Handbook - Medical Science

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Overview

This three-year degree program is jointly offered by the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Science. It provides the basis for a career in biomedical research and is also an appropriate first degree for students planning to enter graduate medical or paramedical programs. Medical Science is the area of … For more content click the Read More button below. Students completing this program with exceptional performance may have the opportunity to enrol in an Honours program leading to an Honours degree. A limited number of high-performing students may be able to gain entry to the UNSW Medicine program with advanced standing. For more information, please click here. Students intending to apply for entry via this pathway must have completed all compulsory courses by the end of Stage 2.

Medical Science is the area of science which underpins the practice of medicine. It incorporates the study of structure and chemistry of the cells that make up living organisms (Cell & Molecular Biology and Biochemistry) with particular reference to humans, and specifically of the structure and function of the human body (Anatomy and Physiology). It then deals with the general processes leading to disease (Pathology), the role of bacteria, viruses and other micro-organisms in disease (Microbiology) as well as drugs which are used to cure human diseases (Pharmacology). Other areas available for study include the way in which our form and function is inherited (Genetics), the processes of development from the fertilised ovum (Embryology), the natural defences of the body (Immunology) and the study of the structure and function of the brain (Neuroscience).

Students completing this program with exceptional performance may have the opportunity to enrol in an Honours program leading to an Honours degree.

A limited number of high-performing students may be able to gain entry to the UNSW Medicine program with advanced standing. For more information, please click here.

Students intending to apply for entry via this pathway must have completed all compulsory courses by the end of Stage 2.

Program Structure

Students must complete 144 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

120 UOC Medical Science courses:
- 90 UOC of core courses across Stages 1 and 2.
- 6 UOC Science elective taken in Stage 1.
- 24 UOC of Directed Electives in Stage 3. The Stage 3 electives can be used to complete an optional major.

12 UOC Free Electives. These courses can be taken from any Faculty of the University. It is recommended that Free Electives are taken in Stage 3.
12 UOC General Education courses. These courses cannot be Science or Medicine courses. Please see the rules regarding General Education below. It is recommended that General Education courses are taken in Stage 3.

Please click the Sample Programs link below to view a typical enrolment pattern for this program.

Disciplinary Component120 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 120 UOC of the following to satisfy the core requirements of this degree

Majors

Students may elect to complete a major, or a double major, from the following areas. Where a student would like to graduate with a major (this is not a compulsory part of the program) this must be declared by the commencement of a student's final year of study.

Please Note: Students may complete a maximum of two majors but no double-counting of courses between majors is allowed at Level 3.

Level 1 Core Courses42 Units of Credit:

Students must take 42 UOC of the following courses.

Note: Students in 3991 can only enrol in SCIF1131 in T3 if they cannot take SCIF1111 in T1

Level 1 Core Courses

One of the following:

Level 2 Core Courses48 Units of Credit:

Students must take 48 UOC of the following courses.

ANAT2241

6 UOC

Histology: Basic and Systematic

BIOC2101

6 UOC

Principles of Biochemistry (Advanced)

BIOC2201

6 UOC

Principles of Molecular Biology (Advanced)

Introductory Pharmacology and Toxicology

Level 3 Prescribed Electives24 Units of Credit:

Students must take at least 24 UOC of the following courses.

Note: only 6UoC from BABS3301 or SOMS3001 can be taken.

Please Note: When making their course choices, students who intend to do Honours should review the requirements and information on the websites of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences or the School of Medical Sciences prior to enrolment in Stage 3.

Functional Anatomy of the Head, Neck and Back

ANAT3141

6 UOC

Functional Anatomy of the Limbs

Medical Biotechnology

BABS3071

6 UOC

Commercial Biotechnology

Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids

BABS3151

6 UOC

Human Molecular Genetics and Disease

Genes, Genomes and Evolution

BABS3301

6 UOC

Biomolecular Science Laboratory Project (Advanced)

BIOC3111

6 UOC

Molecular Biology of Proteins

BIOC3261

6 UOC

Human Biochemistry of Health and Disease

BIOC3271

6 UOC

Molecular Cell Biology 2

BIOC3671

6 UOC

Molecular Cell Biology 2 (Advanced)

Microbial Genetics (Advanced)

NEUR3101

6 UOC

Muscle and Motor Control

NEUR3121

6 UOC

Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience

Molecular Basis of Disease

Musculoskeletal Diseases

Drug Discovery, Design and Development

PHAR3102

6 UOC

Molecular Pharmacology

Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology

PHSL3211

6 UOC

Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology

PHSL3221

6 UOC

Endocrine, Reproductive and Developmental Physiology

SOMS3001

6 UOC

School of Medical Sciences Research Internship

Science Elective6 Units of Credit:

Free Electives12 Units of Credit:

General Education12 Units of Credit:

Course Information Rule

Excluded General Education Courses

Program Constraints

Maturity Rule

Students must have completed 96 UOC before taking any of the following courses.
ANAT3131 - Functional Anatomy of the Head, Neck and Back
ANAT3141 - Functional Anatomy of the Limbs
NEUR3121 - Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
NEUR3221 - Neurophysiology
ANAT3411 - Neuroanatomy
NEUR3211 - Neuroscience Research Seminars
NEUR3101 - Muscle and Motor Control
PHSL3211 - Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology
PHSL3221 - Endocrine, Reproductive and Developmental Physiology
PHAR3102 - Molecular Pharmacology
PHAR3101 - Drug Discovery, Design and Development
PHAR3251 - Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology
PHAR3202 - Neuropharmacology
PATH3205 - Molecular Basis of Disease
PATH3206 - Cancer Pathology
PATH3207 - Musculoskeletal Diseases
BIOC3111 - Molecular Biology of Proteins
BABS3121 - Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids
BIOC3261 - Human Biochemistry
BIOC3271 - Molecular Cell Biology 2
BABS3281 - Molecular Frontiers
BABS3621 - Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids (Advanced)
BIOC3671 - Molecular Cell Biology 2 (Advanced)
BABS3061 - Medical Biotechnology
BABS3071 - Commercial Biotechnology
BABS3021 - Microbial Genetics
BABS3041 - Immunology
BABS3301 - Biomolecular Science Laboratory Project (Advanced)
MICR3061 - Viruses and Disease
MICR3621 - Microbial Genetics (Advanced)
BABS3151 - Human Molecular Genetics and Disease
BABS3291 - Genes, Genomes and Evolution
BABS3081 - Bacteria and Disease
SOMS3001 - School of Medical Sciences Research Internship

Students must normally have completed 24 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses.
any level 2 course

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Sample Programs

To access sample program(s), please visit:

Medical Science Degree Template

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Limitations on Recognition of Prior Learning

UNSW Students may be granted Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) which may or may not reduce the amount of learning required to achieve a degree at UNSW. Generally, RPL is only granted based on the completion of tertiary-level studies, but in exceptional circumstances may also include non-formal or informal learning such as professional experience. RPL will not be granted based on partly completed tertiary courses. All applications for RPL at UNSW are subject to UNSW Recognition of Prior Learning (Coursework Programs) Policy and Procedures. Students seeking credit for courses completed at another university are required to submit documentary evidence (course outlines, academic transcripts) to support their application, and to nominate the course(s) for which they seek credit. In addition, the following conditions apply for all UNSW Science programs (including the Science component of dual award programs): Specified course credit, i.e. credit granted for an exact or near exact equivalence to a course at UNSW, will not be granted when more than 7 years has elapsed from the successful completion of the course (or other learning) and the student’s commencement in the Science program. Where this time period is shorter it will be stipulated in the individual rules for the relevant program. Unspecified course credit (e.g. General Education or free electives) will not be granted when more than 10 years has elapsed from the successful completion of the course (or other learning) and the student’s commencement in the Science program. Students may only receive credit of up to a maximum of 50% of the coursework component of their Science program, excluding Honours. For most undergraduate programs this will be 72 UOC. For dual award programs that include a Science component, it will be a maximum of 50% of the Science component of the dual degree, excluding Honours. Credit for the other program will be assessed by the Faculty that administers that program. Applications for RPL will only be assessed for students who have accepted a place to study in a UNSW Science program. Students must formally apply for RPL unless they become a UNSW student as part of a formal Articulation Agreement. Applications for RPL should be made as early as possible in the student’s program. Students who are readmitted into a Science program after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, will not necessarily retain credit for all units completed at UNSW prior to the absence if the date of completion of the units of study is greater than the 7 and 10-year rules outlined in points 1 and 2 above. In these cases, the credit retained will be decided by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs) in consultation (when necessary) with the Program and/or Course Authority.

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Domestic Students

International Student

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Similar Program

Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) - BAdvSci(Hons)3962 - Advanced Science (Honours)

Bachelor of Science - BSc3970 - Science

Postgraduate Pathway

Master of Biomedical Engineering - MBiomedE8660 - Biomedical Engineering

Honours Pathway

Bachelor of Science (Honours) - BSc(Hons)4500 - Science (Honours)

Professional Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Working in medical research, medical laboratories, pathology laboratories, forensic science, pharmaceutical and related industries and developing health policy.

Recognition of Achievement

University Medal

Award of Pass with Distinction

The Award of Pass with Distinction is awarded when a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award Pass with Distinction except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

For more information, please visit:

Current Students Pass With Distinction

Additional Information

Definition of 'Science' courses

Table 1

Science Handbook Rules and Editions

Students must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year they commence their studies with the Faculty of Science.

Students who transfer from another UNSW Faculty into Science (for example, from a Bachelor of Arts into a Bachelor of Science) must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year of their transfer.

Students, who are readmitted to UNSW after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, must satisfy the program rules in the Handbook published in the year of their readmission. In addition, these students may be subject to restrictions on which courses taken at UNSW may be counted on their return. In some cases, students returning from an unapproved absence may be required to repeat courses. See the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Advanced Standing section below for more details. Students who take approved leave or deferment will follow the Handbook for the year of their original commencement unless otherwise approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

Faculty of Science Rules

The Faculty of Science has some rules that relate to all students enrolled in programs offered by the Faculty in relation to recognition for prior learning, general education, course exclusions, study load, and cross-institutional study. All students should read the information contained on the Faculty General Rules and Requirements page.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students

Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)

International Students

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions