Program Requirements

The Master of Biological Sciences (Advanced) requires the completion of 96 units, which must consist of:

48 units from completion of the following coursework component:

12 units from the completion of BIOL8700 Research Proposal

A minimum of 24 units from completion of 6000-level and 8000-level courses from the subject area BIOL Biology

A maximum of 12 units may be chosen from 6000-level or 8000-level from the following subject areas:

BIAN Biological Anthropology

CHEM Chemistry

EMSC Earth and Marine Science

ENVS Environmental Science

MATH Mathematics

NEUR Neuroscience

POPH Population Health

PSYC Psychology

SCOM Science Communication

48 units from completion of the following research component:

BIOL8701 Research Project

BIOL8701 Research Project must be undertaken twice to a total of 48 units, in consecutive teaching periods.

Students must achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark in the initial 48 units of coursework and have the approval of an identified supervisor for the research project to continue to the research component.

Students who do not achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark or do not have the approval of an identified supervisor will be transferred to 96 unit Master of Biological Sciences and complete an additional 48 units of coursework or may transfer to graduate from a 48 unit Graduate Diploma of Science.

Study Options

Admission Requirements

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent in a cognate discipline with a minimum GPA of 5.5/7.

Students must achieve a minimum 70% average mark in the first 48 units of coursework and have the approval of the supervisor for the research project.

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units (one semester) of credit. Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Bachelor degree with Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 48 units (one year) of credit. Note, however, that it is unusual to receive more than one semester of credit in the Master of Biological Sciences (Advanced).

Cognate Disciplines

Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, and Plant Sciences.

English Language Requirements

All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students.

Assessment of Qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met. Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au

ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.

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.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1. demonstrate high level knowledge in the area of their study;
2. apply their knowledge in biological sciences to new problems;
3. interpret, synthesize and critically analyse published literature of relevance to biological sciences;
4. demonstrate basic and complex laboratory skills that are commonly used in biological sciences research;
5. perform experimental work, interpret and analyse results, write reports and collate data into a thesis;
6. present own research work to peers and research scientists;
7. clearly communicate theory and results in both written and oral formats.