Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours)

The Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours) provides an advanced, specialised year of study that follows students’ completion of the requirements of the Bachelor of Biomedicine.

It extends students’ knowledge and skills through a supervised research project together with advanced coursework in related areas of study.The Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours) is available in the following programs:Anatomy and NeuroscienceBiochemistry and Molecular BiologyBiosciencesClinical PathologyHearing Sciences (Otolaryngology)Medical Biology (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research)Medicine (Austin Health)Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital)Medicine (St Vincent’s Hospital)Microbiology and ImmunologyOral Health SciencePaediatricsPathologyPharmacologyPhysiologyPopulation and Global HealthPrimary Care (General Practice)PsychologySurgery (Austin Health)Veterinary BioscienceVision Sciences

Course structure

The Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours) programs are prescribed 100-point programs (equivalent to eight 12.5-point subjects) comprising Advanced Coursework and Research Project components as outlined below.

The balance between the advanced coursework and research project components may vary from program to program, with each comprising at least 25 points and no more than 75 points of the 100-point program. The balance specific to each program will be specified in the handbook entry for each program.

1. Advanced coursework:

• two to four, 12.5-point honours or postgraduate level advanced coursework subjects.

The coordinator of the honours program in which the student is enrolled must approve each student’s advanced coursework program.

Each student’s advanced coursework program will comprise advanced coursework subjects offered by one or more departments teaching into the degree’s honours program, which may include cognate subjects offered in relevant Masters degrees where students meet the prerequisite requirements of those subjects.

The honours coordinator may approve a student including one 12.5-point Level 3 coursework subject. Inclusion of a Level 3 subject will also require approval of the appropriate subject coordinator. This option is only available if it specified in the details of the individual program which can be found using the links below.

2. Research project:

• A research project subject or subjects with total points value of between 50 and 75 points.

Duration and commencement of honours programs

The duration of the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours) programs is approximately 36 weeks within a total duration of 40 weeks for Semester 1 entrants, and approximately 36 weeks within a total duration of 46 weeks for semester 2 entrants. Not all programs are available as mid year entry. Refer to individual program entries for details.

The dates of the honours programs may vary between programs.

For Semester 2 entrants, up to ten weeks of leave may be taken within this 46-week period, in negotiation with the supervisor.

Completion Requirements

To be awarded honours students must gain:

• a pass in at least 100-points of subjects in their chosen program;
• a result of at least 65% in the research project;
• a weighted credit-point average of 65% or greater.

Students may be given permission to repeat an advanced coursework honours subject/component, or enrol in additional subject(s), in order to meet the requirement to pass 100 points. However the honours result will be determined over all subjects for which a result is entered. When the weighted credit-point average is less than 65% the honours degree will not be awarded.

Last updated: 23 September 2020

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must:

• have completed within the last 10 years a University of Melbourne Bachelor of Biomedicine or equivalent with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least H3 (65%) with a major relevant to the discipline stream within the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours) that they seek to enter; or
• within the last 10 years have completed an undergraduate degree, of which at least the equivalent of two full years comprises science or technology areas of study, with a weighted average mark of at least H3 (65%), or equivalent, and containing at least 50 points of study at third year level in science or technology areas of study relevant to the discipline stream within the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours) that they seek to enter; and
• any necessary Year 12, first- or second-year study from other disciplines that form essential background to the discipline stream within the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours) that they seek to enter.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

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

• prior academic performance, and
• the availability of supervision and resources in suitable project areas.

Quotas may be applied to the degree as a whole or to individual discipline streams and preference may be given to applicants with evidence of appropriate preparation or potential to undertake research.

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.

The schedule below shows additional streams which have additional conditions for entry. Applicants must meet these conditions to be eligible for (but not automatically guaranteed) selection into Honours within that stream.

• Clinical Pathology
• a major in Pathology or in a discipline relevant to the proposed project.
• Anatomy and Neuroscience, General Practice (Primary Care), Medical Biology (WEHI), Medicine (all streams), Microbiology and Immunology, Oral Health Science, Hearing Sciences (Otolaryngology), and Population and Global Health
• a major in a discipline relevant to the proposed project.
• Pathology
• a major in Pathology, or a major in a discipline relevant to the proposed project together with a second year pathology or pathophysiology subject, or equivalent. Applications from otherwise qualified graduates who have not completed the above but have practical experience in another biomedical science discipline will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Selection Committee.
• Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• a major in Pharmacology or in a discipline relevant to the proposed project.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours) 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 (Degree with Honours) requires all students to enrol in subjects where they will require:

(1) the ability to comprehend complex science and technology related information;

(2) the ability to clearly and independently communicate a knowledge and application of science, and technology principles and practices during assessment tasks;

(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 may be additional inherent academic requirements for some subjects, and these requirements are listed within the description of the requirements for each of these subjects.

Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the relevant Subject Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Intended learning outcomes

BBiomed(hons) graduates:

Demonstrate scientific knowledge

• Demonstrate advanced scientific knowledge, conceptual understanding and skills, and apply these capacities to address a research question and/or current issue;
• Articulate the methods of science, and explain why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry

Practise the skills required for scientific investigation

• Identify, manage and critically evaluate scientific information relevant to their own scientific investigation and/or scholarly debate;
• Demonstrate the skills required for the design, implementation, and review of a research project including problem-solving and critical interpretation of data;
• Identify and follow the principles of ethical scientific practice;
• Work effectively, both independently and collaboratively, in the planning and delivery of scientific studies;
• Communicate clearly, accurately and convincingly about science ideas, current practice and potential contributions;

Present scientific knowledge and investigation in context

• Articulate the international scope of science knowledge, practice and development and the contributions made by its diverse scholarly community;
• Explain the role of science in addressing current issues facing local and global communities, including the role of both fundamental and applied research in addressing real-world challenges.