Apply for Biochemistry Major (BSc Science)

MJRU-BIOCH

Biochemistry

Undergraduate major

From forensic science to clinical research, a biochemistry degree can lead to a range of fascinating careers.

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

    Guaranteed ATAR 70
  • Qualification
    Biochemistry Major (BSc Science)
  • Credit

    Credit

    600
Course outline

Check the application deadline for the parent course

Course outline
Biochemistry

Outline

Outline

Note that up to and including our 2022 intakes, many Science courses offered a choice of streams, or discipline areas, to specialise in. From 2023, these streams will be replaced with a range of specialisations, which offers you even more flexibility. View the full list of specialisations here.

Biochemists study the molecular structures and processes that form the foundation for living matter.

In this course, you will study the core principles of chemistry, molecular structure and chemical reactivity, and how they can be applied to biological molecules.

You will study second- and third-year units in biological, medicinal and natural product chemistry; and complementary units in cell biology, molecular biology and molecular genetics.

You’ll investigate molecular systems that regulate cell growth, including signalling and defence, and related metabolic pathways.

You’ll also study molecular recognition and its applications in biosensors, drug design and optimisation, and in monitoring the effects that exogenous compounds can have on living systems.

Within this major you can select from a range of specialisations to study. View the list of specialisations here.

See our handbook for more course information. 

What jobs can the Biochemistry lead to?

Careers

  • Biochemist
  • Biotechnologist
  • Forensic scientist
  • Medicinal scientist.

Industries

  • Agriculture
  • Biotechnology
  • Healthcare.

Further study

  • Biotechnologist
  • Environmental Scientist

What you'll learn

  • apply biochemistry knowledge, principles and concepts
  • apply critical, creative and reflective thinking to biochemistry problems
  • access, evaluate and synthesise information relating to biochemistry
  • effectively communicate biochemistry ideas and concepts
  • use a range of technologies to collect and analyse data
  • work as responsible, self-directed and motivated learners
  • apply internationally accepted scientific conventions, standards and protocols
  • demonstrate respect for cultural diversity in professional life
  • work safely, effectively and ethically in a multifaceted scientific environment

Professional recognition

Graduates may be eligible for membership of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI).

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

  • Guaranteed ATAR 70

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 70

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Applications ATAR and Chemistry ATAR.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics Methods 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

  • UniReady

    If you don’t meet our minimum admission criteria, the UniReady Enabling Program can help you qualify for entry into a range of undergraduate courses.

  • Certificate IV + English Competency

    The certificate IV is the minimum requirement for university entry. It qualifies you for entry to Curtin courses with a 70 ATAR. You must also meet English language proficiency.

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

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

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.

Other requirements and notes for this course

July intake: Course duration may exceed three years due to unit prerequisites.

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’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 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.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 70

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 70

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Applications ATAR and Chemistry ATAR.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics Methods 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

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

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

Other requirements and notes for this course

July intake: Course duration may exceed three years due to unit prerequisites.

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’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

    AQF Certificate IV - Separate evidence of Higher English language proficiency is required; or AQF Diploma; or AQF Advanced Diploma AND satisfied the prerequisites: Maths Applications and Chemistry. The Maths Applications prerequisite can be met with: Maths Applications ATAR; or MATH1013 Introductory Mathematics; or MATH1005 Pre-Calculus The Chemistry prerequisite can be met with: Chemistry ATAR; or CHEM1003 Introduction to Chemistry, and CHEM1005 Introduction to Biological Chemistry.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 70

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 70

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Applications ATAR and Chemistry ATAR.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics Methods 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

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

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

Other requirements and notes for this course

July intake: Course duration may exceed three years due to unit prerequisites.

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’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 met:

  • the admission criteria for minimum entry; and
  • the prerequisites.

The Maths Applications prerequisite can be met with:

  • Maths Applications ATAR; or
  • MATH1013 Introductory Mathematics; or
  • MATH1005 Pre-Calculus.

The Chemistry prerequisite can be met with:

  • Chemistry ATAR; or
  • CHEM1003 Introduction to Chemistry and CHEM1005 Introduction to Biological Chemistry.

Higher education course switcher criteria

To switch into this course from another higher education course, you need to have met:

  • the admission criteria for minimum entry; and
  • Maths Applications ATAR or unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Applications ATAR; and
  • Chemistry ATAR or unit/s assessed as comparable to Chemistry ATAR.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 70

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 70

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Applications ATAR and Chemistry ATAR.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics Methods 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

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

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

Other requirements and notes for this course

July intake: Course duration may exceed three years due to unit prerequisites.

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.

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
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

Please view the Bachelor of Science (Science) degree for indicative fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

Frequently asked questions

Search our FAQs
  • 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: MJRU-BIOCH
  • Last updated on: 28 March 2024

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Apply for Biochemistry Major (BSc Science)