If COVID-19 restrictions apply, we may need to make changes to units and/or delivery modes.
Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours)
Bachelor Honours Degree
BH-ADVBSC
Outline
Combine an honours degree in science with biomedical research.
If COVID-19 restrictions apply, we may need to make changes to units and/or delivery modes.
Ruby Gilroy
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.
Work experience
Undertake practical learning opportunities in laboratories and clinical trial sites, to gain a competitive edge in your industry.
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Access to leadership programs, specialist facilities and industry placements give you a competitive edge in the job market.
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.
Why study
- This is a research-focused bachelor degree.
- You’ll complete a full-year research program within the laboratory of an approved university, research institute or industry research site.
- There are opportunities to develop your research skills through project units with industry collaborations.
- You can undertake extracurricular activities.
- You’ll participate in a research roadshow.
Student profile
View our student profile table to get an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students at Curtin University. This table provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and passed the census date in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available. It includes those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.
Career information
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.
Admission criteria
Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.
| IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System) | |
|---|---|
| Writing | 6.0 |
| Speaking | 6.0 |
| Reading | 6.0 |
| Listening | 6.0 |
| Overall band score | 6.5 |
You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.
I recently attended high school
Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the achievement of the required ATAR within the last two years. This includes applicants whose secondary education was undertaken interstate or overseas.
- Minimum ATAR : 90
- Essential WACE subjects (pre-requisites):
Chemistry ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Specialist ATAR.
- Desirable WACE subjects:
Human Biology ATAR or Biology ATAR and Physics ATAR.
- STAT entry : WE and either V or Q.
Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.
Other admission options
Recipients of the John Curtin Undergraduate Scholarship will receive an early offer to study this course.
Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.
If you’re an indigenous 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.
Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made (exclusive of any adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)
View the lowest ATAR (excluding adjustments) of an applicant who was offered a place in this course in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available.
Selection rank adjustments (previously referred to as ATAR related adjustments)
Details of the types of adjustment factors (bonus points) commonly available to applicants can be found on our StepUp to Curtin webpage.
ATAR and selection rank profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in the most recent intake period
View data on the ATAR and selection rank profile of offers made from the most relevant recent intake period.
I have work and life experience
Applicants with work and life experience are those who 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.
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission 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.
- Minimum ATAR : 90
- Essential WACE subjects (pre-requisites):
Chemistry ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Specialist ATAR.
- Desirable WACE subjects:
Human Biology ATAR or Biology ATAR and Physics ATAR.
- STAT entry : WE and either V or Q.
Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.
I’ve studied at TAFE or done an apprenticeship
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.
- Minimum ATAR : 90 OR
- TAFE:
Applicants with relevant TAFE qualifications are encouraged to contact the School to discuss entry qualification and any Credit for Recognised Learning.
- Essential WACE subjects (pre-requisites):
Chemistry ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Specialist ATAR.
- Desirable WACE subjects:
Human Biology ATAR or Biology ATAR and Physics ATAR.
- STAT entry : WE and either V or Q.
Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.
I’ve gone to university before
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.
Not all Curtin courses accept course switchers from other institutions.
- Essential WACE subjects (pre-requisites):
Chemistry ATAR and Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Specialist ATAR.
- 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.
Curtin course switcher criteria
Students from the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (B-BIOMED) course, or other courses, will be eligible to apply to switch into this course at the completion of first year, providing they meet the course entry requirements of ATAR Chemistry and ATAR Mathematics Methods or completed the equivalent Chemistry and Maths units in their current course and achieved a Course Weighted Average (CWA) of >=80, and there are places available within the course.
You must maintain a CWA of 70 or higher to remain in course.
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.
Advanced standing
At Curtin, we understand that everyone’s study journey has been different.
You may have already studied some of the units (subjects) listed in your Curtin course, or you may have work experience that matches the degree requirements.
If this applies to you, you can apply for credit for recognised learning (CRL), which means your previous study is recognised and matched against a similar unit in your intended Curtin course.
A successful CRL application exempts you from having to complete certain units within your course and means you could finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.
CRL is also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing and credit transfer.
Use the CRL search to find out how much CRL you qualify for, or contact us at:
Webform: Submit here
Curtin Connect: 1300 222 888
Fees & charges
Australian and New Zealand student indicative fees
Fee year: 2022
| Student type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth supported | $8,000* |
Fees are indicative first year only and are subject to passage of legislation.
*The indicative first-year fee is calculated on 200 credit points, which is the typical full-time study load per year, however some courses require additional study to be completed, in which case the fee will be higher than that shown.
This fee is a guide only. It may vary depending on the units you choose and does not include incidental fees (such as lab coats or art supplies) or the cost of your textbooks – visit other fees and charges for more information. For more information on fees and to determine your eligibility for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP, please visit fee basics or the Study Assist website
If you’re not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen, please see information for international students.
Location
For start dates, please view the academic calendar.
2022
Semester 2
- On campus
2023
Semester 1
- On campus
Semester 2
- On campus
2024
Semester 1
- On campus
Semester 2
- On campus
2025
Semester 1
- On campus
Semester 2
- On campus
All endeavours are made to ensure location information for courses is up to date but please note they are subject to change.
The University reserves the right to withdraw any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program.
How to apply
Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice
Please note that each campus has different application deadlines. Please view our application deadlines page for further information.
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The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information. View courses information disclaimer.
- Curtin course code: BH-ADVBSC
- CRICOS code: 102739H
- Last updated on: June 29, 2022
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