Advanced Coursework in Medical Biology (BIOL40014)
HonoursPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1 (Early-Start)
Subject Coordinator:
Dr Meg Taylor
Administrative Coordinator:
Kerry Ko
For more information:
Semester 2
Subject Coordinator:
Dr Meg Taylor
Administrative Coordinator
For more information:
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 (Early-Start) Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The purpose of the advanced coursework is to develop professional and scientific skills necessary for general scientific inquiry. The knowledge gained will foster the student’s capacity to identify questions and generate ideas as well as providing a framework for students to use in order to approach and validate their ideas. Students will develop an understanding of experimental design, approach and evaluation, and skills in critical analysis of published experimental data. Students will also develop skills in written and oral forms of scientific communication.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- Identify major advances in biomedical research
- Write about research and data using a scientific style of writing
- Communicate research and data in oral presentations
- Read scientific articles with critical assessment of the content
- Develop the ability to understand and critically evaluate data obtained by other researchers
- Understand experimental design and statistics and be able to apply good experimental design
- Establish a strong foundation in statistics as it applies biomedical scientific data
- Synthesise a logical frame for their own hypotheses based on the literature and propose experiments to clarify scientific questions or resolve contradictory reports
- Understanding biomedical research through specialised lectures
Generic skills
The students will be exposed to recent research findings in a wide range of scientific fields not only relating to their own research project. This exposure will promote a comprehensive understanding of important areas of biomedical science and their relevance to human health and disease.
The students will
• develop the ability to understand and evaluate critically data obtained by others.
• synthesise a logical frame for their own hypotheses based on the literature.
• propose experiments to clarify scientific questions or resolve contradictory reports.
Last updated: 21 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into or selection of one of the following:
- BH-BMED Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours)
- BH-SCI Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)
- MC-BMEDSC Master of Biomedical Science
Corequisites
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours) must also be enrolled in the below subject:
BMSC40003 Medical Biology Research Project Part 1
Non-allowed subjects
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 21 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Journal Club presentation: 30mins presentation followed by 30mins student-led discussion with small group of peers
| From Week 3 to Week 12 | 25% |
Written critique of Journal Article, submitted two weeks after presentation
| From Week 5 to Week 14 | 15% |
Participation (have read the article and contribute to group discussion) Hurdle requirement: 100% Attendance at Journal clubs within a group (~5 one hour sessions) | From Week 3 to Week 12 | 10% |
Experimental Design and Statistics Online Quizzes (3 x quizzes)
| From Week 5 to Week 11 | 12% |
Experimental Design and Statistics plan
| Mid semester | 13% |
Research Proposal, in the context of research experience to date, but not an assessment of research project itself (1,500 words plus figure)
| Late in the teaching period | 25% |
| Hurdle requirement: 80% attendance at postgraduate Lecture series (12 one hour lectures) | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 21 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1 (Early-Start)
Coordinator Meg Taylor Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 26 Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 17 February 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 28 February 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 (Early-Start) contact information
Subject Coordinator:
Dr Meg Taylor
Administrative Coordinator:
Kerry Ko
For more information:
- Semester 2
Coordinator Meg Taylor Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours: 5 x 60min journal clubs; 12 x 60min postgraduate seminar series attendance; 3 x 60min Experimental Design and Statistics tutorials; and 4 x 60min workshops. Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 contact information
Subject Coordinator:
Dr Meg Taylor
Administrative Coordinator
For more information:
Time commitment details
24 contact hours with an estimated total time commitment of 340 hours (including non-contact time)
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 21 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Medical Biology Informal specialisation Medical Biology - Links to additional information
Last updated: 21 March 2025