Master of Science in Pharmacy (MScPhm)

The next cohort of MScPhm students (full-time and part-time) will enter the program in September 2023.

Be Pharmacy's Future

The Master of Science in Pharmacy (MScPhm) is an advanced professional practice program for experienced pharmacists that builds on entry to practice degree programs.

The MScPhm program educates and trains pharmacists with high potential for leadership and a passion for becoming clinical pharmacy academics and leaders.

The program provides an opportunity for students to gain advanced clinical therapeutic knowledge and practice experience in a defined area, in addition to research, education and leadership skills.

Educational Programs for Practicing Pharmacists

Practicing pharmacists have several options for education at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.  This chart provides a brief summary of these options.  Please contact each program for more information.

Admission Requirements

The MScPhm program follows the same application process as our other graduate programs with the exception that an interview (in person or via video-chat) is required. Please visit the application process section for additional details, required documents, and deadlines.

Applicants to the MScPhm program must have:

• One of the following:
  • License to practice pharmacy (any Canadian jurisdiction) or a

  • Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy or PharmD degree or equivalent from an accredited (CCAPP) Canadian Pharmacy program or an accredited (ACPE) American Pharmacy Program or a

  • Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy or PharmD degree or equivalent from any International Pharmacy School and successful completion of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Evaluating Exam.
• Pharmacy practice experience. Completion of a Year 1 Pharmacy Residency program is preferred.
• The equivalent of a University of Toronto B+ (77-79%) in each of the last two years of study.
• A clinical area of focus and a potential primary supervisor within the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy (see Clinical Areas of Focus and Program Supervision). Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to potential supervisors before submitting their application.

Application Process

Clinical Areas of Focus and Program Supervision 

Potential areas of clinical focus and primary supervisors:

• Care of Older Adults - Lisa McCarthy
• Addiction and Mental Health - Beth Sproule
• Adult Cardiology - Heather Kertland
• Adult Nephrology - Marisa Battistella
• Adult Oncology - Carlo DeAngelis
• Paediatric Oncology - Lee Dupuis
• Paediatric Critical Care - Winnie Seto
• Teaching/Pedagogy – Naomi Steenhof

Application Deadline

September 2023 start: Program availability will be filled with a deadline of March 31, 2023. 

Please contact us directly about application requests beyond this date.

Program Tuition

Full-time students:

• $12,400 for domestic students
• $54,310 for international students

Part-time students:

• Dependent on length of time in program. At minimum, tuition will be equivalent to that of a full-time student.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of the new MScPhm degree?

We know that the education of Canadian pharmacists is evolving rapidly and, until recently, pharmacists in Canada entered the profession after completing a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy program (BScPhm). Today, the entry-to-practice degree is the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) with all Canadian pharmacy programs expected to complete the transition to this new degree by 2020.

At the same time, all post-PharmD programs in Canada have been either closed or replaced with bridging programs to allow practicing pharmacists with a baccalaureate degree to transition to a PharmD.  This transition has left a gap in our pharmacy education system as there is no longer a dedicated program for practicing pharmacists who are looking for the next challenge in their careers.

The goal of the new MScPhm degree is to fill that gap.  It will help prepare pharmacists who are eager to advance their skills by building upon their entry-to-practice degree programs and experience  with a view to becoming professional leaders, teachers and advanced practice clinicians. 

How is it different from current MSc programs in pharmacy?

The MScPhm program has been developed as an advanced professional practice program with a research-informed, scientific focus as the foundation of all components. Whereas, the current thesis based MSc program is more research intensive, the new MScPhm program brings together research training, graduate-level coursework, and advanced clinical learning.

The program is also designed to offer a deep dive into a chosen area of clinical practice. For example, MScPhm students can choose to focus on pediatrics, mental health, nephrology, or oncology, in alignment with the expertise of their graduate faculty supervisor.

What can students expect to learn?

Students in the MScPhm can expect to graduate from the program with an understanding of pharmacy practice principles and content knowledge that underpin the practice of an advanced medication therapy expert in a defined area of clinical practice. As valued members of patient care teams and as pharmacy practice researchers and educators, graduates will be prepared to influence the provision of pharmaceutical care at the patient and population level.

What is the time commitment?

The MScPhm program is offered as a full-time, 24 month professional graduate program, or part-time, 48 month professional graduate program. The curriculum is comprised of three components with approximately 8 months dedicated to each: coursework, a clinical practicum, and a research project. Each student will have a primary supervisor and will be supported by an advisory committee.

A key feature of this program is flexibility and the scheduling of program activities will be tailored to meet the needs of each student as much as possible. For example, a student could be enrolled in courses while starting the clinical practicum if that presents the best opportunity for the student. 

The new MScPhm is an advanced professional practice program for experienced pharmacists.

What are possible career paths following the completion of the degree?

We anticipate that graduates will go on to hold leadership roles in health care and academic settings. The program will enable graduates to advance pharmacy practice as leaders within their health care teams or organization, to influence best practices and policies in their clinical area of expertise, and to shape the development of future pharmacists through academic faculty positions.

Who should apply?

In terms of qualifications, we are looking for practicing pharmacists with a strong academic background and who hold a professional pharmacy degree from an accredited institution. Beyond that, we are looking for pharmacists with demonstrated leadership experience or potential, and a well-defined clinical area of interest. Applicants should be genuinely interested in and excited by the opportunity to help drive practice changes, improve clinical care, and shape the next generation of pharmacists.