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Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences)

Z0416BMS  037214C



Duration

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Fee*
3 Year/s Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) A$22,950 (annual for 2012) 
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.


This program puts the applications of biology-based sciences – such as anatomy and physiology – to medical use, particularly in health monitoring, treatment or related research. This program blends chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and human anatomy and physiology to provide you with a basic scientific understanding, as well as knowledge of the technology and modern instrumentation used in clinical care and monitoring environments such as analytical and research laboratories. You will study some of the functional aspects of the human body, but your major skills will lie in the building blocks of physiology. Swinburne also offers an honours (fourth) year for this program.

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Students who commenced prior to 2010, please refer to Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences) course information.
 
Employment prospects in the hospital and healthcare industry remain very strong for graduates from this program. This course is also offered to Australian students 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 Scholarships website.

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The Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences) course has the following objectives:
  • to develop in students a mastery of a wide spectrum of basic principles underlying biomedical sciences
  • to give students an appropriate introduction to the role of the medical technician, biochemist, technologist or researcher in the health community
  • to give students a sound knowledge of anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, the application of physics to biomedical systems, and the appropriate application of monitoring technology in the clinical environment
  • to develop in students a mastery of the application of biochemistry, physics and mathematical principles to the interpretation and study of human physiological processes
  • to develop an understanding of human pathophysiology and associated clinical techniques for identifying them
  • to develop in students a thorough understanding of the appropriate technology, instrumentation and techniques, and competence in their application, so that students are able to comprehend and analyse problems and obtain satisfactory design solutions that, where appropriate, show originality and resourcefulness
  • to introduce students to the skills necessary for working in a clinical environment as an effective team member
  • to develop in students an understanding of clinical evaluation and monitoring to assist the medical process
  • to develop students' communication skills so that they can present their ideas clearly by verbal, written and graphical means
  • to prepare students for the changing workplace and changing societal context by developing their life-long learning skills and flexibility of mind.

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This course will operate 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, each worth 12.5 credit points, will generally be taken each semester. The typical student's average weekly workload during semester is therefore expected to be fifty hours. Total student contact hours, including lectures, classes, tutorials, flexible learning and laboratory and field sessions will be approximately 16 hours/week during academic semesters.

For the Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) program students must complete 300 credit points, normally 24 units of 12.5 credit points each, comprising:
  • Biosciences Professional Major, 16 units of 12.5 credit points each (200 credit points); and
  • Advanced Biochemistry Co-Major, 8 units of 12.5 credit points each (100 credit points).
Additionally the following rules apply:
  • the non-credit unit, HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum, is compulsory;
  • two (2) Major Project units must be completed as part of the major studies sequence;
  • the same unit cannot be counted more than once. Where there are overlaps, the 300 credit points of study must be made up in the first instance by a Minor where 50 credit points is required, otherwise by free electives or Options Plus units;
  • students will normally not be permitted to successfully complete more than 26 units (325cps);
  • Professional Major Co-ordinators have the authority to approve alternative units if required for students to complete in a timely fashion.
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit of study 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 their course and is compulsory for all undergraduate students. 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 will undertake 25 credit points of professionally focused final year major projects within their programs of study. Entry with advanced standing may require alternate study sequences to be undertaken.

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.

Options Plus
Students will have access to a small set of approved individual Options Plus units of study which provide either a distinctive learning experience or targeted study support. This could include optional study tours, an Intercultural Communications unit, and an ‘introduction to undergraduate research’ unit. In some cases, students may be advised or directed to take specially targeted Options Plus units, for example the Analysing and Writing English unit to be offered for credit in Winter Term for NESB students.

Students undertaking a full 300 cp program are allowed to substitute at least one Options Plus unit for one existing unit within their Co-Major– but not in their Professional Major. They will be advised by their Faculty on which unit(s) of the Co-Major.

In the case of students who enter with significant levels of advanced standing and whose program is therefore composed only of a Professional Major, the Faculty may approve a substitution, or else require the students to undertake the Options Plus unit in addition to their Major studies.

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Biosciences Professional Major
  
* HES1510 Chemistry 1 may be replaced with HES1490 Introduction to Chemistry for students without Year 12 Chemistry.
 
Advanced Biochemistry Co-major
 
The Advanced Biochemistry Co-Major and Advanced Biochemistry Minor are only available to students enrolled in the Biosciences, Chemistry or Medical Biophysics Professional Majors, or where prerequisite requirements have been meet.
 
*HES2700 Food Science is the recommended elective if HES4701 is part of the Major.

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Study areas include chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, anatomy and physiology, biological sciences, biomedical science, neurophysiology, cardiopulmonary physiology.

Professional Majors
A Professional Major (200 credit points or 16 units of study) in Science is designed to provide students with appropriate breadth and depth of knowledge in a particular field of study and provide suitable preparation for professional graduate employment. It may be based on a single, recognised discipline, or it may be inter-disciplinary in character.

Co-Majors
A Co-Major (100 credit points or 8 units of study) is a sequence of study focused on a specific discipline and is normally self-contained, in that it includes any requisite foundation studies. Where a student has studied a Co-Major they are not normally eligible to apply to graduate with the associated tagged degree outcome.

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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 Education Abroad website.

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Careers outcomes are focused on hospital laboratories, including intensive care support and medical technologist positions in cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological medicine. Strong chemistry and biochemistry skills open up opportunities for work in various laboratories, including those requiring knowledge in molecular biology, biotechnology and environmental science disciplines. Graduates may be called on to analyse metabolic disorders, perform blood, metabolic, genetic and tissue tests, or identify an infectious micro-organism. Employment may also be found in the health care sector, medical equipment companies and the sports science area and some aspects of forensic science.

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Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

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Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Advanced level certificate at the undergraduate level (EAP 5: UG-65% ); OR, Obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Computer-based) minimum score of 213 (with Written Writing score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 80 with no band less than 20.

 

Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

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 Advanced Maths

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To assess eligibility for entry to Swinburne, visit the Academic Entry Requirements page.

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Phone: +613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

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Visit our Meet Us page to see when we are visiting your home country (or here in Australia)

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A range of scholarships are available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

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