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Can a pharmacy graduate with 6.5 bands and 30 lakh study in Australia or Canada?

14 Aug 2026 · Answered by Gagandeep Singh · 2 min read
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Yes, you can study in Australia or Canada with a 6.5 IELTS score and a 30 lakh budget, but a clinical Master of Pharmacy needs a 7.0 score in both countries. Target non-clinical programs like Pharmaceutical Industry Practice in Australia or Post-Graduate Diplomas in Canada instead.

Gagandeep Singh
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Yes, both Australia and Canada are open to you with a 6.5 IELTS score and a 30 lakh budget, but a clinical Master of Pharmacy is out of reach until you hit 7.0. Non-clinical pharmaceutical programs accept your current score and still lead to strong career outcomes in both countries. Choose based on whether you want Australia's industry-focused masters or Canada's post-graduate diploma and work permit route.

Australia vs Canada Comparison

FactorAustraliaCanada
Visa success oddsHigh for non-clinical coursesHigh if no sub-band falls under 6.0
Budget sufficiencyCovers year 1 fully, partial support needed for year 2Nearly covers a full 2 year diploma
Work rights48 hours per fortnight20-24 hours per week off-campus
Post-study visa2 years standardUp to 3 year PGWP

Programs That Accept Your 6.5 Score

  • In Australia, look at University of Queensland's Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice or University of Melbourne's pharmaceutical science pathways, both of which accept 6.5.
  • In Canada, target Post-Graduate Diplomas in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, or Clinical Research at colleges like Algonquin or Seneca Polytechnic.
  • Check every individual IELTS sub-band before applying to Canada, since a score below 6.0 in any single section raises your visa refusal risk even with a 6.5 overall.
  • Budget for AUD 29,710 in living expense proof for Australia or roughly CAD 20,635 for Canada, both of which your 30 lakh budget covers comfortably.

My Advice

Share your individual IELTS sub-scores with your counsellor before you apply to Canada, since that single detail decides whether your visa sails through or gets flagged. If you eventually want to practice as a registered pharmacist rather than work in industry, start planning now to retake IELTS for a 7.0 alongside your non-clinical program.

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