Bachelor of Biomedicine (B-BMED)

Overview

Award title	Bachelor of Biomedicine
Year & campus	2025 — Parkville
CRICOS code	058838G
Fees information	Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & type	Undergraduate Coursework
AQF level	7
Credit points	300 credit points
Duration	36 months full-time or 72 months part-time

The Bachelor of Biomedicine at Melbourne is designed to provide excellent education in a broad range of biomedical science and health-related areas of study. The course also equips graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and participate in subsequent pathways to employment, research higher degrees and many professional postgraduate study programs.

The integrated core of the degree builds understanding of the structure and function of the body and consideration of the determinants of health and disease, including genetic, societal and environmental influences.

The course culminates in the final year with subjects that deal with contemporary issues in biomedical science and health, exploring aspects of medical conditions from the molecular level to cellular and population levels.

Students are required to complete a total of 300 points of study, including 125 points of core subjects across the degree. Depth within a particular biomedical science or health-related discipline is achieved by completing 50 points (4 subjects) in a major at Level 3.

Students also take between 50-75 points from other discipline, or ‘breadth’, study areas, including subjects in the arts, humanities, commerce and other breadth discipline areas . These subjects are designed to build knowledge and skills that bridge disciplines, including sharpening skills of logic, analysis and problem solving. These subjects offer students opportunity to further differentiate their degree.

Links to further information

http://biomedicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/study/current-student-information/plan-your-bachelor-of-biomedicine

This course is available in My Course Planner

My Course Planner is an interactive web application that allows you to explore your study options and decide which subjects and major(s), minors and/or specialisations are right for you.

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 Chemistry and in Mathematical Methods (CAS) or Specialist Mathematics; OR
(b) The International Baccalaureate Diploma including:
• English, Chemistry and a minimum grade of 4 in either Applications and interpretations HL, Analysis and Approaches SL, or Analysis and Approaches HL. For students with English as their second language a pass in English B at the required level will be accepted as satisfying the English prerequisite. Except where specified, IB subjects must be passed to at least Grade 4 Standard or Higher Level. Mathematical Studies is not deemed equivalent to VCE Mathematical Methods; OR
(c) A senior secondary program, foundation studies program or equivalent approved by the Academic Board including appropriate English language, Chemistry and Mathematics studies.

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 rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. For applicants who have not completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the undergraduate English language requirements must be met.

Note: For applications through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre, “middle-band” selection adjustments are made only on the basis of eligibility for Access Melbourne.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The Bachelor of Biomedicine 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 Biomedicine necessitates all students to enrol in subjects where they will require:

the ability to comprehend complex science, technology and/or engineering systems related information;
the ability to clearly and independently communicate knowledge and application of science, technology and/or engineering systems principles and practices during assessment tasks;
the ability to attend classes and actively engage in both independent and group learning, as well as independent and group-related assessments.
the ability to actively and safely contribute in laboratory, and/or 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 and adhere to the expectations outlined in the Student Charter.

Students also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments and must therefore demonstrate a wide range of interpersonal skills which consider the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students. Integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, reflection, perseverance, and motivation are all personal qualities that are deemed necessary for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine.

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 these requirements are encouraged to discuss this matter with the relevant Major and Subject Coordinator(s) and Student Equity and Disability Support.

It is University and Faculty 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 University's programs. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting the above academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

Intended learning outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Biomedicine will have a broad and inter-disciplinary knowledge in biomedical science and health-related disciplines, with in-depth discipline-specific knowledge in at least one area of study that is at the forefront of scientific discovery.

Graduates will demonstrate skills in scientific methodology, communication, inter-disciplinary teamwork, as well as self-regulated learning. They will possess an aptitude and enthusiasm to solve tomorrow’s problems affecting individuals, communities, populations and our planet. Graduates will be ethical, independent lifelong learners able to communicate and advocate for scientific evidence in diverse social and professional settings.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Biomedicine will:

Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of human biomedical sciences, from molecular to whole body systems with an interdisciplinary understanding of human function;
Apply knowledge of human biomedical sciences to understand societal and environmental determinants of health and disease, and their impacts at an individual, community and population level;
Understand why advances in biomedical science and health knowledge are testable and contestable by interdisciplinary scientific inquiry, and how they are shaped and upheld by ethical and scholarly standards;
Apply rigorous academic integrity and ethical scholarly practices to their own learning, and understand their application and importance in biomedical science and health research;
Effectively search for, critically evaluate, and discriminate reliable sources of information and apply that information in support of scientific investigation, scholarly debate, and/or social and professional settings;
Communicate and advocate for evidence-based scientific ideas and knowledge in diverse expert, non-expert and inter-disciplinary settings;
Demonstrate skills in reflective practice, self-directed learning and effective decision-making, to set personal and learning goals, manage tasks, and evaluate progress;
Work effectively and respectfully, both individually and in groups to meet a shared goal with people from diverse disciplinary, community and cultural backgrounds;
Evaluate the role of biomedical science in addressing current issues facing individuals, communities and the global population in relation to health and disease through the lenses of respect, diversity and inclusion, scholarly practices, freedom of speech, sustainability, and student wellbeing and success; and
Respectfully engage with Indigenous perspectives and cultures, and incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing into a broad understanding of biomedical science and health contexts.

Generic skills

Effective oral and written communication that is appropriate and relevant for diverse audiences, purposes and settings;
Work collaboratively and productively as an individual and in groups, and across disciplines fostering diversity and inclusion;
Apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification, evaluation and resolution of problems;
Critically evaluate new ideas, data, research findings, methodologies and theoretical frameworks in their discipline;
Recognise and understand the ethical responsibilities of individuals (personally and collectively) and organisations in society;
Engage confidently in self-reflection, self-directed study and research;
Apply scholarly, ethical and professional thinking to personal and academic conduct.

Graduate attributes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Biomedicine will embody the University of Melbourne graduate attributes.

The integrated core curriculum across all years of the course spans traditional disciplinary boundaries in the development of fundamental understanding of the biomedical sciences, allowing graduates to acquire practical, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills. Graduates will also possess the ability to advocate for biomedical science and scientific research, and evidence-based ideas.

Collaborative learning is emphasised throughout the course as students work in laboratories, tutorials, workshops and small group activities, and undertake peer review.

Studies in the biomedical sciences and health-related disciplines equip students to explore the complex relationships that determine health outcomes in various settings and to become leaders in delivering effective therapies and healthcare strategies to combat threats to individual and public health within local, national and global communities.

The larger University of Melbourne learning community encompasses many aspects of cultural diversity, Indigenous knowledges, diversity and inclusion, integrity and ethics, respect and professional expectations, and students in Biomedicine will be exposed to these during the course.

Course structure

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

Course Rules

225 credit points of Discipline subjects including
- A minimum of 75 credit points of Level 1 Discipline subjects
  - 50 credit points of Compulsory Level 1 Discipline subjects
  - A minimum of 25 credit points of Foundation electives
- A minimum of 62.5 credit points of Level 2 Discipline subjects
  - 50 credit points of Compulsory Level 2 Discipline subjects
  - A minimum of 12.5 credit points of Level 2 Discipline electives
- A minimum of 75 credit points of Level 3 Discipline subjects
  - 25 credit points of Compulsory Level 3 Discipline subjects
  - 50 credit points consisting of subjects from your chosen Major
50 credit points of Breadth subjects including
- A maximum of 37.5 credit points of Level 1 Breadth subjects
The remaining 25 credit points may consist of Discipline electives or Breadth or Foundation electives. You must still meet all other course rules.

Additional Rules

Completion of one prescribed major
A maximum of 125 credit points of Level 1 subjects
a maximum of 125 credit points in a single discipline

Progression Rules

Completion of at least 50 points of Level 1 study before proceeding to the next subject year level is normally required.
The above Level 1 to Level 2 Progression Rule is inclusive of completing BIOM10001 Discovering Biomedicine.
Completion of at least 50 points of Level 2 study before proceeding to the next subject year level is normally required.
In particular, BIOL10002 Biomolecules & Cells, BIOM10001 Discovering Biomedicine, BIOM10002 Exploring Biomedicine and CHEM10006 Chemistry for Biomedicine must be completed before students may proceed to Level 2 core subjects.

Subject options

Compulsory Level 1 Discipline subjects

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
BIOM10001	Discovering Biomedicine	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

All students must take Discovering Biomedicine in the first semester of commencement in this course

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
BIOL10002	Biomolecules and Cells	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
CHEM10006	Chemistry for Biomedicine	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
BIOM10002	Exploring Biomedicine	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Compulsory Level 2 Discipline subjects

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
BIOM20001	Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	25
BIOM20002	Human Structure and Function	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	25

(Alternative subjects at second year level equivalent to BIOM20002 Human Structure and Function are available for students undertaking study abroad or exchange in semester 2 of their second year)

Compulsory Level 3 Discipline subjects

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
BIOM30002	Biomedicine: Molecule to Malady	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
BIOM30001	Frontiers in Biomedicine	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Elective subjects

Foundation electives

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
		Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) July (Online) September (Online)
COMP10001	Foundations of Computing	Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10005	Calculus 1	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10006	Calculus 2	Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10007	Linear Algebra	Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10008	Accelerated Mathematics 1	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10009	Accelerated Mathematics 2	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10010	Data Analysis	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10021	Calculus 2: Advanced	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10022	Linear Algebra: Advanced	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MAST10024	Mathematics & Statistics for Biomedicine	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
PHYC10003	Physics 1	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
PHYC10006	Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
PHYC10007	Physics for Biomedicine	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
PHYC10009	Foundations of Physics	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
PHYC10001	Physics 1: Advanced	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
PSYC10003	Mind, Brain & Behaviour 1	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
PSYC10004	Mind, Brain and Behaviour 2	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
PSYC10006	Mind, Brain and Behaviour A	July (Online)	12.5
PSYC10007	Mind, Brain and Behaviour B	September (Online)	12.5
ENGR10004	Engineering Technology and Society	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Students who want to keep the Bioengineering Systems major as an option need to select one of MAST10007 Linear Algebra/MAST10022 Linear Algebra: Advanced/MAST10008 Accelerated Mathematics and one of MAST10006 Calculus 2/MAST10021 Calculus 2: Advanced/MAST10009 Accelerated Mathematics 2. You are also recommended to use one of your Breadth/Elective choices to complete ENGR10004 Engineering Technology and Society (Semester 1 or 2 in your first year).

Students who want to keep the accredited Psychology major as an option need to select PSYC10003 and PSYC10004.

Discipline electives

A full list of subjects available as credit (electives) for the Bachelor of Biomedicine (B-BMED) can be found via the link below.

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2025/components/b-bmed-stdopt-1

Breadth requirements

Find breadth subjects

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

Majors, minors & specialisations

Bachelor of Biomedicine - Majors

Completion of 50 credit points of study at Level 3

The subjects taken in the major would normally follow on from relevant compulsory and elective subjects chosen at the second year level. Some Level 3 subjects require discipline electives as prerequisites.

Name	Credit Points

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	50
Biomedical Engineering Systems	50
Biotechnology	50
Cell and Developmental Biology	50
Genetics	50
Human Nutrition	50
Human Structure and Function	50
Immunology	50
Infection and Immunity	50
Microbiology	50
Neuroscience	50
Pathology	50
Pharmacology	50
Physiology	50
Psychology	50
Public Health and Epidemiology	50

Further study

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

Honours
Depending on the major undertaken, students may apply for an Honours program upon completion of the Bachelor of Biomedicine. Further details are available on:
http://mdhs-study.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/honours/overview

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.
https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/courses/pathways

Research Higher Degrees
For students who wish to explore biomedicine 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.

http://mdhs-study.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/bachelor-of-biomedicine/overview

Last updated: 12 March 2025