Handbook

There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

The Bachelor of Science allows you to develop expertise in a wide range of science areas. This degree is ideal for students who seek a 'generalist' degree in which there is a large element of choice. Students are encouraged to choose a broad range of courses in the first year, to expand their general understanding of Science which then enables them to choose from a wide selection of major options in the second and third year. There is also the option to apply for an additional Honours year at the end of the program, subject to a student's academic performance and other criteria. The rules and requirements for the degree are set out below.

Learning Outcomes

Apply, integrate and generate knowledge in both a specialist scientific domain and professional contexts

Develop and apply conceptual and technical skills to identify, analyse and respond to problems – both local and global.

Critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate information to draw conclusions in the pursuit of creating new understanding of the world

Communicate professional and disciplinary information and ideas effectively and persuasively to a variety of audiences using a range of methods.

Work independently, and collaboratively integrating diverse perspectives and ideas to deliver an outcome

Demonstrate responsible professional practice, underpinned by ethical, social and sustainability considerations

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure

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

The requirements for a Bachelor of Science taken as a stand-alone program are:

96 UOC of Science courses
This includes Core Courses, at least one Bachelor of Science major and Science elective courses. Science elective courses are defined in 'Table 1' in the Additional Information section below.

36 UOC of Free Electives
These courses can be taken from any Faculty at UNSW at any stage of your program.

12 UOC of General Education courses
These cannot be Science courses. The rules regarding General Education are detailed below.

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

Disciplinary Component96 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 96 UOC of the following to satisfy the core requirements of this degree

Core Courses6 Units of Credit:

Students must take 6 UOC of the following courses.

Students need to complete two non credit bearing (0 UoC) professional development elements . SCIF0000 should be enrolled in during the first term of study and SCIF3010 should be enrolled in the final term of study. Students will engage in course Moodle activities as well as the Sciconnect platform (www.sciconnect.unsw.edu.au) to complete these elements.

Employability Experiences12 Units of Credit:

Students must take 12 UOC of the following courses.

Please refer to the current year’s handbook for an updated list of options for Employability Experience courses.

Majors

Students must complete at least one Science major selected from the list below. Students should declare their major prior to commencing Stage 2 courses.

Notes:
1.Students are not permitted to take the Bioinformatics major BINFB1 when taking the degree in dual award mode with the Bachelor of Engineering (Bioinformatics) program.

Minors

Students may choose to complete an optional minor in one of the following areas.

Double Counting

Science Electives

Students need to complete 96 UOC to meet the core requirements for the Bachelor of Science. If the core courses plus your choice of specialisation(s) requires less than 96 UOC, you are required to complete additional Science elective courses from the following list to meet the 96 UOC requirement.

Level 1 Science UOC

Maximum Level 1 UOC

Free Electives

General Education12 Units of Credit:

Course Information Rule

Excluded General Education Courses

Program Constraints

Maturity Rule

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:

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.

Special Admission Requirements

Other

Some Schools within the Faculty may grant students exemption from completing particular first year courses. Where an exemption is given this is not added to a student's academic record and hence does not reduce the total units of credit the student must complete for the program. The exemption merely grants a student the ability to undertake higher level courses (such as second year courses) that require the exempted course as a prerequisite. Students with an exemption will need to be manually enrolled in higher level courses by administrative staff.

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

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

Progression rules are in accordance with university policy.

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 Environmental Management - BEnvMgmt3965 - Environmental Management

Related Double Degree

Bachelor of Actuarial Studies - BActSt
Bachelor of Science - BSc3154 - Actuarial Studies / Science

Bachelor of Commerce - BCom
Bachelor of Science - BSc3529 - Commerce / Science

Bachelor of Economics - BEc
Bachelor of Science - BSc3563 - Economics / Science

Bachelor of Engineering Science - BEngSc
Bachelor of Science - BSc3733 - Engineering Science / Science

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE (Hons)
Bachelor of Science - BSc3767 - Engineering (Honours) / Science

Bachelor of Science - BSc
Bachelor of Science - BSc3789 - Science / Computer Science

Bachelor of Science - BSc
Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA3921 - Science / Fine Arts

Bachelor of Science - BSc
Bachelor of Social Sciences - BSocSci3923 - Science / Social Sciences

Bachelor of Science - BSc
Bachelor of Arts - BA3947 - Science / Arts

Bachelor of Science - BSc
Bachelor of Education (Secondary) - BEd (Secondary)4076 - Science / Education (Secondary)

Bachelor of Science - BSc
Bachelor of Laws - LLB4770 - Science / Law

Honours Pathway

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

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:

Additional Information

Talented Students' Program and Accelerated Progression

The Science Talented Students' Program (TSP) introduces high performing students - entering the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) - to the Faculty of Science and helps them develop specific skills during their degree. The program offers these students exposure to research within the Faculty and provides a degree that is flexible and tailored to suit students' needs and talents.

Invitation to participate in the TSP is made by the Dean of Science on the basis of superior secondary education performance (ATAR or equivalent), all incoming students are assessed for eligibility including non-high school leavers. High performing current UNSW Science students, in the BSc or BSc (Advanced), will be invited to join at the end of their first year. Contact the Science Student Centre website for more details.

Definition of 'Science' courses

Courses that are classified as 'Science' can be found under Table 1 on the Science Terminology page.

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).

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:

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Faculty
Faculty: The primary academic unit in which related disciplines of teaching and research are conducted.

Campus

Sydney

Study Level
Study Level refers to the academic level of a program, specialisation or course.

Undergraduate

Typical duration:

3 Year(s)

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended)

Intake Period

Term 1, Term 2, Term 3

Academic Calendar

Minimum Units of Credit

144

AQF Level

Level 7

Award Type

Bachelor

Award(s)
Award(s): Qualification upon completion (all awards offered by UNSW are accredited by UNSW and align with the Australian Qualifications Framework).

Bachelor of Science - BSc

UAC Code

429000

CRICOS Code

015780K

Science

3970

144 Units of Credit