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Contents

Quick Facts

Programme Tabs

Overview

Programme Overview

Graduates of the postgraduate diploma will be able to:

  • Ensure the safe, effective and economic use of medicines for both individual patients and patient groups
  • Design, implement and optimise pharmaceutical care plans for individual patients in a broad range of therapeutic areas
  • Manage the pharmaceutical care of patients with complex clinical needs
  • Develop specialised knowledge of medicines use in areas of clinical interest, including advanced medicines management

This programme has been designed to allow students living anywhere in New Zealand to enrol, as most of the material will be presented online (supplemented by face-to-face weekend workshops for some courses).

Programme Structure

120-point programme

Up to four years part-time

Most students will start with the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (PGCertClinPharm) and enrol in 60 points per year (30 points or one course per semester)

Courses completed as part of the PGCertClinPharm can be credited toward the PGDipClinPharm:

  • Completion of Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (60 points)
  • Advanced taught course topics that cover applied and advanced pharmacotherapy and innovative pharmacy services (60 points)

Programme Careers

Potential Careers

Pharmacists who complete this programme will have greater experience in the preparation and implementation of pharmaceutical care and medicines management plans for a wide range of therapeutic areas, and for patients with more complex clinical needs. They will have a degree of specialisation to facilitate the progress to advanced clinical roles. We advise that the University of Auckland is not involved in the employment of graduates and can make no guarantee of post-qualification registration or employment in New Zealand or any other country.

Student career planning services

Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services.

We advise that the University of Auckland is not involved in the employment of graduates and can make no guarantee of post-qualification registration or employment in New Zealand or any other country.

Key Information for Students

Key Information for Students

Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.

Entry Requirements, Fees and Dates

Programme Entry Requirements

You must have completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Pharmacy from this University, or have equivalent prior study, hold current registration as a pharmacist in New Zealand.

In order to be admitted to the specialisation in Prescribing you must hold an appropriate position involving patient care, and have access to a designated medical prescriber, as approved by the programme director.

Further Programme Entry Requirements

International applicants must also be currently registered as a pharmacist with the New Zealand Pharmacy Council, and domestic applicants must either be enrolled in the New Zealand pharmacist pre-registration programme or currently registered as a pharmacist with the New Zealand Pharmacy Council.

English language requirements

If you are an international applicant whose first language is not English you will need to provide evidence of your English proficiency.

You will require an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with no bands less than 6.0. See alternative English language requirements.

Postgraduate Requirements

You'll also need to meet other requirements, including time limits and total points limits. See Postgraduate enrolment.

Other Pathways to Study

If you do not meet the above entry requirements, but have other relevant experience and think you would be successful in postgraduate study, please contact us to discuss alternative pathways into our programmes. 

Fees and scholarships

Fees

Fees Disclaimer

Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment into courses. For more information, please see Fees and Money Matters.

*Please note: amounts shown are indicative and estimates only.

Scholarships

Scholarships and awards

Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for.

Loans and Allowances

Student loans and allowances

Are you a New Zealand citizen or resident? You could be eligible for a student loan or allowance.

Cost of Living

Cost of living

Get an idea of how much accommodation and general living in Auckland will cost.

Advice on Programme Limits

This is a limited entry programme: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Key Dates

Application Advice

Please note: we will consider late applications if places are still available. International students should start the application process as early as possible to allow sufficient time to apply for a visa.

Key Dates

SemesterApplication Closing DateSemester Start DateSemester End Date
2026 Semester One08 December 202502 March 202629 June 2026
2027 Semester One01 March 2027

Other Important Dates

See important dates for the academic year, including orientation, enrolment, study breaks, exams, and graduation.

Regulations

Preamble

The regulations for this postgraduate diploma are to be read in conjunction with all other relevant statutes and regulations including the Academic Statutes and Regulations.

Admission

1 In order to be admitted to this postgraduate diploma, an applicant must have:

a completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Pharmacy from this University, or have equivalent prior study

and

b hold current registration as a pharmacist in New Zealand.

2 Equivalence in Regulation 1 will be determined by the University. Equivalence pertains to the standard as well as nature and level of study.

3 In order to be admitted to the Specialisation in Prescribing, an applicant must:

a hold an appropriate position involving patient care approved by the Programme Director

and

b have access to a designated medical prescriber who is acceptable to the Programme Director.

4 A student who has completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy in one specialisation may, with the permission of the Associate Dean Academic, enrol for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy in another specialisation.

5 An applicant who has completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy or its equivalent may, on the recommendation of the Programme Director and with the approval of Associate Dean Academic, credit to this postgraduate diploma the courses passed for the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy.

Note: This is a limited entry programme as per the Limitation of Entry Statute 1991 and selection criteria apply. Selection criteria are available from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

Duration and Total Points Value

6 A student enrolled for this postgraduate diploma must:

a pass courses with a total value of 120 points

and

b complete within the time limit specified in the General Regulations – Postgraduate Diplomas.

7 The total enrolment for this postgraduate diploma must not exceed 160 points.

Structure and Content

8 Of the 120 points required for this postgraduate diploma, a student must pass 120 points in courses listed in the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Schedule or the specialisation listed in the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Schedule.

9 A student must complete the University of Auckland Academic Integrity course as specified in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations, Academic Integrity, of the University Calendar.

Practical Professional and Practicum Requirements

10 A student enrolled for this postgraduate diploma must carry out satisfactorily such practice activities as the Programme Director may require.

Distinction

11 This postgraduate diploma may be awarded with Distinction or Merit as specified in the General Regulations – Postgraduate Diplomas.

Variations

12 In exceptional circumstances the Programme Director may approve a variation to a student’s programme of study in accordance with the Enrolment and Programme Regulations.

Regulation Commencement or Amendment

13 These regulations and/or schedule have been amended with effect from 1 January 2025.

Schedule

Programme Schedules

Complete 120 points comprising:

  • 120 points for one Specialisation from Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Schedule, and
  • 1 item from Academic Integrity Course

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Schedule

Complete one Specialisation from the following:

Academic Integrity Course

Complete exactly 1 of the following:

Graduate Profile and Programme Capabilities

Graduate Profile

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Programme Capabilities

#Programme Capability

Programme Capabilities to Graduate Profile Map