PharmD application process

The application for January 2027 is closed.

The next opportunity to apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program is for January 2028. The application will open in September 2026. Please review this page for all the information you need to prepare for the next application cycle.

Prepare for your PharmD journey

Use the resources below to learn more about the pharmacy profession, understand admission requirements, and begin preparing a competitive application.

Learn about becoming a pharmacist through Waterloo's guide: How to become a pharmacist.
Explore the Canadian Pharmacists Association resource: How to become a pharmacist in Canada.
Discover information and career resources through Pharmacy Is Right For Me.
Meet with an academic advisor at your institution to discuss course selection and preparation for the PharmD program.
Explore volunteer, work, or shadowing opportunities in community pharmacies and other health-care settings.
Review the PharmD required courses.
Contact us at pharmacy@uwaterloo.ca if you have questions about the admissions process or requirements.

Plan your path to PharmD

Students can typically begin preparing and submitting their application during their second year of undergraduate studies.

An application submitted in fall 2026 will be considered for admission to the PharmD program in January 2028.
Indigenous applicants may wish to consider applying through the PharmD Indigenous Admissions Pathway

Demonstrate academic readiness

A minimum 75.0% cumulative average is a mandatory requirement.
Grades achieved in every undergraduate-level post-secondary course you have taken, and all course attempts will be included in the cumulative average.
Plan to complete a full academic course load, typically a minimum of five lecture courses per term, over at least one academic year (fall and winter terms of the same year) during your undergraduate studies.
Applicants are encouraged to receive the numeric or letter grade value for all required courses and avoid opting for credit/no credit (CR/NCR) where this is permitted by their home institution.

75% minimum culmative average is needed across courses in Chemistry, Math, Humanities and Social Sciences, Biology and English

Complete your prerequisite courses

Prerequisite courses may be completed at any accredited post-secondary institution.
Use the Course Requirement Checklist (accessible PDF) to stay on track.

To be considered for admission for January 2028, all prerequisite courses must be completed by April 30, 2027.

Explore recommended courses

While they are not prerequisites, courses in Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Organic Chemistry 2, Introductory Physics, Health Humanities, Communication or Leadership courses are recommended to help prepare future PharmD students for success.

You are more than your grades The School of Pharmacy welcomes PharmD applicants from all programs and backgrounds! Our holistic and inclusive admissions process assesses applicants using a variety of academic and non-academic components.

Build a relationship with a health professional

As part of the application process, you will provide the name and contact information of a health professional who can serve as your reference.
A pharmacist is preferred, but other regulated health professionals, such as physicians or nurses, are also accepted.
References must be members of a regulated health profession.

Get involved outside the classroom

Consider participating in activities that are meaningful to you, such as community service, volunteering, leadership roles, athletics, clubs, or hobbies. These experiences can help you develop skills and perspectives that contribute to success in pharmacy while enriching your application.

Gain pharmacy and workplace experience

Work or volunteer experience in a pharmacy setting can help you learn more about the profession and explore whether pharmacy is the right fit for you. Competitive applicants often report 200 or more hours of pharmacy-related experience on their PharmD Extracurricular Experience form.
Full-time work experience can also help prepare you for the co-op components of the PharmD program.

Complete the Casper test

Take the Casper test through Acuity Insights.
Casper results are automatically transmitted to Waterloo when your correct 9-digit Waterloo Applicant Number is included in your profile.

Timeline

Deadlines will be 11:59 pm EST on the day posted if not otherwise stated.

Deadlines are non-negotiable and applicants should naturally infer that if they do not meet a deadline, their application will not be considered by the Admissions Committee (this applies to ALL deadlines posted and communicated). The deadlines and requirements specified on this page pertain to the 2026–2027 PharmD admission cycle for January 2028 entry and are subject to change on an annual basis. Please ensure you review this website and check regularly for the most up-to-date information.

Stage 1

Stage 1 is an open call to all applicants to submit a variety of academic and non-academic components. See the detailed information below so you can ensure your application is complete and sent forward for consideration by the Admissions Committee.

Stage 2

Stage 2 is reserved for a select number of candidates invited by the School to participate in a live, synchronous interview during the interview weekend.

2026
1. Sep
  1. Wed Sept 23
    
    Application opens
    
    We will contact you within 1–2 weeks of receipt of application to provide you with your 9-digit Waterloo Applicant Number and next steps
    
    Approved Casper test dates for the PharmD program:
    - Jul 19, 2026–4:00 PM EDT
    - Aug 11, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Aug 27, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Sep 10, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Sep 22, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Oct 3, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Oct 6, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Oct 8, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Oct 14, 2026–6:00 PM EDT
    - Oct 14, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Oct 15, 2026–8:00 PM EDT
    - Nov 5, 2026–8:00 PM EST
    - Nov 29, 2026–1:00 PM EST
    - Dec 1, 2026–8:00 PM EST
    - Jan 7, 2027–8:00 PM EST
    - Jan 21, 2027–8:00 PM EST
    When signing up for a test date, use the following test identifier: CSP-10211 Canada Casper 2. Casper can only be taken once per year and must be completed during the admission cycle in which you are applying.
    
    If you do not have a Waterloo ID number yet, you can start the process (e.g. use a 9-digit placeholder ID to register), but you will have to update your file with your accurate Waterloo ID number by the deadline. Ensure you have selected University of Waterloo Pharmacy for distribution before the application deadline.
    
    Applicants requiring testing accommodations to complete Casper should submit an Initial Request Form (Part 1 and 2) at least four (4) weeks prior to your scheduled Casper test date.
2027
1. Jan
  1. Wed Jan 6
    
    Application deadline 11:59 PM EST
  2. Wed Jan 20
    
    Supporting documents
    - Submitted within the Applicant Portal:
      - Declaration of Academic Experience Form
        Allows you to provide thorough documentation of your academic background.
      - PharmD Prerequisites Courses Form
        Confirms completion and progress for completing all prerequisite courses.
      - PharmD Extracurricular Experience Form
        Provides the admissions committee with insight into your personal qualities, extracurricular involvement, and motivation for pursuing a career in pharmacy.
        
        Allows you to document pharmacy-related experience. Competitive applicants typically have 200+ hours completed at the time of their application.
    - Reference (1)
      - A reference from a pharmacist is likely to offer better insights into the applicant’s fit for the profession, and is therefore preferred. Those from other health professionals likely to be familiar with the role of pharmacists (i.e. physicians and nurses) are also acceptable, if they speak to the candidate's likely success as a pharmacist. This individual is required to be a member of a regulated health profession.
    - Upload unofficial transcript(s) to the Applicant Portal
      - Official copies are not required at this stage.
      - Upload transcripts from all post-secondary schools you've attended. If you are currently in school, ensure your uploaded transcript(s) include final fall grades and winter course enrolment if you plan to enrol in winter studies.
      - High school transcripts are not required, unless you received transfer credit for IB, AP, or A-level courses. If this applies to you, upload a copy of your exam results to the high school upload section in the Applicant Portal.
      - Waterloo students (current or former) do not need to upload a UW transcript.
    - English Language Requirement (ELR) (if applicable)
    - Indigenous verification process (if applicable)
      - To be considered through the Indigenous Admissions Pathway, Indigenous verification must be completed before Stage 1 admission decisions are released.
    - Special Consideration Request (if applicable)
      - We place a strong emphasis on equitable admissions practices as the foundation of our admission process. We recognize that each applicant is unique and may have faced exceptional circumstances or challenges that have influenced their academic journey. Applicants who require accommodations should submit a request for special consideration.
  3. Thu Jan 21
    
    Last Casper test date and ID deadline
    
    Final day to add your 9-digit Waterloo Applicant Number to your Acuity Insights account and pay to distribute your test score
  4. Fri Jan 29
    
    Deadline for referee to submit confidential reference form
2. Apr
  1. Wed April 7
    
    Interview invitations and first-round refusals

2027
1. Apr
  1. Wed Apr 7
    
    Interview invitations and first-round refusals
  2. Mon Apr 12
    
    Interview offer confirmation deadline 2:00 PM EDT
  3. Fri April 16
    
    Virtual interview registration links distributed to applicable PharmD candidates by Kira Talent
  4. Fri Apr 30, Sat May 1, and Sun May 2
    
    Virtual interview weekend
    - Interview weekend dates are pre-determined and no exceptions will be made.
    - The virtual interview will be hosted live in a synchronous fashion using the Kira Talent online platform. Candidates will be interviewed by practicing pharmacists and current pharmacy students in a panel-style interview. Candidates will be given a set date/time to participate in their interview. More details will be provided closer to interview weekend to applicants who were specifically selected and confirmed their interview offer.
  5. Fri Apr 30
    
    All PharmD prerequisite courses must be completed by this deadline.
2. May
  1. Wed May 26
    
    Final updated transcript(s) deadline (which includes winter grades if applicable)
    
    Only applicants who are enrolled in winter term studies and who receive an invitation for an interview are required to upload an updated transcript to the Applicant Portal at the end of the winter term.
    - Upload your updated transcript with final winter term grades.
      - Uploads submitted will add to your application and not overwrite previous submissions.
    - High school transcripts are not required, unless you received transfer credit for IB, AP, or A-level courses. If this applies to you, upload a copy of your exam results to the high school upload section in the Applicant Portal.
    - Waterloo students (current or former) do not need to upload winter grades.
3. Jun
  1. Wed Jun 9
    
    Final admission offer decisions distributed
  2. Wed Jun 16
    
    Admission confirmation deadline 2:00 PM EDT

Using AI responsibly in your application

Your supplemental application materials are an opportunity to share your experiences, interests, and achievements with us. The responses you submit should reflect your own experiences, perspectives, and abilities.

For professional programs such as Pharmacy, authenticity is especially important. The admissions process helps us assess qualities such as integrity, judgment, communication, and professionalism, all of which are essential to success in the profession.

You are responsible for all information included in your application. While you may use AI-enabled tools to support your writing process, your responses must be authentic, accurate, and representative of you.

Applications that contain false, misleading, plagiarized, or misrepresented content may be subject to review and could result in the denial of admission or the withdrawal of an Offer of Admission.

We encourage you to use your own voice and submit work that genuinely reflects who you are.

“Your grades do not define you. Being able to apply what you learn is what matters. I’ve always been the type of person that ties my worth to my grades, it’s been so healing to learn that’s not the case at Waterloo Pharmacy.” Hannah Bauer (Rx2026)

Admissions eligibility

To be eligible for admission consideration into the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, candidates must meet the following academic requirements:

Have obtained and continue to demonstrate a minimum 75.0% cumulative post-secondary average (note: grades achieved in every undergraduate post-secondary course and all course attempts will be included in the cumulative average calculation);
Have successfully completed, (or have a plan to successfully complete by the end of the winter term of the year for which application is made) a minimum of 8.0 FCE* of university level courses;
Have successfully completed, (or have a plan to successfully complete by the end of the winter term of the year for which application is made) an acceptable course for each required prerequisite listed below.
We look for evidence that applicants are prepared for the pace and workload of the PharmD program. One way applicants can demonstrate this readiness is through successfully completing a full academic course load during most of their undergraduate studies. A full course load is generally considered to be at least five lecture courses per term. Guideline for the majority of undergraduate studies:
- 2 years of study: full course load in at least 3 terms
- 3 years of study: full course load in at least 4 terms
- 4 years of study: full course load in at least 5 terms

*FCE (Full-Course Equivalent): 1.0 FCE = two term/semester courses; 0.5 FCE = one term/semester course

The above academic requirements must be minimally met in order for complete applications to be sent forward for consideration by the admissions committee.

Monitor your application through the Waterloo Applicant Portal

Thank you for applying to the PharmD program at the University of Waterloo. We are excited that you are considering Waterloo as part of your journey toward a career in pharmacy.

The Waterloo Applicant Portal is your primary source for updates about your application, including the status of required documents and outstanding application requirements. We encourage you to check the portal regularly throughout the admissions process.

Once your application has been submitted, Waterloo's Science Admissions Office will email you within 1 to 2 weeks with your 9-digit Waterloo Applicant Number, along with important next steps and contact information.

Through the Waterloo Applicant Portal, you can monitor the receipt of:

Transcripts
References
English Language Requirements (ELR), if applicable
Other required supporting documents

Casper results are transmitted directly to Waterloo and will not appear in the Applicant Portal.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all required documents and application components have been received by the applicable deadlines.

Stay connected throughout the admissions process

Regularly review both the Application Timeline and your Waterloo Applicant Portal to ensure you are aware of deadlines and outstanding requirements.
All required documents and communications must be received by the published deadlines for your application to be considered complete.
Include your full name and 9-digit Waterloo Applicant Number in all communications with Waterloo.
Ensure your email address in the Waterloo Applicant Portal is current, as most admissions updates will be sent electronically.

Need assistance?

Contact the Registrar’s Office pharmacy admissions team in the for questions about your application, supporting documents, references, or transcripts.
Contact the School of Pharmacy admissions team for program-specific and admissions-related questions.