Study Pharmacy

BPharm, 4 years (480 credits, NQF 8), then a pharmacist internship and pharmaceutical community service

Pay in South AfricaR800–850ka year · typical R830k Work abroad3.7 of 5best: Ireland, Canada AI outlookEvolvingAI changes parts of the daily work

Getting inHighcompetition for places · 4 years

R51 312 to R61 550 first-year fees 7 bursaries list Pharmacy

School subjects: Maths requiredPhysical Sciences required at some universitiesLife Sciences required at some universitiesPhysical Sciences or Life Sciences requiredMaths Literacy not accepted

Entry details and typical minimums

English at Home or First Additional Language level; NSC with Bachelor status

Typical minimums: Rhodes: rating 6 (70-79%) in Mathematics, Physical Sciences AND Life Sciences for a firm offer, 45+ Rhodes points. Wits (2027): English and Mathematics at Level 5, plus Life Sciences AND/OR Physical Sciences at Level 5. NWU (2027): Mathematics and Physical Sciences at level 5 (60-69%); Life Sciences recommended. Mathematical Literacy is not accepted.

Sources: Rhodes University BPharm admission requirements · Wits Bachelor of Pharmacy entry requirements · NWU Faculty of Health Sciences 2027 admission requirements (Bachelor of Pharmacy) · SAPC Board Notice 866 of 2025: BPharm curriculum outline (480 credits, NQF 8)

Pay

Yearly gross pay, turned into rand at the exchange rate. The dot is the typical figure. How pay is measured

USAR2.3–2.9m
CanadaR1.3–1.6m
UAER1.1–1.6m^~
IrelandR1.0–1.6m
GermanyR1.1–1.6m
UKR1.1–1.5m
New ZealandR820k–1.6m^~
AustraliaR1.0–1.3m
NetherlandsR910k–1.6m^~
South AfricaR800–850k

~ limited evidence

Working abroad 3.7 of 5

Score out of 5. Tap a country for steps and visas.

AI outlook

EvolvingAI changes parts of the daily work

Licensed and legally accountable, but dispensing and checking are already being automated; the patient-advice role is more durable.

Hands-on In-person care Licensed & accountable

How AI changes each field

Careers

Community (retail) pharmacist
Hospital pharmacist
Clinical pharmacist
Industrial or manufacturing pharmacist
Regulatory affairs pharmacist
Pharmacovigilance specialist

Where to study 3

First-year tuition, as published. My Matric Map can check your results against each of these. Tap a university for its entry requirements and dates. Compare study costs

Country by country: steps, exams, visas and pay sources

A demanding science degree with a guaranteed SA career, but the least portable of the allied health degrees: most countries make you sit hard exams or redo a postgraduate year before you may dispense.

Professional regulator: South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC)

Where it can take you

Pharmacy → Australia

Overall 4/5 · Good prospects

The old KAPS exam is gone: SA graduates now sit OPRA, then a supervised intern year and two more exams.

Recognition: 3/5 · Exams or bridging. Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
Demand: High demand

Sources: APC Knowledge Stream (OPRA) · APC skills assessment fees · Pharmacy Board of Australia: internships · Australian Core Skills Occupation List (Home Affairs)

Qualification and licensing guide

Pay, in rand at the exchange rate

Typical gross pay in each country, turned into rand at the exchange rate. Compare salaries switches between the exchange rate, buying power and after tax, and says how each works.

United States R2.3–2.9m3.0× SA

Canada R1.3–1.6m1.8× SA

United Arab Emirates R1.1–1.6m^*1.6× SA

Ireland R1.0–1.6m1.6× SA

Germany R1.1–1.6m1.6× SA

United Kingdom R1.1–1.5m1.5× SA

New Zealand R820k–1.6m^*1.4× SA

Australia R1.0–1.3m1.4× SA

Netherlands R910k–1.6m^*1.3× SA

South Africa R800–850k

South Africa · line: the South African figure · pay range · starting pay · hover or tap a bar for details · gross pay a year, low to high estimate; the bar ends at the typical figure · * weaker figure

Country	Typical gross pay	Range and starting pay	Occupation and source
South Africa	ZAR 827 100 Middle of the pay scale, as gross pay 2026	ZAR 802 500 to 851 700 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 OSD salary scales (1 Apr 2026), Appendix F · Converted to gross like the typical figure. PUBLIC, TCE package. Pharmacist Gr 1, 5 notches; Gr 2 to R1,011,516, Gr 3 to R1,104,669. Starting ZAR 416 200 During the compulsory 1-year internship (Pharmacist Intern), straight after the BPharm, 2026 · DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 OSD salary scales (1 Apr 2026), Appendix F · Intern TCE R457,836 x 0.909; private-sector intern pay not published. Then CS year R597,525 TCE = R543,100 gross.	Pharmacist Grade 1, OSD (Appendix F) DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 OSD salary scales (1 Apr 2026) · Gross pay: package midpoint R909,902 x 0.909 (less the State's GEPF contribution, 13% of the 70% basic). PUBLIC-SECTOR. Scale quoted as total-cost packages; amounts below are as quoted. Gr 1 scale R882,816-R936,987; Gr 2 to R1,011,516, Gr 3 to R1,104,669. Community service pharmacist R597,525. Private-sector cross-check: PayScale South Africa median R490,200 (crowd-sourced, low confidence).
United Kingdom	GBP 53 772 Median 2025	GBP 44 891 to 62 344 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · SOC 2251 Pharmacists, full-time, April 2025. Starting GBP 39 959 Newly registered pharmacist (after the paid foundation training year), NHS Band 6 entry, 2026 · NHS Employers: Agenda for Change pay scales from 1 April 2026 (England) · England NHS, from 1 Apr 2026. Foundation trainee year itself is Band 5 (32,073). Community pharmacy pay varies.	SOC2020 2251 Pharmacists ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · Median gross annual pay, full-time employees, April 2025. CV 3.3%.
Ireland	EUR 65 622 Middle of the pay scale 2026	EUR 50 485 to 80 758 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · HSE/Dept of Health Consolidated Salary Scales, Health Sector, effective 1 June 2026 · Pharmacist 10-point HSE scale (same as typical). Community/retail pharmacy, where most work, is not covered. Starting EUR 50 485 Newly registered pharmacist after the 5-year integrated MPharm, 2026 · HSE/Dept of Health Consolidated Salary Scales, Health Sector, effective 1 June 2026 (point 1) · HSE point 1. CSO HGO15: 2022 pharmacy graduates' median in 2023 EUR1,320/wk (~68,600), mostly community pharmacy, so private starting pay is often higher.	Pharmacist (HSE grade 3247) HSE/Dept of Health Consolidated Salary Scales, Health Sector, effective 1 June 2026 · Midpoint of 10-point scale EUR50,485-80,758, basic salary. Many Irish pharmacists work in community/retail pharmacy, which this public scale does not cover.
Netherlands	EUR 55 008 Middle of the advertised range 2026	EUR 44 908 to 76 808 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · Cao Apothekers in Dienstverband 2025-2027, salary table tweede apotheker 38h, from 1 Sep 2026 (KNMP) · Tweede apotheker 0-11 yrs: 3,742-6,401/mo (38h) x12, excl. 8% holiday + 5% year-end. Gevestigd apotheker scale runs 4,795-8,202/mo. Community pharmacy CAO only. Starting EUR 44 908 Newly registered pharmacist (after the 6-yr degree incl. master) as tweede apotheker, 0de jaars, 2026 · Cao Apothekers in Dienstverband 2025-2027, tweede apotheker 0de jaars from 1 Sep 2026 (KNMP) · 3,742.34/mo (38h) x12, excl. 8% holiday and 5% year-end (2026).	Apotheker Nationale Beroepengids (careers portal) · Midpoint of 2,577-6,591 EUR/mo x12; low end looks like trainee pay. No official figure: CBS folds apothekers into BRC 1011 Artsen (42.30/h).
Germany	EUR 64 848 Median 2025	EUR 53 316 to 76 512 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BA Entgeltatlas (Beschaeftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025, Vollzeit, all ages, Germany · KldB 81804, monthly p25-p75 x12. Employed pharmacists; owners excluded. Starting EUR 49 992 Pharmacist in 1st Berufsjahr in a community pharmacy (after degree, practical year and licence), ADA/ADEXA tariff, 2026 · ADA/ADEXA Gehaltstarifvertrag, from 1 Jan 2026 (reported by PTA in Love) · Not valid in chamber districts Nordrhein and Sachsen. Public hospital pharmacists are TVoeD E14 (Stufe 1 5,298/mo).	KldB 2010 81804 Apotheker/innen, Pharmazeuten/Pharmazeutinnen - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten BA Entgeltatlas (Beschäftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025 · Median monthly gross full-time x12. Employees in social insurance only (no self-employed/Beamte); capped at 8,050 EUR/mo. Employed pharmacists; owners excluded. n=20,260.
United States	USD 140 910 Median 2025	USD 129 380 to 161 840 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BLS OEWS May 2025 national (via BLS Public Data API) · OEWS May 2025 national annual 25th/75th percentile for SOC 29-1051; p10 $99,290, p90 $174,230; not top-coded. Starting USD 103 100 1 year after PharmD (CIP 51.20, doctoral/professional), 2022 · College Scorecard field-of-study data (Jun 2026 release), EARN_MDN_1YR · Grad-weighted median of program medians, earnings 1 yr after completion (2018-20 grads, CY2020-21, 2022 $; working & not enrolled, incl. part-time). Includes some in PGY-1 pharmacy residencies (~half pay), which pulls this down.	29-1051 Pharmacists BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national · OEWS national median annual wage, May 2025.
Canada	CAD 115 419 Median 2024	CAD 104 000 to 128 003 25th to 75th percentile, 2024 · Job Bank wage data 2025 release (LFS 2023-2024), national quartiles · Job Bank Q1/Q3 hourly C$50/C$61.54 x2080, NOC 31120, LFS 2023-24. Low/high (~p10/p90): C$83,200/C$139,360. Starting CAD 113 700 2 years after a pharmacy professional degree (PharmD/BScPharm), licensed pharmacist, 2024 · Statistics Canada Table 37-10-0284 (ELMLP, STEM/BHASE groupings), graduates two years after graduation · Median employment income 2 yrs after graduation (2022 grads, measured 2024, 2024 $); excludes full-time students, includes part-time/part-year workers. Near the typical figure because pharmacist pay is compressed (p25 C$104,000). BC hospital P1 entry: C$106,668 (HSPBA Schedule N, 2026).	31120 Pharmacists Job Bank wage data (open data), Labour Force Survey · National median hourly wage C$55.49 x 2080 h. Job Bank/LFS reference period 2023-2024, published 19 Nov 2025.
Australia	AUD 101 712 Median 2025	AUD 86 785 to 112 911 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · Health Employees' Pharmacists (State) Award 2025, NSW Industrial Gazette 21 Jan 2026, rates from 1 Jul 2026 · low confidence · NSW hospital Pharmacist Grade 1 yr 1-yr 5 ($1,668.95-$2,171.37/wk x52); Grade 2 to 128,457. Most pharmacists work in community pharmacy, often paid less. Starting AUD 86 785 Newly registered pharmacist (after the 1-year paid internship), NSW Health Grade 1 year 1, 2026 · Health Employees' Pharmacists (State) Award 2025, Grade 1 1st year ($1,668.95/wk x52) · NSW public hospitals. Intern (unregistered graduate) year: $1,576.39/wk = 81,972. GOS 2025 pharmacy median 62,600 (mostly intern year, community pharmacy).	Pharmacists (ANZSCO 2515) ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025 (customised report), via JSA Occupation Profiles · Median $1956/wk x52; FT non-managerial adult-rate employees, before tax. Covers hospital, industrial and retail pharmacists.
New Zealand	NZD 114 248 Middle of the advertised range 2026	NZD 79 014 to 155 195 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · APEX Pharmacy Collective Agreement 2026-2027 (Health NZ), rates from 5 Jan 2026 · Core step 1 to Designated top step (core scale tops at 119,300). Same scale as typical's 2024 range. Hospital pharmacists only; community pay varies. Starting NZD 84 927 Newly registered pharmacist after the 1-year intern year (step 2); intern year itself is step 1 (79,014), 2026 · APEX Pharmacy Collective Agreement 2026-2027, cl. 11.2 (rates from 5 Jan 2026) · Health NZ hospital rate. Tahatu BPharm year-1 median income is only 58k (mostly community-pharmacy interns), year 3 91k.	Pharmacist Tahatu Career Navigator (Ministry of Education / Tertiary Education Commission careers service) · Published range $77,087-$151,410, most common $95,667-$132,829. The middle of a range shared with several allied-health roles, not an observed median.
United Arab Emirates	AED 276 000 Middle of the advertised range 2026	AED 216 000 to 336 000 salary survey range, 2026 · SearchPlus HR UAE Healthcare Salary Guide 2026 (medical recruiter) · low confidence · Same row as typical: hospital clinical pharmacist 3-6 yrs, AED 18k-28k/mth base x12. No starting figure; retail pharmacists likely lower.	Clinical Pharmacist (Hospital), 3-6 years SearchPlus HR UAE Healthcare Salary Guide 2026 (medical recruiter) · Small recruiter guide, not official. AED 18,000-28,000/month base x12. Hospital clinical role; retail/community pharmacists likely earn less.

General information, not immigration or legal advice. Researched 2026-10-07.