MUN School of Pharmacy -- Frequently Asked Questions
1. What pre-requisite courses do I need for admission?
2. How do I know if a course taken at another university/college is equivalent to the pre-requisite
courses at MUN?
3. Is there a minimum grade requirement for the pre-admission courses?
4. Which courses can I do before getting into the Pharmacy Program that can be used later for
credit if I do get admitted to the program?
5. Can I take pre-admission courses in the spring/summer semester and be considered for
admission in September that same year?
6. How is my application affected if I’ve repeated a course?
7. Do I have to take a full course load (i.e. five courses per semester) during the pre-Pharmacy
year(s) to be considered for admission?
8. How many years does it take to complete the Pharmacy Program?
9. How many people apply to the program and how many are accepted?
10. Is it true the Pharmacy Program will be expanded to accommodate 60 students per year?
11. How and when do I apply for admission to the Pharmacy program?
12. What happens after I submit my application for admission?
13. What determines whether or not I get an interview?
14. How is the Academic Score calculated?
15. How can I prepare for the interview?
16. How important is the interview in getting admitted to the program?
17. What is an Admission Score and how is it calculated?
18. When will I hear if I have been admitted to the School of Pharmacy?
19. Is there a wait list and if so how many are actually moved off the list and offered admission?
20. If I’m not admitted to the program after an interview will I be able to find out my Admission
Score and/or how I performed on the interview?
21. What should I do if I don’t get an offer of admission, but I’m interested in re-applying?
22. Do I hurt my chances of being admitted to the program if I apply several times?
23. What happens after I am offered admission and I accept the offer?
24. Is the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) used for admission purposes?
25. Are applicants who have completed more than the one year of university study given
preference?
26. Can I apply directly to an upper year if I have already completed several years of university or
have completed one or more degrees?
27. Are applicants who complete the pre-admission requirements at Memorial University given
preference over those who attend another post-secondary institution?
28. What will you accept as an “unofficial transcript”?
29. My academic performance in first year of university was poor but it improved in upper years.
Will the upper year with advanced level courses be weighted differently?
30. What is the definition of a Newfoundland and Labrador Resident? The following criteria will
be used to determine resident status. Individuals will be deemed residents of Newfoundland
and Labrador.
MUN School of Pharmacy -- Frequently Asked Questions
1. What pre-requisite courses do I need for admission?
You must have completed the following courses at MUN, St. John’s campus (or received transfer credit
for equivalent courses completed at another institution):
 Biology 1001 and 1002
 Chemistry 1050 and 1051, or equivalent
 English 6.0 credits at the 1000 level
 Mathematics 1000 and 1001
 Physics 1020 or 1050, and Physics 1021 or 1051
The following courses completed at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College campus, MUN are also acceptable for
admission:
 Biology 1001 and 1002
 Chemistry 1200 and 1001, or equivalent
 English 6.0 credits at the 1000 level
 Mathematics 1000 and 1001
 Physics 1020 or 1050, and Physics 1021 or 1051
2. How do I know if a course taken at another university/college is equivalent to the pre-requisite
courses at MUN?
For students who have completed courses outside of Memorial and would like information about
potential transfer credits, please contact the Registrar's Office at this link. You must provide the
following information:
• Name of the post-secondary institution
• Course name(s)
• Course number(s)
• Course title(s)
If the information is available in the Registrar's database, it will be made available to you. If not, your
application will proceed through the normal channels at which time courses will be assessed for transfer
credit.
3. Is there a minimum grade requirement for the pre-admission courses?
A passing grade (i.e. 50%) is required for all pre-admission courses but applicants should recognize that
it is important to have a strong background in in these courses to be successful.
4. Which courses can I do before getting into the Pharmacy Program that can be used later for
credit if I do get admitted to the program?
Courses that can be completed before being admitted to the program that would be eligible for credit
once in the program include: Biochemistry 2101 (=Pharmacy 2004), Biochemistry 3106 (=Pharmacy
3111), Psychology 1000 and 1001, Chemistry 2440 and two 3.0 credit hour elective courses. If these
courses are completed prior to getting into the program, students will carry a lighter course load. It is
not possible for students to reduce the total number of years of study. Students who have credit for
courses which are in the Pharmacy program should also be aware that they may want to take additional
MUN School of Pharmacy -- Frequently Asked Questions
elective courses (which do not count towards the degree) if they want to qualify for student loans,
bursaries or scholarships.
5. Can I take pre-admission courses in the spring/summer semester and be considered for
admission in September that same year?
Unfortunately not. Spring and summer session final grades are issued too late to be considered for
September admission of the same year. Applicants must complete the required pre-admissions courses
by the end of the winter semester (April) prior to September admission.
6. How is my application affected if I’ve repeated a course?
For repeated courses, the highest grade achieved will be used in calculating the academic score. The
Admissions Committee will, however, give consideration to the student’s ability to handle an
academically challenging program. This may include consideration of such factors as the course load
taken throughout university, and the number and frequency of repeat course attempts.
7. Do I have to take a full course load (i.e. five courses per semester) during the pre-Pharmacy
year(s) to be considered for admission?
The Pharmacy programme is academically challenging; therefore successful candidates must
demonstrate their ability to handle an academically challenging program by taking five courses per
semester in a least two semesters. Given the competitive nature for admission, the Admissions
Committee may consider such factors as the course load taken throughout university, and the number
and frequency of repeat course attempts in making their recommendations for admission.
8. How many years does it take to complete the B.Sc. Pharmacy Program?
The program takes a minimum five years to complete – one year of pre-requisite courses before being
admitted and four years once in the pharmacy program.
9. How many people apply to the program and how many are accepted?
We receive approximately 260 applications each year and 40 applicants are offered a seat for admission.
10. How and when do I apply for admission to the Pharmacy program?
Once you have completed the pre-requisite courses required for admission you can apply. You do not
have to take all the courses in one academic year, nor do you have to take all the courses in the year
immediately prior to the year in which you would like to be admitted. However, courses must be
completed by the end of a winter semester preceding September admission. We will not wait for final
grades from courses taken in the spring session or summer semester for admission in September of that
same year. The application deadline is February 1 for admission in September of that same year. Late
applications will not be accepted.
If you have never attended Memorial University or if you have been away from MUN for two or more
consecutive semesters, you must also complete a General MUN Undergraduate Application for
Admission/Re-admission. This is available on the university’s web site at
http://www.mun.ca/regoff/admission/UGAdmApp.pdf.
11. What happens after I submit my application for admission?
For current MUN students, all correspondence will be through the MUN email account. For applicants
MUN School of Pharmacy -- Frequently Asked Questions
not current MUN students, correspondence will be through the email account provided on the
application form.
You will receive an acknowledgement from the School that your application has been received. By May
1st you must provide the School with your unofficial transcript/course marks for all winter semester
courses. In mid to late May, you will be advised whether or not you have advanced to the interview
stage based on your Academic Score. Applicants not offered an interview will be notified usually by the
end of May or early June. Offers of admission are generally made by mid-June. Applicants not offered
admission are usually notified by early-July.
12. What determines whether or not I get an interview?
The Academic Score is used to determine whether or not you advance to the interview stage. However,
both academic and non-academic factors are considered in making the final decision regarding
admission, therefore it is important for applicants to perform as well as possible on both.
Typically, the minimum Academic Score needed for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador has ranged
from approximately 74% - 75%. For applicants other than Newfoundland and Labradorians, the
minimum has been higher, generally between 80% - 82%. These ranges vary with each admission cycle
since the applicant pool varies from year to year. Due to the academically challenging nature of the
Pharmacy program, students with an Academic Score of less than 70% will not be granted an interview
or be admitted to the program.
13. How is the Academic Score calculated?
The academic score is the average of your:
1. Pre-requisite average and
2. Cumulative average.
For those with more than one year of post-secondary schooling (university or college), the cumulative
average used is as of the end of the fall semester in the year prior to applying. For those with only one
year of post-secondary schooling the cumulative average will be as of the end of the winter semester in
the year in which admission is sought.
14. How can I prepare for the interview?
An excellent start would be to investigate the profession of Pharmacy. Although it is not a specific
admission requirement, if you have direct related work or volunteer experience you may be better
prepared for your interview. If you cannot gain direct experience, you could explore other options (such
as speaking with pharmacists in different practices, reading about the profession, etc.). Although there is
no “magic” formula, you want to present yourself as a mature, responsible individual who is not only
motivated toward a career in Pharmacy, but who displays attributes important to being a successful
professional.
The type of interview we use is called a Behavioural Interview. Questions generally involve asking you to
reflect on an experience and explain what you did in a particular situation. To prepare for this type of
interview, it is helpful to think about situations you have encountered in the past so you have some
experiences to draw upon to respond to the interviewer’s questions. With behavioural type questions,
there is no right or wrong answer to a question. Rather it gives you a chance to talk about yourself and
some of the things you have done. The interview consists of both oral and written components.
MUN School of Pharmacy -- Frequently Asked Questions
MUN's Centre for Career Development on the 4th floor in the University Centre will assist students with
this type of interview. Go to http://www.mun.ca/cdel/career/
15. How important is the interview in getting admitted to the program?
Each oral and written answer in the interview is weighted and scored. An applicant’s interview score is
35% of the overall Admission Score.
16. What is an Admission Score and how is it calculated?
The Admission Score is used to rank applicants and determines the list of 40 applicants to be offered
admission. It is calculated as follows:
The Academic Score represents 65% of the Admission Score
The Interview Score represents 35% of the Admission Score
The Admission Score for all applicants is calculated based on the above breakdown and then ranked
from highest to lowest. The top 40 are offered a seat in the program with a minimum of 75% of the
seats going to applicants that are residents from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
17. When will I hear if I have been admitted to the School of Pharmacy?
The Admission Scores of applicants who are interviewed are calculated as soon as all data are received
and processed. Once applicants are ranked, the Admissions committee meets to make
recommendations on who should be offered a seat. Usually, applicants are notified by mid to late June.
Individuals have ten days from the date of the offer to respond to the offer of admission.
A small number of students will be placed on a wait list and will be informed of their status by late June.
If an applicant declines the offer of admission, the next person on the wait list is contacted. Generally,
the admission process is complete by mid-August. Once the 40 seats are filled, all remaining applicants
on the wait lists will be notified.
18. Is there a wait list and if so how many are actually moved off the list and offered admission?
Yes, a waitlist is created. The number of individuals on the wait lists who are actually offered admission
varies each year.
19. If I’m not admitted to the program after an interview will I be able to find out my Admission
Score and/or how I performed on the interview?
Results of the interview and Admission Scores are not released. However, if you would like some general
feedback on your interview performance contact Csop Glew at cglew@mun.ca to set up an in-person or
phone appointment.
20. What should I do if I don’t get an offer of admission, but I’m interested in re-applying?
Since the number of applicants far exceeds the number of available spaces, the School recommends that
prospective applicants take a program of study which will not only meet the requirements for entry to
Pharmacy, but will make them eligible for entry to an alternative program. It is not necessarily helpful to
take courses that are included in the Pharmacy program, unless these courses also can be applied to
another program of study. If you wish to continue your studies at the university and strive to improve
MUN School of Pharmacy -- Frequently Asked Questions
your academic average, you would be well advised to take courses in which you can do well. You should
also think about developing or improving your overall skills and to investigate the Pharmacy profession.
No preference is given to applicants who have completed several years of study nor to those who may
have already completed a degree(s). Each year you are competing and are ranked relative to the
performance of the others
21. Do I hurt my chances of being admitted to the program if I apply several times?
No, you can apply as many times as you wish. If you are not accepted one year, it does not mean that
you won’t be accepted in another year. Each year you are competing with new applicants and are
ranked relative to the performance of the others.
22. What happens after I am offered admission and I accept the offer?
When we send you an offer of admission, we will also send an acknowledgment form, which must be
signed and returned with a cheque or money order in the amount of $500 which serves as a deposit to
confirm your acceptance. This deposit fee is non-refundable but will be credited towards tuition fees.
The acknowledgement form and deposit must be returned within 10 days of the date of the offer. If it is
not received - the offer of admission will be withdrawn.
Once you have accepted admission to Pharmacy you will receive a package of information to help you
get ready for admission in September.
23. Is the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) used for admission purposes?
No, we do not consider PCAT scores in our admission decisions.
24. Are applicants who have completed more than the one year of university study given
preference?
No, preference is not given to applicants who have completed more than the one year of university
study. Many applicants have completed several years of university or have already completed one or
more degree(s) but they are not given any special preference.
25. Can I apply directly to an upper year if I have already completed several years of university or
have completed one or more degrees?
No, all applicants will be considered for the first year of the program. Applicants offered admission will
be assessed for transfer credits upon admission. However, even with the maximum allowable number of
course exemptions the total length of the program remains the same. Students who receive transfer
credit for courses in the program will have a reduced course load in the years in which exemptions are
granted. Since the program includes a number of courses (for which equivalent courses are not offered
elsewhere) and the previous year of the program always serves as a pre-requisite year, it is not possible
for successful applicants to be eligible for direct entry to an upper year of study.
26. Are applicants who complete the pre-admission requirements at Memorial University given
preference over those who attend another post-secondary institution?
MUN School of Pharmacy -- Frequently Asked Questions
No, as long as you have completed courses that are equivalent to those at Memorial University you will
be eligible for admission. Please note that a number of seats are reserved for bona fide residents of the
province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
27. What will you accept as an “unofficial transcript”?
We recognize that many universities do not formally release winter semester grades until after May 1st;
however we require all winter semester grades to be received by the School of Pharmacy by May 1st in
order to complete processing of your application and make decisions regarding those selected for
interviews. Therefore, we will accept an email or fax from either the student or the course
coordinators/instructors indicating your final course marks for winter semester courses. These emails
should be sent to hbugler@mun.ca or faxed to (709) 777-7044 by May 1.
Please note that students are still required to submit an official copy of their winter semester marks to
the School of Pharmacy no later than June 1st. All unofficial marks will be checked against official
transcripts before offers of admission are made.
Students who complete their winter semester studies at MUN do not need to submit their winter
semester marks as these will automatically be added to your file as they become available.
28. Can I apply directly to an upper year if I am transferring from another Faculty of Pharmacy?
No, all applicants will be considered for entry to the first year of the program and will be assessed for
transfer credit upon admission. It is not possible for students from other schools of Pharmacy to be
admitted directly to an upper year of study largely due to differences in program structure and
requirements.
29. My academic performance in first year of university was poor but it improved in upper years.
Will the upper year with advanced level courses be weighted differently?
No, all will be given the same weighting. Applicants who perform poorly in one or more years of their
university studies must put forth an extra effort in subsequent years to raise their cumulative average.
This may take two or three years to accomplish depending on your current average. For example, if you
obtained an average of 60% in first year, you must obtain 80% in second year to achieve a cumulative
average of 70%. However, this is generally unrealistic. It is more realistic to expect to complete at least
two or more years to raise the cumulative average, if your first year average was low.
30. What is the definition of a Newfoundland and Labrador Resident? Individuals will be deemed
residents of Newfoundland and Labrador if they:
• Are currently residing or have a permanent address in the province and attended school for five years
during primary to high school inclusive, or
• Are currently working full-time in the province for one year, or
MUN School of Pharmacy -- Frequently Asked Questions
• Have been attending a post-secondary educational institution in the province for three years
continuously, as of September 1 of the year in which admission is being sought, of
•Are currently residing and have a permanent address in the province for one year because of family
relocation, or
•Are currently residing and have a permanent address in the province for one year because of obtaining
Landed Immigrant status.
**Applicants who are living or have lived in Newfoundland or Labrador and do not meet these criteria
will be reviewed on an individual basis. All applicants are expected to claim the same place of residency
on all applications to Faculties/Schools of Pharmacy.