Bachelor of Science (B-SCI)

Overview

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed one of:

(a) the Victorian Certificate of Education including

• VCE Units 3 and 4 – either a study score of at least 25 in one of English, English Language or Literature or a study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language, and
• VCE Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 25 in either one of Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics; or both of Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics

(b) the International Baccalaureate Diploma including

• a minimum grade of 4 in either Applications and interpretations HL, Analysis and approaches SL, or Analysis and approaches HL;
• a minimum grade of 4 in either English or English B (Standard Level or Higher Level); and
• a minimum grade of 4 in one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

(c) a senior secondary program, foundation studies program or equivalent approved by the Academic Board including appropriate studies in English and Mathematics, and in at least one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

Except for applicants eligible for Access Melbourne, minimum ATAR or equivalent overall performance rankings apply.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board ruleson the use of selection instruments.

Note

• For applications through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre, “middle-band” selection adjustments are made only on the basis of eligibility for Access Melbourne.
• An alternative pathway is available for applicants eligible for advanced standing of a least 100 points towards the science component of the B.Sc. including at least 25 points at second year level in a discipline area available in the BSc as a major study area. To be considered under this pathway, applicants must meet the University’s undergraduate English standards and have completed VCE Mathematical Methods (CAS) Units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 25, or equivalent.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The Bachelor of Science welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and degree policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the degree.

The Bachelor of Science requires all students to enrol in subjects where they will require:

1. the ability to comprehend complex science, technology and/or engineering systems related information;
2. the ability to clearly and independently communicate a knowledge and application of science, technology and engineering systems principles and practices during assessment tasks; and in some areas of study
3. the ability to actively and safely contribute in clinical, laboratory, and fieldwork/excursion activities.

Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students. There are additional inherent academic requirements for some major studies and subjects, and these requirements are listed within the description of the requirements for each of these majors and subjects. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the relevant Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Major‐specific core participation requirements

Agricultural Science Major Specific Core Participation requirements: Fieldwork and Practicals The sites essential to this fieldwork are not wheelchair accessible and require students to traverse broken ground. Visual observation and interpretation of the sites is also an essential component, as is specimen and microscope work.

Veterinary Bioscience Major Specific Core Participation requirements: Practical classes This major requires all students to actively, independently and safely participate in all practical classes, utilising a range of observational, communication, motor, intellectual, and behavioural and social skills. Visual acuity, muscle coordination, balance, and sensory tactile perception are essential for participation. Details of the participation requirements can be found at https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/current/MC-DVETMED

Animal Health and Disease Major Specific Core Participation requirements: Practical classes This major requires all students to actively, independently and safely participate in all practical classes, utilising a range of observational, communication, motor, intellectual, and behavioural and social skills. Visual acuity, muscle coordination and balance are essential for participation. 

Animal Science and Management Major Specific Core Participation requirements: Fieldwork, practicals and laboratory experiments The sites essential to this fieldwork are not wheel chair accessible and may require students to traverse broken ground. Students are also required to undertake experiments including specimen and microscope work with assessment reliant on careful observation and visual interpretation of results. Practicals may also involve handling and working with animals.

Chemical Systems Specific Core Participation requirements: Laboratory experiments This major requires students to undertake experiments using specialist software with assessment reliant on careful observation and visual interpretation of results.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Major Specific Core Participation requirements: Fieldwork The sites essential to this fieldwork are not wheelchair accessible and require students to traverse broken ground. Visual observation and interpretation of the sites is also an essential component.

Food Science Major Specific Core Participation requirements: Laboratory experiments This major requires students to undertake experiments using specialist software with assessment reliant on careful observation and visual interpretation of results.

Geology Major Specific Core Participation requirements: Fieldwork The sites essential to this fieldwork are not wheelchair accessible and require students to traverse broken ground. Visual observation and interpretation of the sites is also an essential component, as is specimen and microscope work.

Professional accreditation

Please see the handbook entry for the following majors for details of their level of professional accreditation:

• Psychology
• Computing and Software Systems

Course structure

The Bachelor of Science requires the successful completion of 300 credit points.

• 12.5 credit points of Level 1 Compulsory subjects
• 225 credit points of Science subjects including
  • A minimum of 62.5 credit points of Level 1 discipline subjects
  • A minimum of 62.5 credit points of Level 2 discipline subjects
  • A minimum of 75 credit points of Level 3 discipline subjects
• 50 credit points of Breadth subjects including
  • A maximum of 25 credit points of Level 1 Breadth subjects
• The remaining 12.5 points may consist of either Science or Breadth subjects. You must still meet all other course rules.

Additional rules

• A maximum of 125 credit points of Level 1 subjects
• Completion of one Major
• A minimum of two Distinct level 1 areas of study
• A maximum of 37.5 points from any Distinct level 1 areas of study

Progression rule

Level 1 subject study area

• Completion of at least 50 points of Level 1 study before proceeding to the next subject year level is normally required.
• Inclusive of SCIE10005 - Today’s Science, Tomorrow’s World

Level 2 subject study area

• Completion of at least 50 points of Level 2 study before proceeding to the next subject year level is normally required.

Compulsory subjects

Level 1 Compulsory subject

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
SCIE10005	Today's Science, Tomorrow's World	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Note this subject must be completed in the first semester of commencement in the course

Science Discipline Subjects

A full list of subjects available for science credit for the new generation Bachelor of Science course (B-SCI):

Link

Breadth requirements

Find breadth subjects

Use the Handbook Search function to find subjects that can be used as breadth studies in the Bachelor of Science

Majors, minors & specialisations

Majors

Completion of 50 points of study at Level 3.

A number of these science majors include specialisations. Descriptions of the specialisations are located within the majors.

Name	Credit Points
Agricultural Science	50
Animal Health and Disease	50
Animal Science and Management	50
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	50
Biomedical Engineering Systems	50
Biotechnology	50
Cell and Developmental Biology	50
Chemical Engineering Systems	50
Chemistry	50
Civil Engineering Systems	50
Climate and Weather	50
Computing and Software Systems	50
Data Science	50
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology	50
Ecosystem Science	50
Electrical Engineering Systems	50
Environmental Engineering Systems	50
Environmental Science	50
Food Science	50
Genetics	50
Geography	50
Geology	50
Human Nutrition	50
Human Structure and Function	50
Immunology	50
Infection and Immunity	50
Informatics	50
Marine Biology	50
Mathematical Physics	50
Mathematics and Statistics	50
Mechanical Engineering Systems	50
Mechatronics Engineering Systems	50
Microbiology	50
Neuroscience	50
Pathology	50
Pharmacology	50
Physics	50
Physiology	50
Plant Science	50
Psychology	50
Spatial Systems	50
Zoology	50
Veterinary Bioscience	50
Digital Infrastructure Engineering Systems	50
Computational Biology	50

Informatics Majors

Students who commenced this course prior to 2018 and are planning to complete the Informatics majors may continue to do so. Students interested in Informatics are encouraged to explore the Computing and Software Systems or Data Science majors, as well as the concurrent Diploma in Computing.

Computational Biology Majors

Please note that this major is no longer being offered to students from 2022 onwards. Students who commenced this major prior to 2022 and are planning to complete the Computational Biology major may continue to do so.

Spatial System Majors

Please note that this major is no longer being offered to students from 2023 onwards. Students who commenced this major prior to 2023 and are planning to complete the Spatial Systems major may continue to do so. Students interested in spatial engineering systems can explore the Digital Infrastructure Engineering Systems major.

Special Arrangements

In the case of the study area of History and Philosophy of Science (HPS), students who seek to undertake further subjects in order to complete the equivalent of a major in HPS will be permitted to take up to 25 points of additional breadth study in HPS, replacing 25 points of the science requirements of the BSc. For a BSc student, the equivalent of a major in HPS is the completion of 100 points of HPS subjects (25 points at Level 1, 37.5 points at Level 2 and 37.5 points at Level 3 including HPSC30035 Knowledge in the Making. These students will be required to satisfy all other completion requirements of the BSc. This arrangement is only available to students who have not completed any other breadth subjects for credit in the BSc. In order to complete the 112.5 points required at Level 3 within this arrangement (i.e. across science and HPS studies), students should consider undertaking a Level 3 HPS subject in the second year of their course.

Students who entered the BSc prior to 2015 should refer the handbook entry of the year they commenced.

Further study

The Bachelor of Science degree provides pathways to honours, graduate professional entry degrees or, upon completion of appropriate research training preparation following the BSc, research higher degrees.

Honours - Depending on the major undertaken, students may apply for an Honours program upon completion of the Bachelor of Science. Refer to the course entry for further details:

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/current/BH-SCI

Graduate Professional Entry Degrees For students who wish to continue professional studies at graduate level, the degree provides a pathway into a range of graduate professional entry programs, some of which also provide research training.

http://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/grad/grad-programs/professional-entry
Research Higher Degrees For students who wish to explore science research questions in greater depth, there will be opportunities to proceed to Research Higher Degrees at masters and doctoral level. Research training preparation within the Honours year, Postgraduate Diploma or a Masters degree will be required as preparation for a research higher degree.

Last updated: 9 October 2024