Female student in lab
BH-ADVBSC

Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours)

Bachelor honours degree

Combine an honours degree in science with biomedical research.

This offering version is phasing out and no longer taking applications. You may be able to apply for a later version.

Course outline
  • ATAR

    ATAR

    Minimum ATAR 90
  • Qualification
    Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours)
  • Duration

    Duration

    4 years full-time
  • Credit

    Credit

    800
  • CRICOS

    CRICOS

    102739H
Course outline
Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours)

Outline

Outline

The Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Science (Honours) is a research-focused degree, designed for high-ATAR students with an interest in biomedical science research. 

In your first year, you’ll study interprofessional course units with students from other disciplines, alongside units specific to this course. 

From your second year, you’ll study your chosen major – either in Discovery Bioscience or Clinical Medical Science – and will progress your research skills in experimental design, ethics, statistical analysis, scientific writing, data management and critical interpretation.

You’ll undertake project units with strong industry and research collaborations that give you guided practical experience in biomedical research. You’ll also participate in a research roadshow in a variety of operational research settings, such as laboratories and clinical trial sites.

There are opportunities to undertake extracurricular activities to further develop your research skills.

In your final year, you’ll complete a full-year research program within the laboratory of an approved university, research institute or industry research site.

The two majors are detailed below: 

Discovery Bioscience

In Discovery Bioscience, you’ll look at ways we’re advancing our knowledge of the biological processes that underpin a person’s health, including studies in genomics, bioinformatics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics, and the application of new technologies. 

Clinical Medical Science

If you choose Clinical Medical Science, you’ll study clinical biosciences and emerging therapies, including population and personalised medicine, and clinical trials. You’ll also receive a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, immunology and regenerative medicine.

View the course on the Handbook.

What jobs can the Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) course lead to?

Careers

  • Biotechnologist
  • Graduate medicine
  • Media and science communications officer
  • Researcher

Industries

  • Biotechnology
  • Education
  • Government
  • Hospital and medical sector (medical diagnostic laboratories, reproductive technologies)

What you'll learn

  • integrate advanced skills, concepts and principles into the investigation of research questions in the biomedical sciences.
  • demonstrate autonomy, adaptability and initiative in the generation of novel evidence-based solutions in the biomedical sciences.
  • effectively disseminate research outcomes to a variety of audiences using communication technologies.
  • apply national and international research standards to biomedical problems of local and global significance.
  • demonstrate cultural competency through research practice that considers cultural diversity and a willingness to learn from, engage with, and be empathetic towards, people from diverse backgrounds.
  • demonstrate leadership and ethical practice when engaging with, and learning from, the community, research colleagues and industry.

I have a love for science, particularly chemistry and human biology, and this course enables me to increase my knowledge in these areas. There’s a good balance of theory and practical learning. The course is also not too narrowly focused, and I don’t have to decide my major until my second year.

Ruby Gilroy

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

  • Completed year 12 in Australia or overseas in the past two years, or
  • Completed TAFE or VET studies in the past two years.

ATAR pathway

  • Minimum ATAR 90

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 90

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Chemistry ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Specialist ATAR. 

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Human Biology ATAR or Biology ATAR and Physics ATAR.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

StepUp Entry

StepUp Entry

Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Alternative pathways

  • Indigenous applicant

    If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicant who hasn’t met Curtin’s minimum admissions criteria, the Centre for Aboriginal Studies offers bridging courses that are tailored to help you gain entry into this course.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    WE and either V or Q.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6

Speaking

6

Reading

6

Listening

6

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

How others gained admission

View the ATAR breakdown to see the low, median and high ATAR scores of students who started studying this course recently.

To see the other pathways students have taken, see the pathway breakdown.

Application Requirements

Other requirements and notes for this course

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

Applicants for this course should refer to Clinical Health Sciences and Police Clearances.

Students enrolling in this course as part of the Optometry stream will do so on the proviso that they are prepared to move to South Australia for four years to continue their course at Flinders.

Students enrolled within this course must maintain a CWA of >=70, otherwise they will be required to switch into the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (B-BIOMED) course (or another relevant Health Sciences course) for the remainder of their studies. 

Students must also complete a set of core units, a major course of study in Discovery Bioscience or Clinical Medical Science and a research project in the final year, to qualify for graduation.

At the end of their first year, Optometry students meeting the required standard can transfer to the Flinders program. Students who have not attained the standard can remain in the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) program or course-switch to another health science discipline as available, although they will need to either select the Clinical Medical Science Major (MJRH-CLNMS), or pick up Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology (GENE1000) as their option in Year 2.

Should there be insufficient numbers in the course who meet the standard or who wish to continue into the Flinders program, students from higher years of the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) course could apply for selection. Students considering this may choose the physics unit as their Year 2 option.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

You have left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

How we define ‘experience’
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Pathways

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    WE and either V or Q.

ATAR pathway

  • Minimum ATAR 90

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 90

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Chemistry ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Specialist ATAR. 

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Human Biology ATAR or Biology ATAR and Physics ATAR.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6

Speaking

6

Reading

6

Listening

6

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

Other requirements and notes for this course

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

Applicants for this course should refer to Clinical Health Sciences and Police Clearances.

Students enrolling in this course as part of the Optometry stream will do so on the proviso that they are prepared to move to South Australia for four years to continue their course at Flinders.

Students enrolled within this course must maintain a CWA of >=70, otherwise they will be required to switch into the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (B-BIOMED) course (or another relevant Health Sciences course) for the remainder of their studies. 

Students must also complete a set of core units, a major course of study in Discovery Bioscience or Clinical Medical Science and a research project in the final year, to qualify for graduation.

At the end of their first year, Optometry students meeting the required standard can transfer to the Flinders program. Students who have not attained the standard can remain in the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) program or course-switch to another health science discipline as available, although they will need to either select the Clinical Medical Science Major (MJRH-CLNMS), or pick up Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology (GENE1000) as their option in Year 2.

Should there be insufficient numbers in the course who meet the standard or who wish to continue into the Flinders program, students from higher years of the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) course could apply for selection. Students considering this may choose the physics unit as their Year 2 option.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Pathways

  • TAFE entry

    Applicants with relevant TAFE qualifications are encouraged to contact the School to discuss entry qualification and any Credit for Recognised Learning.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    WE and either V or Q.

ATAR pathway

  • Minimum ATAR 90

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 90

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Chemistry ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Specialist ATAR. 

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Human Biology ATAR or Biology ATAR and Physics ATAR.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6

Speaking

6

Reading

6

Listening

6

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

Other requirements and notes for this course

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

Applicants for this course should refer to Clinical Health Sciences and Police Clearances.

Students enrolling in this course as part of the Optometry stream will do so on the proviso that they are prepared to move to South Australia for four years to continue their course at Flinders.

Students enrolled within this course must maintain a CWA of >=70, otherwise they will be required to switch into the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (B-BIOMED) course (or another relevant Health Sciences course) for the remainder of their studies. 

Students must also complete a set of core units, a major course of study in Discovery Bioscience or Clinical Medical Science and a research project in the final year, to qualify for graduation.

At the end of their first year, Optometry students meeting the required standard can transfer to the Flinders program. Students who have not attained the standard can remain in the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) program or course-switch to another health science discipline as available, although they will need to either select the Clinical Medical Science Major (MJRH-CLNMS), or pick up Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology (GENE1000) as their option in Year 2.

Should there be insufficient numbers in the course who meet the standard or who wish to continue into the Flinders program, students from higher years of the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) course could apply for selection. Students considering this may choose the physics unit as their Year 2 option.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

You’re considered someone who has recently left university if:

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This may include applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It may also include applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Curtin course switcher criteria

To switch into this course, you need to have:

  1. Completed one year of a Bachelors degree
  2. A Course Weighted Average (CWA) of 80%
  3. Completed ATAR Chemistry or ATAR Mathematics Methods (or equivalent)


Prerequisite Information
The ATAR Mathematics Methods prerequisite can be met with one of the following Curtin units:
MATH1014 Foundations of Calculus 
MATH1016 Calculus 1

The ATAR Chemistry prerequisite can be met with the following Curtin unit:
CHEM1003 Introduction to Chemistry 

ATAR pathway

  • Minimum ATAR 90

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 90

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Chemistry ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Specialist ATAR. 

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Human Biology ATAR or Biology ATAR and Physics ATAR.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6

Speaking

6

Reading

6

Listening

6

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

Other requirements and notes for this course

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

Applicants for this course should refer to Clinical Health Sciences and Police Clearances.

Students enrolling in this course as part of the Optometry stream will do so on the proviso that they are prepared to move to South Australia for four years to continue their course at Flinders.

Students enrolled within this course must maintain a CWA of >=70, otherwise they will be required to switch into the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (B-BIOMED) course (or another relevant Health Sciences course) for the remainder of their studies. 

Students must also complete a set of core units, a major course of study in Discovery Bioscience or Clinical Medical Science and a research project in the final year, to qualify for graduation.

At the end of their first year, Optometry students meeting the required standard can transfer to the Flinders program. Students who have not attained the standard can remain in the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) program or course-switch to another health science discipline as available, although they will need to either select the Clinical Medical Science Major (MJRH-CLNMS), or pick up Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology (GENE1000) as their option in Year 2.

Should there be insufficient numbers in the course who meet the standard or who wish to continue into the Flinders program, students from higher years of the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) course could apply for selection. Students considering this may choose the physics unit as their Year 2 option.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

Unsure what option suits you?

We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of university admission. Choose the support you need from the options below.

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

Other requirements and notes for this course

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

Applicants for this course should refer to Clinical Health Sciences and Police Clearances.

Students enrolling in this course as part of the Optometry stream will do so on the proviso that they are prepared to move to South Australia for four years to continue their course at Flinders.

Students enrolled within this course must maintain a CWA of >=70, otherwise they will be required to switch into the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (B-BIOMED) course (or another relevant Health Sciences course) for the remainder of their studies. 

Students must also complete a set of core units, a major course of study in Discovery Bioscience or Clinical Medical Science and a research project in the final year, to qualify for graduation.

At the end of their first year, Optometry students meeting the required standard can transfer to the Flinders program. Students who have not attained the standard can remain in the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) program or course-switch to another health science discipline as available, although they will need to either select the Clinical Medical Science Major (MJRH-CLNMS), or pick up Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology (GENE1000) as their option in Year 2.

Should there be insufficient numbers in the course who meet the standard or who wish to continue into the Flinders program, students from higher years of the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC) course could apply for selection. Students considering this may choose the physics unit as their Year 2 option.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.

Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Fees and charges

Fee information is not available for this course at this time. Find estimated course fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure
  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

    The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

    While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

    View courses information disclaimer.

  • Curtin course code: BH-ADVBSC
  • CRICOS code: 102739H
  • Last updated on: 20 November 2024

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