Overview

The Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) - 4 years requires 4 years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the College of Medicine and Public Health. 

Course offerings

Bedford Park

Courses / qualifications may not be offered in all locations and modes each year.  For more information on Mode of Delivery, visit Mode definitions

Student guidance

Study planner
Program of study overview
Program of study notes

Program of study
144 Units

Year 136 Units
Year 236 Units
Year 336 Units
Year 436 Units
Major36 Units
Honours Program36 Units

Admission requirements

Admission requirements
English Language requirements

Aims

The Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) – 4 years is designed to offer students an opportunity to extend their undergraduate studies by demonstrating their ability to work in a research environment. The course extends the curriculum offered in the Bachelor of Medical Science (BMS) and includes higher performance expectations. The BMS degree has been designed to produce graduates who as medical scientists are specialists in a major area of science and possess well-developed skills to liaise with other groups of scientists, such as medical practitioners and biotechnologists. Extending on this, the Honours year provides students with the opportunity to undertake an individual research project in an area of medical science, from design to execution. Students will gain experience in research design, and develop their abilities in critical analysis of information, data management and theory generation using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

This course aims to:

  • Produce graduates who as medical scientists are specialists in a major area of science
  • Provide a strong ability to critically analyse and evaluate scientific information and solve problems
  • Develop graduates who can work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
  • Develop graduates who can work cooperatively and productively within a team
  • Prepare students for a range of careers within the medical sciences

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course you will be able to:
1.
Demonstrate integrated understanding of cellular biology, biochemistry, genetics, physiology, and anatomy of the human body
2.
Apply medical science knowledge and practical skills to understand normal function of the human body and understand the consequences of disordered function
3.
Critically evaluate information from different sources using scientific principles including an evidence-based approach to researching the literature, generating testable hypotheses, and designing appropriate experiments to test them, and interpreting and reporting the results
4.
Communicate clearly scientific principles and discoveries to a variety of audiences, including members of the public, biomedical and non-biomedical scientific community, in both written and spoken formats
5.
Demonstrate competence and safety in a range of technical skills associated with medical science with an awareness of WHS, human ethics, animal ethics, biosafety issues, and respect for diversity
6.
Act ethically and professionally with an understanding of social accountability and the role of biomedical and medical research in society
7.
Apply basic knowledge to specific health issues and hence be prepared to undertake research projects in your field of interest
8.
Be equipped to pursue postgraduate research study
9.
Undertake a research project that involves clinical, quantitative or qualitative methods
10.
Present findings to the academic community
11.
Possess the skills to apply for and prepare research grants

Student progression rules

Failure to complete the course within 8 years, may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University’s Policy on Student Progress.

Students achieving a GPA of at least 5 in their last 36 units of study after completing 108 units of study will be eligible to continue into fourth year of the course. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will be able to exit with Bachelor of Medical Science on completion of 108 units according to the first three years of study in the degree.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion, may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Associations

Course/Exit award association
Honours - Embedded/Bachelor association