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Bachelor of Science 

Z046     


Campus Availability Study Mode Study Level Duration
Hawthorn Full-time, Part-time (day) Undergraduate Three years full-time.

This Bachelor of Science degree course provides a flexible range of majors, co-majors and minors allowing students to undertake a professionally focused program of study. Majors are drawn from a range of science disciplines: bioscience, biotechnology, chemistry, computer science, electronics, environmental sustainability and photonics. Students combine these majors with co-majors or minors from other science or non-science discipline areas.

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The main aim of the course is to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be a professional scientist in their chosen discipline area. Graduates will be prepared for immediate professional employment, or further studies at honours or postgraduate level.

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The course operates under a student workload model based on 100 credit points for a full-time academic year. One credit point is deemed to be equivalent to one hour of student work per week over a semester, whether in contact with staff or in private study. Four units of study will generally be taken each semester. Total student contact hours, including lectures, classes, tutorials and laboratory sessions, will normally be between 15-20 hours per week during the academic semesters.
 
According to the following rules, students must complete at least 300 credit points made up of:
 
One major from the list of approved Science majors (see below)
 
And either:
  • a co-major from any discipline, or
  • two minors from any discipline (including Elective Plus minors and advanced minors), provided that the minor have no more than two units in common with your major or co-major.
In order to meet degree credit point requirements (minimum of 300 credit points) students may undertake addition minors and/or electives from any discipline.
 
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects. It is usually undertaken in the second year of studies and is compulsory for all undergraduate students who commence their course from 2007 onwards. Students studying CIC will not incur a HECS or fee debt as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' career skills.
 
Final Year Experience - Major Projects
As part of the Swinburne Model for Professional Learning, all incoming undergraduates from 2007 will undertake 25 credit points of
professionally-focused final year major projects within their major. 
 
Winter and Summer Term
This program also provides opportunities to undertake study in an optional six-week Winter and Summer term allowing you to complete extra study between the standard semesters.  These terms are not mandatory.  However, if you wish to vary your study load you may want to consider this option.
 
Electives Plus Minors
Electives plus minors provide Swinburne degree students with options to broaden their career skills and strengthen their employability by selecting from units of study outside their degree discipline.
 
Students undertaking this course can choose to study Electives Plus minors which will be considered as meeting the requirements of a minor:
Electives Plus minors are available in all Swinburne degree programs subject to timetabling constraints.

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Majors
A major comprises 200 credit points of studies (16 units of study) relevant to the particular discipline or field of study. A major should include all the requisite foundation studies and at least 25 credit points of final year projects. A maximum of 25 credit points of relevant electives are permitted within the major.  
Co-Majors
Co-majors comprise 100 credit points of studies (8 units of study) relevant to the particular discipline or field of study. A co-major may require some prerequisites which should be obtained from the student’s major and may have a maximum of 12.5 credit points of relevant electives
 
Co-majors can be taken from any discipline. Recommended co-majors in the science course are:
Minors
 
Minors comprise 50 credit points of studies (four units of study) which form a coherent introduction to a given field of study. There are no elective choices in minors and usually no prerequisites are required to undertake any minor.

Minors can be taken from any discipline, including the Electives Plus minors sequences. Credit cannot be given for any minor which contains more than two units of study in common with any other minor, co-major or major that student is undertaking.

Recommended minors for the science course are:
* these are advanced minors and require prerequisites which are usually obtained from the choice of major.

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Industry-Based Learning is an optional program in which students are placed in paid, supervised employment relevant to their studies as part of their degree. Industry-Based Learning gives students practical experience to add to their academic studies, and is a proven advantage in the graduate job market. All Industry-Based Learning placements are subject to availability of places. For further information visit: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/spl/ibl/  

The optional year of Industry-Based Learning in Australia is currently not available to international students. However international students may be able to participate in IBL in another country, subject to the approval of the relevant Swinburne IBL Manager and appropriate immigration approval.

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Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.

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  • The Biomedical Science major may allow students to apply for membership of Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM)
  • The Biotechnology major may allow students to apply for membership of Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) 

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Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:
  • Capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
  • Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
  • Effective and ethical in work and community situations
  • Adaptable and manage change
  • Aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (such as sociocultural, economic, natural)

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Successful completion of an appropriate Victorian Year 12 or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

2009 VCE Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 20 in English (any) and a study score of 25 in mathematical methods (either) or specialist mathematics, and in one of biology, chemistry, psychology, physics, software development or specialist mathematics.

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2008 Round 1 Clearly-In ENTER: n/a

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Applicants with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be granted ‘credit’ and/or entry into the course with ‘advanced standing’. University policies apply and applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. For further information refer to ‘Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide’ at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/marketing/pathways//

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An advanced credit transfer system, known as the Pathways program, is in place at Swinburne. Through Pathways, students with one or more of a wide range of post-secondary qualifications (both local and international) can gain entry into a course with advanced standing. Certain subject requirements must be met and an acceptable standard of results achieved in order to gain admission and for maximum credit to be granted. For further information refer to 'Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/marketing/pathways// 

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Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Further details for students considering Higher Education courses: http://www.swin.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/files/stuinf.htm

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Swinburne offers domestic undergraduate studentsCommonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of an Australian permanent resident visa are classified as domestic students. All other students are considered international students.

HELP

The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a suite of income contingent loans for Australian citizens and holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas. HELP consists of:

  • HECS-HELP (previously HECS) – is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students. It provides students with a loan to cover their student contribution amount. Students are eligible for a 20% discount if they choose to pay all, or at least $500, of their student contribution up-front.
  • FEE-HELP (previously PELS) – is available to eligible fee paying undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides students with a loan to cover their tuition fees (lifetime maximum $81,600 from 1 January 2008). The FEE-HELP limit is indexed on 1 January each year.
  • OS-HELP – is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students, who wish to study overseas, with a loan to cover expenses such as accommodation and travel.

Note: New Zealand citizens and holders of other Australian permanent resident visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.

For further information on your support and study options visit the 'Going to Uni' website at: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au

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This course is also offered through the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship Program. Successful applicants are awarded HECS waiver scholarships and will be funded for the duration of their course. For further information visit the website at: http://www.swin.edu.au/scholarships

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Applications must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

VTAC code: 34371 (CSP), 34373 (Int. Fee)

For further information, visit the VTAC website at: http://www.vtac.edu.au

Applicants who believe they will receive an ENTER of at least 97.00, have an opportunity to undertake this course through the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship Program. For further information visit the website at: http://www.swin.edu.au/scholarships

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Tel: 1300 368 777
Email: study@swinburne.edu.au
 

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