Care with Confidence
At the heart of our PharmD program is the fundamental pursuit to empower future pharmacists to Care with Confidence. Within a supportive community, we guide students in discovering their purpose and prepare them for a profession in pharmacy with practical experience. As the one and only pharmacy co-op program in Canada, we provide a unique combination of experiential learning, classroom education and real-world experience.
PharmD
Are you interested in PharmD?
The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) application for January 2027 is closed. Applications for January 2028 will open in September 2026.
CAP (Conditional Admission to Pharmacy)
Are you interested in CAP?
CAP application for September 2026 is closed. Applications for September 2027 will open in October 2026.
Why choose Waterloo?
From day one, you're building real pharmacy experience — not just studying it. Canada's only PharmD co-op program puts you in practice settings across the country before you graduate, so you enter the profession already knowing how it works.
Small class sizes and one-on-one mentorship mean you're never just a face in the crowd, and it shows: our students consistently excel on the PEBC exams, one of the reasons Waterloo stands apart as a top pharmacy school in Canada.
How Waterloo's PharmD program works
Waterloo's PharmD combines classroom learning, paid co-op placements and experiential learning in just over 3 years — the only pharmacy co-op program in Canada.
2 years classroom learning
1 year paid co-op placement
6 months experiential learning
Where Waterloo takes you
Our PharmD co-op structure adds up to real opportunity — explore your personal pharmacy journey and unlock your career potential.
Find your pharmacy pathway
Waterloo Pharmacy welcomes PharmD applicants from all programs and backgrounds. Whether you're a Canadian post-secondary student, interested in the Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP) program, identify as an Indigenous student or are an international, college or mature student — we have a place for you.
Program schedule
Graduate in just over 3 years. Only the University of Waterloo's PharmD program offers students such a broad range of opportunities both in and out of the classroom.
Waterloo is a school like no other
Waterloo Pharmacy takes students beyond the prescription and amplifies their passion for patient-centred care. Students get to experience 18 months of work-integrated learning by graduation.
Degree requirements
The admissions committee look for applicants who demonstrate strong academic potential and qualities for an effective career in pharmacy. Read more about the requirements below.
Earn while you learn
Begin your work experience early and graduate with a strong financial foundation
Waterloo's Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is Canada's only co-op pharmacy program — a full year of paid, hands-on placements built into the degree. Students gain real-world experiential learning, build a network with potential employers before they graduate and earn enough to cover up to 60% of their tuition, with the potential to earn up to 95%.
Learn more about financial aid and tuition.
Life as a Waterloo Pharmacy Student
Waterloo Pharmacy student success stories
Our PharmD program is not just about acquiring knowledge, it's about fostering a caring and supportive learning environment, where we empower our students to reach their full potential by discovering their passion and their purpose and to excel in their careers while within the program and beyond.
Testimonials
For anyone reading this and feeling nervous about moving to a bigger city like I was, I want you to know it’s not as hard as you might think. It’s perfectly manageable and there are moments here at Waterloo Pharmacy where it truly feels like home too.
Waterloo Pharmacy graduates are different. We have the ability and confidence to hit the ground running after graduation.
I’ve been so impressed with the thought that’s been put into the curriculum and the care of you as a participant. Life happens while you’re in School, they see us as people with our own lives and are able to understand, empathize and help you.
