Admission Pathways
Your Pathway to Pharmacy
Everyone’s education journey is unique. That’s why we offer multiple paths into our PharmD program. Explore the options below to determine how to start your career in pharmacy.
Admission Pathways
Regular Admission
As the name implies, regular admission is the main pathway into our PharmD program.
To be considered for admission, all regular admissions applicants must meet all PharmD admissions requirements.  All prerequisite coursework must be taken at regionally accredited institutions. If you have questions about courses meeting our prerequisites, please email pharmd@uic.edu.
Regular International Applicants
International applicants apply to the PharmD Program through PharmCAS (see Regular Admission tab).
Additional Requirements for international applicants:
- International applicants must provide a copy of a WES (foreign coursework evaluation) course-by-course report to the Office of Student Affairs (submit to PharmD@uic.edu) prior to applying to determine if GPAs and prerequisites have been met. Â When applying, a WES report must be provided to PharmCAS so that it’s part of the PharmCAS application.
- Valid English proficiency test scores must be submitted if required, based on the country or territory in which an applicant previously studied. Â See the International Requirements for Graduate and Professional Students.
International Affiliate Programs
The UIC College of Pharmacy is held in high regard internationally for professional pharmacy education and has developed strong affiliate partnerships with international institutions.
Prospective PharmD degree students who have successfully graduated from or worked at one of the following international institutions affiliated with the UIC College of Pharmacy’s are eligible to be considered for admission into the UICÂ PharmD program if they meet the requirements below.
- Attended or worked at an international institution affiliated with the UIC College of Pharmacy
- Bezmialem Vakif University
- China Medical University
- China Pharmaceutical University
- Chinese Pharmaceutical Association
- Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences
- Hong Kong Hospital Authority
- JSS University
- Kaohsiung Medical University
- King Saud University
- Kuwait University
- Macao Polytechnic Institute
- Meiji Pharmaceutical University
- National Taiwan University
- National University of Singapore
- Saudi Arabia National Guard Health Affairs
- Singapore General Hospital
- Southern Medical University
- Taipei Medical University
- University of Hong Kong
- University of Malta
- University of San Carlos
- University of Santos Tomas
- University of Technology Sydney
- US-Thai Pharmacy Consortium
- Yonsei University
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) on the U.S. grading scale of 3.5 or higher at the time of application and prior to admission. Â A lower GPA will be considered with pharmacy-related experience (example: Â 3 years of work experience as a pharmacist).
- Submit an admissions application through PharmCAS.
- Provide a copy of a WES (foreign coursework evaluation) course-by-course report to the Office of Student Affairs (submit to PharmD@uic.edu) prior to applying to determine if GPAs and prerequisites have been met. Â When applying, a WES report will also need to be provided to PharmCAS so that it’s part of the PharmCAS application.
- Meet English proficiency requirements as indicated on the International Requirements for Graduate and Professional Students website.
- Complete a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy or equivalent prior to admission.
- Complete an admissions interview with the Admissions Committee.
Learn more about International Affiliate Programs
For more information about the UIC College of Pharmacy’s international affiliate partnerships, please contact PharmD@uic.edu.
Transfer Admission
We will consider transfer admission for students that began their pharmacy education at another ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy. However, students will need to meet certain criteria and make curricular adjustments.
To be considered for transfer admission to the UIC College of Pharmacy, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- submit an application to the UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy through PharmCAS as a new P1 student and satisfy all prerequisite coursework and admissions requirements applicable to regular applicants. Additional information is available on the Admissions Requirements page.
- provide a letter from the dean or the dean’s designee of the ACPE‑accredited pharmacy school previously attended confirming that the applicant:
- is in good academic and professional standing, and
- is eligible to return to that program.
Applicants who do not meet both of these conditions will not be considered for admission.
Given the competitive nature of pharmacy school admissions, all applicants are reviewed in the same holistic manner regardless of whether or not they are transfer applicants. Â Therefore, there is no guarantee of admission for transfer applicants.
If admitted, a transfer students may petition to have coursework taken at pharmacy schools reviewed for possible waivers of P1 courses in the UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy PharmD curriculum. Â However, all admitted transfer students will start in the P1 year. Â No advanced standing will be granted.
UIC Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions (GPPA)
The Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions, or GPPA, program is designed to reward UIC undergraduates with a place in a UIC professional program. The program guarantees a number of UIC undergraduate students a seat in the PharmD degree program provided they maintains certain criteria during their undergraduate studies at UIC. The candidates must also successfully fulfill all our admissions and interview criteria.
Undergraduate students admitted to GPPA program must maintain their Conditions of Acceptance requirements that will prepare them for their professional school experience in the College of Pharmacy.
Affiliate Programs with Illinois Universities and Colleges
Our Affiliate Program partners include:
- City Colleges of Chicago (CCC)
- Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
- Heartland Community College (HCC)
- Illinois State University (ISU)
- Northern Illinois University (NIU)
- Rockford University (RU)
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
- Western Illinois University (WIU)
To learn more about our GPPA or Affiliate Programs, please Connect with Us.