Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Health Science requires the completion of 144 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 144 units must consist of:

60 units from completion of compulsory courses from the following list:

BIOL1004 Biology 2: Molecular and Cell Biology

BIOL1008 Human Biology

HLTH1001 Health in the 21st Century

HLTH1002 Health Information and Data

HLTH3001 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

HLTH3002 Professional Practice in Health Science

MEDN2001 Medical Physiology and Pharmacology

MEDN2002 Pathogenesis of Human Disease

POPH3000 Introduction to Population Health

SCOM3303 Health Promotion Principles and Practice

 

Either:

Applications of Health

A minimum of 18 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ANTH1002 Culture and Human Diversity: Introducing Anthropology

ANTH1003 Global Citizen: Culture, Development and Inequality

ANTH2026 Medicine, Healing and the Body

BIAN2119 Nutrition, Disease and the Environment

BIAN2130 Ancient Medicine

BIOL2142 General Microbiology

BIOL2151 Genetics

BIOL2161 Genes: Replication and Expression

BIOL2171 Biochemistry and Nutrition

BIOL2174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease

BIOL2191 Ecology of Health and Disease

CHEM1101 Chemistry 1

CHEM1201 Chemistry 2

PHYS1004 Life Physics

PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour

PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context

PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour

PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology

SCOM1001 Science Communication 1: Science and Public Awareness

SCOM1002 Science Communication 2: Scientific Evidence and Social Change

SCOM2031 Science, Risk and Ethics

SOCY2162 Sociology of Health and Illness

 

A minimum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIAN3125 Ancient Health & Disease

BIOL3006 Human Physiology

BIOL3108 Hallmarks of Cancer

BIOL3141 Infection and Immunity

BIOL3142 Parasitology

BIOL3144 Advanced and Applied Immunology

BIOL3186 Human Anatomy

BIOL3193 Bacteria and Health: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective

BIOL3204 Genetics of Human Disease 1

BIOL3205 Genetics of Human Disease 2

ECON3004 Health Economics

NEUR3101 Cellular Neuroscience

NEUR3112 Systems Neuroscience

PSYC3020 Health Psychology

SCOM3027 Science and Public Policy

 

Or:

Pre-Medicine

18 units from completion of the following courses:

BIOL2171 Biochemistry and Nutrition

CHEM1101 Chemistry 1

CHEM1201 Chemistry 2

 

6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIOL2142 General Microbiology

BIOL2161 Genes: Replication and Expression

BIOL2174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease

PHYS1004 Life Physics

 

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIOL3006 Human Physiology

BIOL3108 Hallmarks of Cancer

BIOL3141 Infection and Immunity

BIOL3142 Parasitology

BIOL3144 Advanced and Applied Immunology

BIOL3186 Human Anatomy

BIOL3203 Histology and Advanced Microscopy

BIOL3204 Genetics of Human Disease 1

BIOL3205 Genetics of Human Disease 2

BIOL3208 Biology Research Project

BIOL3209 Biology Research Project

NEUR3101 Cellular Neuroscience

NEUR3112 Systems Neuroscience

48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective major, minor or specialisation.

Admission Requirements

Admission to all programs is on a competitive basis. Admission to undergraduate degrees is based on meeting the ATAR requirement or an equivalent rank derived from the following qualifications:

• An Australian year 12 qualification or international equivalent; OR
• A completed Associate Diploma, Associate Degree, AQF Diploma, Diploma, AQF Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or international equivalent; OR
• At least one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) in a single program of degree level study at an Australian higher education institution or international equivalent; OR
• An approved tertiary preparation course unless subsequent study is undertaken.

Click HERE for further information about domestic admission.

Admission to the B Health Science also requires a successful assessment of suitability based on a supplementary form. The form must be submitted by November 30 in the year of application. Submission of this form is compulsory for all applicants.

Fifteen places are reserved in every intake of the Bachelor of Health Science for students from rural and Indigenous backgrounds. Students applying to one or both of these categories are required to submit further documentation with their Bachelor degree application in support of their claim. Please attach this documentation to your Universities Admissions Centre application at www.uac.edu.au. See ANU Undergraduate – Additional Selection Criteria for further information.

 

The National Register of higher education providers is an authoritative source of information that will help you confirm your institution of choice is registered to deliver higher education in Australia.

The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) website is HERE. Based on surveys done by thousands of students across Australia you can find out about universities that interest you, doing side-by-side comparisons.

 

The table below is a guide to the entry level required for domestic applicants. Exact entry level will be set at time of offer.

Domestic applicant entry requirements
Queensland Band equivalents are a guide only - selection is made on an ATAR equivalent that is not available to students.

International applicant entry requirements
International applicants may view further information on admissions requirements at Entry Requirements for International Undergraduate Applicants

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs as required.

Prerequisites

There are no formal program prerequisites and many first-year science courses assume little specific knowledge. The exceptions are:

• For many of the biology majors, chemistry is a requirement, therefore it is recommended that students have at least an ACT minor (but preferably a major) in chemistry, or successful completion of a bridging course in chemistry, or multistrand science in NSW, or equivalent. Chemistry is essential for all later-year courses in the biological streams of biochemistry and cell biology, microbiology and immunology, molecular genetics, animal and human physiology, and some parts of botany and neuroscience. A bridging course is available in February details can be obtained through science.enquiries@anu.edu.au
• CHEM1101: ACT major in Chemistry, or successful completion of a bridging course in chemistry, or multistrand science in NSW, or equivalent, is required. Chemistry is essential for all later-year courses in chemistry. A bridging course is available in February details can be obtained through science.enquiries@anu.edu.au
• MATH1003: Assumed knowledge: ACT Mathematical Methods or NSW HSC Mathematics or equivalent
• MATH1005: ACT Mathematical Methods or NSW HSC Mathematics or equivalent
• MATH1013: A satisfactory pass in ACT Specialist Mathematics Major - Minor or NSW HSC Mathematics Extension 1 or equivalent. Students with a good pass in ACT Mathematical Methods or NSW HSC Mathematics or equivalent will be considered
• MATH1115: A satisfactory pass in ACT Specialist Mathematics double major or NSW HSC Mathematics Extension 2 or equivalent. Students with excellent marks in either ACT Specialist Mathematics major-minor or NSW HSC Mathematics Extension 1 or equivalent may be permitted to enrol
• PHYS1101: There is a corequisite of MATH1013/1115. See the entries above. There is no formal physics prerequisite but preparation is assumed and recommended. Recommended preparation is - NSW: a high standard in 2 unit physics or a multistrand science; ACT: a high standard in physics (major).
   

Adjustment Factors

ANU offers rank adjustments for a number of adjustment factors, including for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. Rank adjustments are applied to Bachelor degree applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 points (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustments, maximum 10 equity-based adjustments and maximum 5 Elite Athlete adjustments) will be awarded. Subject and performance-based adjustments do not apply to programs with a minimum selection rank of 98 or higher. Visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Employment Opportunities

With a Bachelor of Health Science, you can launch your career path in medicine, allied health, health organisations and the public service, including in hospitals, public health units, healthcare foundations and academia.

See where a Bachelor of Health Science could take you: our career wheel will help you turn your interests into a career in science.

Learning Outcomes

1.    the foundation knowledge and skills in the biomedical sciences underpinning the functioning of the healthy body.
2.    an understanding of the determinants of good and poor health including biological, social and economical factors as they apply to Australian and global contexts.
3.    an understanding and a commitment to professional ethics, social accountability, and cultural competency.
4.    an ability to search, analyse and synthesise information and to propose research questions relevant to biomedical science, population health and public health policy.
5.    the skills required for success in leading and participating in teams to deliver successful health outcomes.

Further Information

The Bachelor of Health Science offers a pathway to the postgraduate Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) at ANU without having to sit the GAMSAT. At the end of their second year in the Bachelor of Health Science up to 30 students will receive an offer of entry to the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD), contingent upon their grade point average (GPA), an interview process, and successful completion of the Bachelor of Health Science. Ten of the 30 places in the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) program are reserved for rural and Indigenous students from the Bachelor of Health Science.