pharmacists: this fee is currently (as of April 2023) $557.11 (taxes included).
  • Personal Professional Liability Insurance: this fee varies depending on the supplier; however, you can expect to pay up to $100 per year.
  • Students must be fitted for N-95 masks prior to beginning their Early Practice Experience 2 (EPE-2) rotation. In 2022, the fee is approximately $43.
  • Some experiential sites require students to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening/Police Record Check. The fee for this varies depending on the city in which the Vulnerable Sector Screening/Police Record Check is conducted and can cost up to $65.
  • There is a refundable fee of $20 to obtain a building access fob.  This fob provides access to designated student areas in the Leslie L. Dan Building.
  • Lockers (with locks) are available for use in the Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy building for a fee of $25.  This fee allows students use of the assigned locker throughout their registration in the PharmD program.
  • In Year 2 students must pay for safety glasses for PHM241H1. Cost is approximately $9. Students may also be required to purchase a spatula at a cost of $3. 
  • Fees for course materials may be added to the fees invoice you will be able to access on ACORN July each year.

Academic Requirements

How long does it take to meet all academic requirements for admission? 

You may readily meet the academic requirements within two years of university level study. You may apply during your second year of study, assuming you will be successfully completing at least your 8th full-credit equivalent, and will be (or have  already) competed all required subject areas, by the end of your second year.  All courses are to be completed by the end of the winter term (i.e. by April) of the year for which you apply.  For details visit the Academic Requirements section of our website. 

What average must I have to gain admission?

There is no average which can guarantee admission as decisions are based on overall performance.  The minimum published requirement for initial consideration is 70% (equivalent to a ‘B-’ at the University of Toronto). However, for selection for the online individual Assessment or final selections, the minimum required average may be higher depending on the applicant pool.  70% is used as a ‘screen out’  meaning that no applicant below 70% may be considered but it does not mean that everyone above 70% will automatically be considered.  The actual minimum threshold average may fluctuate above 70% from year-to-year depending on the applicant pool. In recent years, the median average of those offered admission has been in the A- (80-84%) range.

How do you determine the cumulative university average?

The cumulative university average includes all university courses taken by applicants, including graduate and undergraduate courses, any repeated courses or failures as well as any courses listed as ‘extra’ on transcripts. The cumulative university average will also include summer courses – except for summer courses taken in the same year that the applicant is applying.

The Faculty will convert letter grades to percentage values for the purpose of calculating a cumulative average.

In cases where a student has opted for a CR/NCR, where a letter or percentage grade would normally be reported, the actual percentage or letter grade that is reported in the student record system will be calculated into the cumulative average.  This is effective for courses beginning September 2015 or later, but will exclude courses taken in the Winter 2020 session

The cumulative university average does not include any secondary school grades, nor does it include grades obtained in various other systems of study for which university transfer credit is often awarded (e.g.  IB, AP, GCE, and CEGEP studies).  However, some credits obtained in these systems of study may be used for purposes of satisfying individual subject areas. Please refer to ’Information for those who have studied outside Ontario (Non-Ontario and International)’ ­­­­­­­ for details.

The cumulative average will normally also include the grades for internationally obtained university credits (from recognized institutions), taking into account the differences in various worldwide grading practices.  The general grading system in the country in which the qualifications were obtained as well as the scale used at the post-secondary institution(s) attended are considered. 

Is there a minimum course load that I must take to be eligible for admission consideration?

While there is no required minimum course load per year, it is recommended that you have experience with at least one year of successful study at a course load of 5.0 FCEs (full-credit equivalents)  - i.e. at least 5 half-courses per term over two consecutive terms (September to April).  This experience managing a full course load will facilitate your preparation for the course load in the PharmD program, which includes up to 6.5 full-credit equivalents per year.    Note, however, that we do require a minimum of 8.0 FCEs in total as explained in the related question below.    

What is an ‘FCE‘ and how can I determine if I have the minimum required number of FCEs ? 

An FCE refers to ‘full-credit equivalent’.  Typically, 1.0 FCE is two terms/semesters and 0.5 FCE is one term/semester.  We require at minimum of 8.0 FCEs in total (or 16 half-credit courses in total) .  Therefore, if you have 4 half-credit courses per term over two years of study you will meet the minimum required 8.0 FCE requirement and your maximum course load would be 4.0 FCEs.  Different universities use different course weighting systems as explained below.  You can use this information to calculate your total number of FCEs and your course load per year. 

We do not currently have a minimum course load requirement (course load = the number of courses taken within two consecutive terms of any one academic year), although we recommend that you have at least one year with 5.0 FCEs as explained in the question above.  The number of FCEs you take over two consecutive terms of the  academic year determines the course load (e.g. courses taken September to April count in course load, while courses taken in the summer sessions (either before or after), would not count in the course load.  The  number of FCEs is the total of all FCES  from all years including any summer courses from previous years. 

If labs that complement courses are reported separately on your transcript, they are not included in the calculation of course load (or the FCE requirements), but are included in the calculation of the cumulative average. For example, a student taking 10 half-credit (0.5) courses in the regular academic year, in addition to any required labs (at 0.25) , would have a course load of 5.0 full-credit equivalents (the 0.25 lab credits are not calculated into the FCE total but are calculated into the average). 

All courses are considered as full-credit (1.0) equivalents or half-credit (0.5) equivalents. For example, at some universities employing a 6.0 and 3.0 weighting system, there may also be courses at a weight of 4.0.  For the purpose of determining course load (or FCE equivalents) in such systems, a 4.0 credit course would be a half credit (0.5) equivalent. 

The following table illustrates some common weight conversions:

Credit System Example Full-Credit (1.0) Equivalent at U of T Half-Credit (0.5) Equivalent at U of T
9.0, 6.0, 3.0 4.0 York University 9.0, 6.0 3.0, 4.0
3.0 and 1.5 University of Victoria 3.0 1.5
2.0 and 1.0 Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson) 2.0 1.0
3, 4, and 5 United States universities on semester system N/A 3, 4, and 5
How can I find out if the courses offered at my university meet the subject requirements for admission?

The academic subject requirements were updated as of the 2021 admission cycle and are fewer and less specific than in the pre-2021 admission years. Note that you need only 1st and 2nd year courses, although upper year courses, covering a broad range of subject material, are also acceptable.  There are some important restrictions you must make note of as explained in the Academic Requirements section.  We also provide a table with examples of acceptable course codes at all Ontario universities  (and some non-Ontario) universities. This provides examples of course that are typically included as part of most Life and Physical science degree programs.

If you have studied at an institution outside of Ontario, or in various other systems of study (e.g. AP/IB/GCE/CEGEP etc)  please view the ‘Information for those who have studied outside Ontario (Non-Ontario and International)’ for general information.

Also, please note that although we are happy to provide needed guidance, due to time and resource limitations, the Faculty cannot conduct formal reviews of academic qualifications until after an official application has been submitted. Applicants are required to carefully compare the courses completed with the published information to determine, to the best of their ability, whether or not the subjects align. 

To help you organize your information, you may download the PharmD Application Handbook and use the worksheet provided. If you require guidance, after reviewing the information, you may contact the PharmD Admissions Office directly with specific questions by sending an e-mail message to adm.phm@utoronto.ca. Please use subject line ‘Academic Eligibility Inquiry’.

How are the required subjects used in the selection process?

We do not calculate a separate average on the required subject areas alone – they are included in your cumulative average calculation.  The minimum requirement for each individual required subject area is a passing grade. The result of all attempts – if more than one for each course - will be calculated into your cumulative average

How will repeated or failed courses, affect my application? 

The grades from all attempts at individual courses, including failures and repeats, are included in the calculation of the cumulative university average.

Are there any other courses, in addition to those listed as requirements, to help me prepare for the PharmD program?

Courses such as Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Statistics, and Human Physiology, would provide a useful background for undertaking our PharmD curriculum and we encourage you to include such courses within your pre-Pharmacy studies.  However, those who have completed more than the minimum published requirements will have no advantage in the selection process.

How will ‘Credit/No Credit’ designations affect my application? 

If you choose to have your final course result reported as a Pass/Fail or CR/NCR, where a letter or percentage grade is normally reported, the following will apply:

For all courses beginning September 2015 and later (excluding Winter 2020):

If you are a University of Toronto student and you elect to have final course result(s) reported as a CR/NCR Credit/No Credit), where a letter or percentage grade is normally reported, the Faculty will assign the percentage grade(s) available in the student record system. These grades will be included in the calculation of the cumulative average. This applies to all courses.

Students from other universities who elect to have their final course result(s) reported as a CR/NCR (or Pass/Fail), where a letter or percentage grade is normally reported, will be required to request that their home university release the grade(s) to our office. Where grades can be reported to us by the issuing university, these grades will be included in the calculation of the cumulative average.  Where grades cannot be reported, the CR will be interpreted as the lowest passing grade, although not formally calculated into the average.  NCR will be counted as a fail. This applies to all courses.

For all courses completed prior to September 2015:

For students from all universities who elected to have a final course result(s) reported as CR/NCR (Credit/No Credit) where a letter or percentage grade would normally have been reported, no grades will be formally calculated into the average. However, the CR will be interpreted as the lowest passing grade and NCR will be counted as a fail.

Will summer courses be considered for admission purposes?  

Summer courses are considered to be of the same difficulty and rigour as courses taken during the fall/winter. However, grades reported to us after the final transcript deadline do not qualify to meet subject requirements and cannot be included as part of the cumulative university average calculation.  Therefore, due to the timing of the release of summer course grades, only those taken at least one year in advance of the application year can be considered (e.g. summer courses completed in 2023 will qualify for 2024 admission consideration).

May I complete academic subject requirements through online studies?

Yes, we do accept online credit provided it is through a recognized university providing degree-credit courses. Please note:

  • Courses must be degree credit courses offered at a recognized university –for example, U of Waterloo, Queen’s University and Athabasca U are well-known Canadian online degree-credit course providers.
  • MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses) such as those offered through FutureLean, EdEx and Coursera are not recognized.
  • Courses offered through the School of Continuing Studies at U of Toronto (SCS), which offers non-degree, non-credit courses, are not recognized. 
  • The ‘Challenge for Credit’ option offered by some online course providers (e.g. Athabasca University), is not acceptable.  You must complete all course components.
Can I apply directly to an upper year if I have completed one or more degree programs?

No. All applicants are considered for admission into Year 1 including those who have already completed one or more degree programs.

Will any of my previously completed university credits be considered as transfer credits? 

Due to the specialized nature of the PharmD program, there are few equivalent courses offered in other programs. For details of transfer credit assessment and eligibility please click here. All applicants should note, however, that it will normally take four years of study to complete our PharmD program regardless of whether any transfer credits are awarded.

Does it matter how long ago I completed the academic requirements?

Courses taken more than 10 years ago, from the year for which application is made,  are not  acceptable in fulfillment of the required subjects. Prospective applicants who have completed any of the required subject areas more than 10 years ago are advised that upgrading is necessary.  All required subjects must be completed at the undergraduate level within 10 years of the year for which application is made to qualify for admission consideration. That is, a minimum of 1.5 FCEs in Chemistry, 1.0 FCE in Biology, 1.0 FCE in Math (including at least 0.5 FCE in Calculus), plus 1.0 FCE in Humanities/Social Science must be completed by taking appropriate courses at the undergraduate level. For the 2024 admission cycle, this means that all subject areas must be satisfied with courses successfully completed in Fall 2014 or later.  However, full disclosure of all post-secondary studies must still be made on the application and studies from all post-secondary institutions will be considered part of the academic record.

Previous Education in Pharmacy

Can I transfer from another Pharmacy program? 

Candidates from other Pharmacy programs may apply, although there are no direct ‘transfers’ to our PharmD program due to differences among the sequencing of courses and differences in course material or assessment methods. Candidates from other Pharmacy programs do not have any advantage in the selection process and, if admitted, should expect it will take 4 years to complete the program.

If offered admission, candidates who have successfully completed one or more years of a recognized Pharmacy program may be considered for course exemption on a case-by-case basis. This may result in a slightly reduced course load in the year(s) in which exemption is/are granted.  This assessment would take place only after admission is granted.   

The maximum number of allowable course exemptions for any candidate is 9.0 full-credit equivalents; however, all students must maintain full-time status in each year of study which may result in the need to forfeit one or more exemptions.

Candidates with previous registration in a Pharmacy program must have been in good standing during the most recent session/year of the Pharmacy program to be eligible for admission consideration.

There are no exemptions from the experiential components of our program.  For details visit the Course Exemptions section of our website. 

I have a Pharmacy degree from outside of Canada. Do I need to take the PharmD program?

Candidates who have graduated from a non-Canadian Pharmacy program who wish to become licensed in Canada must follow the procedures as set out by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).  If your credentials are recognized, you will be allowed to write the relevant Board Exams (Evaluating and/or Qualifying Exam). There is no need to complete another entry-to-practice Pharmacy degree unless your degree was not recognized by PEBC, or you were unsuccessful in the PEBC Evaluating Exams within the maximum allowable number of attempts.  For information on the PEBC certification process, please visit the PEBC website at www.pebc.ca

If your credentials are recognized by PEBC, and you have been successful on the PEBC Evaluating Exam, you may be interested in our International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) Program. The IPG Program is a unique  bridging program designed to assist pharmacists trained in countries outside Canada to meet Canadian entry-to-practice standards

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Degree (BScPhm/BPharm) - should I apply for the PharmD program?

Candidates who have completed a recognized Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BScPhm) degree, or equivalent, and who have successfully passed the PEBC Evaluating Exam (where relevant), may be interested in our PharmD for Pharmacists program.

The PharmD for Pharmacists program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is a bridging program designed to bridge the gap between a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy education (from Canada or elsewhere) and an entry-to-practice PharmD program.

Practicing pharmacists, graduates of the Faculty’s Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy program, graduates of other Canadian BScPhm programs, as well as internationally trained pharmacists are eligible to apply for admission to the PharmD for Pharmacists program. 

I have completed a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Assistant Program. Can I transfer to the PharmD program?

Pharmacy Technician and Pharmacy Assistant programs do not directly meet the academic requirements for admission or transfer credit purposes to our PharmD program. Graduates of these programs must supplement their studies by completing academic requirements at the university level. Candidates with at least a 2-year program, and who have already been admitted to and assessed for transfer credit at a university, should contact our admissions Office (adm.phm@utoronto.ca) for details.

Other Requirements

Must I write the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test)?

No – PCAT is no longer an admission requirement.

Are there other requirements such as interviews, references, personal statements, or work experience?

The CasperTest (test code 'CSP-10201 Canadian Health Professionals'), is an online situational-judgement test, required of all applicants.  The Casper test includes 'Snapshot' and 'Duet'; however, only the Casper component is required to meet our admissions requirements.  The Casper is offered several times each year.  You must choose ONE of the test dates occurring between July 2023 and January 10, 2024 for admission in September 2024.  The test will take approximately 90 to 110 minutes to complete.   Only one test attempt is allowed for each academic year and the same test result is used by (sent to) all schools using the same version of the Casper test.  The last valid test date for admission in September 2024, for the PharmD program at the University of Toronto, will occur January 10, 2024.  Please refer to the Casper test section of our website for further detail.   You must also view https://acuityinsights.app for full details of registration and test format.

Applicants who meet minimum thresholds in the  Casper test and in the academic requirements, will be required to complete an online Individual Assessment (formerly referred to as online ‘Admissions Interview’)  using a video-enabled  platform. The online Individual Assessment will take place on Thursday, March 28, 2024 (in a specified 3 hour time block which will be announced to eligible applicants early in March).  No alternative dates or times will be offered.   The online Individual Assessment will consist of video questions and responses, as well as multiple-choice format questions and will be used for further non-academic attribute assessment. Approximately 600 candidates will be invited to proceed to this online Assessment. Please refer to the ‘Online Individual Assessment’ section of our website for details. 

Other criteria, such as extra-curricular activities, personal statements, references, or work experience records are not part of the criteria used in our admissions process.

Selection Process

When and how will I be notified of the decision on my application? 

All candidates who submit the online application by the deadline will have access to the Applicant website that will contain important information, notices, and communications about admission to the program.  Select applicants (meeting minimum academic and Casper thresholds) will be required to complete the online Individual Assessment which is scheduled for Thursday, March 28, 2024.  Eligibility notices will be released early in March along with  further information.  Final admission decisions, for admission in September 2024,  will be posted on the Applicant website by mid-June after the final transcript deadline.

What criteria are used to determine who is admitted to the program?

Applicants will be assessed on their academic performance, performance on the Casper Test and (for those who meet initial academic and Casper thresholds) performance on the online Individual Assessment. Those who do not meet minimum standards in one or more of the criteria will not be considered in final selections.

The published minimum average is 70% (equivalent to a ‘B-’ at the University of Toronto); however, depending on the applicant pool, the minimum for  eligibility for the online Individual Assessment, or in final selections, may be higher as explained under the ‘Academic Requirements’ section.

The published criteria does not preclude consideration of other possible factors related to academic performance and/or student conduct.