Master of Biomedical Science (MC-BMEDSC)

Masters (Coursework)Year: 2025 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Award titleMaster of Biomedical Science
Year & campus2025 — Parkville
CRICOS code079405D
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Coursework
AQF level 9
Credit points200 credit points
Duration24 months full-time or 48 months part-time

The Master of Biomedical Science is a coursework Masters degree incorporating a substantial research project.

The Master of Biomedical Science gives students the opportunity to undertake a substantive research project in a field of choice as well as a broad range of coursework subjects including industry-focused subjects. It will equip students with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in the wide range of commercial and industrial contexts, as well as increasing the industry knowledge and links of the next generation of biomedical researchers.

The Master of Biomedical Science is a pathway to PhD study or entry into industry.

Links to further information

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:
• an undergraduate degree with a major in a relevant discipline with a weighted average mark of at least H3 (65%), or equivalent.
Meeting this requirement 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. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Note.
• Quotas may be applied to the degree as a whole, or to individual disciplines, and preference may be given to applicants with evidence of appropriate preparation or potential to undertake research.
• Entry is subject to the capacity of a participating department to provide adequate supervision in a research project appropriate to the interests and preparation of the individual student and is subject to the agreement of an academic staff member to supervise the project.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to providingsupport to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

  • analyse selected contemporary issues in biomedical and health sciences and the kinds of data generated by biomedical and health research programs;
  • critically evaluate and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in the biological sciences;
  • design, conduct and manage a research project, applying advanced skills in data collection, analysis and interpretation;
  • communicate scientific concepts and results in oral and written form to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
  • contextualise the commercial, financial and regulatory constraints within which innovations in biomedical science are translated to products and practices that improve health outcomes.

Generic skills

  • Use and evaluate scientific literature
  • Apply their understanding to the design and implementation of a research plan
  • Acquire, analyse, evaluate and interpret data using appropriate techniques
  • Communicate advanced concepts in their discipline in written and oral form
  • Work effectively in teams, both collaboratively and independently
  • Manage projects and their time effectively
  • Interact and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders in the context of research translation

Graduate attributes

Knowledge
Graduates of the Master of Biomedical Science Degree will have acquired:
1. a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in the discipline of biomedical science
2. knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of biomedical science


Skills
Graduates of the Master of Biomedical Science Degree will have developed:
1. cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and scholarship
2. cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice
3. cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas concepts at an abstract level
4. communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and scientific professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
5. technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse, theorise about developments that contribute to scientific professional practice or scholarship

Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates of the Master of Biomedical Science Degree will demonstrate the application of knowledge & skills:
1. with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional scientific practice and/or for further learning
2. with high level personal autonomy and accountability
3. to plan and execute a substantial research-based project,

Course structure

The Master of Biomedical Science requires the successful completion of 200 credit points.

All students must complete:

  • 25 credit points of Year 1 compulsory subjects
  • 50 credit points of elective subjects including
    • A minimum of 25 credit points of Discipline electives
    • A minimum of 12.5 credit points of Industry and Professional electives

125 credit points of Research Project subjects including:

  • 37.5 credit points of Research Project A subjects
  • 87.5 credit points of Research Project B subjects

Subject options

Compulsory subjects

All students must complete the Compulsory subjects in Year 1.

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BIOM40001 Introduction To Biomedical Research
February (On Campus - Parkville)
March (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
HLTH90021 Biomedical Enterprise Research to Impact
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Research Project A

Students must complete a research project under the supervision of a staff member in an academic unit (a Department or an affiliated Institute) within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

Students enrol in the combination of subjects based on their supervisors department.

Students complete Part 1 (12.5 credit points) in their first semester and Part 2 (25 credit points) in their second semester.

School of Biomedical Sciences:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90035 Research Project A (SBS) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90036 Research Project A (SBS) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 25

Melbourne Medical School:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90027 Research Project A (MMS) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90028 Research Project A (MMS) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 25

Melbourne Dental School:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90023 Research Project A (MDS) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90024 Research Project A (MDS) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 25

Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90031 Research Project A (Psych) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90032 Research Project A (Psych) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 25

Vision Sciences:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
OPTO90032 Research Project A (VisionSci) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
OPTO90033 Research Project A (VisionSci) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 25

Research Project B

Students must complete a research project under the supervision of a staff member in an academic unit (a Department or an affiliated Institute) within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Research Project B is a continuation of the research commenced in Research Project A.

Students enrol in the combination of subjects based on their supervisors department.

Students complete Part 1 (37.5 credit points) in their third semester and Part 2 (50 credit points) in their final semester.

School of Biomedical Sciences:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90037 Research Project B (SBS) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 37.5
BMSC90038 Research Project B (SBS) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 50

Melbourne Medical School:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90029 Research Project B (MMS) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 37.5
BMSC90030 Research Project B (MMS) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 50

Melbourne Dental School:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90025 Research Project B (MDS) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 37.5
BMSC90026 Research Project B (MDS) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 50

Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90033 Research Project B (Psych) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 37.5
BMSC90034 Research Project B (Psych) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 50

Vision Sciences:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
OPTO90034 Research Project B (VisionSci) Part 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
 37.5
OPTO90035 Research Project B (VisionSci) Part 2
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
 50

Elective subjects

Students will complete 37.5 credit points of elective subjects in Year 1 and 12.5 credit points in Year 2.

Students will complete a minimum of 25 credit points of Discipline Electives and a minimum of 12.5 credit points of Industry and Professional Electives.

Discipline Electives:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BMSC90020 Exploring Neural Circuits and Systems
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90015 Advanced Biomolecular Neuroscience
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90019 Defence & Disease: Frontier Technologies
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90018 Defence & Disease: Containment or Chaos
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90021 Laboratory Models of Human Disease
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90016 Contemporary Cell and Gene Therapies
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90022 Current Challenges in Metabolic Diseases
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BMSC90017 Current Technologies in Metabolism
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SCIE90026 Biomolecular Structure Determination Not available in 2025 12.5
GENE90020 Current Genetics: Cells and Development Not available in 2025 12.5

Industry and Professional Electives:

Code Name Study period Credit Points
BIOL90001 Microscopy for Biological Sciences
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SCIE90002 Analytical Techniques for Biotechnology Not available in 2025 12.5
MAST90007 Statistics for Research Workers
Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
MKTG90022 Commercialisation of Science
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SCIE90006 Scientists,Communication & the Workplace
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90403 Business Tools: Money People & Processes
September (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BINF90002 Elements of Bioinformatics
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BIOL90042 Coding and Data Analysis in Biomedicine
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5

Further study

The Master of Biomedical Science offers a pathway to a PhD.

Last updated: 28 March 2025