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Bachelor of Biomedical Science/Bachelor of Science

Course Abbreviation Campus Duration Prerequisites 2008 ENTER Intake
BBiomedSc/BSc Clayton On-campus 4 years full-time, part-time available VCE units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 35 in ESL English and 30 in English (any), Chemistry and in one of Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics or Physics, or Australian or international equivalent 93.75 February and July
  • Premier double degree program for high-achieving students with an interest in both biomedical and “basic” sciences
  • As both science and biomedical science graduates are highly employable the combination of the two degrees will increase the career prospects of graduates
  • Graduates will be well prepared for employment in the health care and medical related industries as well as areas requiring basic science knowledge and skills
  • Provides the opportunity to combine studies in the core units for the Bachelor of Biomedical Science component with up to two major sequences in related areas of science in the Bachelor of Science component
  • Graduates will acquire basic knowledge of the biomedical sciences in a range of important multidisciplinary areas
  • Biomedical core units provide students with the skills necessary to understand and investigate the functions of humans and other mammals and include aspects of the traditional biomedical sciences
  • Offers the opportunity to study areas within the traditional science area that are relevant to medical research and healthcare
  • Graduates will have an advanced understanding of at least one basic area of science that underpins or compliments biomedical sciences
  • Develops competence in information technology, data handling, laboratory skills, communication skills, critical thinking and analysis, and team work
  • Graduates will have a sound understanding of how science works, how scientific knowledge is created and the social relevance of science, and thus will have become aware of the complex interactions between science, ethics, society and the economy
  • Provides the opportunity to proceed to further vocational training, honours or higher-degree by research studies in biomedical and basic science areas of study

Biomedical science core units

The core units of the Bachelor of Biomedical Science component of the double degree are as follows.

Biochemistry of human function
Biomedical basis of disease 2
Biomedical chemistry
Biomedical sciences and society
Body systems
Cells, tissues and organisms
Human genetics
Human neurobiology
Introduction to bioinformatics
Medical biophysics
Microbes in health and disease
Molecular biology
Molecular medicine and biotechnology
Structure of the human body

Science areas of study and sequences

Science major or minor sequences are offered at the Clayton campus for the Bachelor of Biomedical Science/Bachelor of Science in the following areas of study.

Biological and Life sciences Biomedical sciences Mathematical and computational sciences Physical sciences
Biological sciences Biochemistry Mathematics Chemistry
Biotechnology Human pathology Statistics Physics
Development biology Immunology Materials science
Ecology Microbiology
Environmental and conservation biology Molecular biology
Genetics Pharmacology
Marine and freshwater biology Physiology
Plant sciences  
Zoology  

Course structure

Over four years of the degree students complete:

  • A total of thirty-two units
  • Four units each semester or eight units per year
  • Sixteen units from science
  • Sixteen units from biomedical science
  • One science core unit
  • One major science area of study in chemistry, biological sciences, genetics, physics, mathematics or statistics
  • One minor science area of study
  • The major and minor must be taken from different science areas of study
  • At least three science electives
  • Fourteen biomedical science core units
  • At least two biomedical science electives
  • Students may be eligible to graduate with either a BBiomedSc or a BSc after three years, depending on the units studied

Sample course 1

Science major: Physics           

Science minor: Mathematics           

Biomedical studies

Level Semester 1 Semester 2
Level 1
  • Physics
  • Analysis of change
  • Biomedical chemistry
  • Cells, tissues and organisms
  • Physics
  • Techniques for modelling
  • Molecular biology
  • Biomedical sciences and society
Level 2
  • Physics: quantum concepts and technologies
  • Linear algebra with applications
  • Biochemistry of human function
  • Structure of the human body
  • Physics for communications and measurement
  • Multivariable calculus
  • Human neurobiology
  • Human genetics
Level 3
  • Foundations of contemporary physics
  • The practice and
    application of statistics
  • Body systems
  • Biomedical science elective
  • Fundamentals of solid-state physics
  • Fundamental particle physics
  • Microbes in health and disease
  • Introduction to bioinformatics
Level 4
  • Theoretical physics 1
  • Mathematics elective
  • Molecular medicine and biotechnology
  • Biomedical science elective
  • Theoretical physics 2
  • Mathematics elective
  • Biomedical basis of disease 2
  • Biomedical science elective

Please note: This is an example only - unit and semester offerings may vary

Sample course 2

Science majors: Chemistry and pharmacology

Biomedical studies

Level Semester 1 Semester 2
Level 1
  • Biology 1
  • Chemistry 1
  • Biomedical chemistry
  • Elective
  • Biology 2
  • Chemistry 2
  • Molecular biology
  • Biomedical sciences and society

Level 2

  • Molecular design and reactivity
  • The practice and
    application of statistics
  • Biochemistry of human function
  • Medical biophysics
  • Instrumental and forensic chemistry
  • Drugs and society
  • PHA 2022
  • Human neurobiology
  • Human genetics

Level 3

  • Spectroscopy, synchrotron and structure
  • Principles of drug action
  • Structure of the human body
  • Body systems
  • Synthesis 2: understanding chemical reactions
  • Neuro and endochrine pharmacolgy
  • Microbes in health and disease
  • Introduction to bioinformatics

Level 4

  • Synthesis 2: chemistry of bioactive compounds
  • Drugs in health and disease
  • Molecular medicine and biotechnology
  • Biomedical science elective
  • Analytical and forensic chemistry
  • Modern drug development
  • Biomedical basis of disease 2
  • Biomedical science elective

Please note: This is an example only - unit and semester offerings may vary

Sample course 3

Science major: Chemistry

Science minor: Zoology

Biomedical studies
Level Semester 1 Semester 2

Level 1

  • Biology 1
  • Chemistry 1
  • Biomedical chemistry
  • Elective
  • Biology 2
  • Chemistry 2
  • Molecular biology
  • Biomedical sciences and society

Level 2

  • Molecular design and reactivity
  • Animal diversity
  • Biochemistry of human function
  • Medical biophysics
  • Instrumental and forensic chemistry
  • The practice and
    application of statistics
  • Human neurobiology
  • Human genetics

Level 3

  • Spectroscopy, synchrotron and structure
  • Biology elective
  • Body systems
  • Structure of the human body
  • Synthesis 2: understanding chemical reactions
  • Animal structure and function
  • Microbes in health and disease
  • Introduction to bioinformatics

Level 4

  • Synthesis 2: chemistry of bioactive compounds
  • Biology elevtive
  • Molecular medicine and biotechnology
  • BMS elective
  • Analytical and forensic chemistry
  • Biology elective
  • Biomedical basis of disease 2
  • BMS elective

Please note: This is an example only - unit and semester offerings may vary

Contact time

Contact time at the university for a BBiomedSc/BSc is approximately 25 hours per week depending on disciplines studied. Typically, students attend two to three lectures per week per unit of study as well as laboratory classes, tutorials and workshops. Some units also involve field trips.

More information

Please note: awaiting government CRICOS endorsement as of the 6 October 2005. International student visas cannot be issued without a CRICOS code. Please check on the status of the course before making an application.