• Length 3 years full-time
  • Minimum 144 Units
Admission requirements
  • Mode of delivery
    • Internal

Back to the Bachelor of Health Science page

Tackle some of the greatest health challenges of our time with the Bachelor of Health Science.

The Bachelor of Health Science draws upon the world-leading strengths of ANU in medical education, biomedical science, population health, psychology, social science and public policy to prepare you for a future in medical, allied health and health-related professions.

This program is not available for Semester 2 commencement.

Note: Advice on this page is indicative only. Where a number of courses has been identified, it assumes that all of your courses are 6-units. If you take a course worth 12-units please refer to the unit-load in the study requirements in the program orders.

Single degree

The Bachelor of Health Science requires 144 units (24 courses), including:

  • A maximum of 10 x 1000-level courses
  • A minimum of 3 x 3000-level courses from the BHLTH course lists
  • 9  x compulsory courses
  • A minimum of 2 transdisciplinary problem-solving (TD) courses (one of which is embedded in the compulsory courses)
  • 6 x courses from the themed lists or from the pre-med stream.
  • A maximum of 10 courses from the lists in the BHLTH not previously taken or other ANU electives

Double degree

This program is not available in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD)

About this degree

Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving courses

In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). TD courses can be identified using the Programs and Courses search engine.

In the Bachelor of Health Science, this requirement will be satisfied through HLTH2002 (compulsory course) and can also be satisfied through enrolment in one of the following courses: HLTH3002, HLTH2004, PSYC1005, PSYC2012, SCOM3003.

Enrolment Status

Duration

The Bachelor of Health Science typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units.

In total, students need to complete 144 units of study towards the Bachelor of Health Science. This will be 24 courses if all courses are worth six-units, but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken.

 Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time.

If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete.

International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave.

Maximum time for completion

The maximum period for completion of the Bachelor of Health Science degree is ten years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This ten years includes any periods of leave.


A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree. When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end date for your degree in your credit offer.

Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses

There are 4 compulsory 1000 level courses you must take in your first year:

If you are following the pre-med stream you must also take:
You may take 1000-level courses later in your program.  But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree.

Electives

Remember you can choose up to 10 courses from another ANU College in this program.

You can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a non-health science subject, such as philosophy, history or computing. The choice is yours.

How do I use my electives?

Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc).

We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree.

Study Options

Study Options

Year 1 48 units BIOL1008 Human Biology 6 units HLTH1001 Health in the 21st Century 6 units CHEM1101 CHEM1101 (pre-med stream) or themed list course BHLTH or ANU elective course 6 units
BIOL1004 Biology 2: Molecular and Cell Biology 6 units HLTH1002 Research Methods in the Health Sciences 6 units CHEM1201 CHEM1201 (pre-med stream) or themed list course BHLTH or ANU elective course 6 units

Academic Advice

For further information, you can:

If you need help on any aspect of university life, our "Need Help" webpage is a good place to start and can link you to services across the University.

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