UTS course code: C10184
UAC code: 607050
Testamur title: Bachelor of Medical Science
Abbreviation: BMedSc
Course Director: Ms Jennifer Wyndham
Course fee: HECS (local); $8,250 per semester (international)
Total credit points: 144

Overview
Course aims
Admission requirements
Advanced standing
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Assessment
Honours
Other information

Overview

The Bachelor of Medical Science degree is designed to educate and train graduates for careers in medical and health-related sciences. Major areas of study include anatomy, physiology, behavioural science, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Emphasis is placed on medical and preclinical science areas structured to provide knowledge and understanding of the human body, targeting its structure, function and disease processes both at a cellular, whole organ and behavioural level. In the later stages of the degree, students also select elective subjects to provide a major specialised strand. Elective strands focus on either additional medical science areas such as molecular biology, immunology, haematology and clinical biochemistry, or electives from a wide range of areas offered within the Faculty of Science or within the University. See the Recommended electives for Biomedical Science and Medical Science courses table, the Second majors section, or the Course Director for more details.

Course aims

This course aims to produce professional medical scientists with highly adaptable and practical scientific skills accompanied by a thorough grounding in theory. Graduates can expect to find employment in a range of areas including pharmaceutical, pathology and biomedical industries; biotechnology companies; medical research in research institutes, hospitals, industry and universities; and other health-related professions at both State and Commonwealth levels. In addition to employment in these areas, graduates also have the background knowledge and skills that are necessary for entry into graduate medical and dentistry degrees as well as for preparing them for other vocationally-oriented courses in the areas of occupational health and safety, biomedical engineering, nutrition and dietetics, osteopathy, audiology, science communication, public health and health administration.

Admission requirements

Australian students are required to apply for admission through the NSW University Admissions Centre (UAC). For school leavers, admission is based on UAI scores. We recommend that HSC studies include the following subjects: HSC Mathematics, English and at least one science subject. Non-current school leavers should apply through UAC in addition to submitting a Personal Statement to UTS. Applications are taken from September to December each year.

International students should contact the UTS International Office for application procedures. In addition to academic requirements, students are required to meet English language proficiency requirements. Further details are available from the International Office.

Advanced standing

UTS recognises prior tertiary level learning, including that from other universities and TAFE (Associate Diploma and Diploma only). Once a student's application to study has been accepted, he or she may apply to receive recognition of successful prior learning, and may therefore be able to complete the course in less than the standard time. Applications for credits and exemptions should be made to the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty of Science.

Attendance

Full-time attendance involves approximately 24 hours each week at the University. This enables a full stage of the course to be completed in one semester.

Course duration

This course is offered over:

• three years, full time
• four years, full time with successful completion of the Diploma in Scientific Practice, or
• four years, full time with Honours.

Other patterns of attendance may also be permitted. Contact the Course Director for advice.

Course structure

The course consists of six stages offered on a full-time attendance basis only. Subjects are divided into core subjects and elective subjects, some of which may form a coherent second major strand. All students enrolled in the course must satisfactorily complete a total of 40 credit points of elective/second major subjects for award of the degree. Students generally choose these subjects with a particular theme or area of expertise in mind, such as a particular area of study, through subjects available within the biological and biomedical sciences, or by way of subjects from other parts of the Faculty of Science or other faculties of UTS. For examples of electives, see the Recommended electives for Biomedical Science and Medical Science courses table. Students may be eligible to take a second major in the biomedical science area (provided that they fulfil all of the prerequisites for subjects listed in the recommended biomedical subject strands).

Course program

Assessment

Depending on the subjects chosen, students can expect to undergo a variety of assessment types before completion of this course including formal and informal examinations, assignments and essays, practical reports and write-ups, and seminar presentations. Assessment tasks may be based on individual or group work. For further details on individual subjects, see the Subject Descriptions section, or contact the subject's coordinator.

Honours

The Honours program is designed to introduce students to more advanced coursework and to research work in medical science. It allows selected students to continue on with postgraduate studies if desired and enhances their employment prospects. For further information see the Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours).

Other information

All academic inquiries should be made to:

Course Director, Medical Science
Ms Jennifer Wyndham
Department of Health Sciences
telephone (02) 9514 1328
fax (02) 9514 2228
email Jennifer.Wyndham@uts.edu.au