Diploma of Science

Program Overview

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Diploma of Science

Gain entry into the second year of a Deakin University science degree and make a real difference in a cutting-edge scientific field.

Key Information

Duration

8 or 12 months

Intake Dates

March, June, October

Campus Location

Geelong Waurn Ponds

2025 Fees Domestic

A$29,410 (A$3,676.25 per unit)

FEE-Help available

2025 Fees International

A$36,810 (A$4,601.25 per unit)

Course Overview

The Diploma of Science is a direct pathway to second year of Deakin bachelor degrees in Science, Biomedical Science, Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology), Environmental Science and Sustainability, Forensic Science, Zoology and Animal Science. In these cutting-edge and rapidly growing fields, graduates could find themselves involved in scientific developments that hold the key to our future.

Employment and career options upon completing your Bachelor degree:

• Biomedical science
• Environment and natural resources
• Forensics
• Genetic engineering
• Insurance investigation
• Laboratory technology
• Management
• Marketing
• Medical research
• Pest management officers
• Occupational health and safety
• Pharmaceutical production or sales
• Research science
• Risk analysis
• Quality assurance
• Education
• Quarantine officers

Pathways to Deakin University

On completion of this diploma, you can pathway into the following degrees at Deakin University:

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science
  • Majors: Environmental Health, Infection and Immunity, Medical Biotechnology, Medical Genomics, Molecular Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Science
• Bachelor of Environmental Science and Sustainability
• Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology)
• Bachelor of Forensic Science
  • Majors: Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry
• Bachelor of Science
  • Majors: Animal Biology, Cell Biology and Genomics, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Food Science, Human Biology, Mathematical Modelling, Plant Biology
• Bachelor of Zoology and Animal Science

Course and Unit Outline

For further details about Diploma of Science units, unit availability and trimester structures, please download the course and unit outline.

Course Structure

Required Units

Students are required to complete and pass eight units (1 credit point each) plus two compulsory zero-credit-point modules. From Trimester 3, 2024, some international students will be required to take an additional, compulsory module (0 credit points).

The units you choose will depend on the degree program that you intend to study at Deakin University.

• HBS107 Understanding Health
• HBS109 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
• HSN101 Foundations of Food Nutrition and Health
• SIT190 Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs
• SIT191 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
• SIT194 Introduction to Mathematical Modelling
• SLE102 Physical Geography
• SLE103 Ecology and the Environment
• SLE109 Fundamentals of Environmental Science
• SLE111 Cells and Genes
• SLE112 Fundamentals of Forensic Science
• SLE115 Essential Skills in Bioscience
• SLE121 Environmental Sustainability
• SLE123 Physics for the Life Sciences
• SLE132 Biology: Form and Function
• SLE133 Chemistry in Our World
• SLE155 Chemistry for the Professional Sciences
• DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
• SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points)
• LDM100 Language Development Module (0 credit points) (From Trimester 3, 2024)

Notes

• The units you choose will depend on the degree program that you intend to study at Deakin University.
• All Diploma of Science students must complete a Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (SLE010) and DAI001 Academic Integrity which are three-hour online training modules. These modules are zero-credit-point modules and do not count toward your required 8 credit points
• For SLE111, SLE112, SLE132, SLE133 and SLE155 you must complete SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program as a co-requisite unit
• For SLE155 you must successfully complete SLE133 Chemistry in our World before enrolling (Pre-requisite).
• SLE115 and SLE109 are incompatible. Students cannot complete both units within the Diploma of Science.

Your Course Timetable

On-campus classes run between 9am and 7pm on weekdays. Most units run as 2 x 2-hour classes each week. You can also expect between 4-6 hours of private study per unit, per week.

The Language Development Module (international students only) is run on campus as a 1 x 2-hour class each week in your first trimester only.

Transferring to Deakin University

Australian Students

Weighted average mark (WAM) required for transfer, by campus:

| Trimester Intake| Melbourne Burwood| Geelong Waurn Ponds| Warnambool| Maximum Credits
---|---|---|---|---|---
S320 Bachelor of Science≠ (B, WP)Major sequences:
Animal Biology (B, WP)
Cell Biology and Genomics (B, WP)
Chemistry (B, WP)
Environmental Science (B)
Food Science (B)
Human Biology (B, WP)
Mathematical Modelling (B, WP, O)
Plant Biology (B)| T1
T2| 50| 50| | 8
S323 Bachelor of Biomedical Science (B, WP)Major sequences:
Environmental Health (B, WP)
Infection and Immunity (B, WP)
Medical Biotechnology (B, WP)
Medical Genomics (B, WP)
Molecular Life Sciences (B, WP)
Pharmaceutical Science (B, WP)| T1
T2| 50| 50| | 8
S398 Bachelor of Environmental Science and Sustainability
(B)| T1
T2| 50| | | 8
S393 Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology)
(B)| T1
T2
T3| 50| | | 8
S324 Bachelor of Forensic Science (WP)
Major sequences:
Forensic Biology (WP)
Forensic Chemistry (WP)| T1
T2| | 50| | 8
S369 Bachelor of Zoology and Animal Science
(WP)| T1
T2| | 50| | 8

International Students

Weighted average mark (WAM) required for transfer, by campus:

| Trimester Intake| Melbourne Burwood| Geelong Waurn Ponds| Maximum Credits
---|---|---|---|---
S320 Bachelor of Science≠ (B, WP)Major sequences:
Animal Biology (B, WP)
Cell Biology and Genomics (B, WP)
Chemistry (B, WP)
Environmental Science (B)
Food Science (B)
Human Biology (B, WP)
Mathematical Modelling (B, WP)
Plant Biology (B)| T1
T2| 50| 50| 8
S323 Bachelor of Biomedical Science≠ (B, WP)Major sequences:
Environmental Health (B, WP)
Infection and Immunity (B, WP)
Medical Biotechnology (B, WP)
Medical Genomics (B, WP)
Molecular Life Sciences (B)
Pharmaceutical Science (B, WP)| T1
T2| 50| 50| 8
S398 Bachelor of Environmental Science and Sustainability
(B)| T1
T2| 50| | 8
S393 Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology)
(B)| T1
T2| 50| | 8
S324 Bachelor of Forensic Science (WP)
Major sequences:
Forensic Biology (WP)
Forensic Chemistry (WP)| T1
T2| | 50| 8
S369 Bachelor of Zoology and Animal Science
(WP)| T1
T2| | 50| 8

Entry Requirements

International Entry Requirements

The following is required for international students:

• Completion of IB Diploma with a score of 22 or above
• GCE A Levels with a pass in 2 subjects
• GCE AS levels with a pass in 4 subjects

Australian Entry Requirements

The following is required for Australian students:

• Successful completion of Year 12 (VCE or equivalent)
• VCE VM completion
• Completion of Cert IV and above
• IB Diploma score of 22 or above
• Work experience - Mature Age only

Country-Specific Entry Requirements

• Bahrain: General Secondary Education Certificate plus 1 year UG study with overall 60%
• Bangladesh: Completion of Higher Secondary Certificate with GPA of 3.5
• Bhutan: BHSE Year 12 - 60%
• Brazil: Satisfactory pass in Certificado de Ensino Medio with an average of 7.0 in 4 subjects
• Brunei: 2 passes in GCE A-levels
• Canada: Completion of Ontario Secondary School Diploma (CPU) or any of the Regional (Provincial) High School Diploma with an overall score of 50%.
• Cambodia: Diploma of Upper Secondary Education with a C grade average
• China: Successful completion of Senior Middle 3 (Gao San) with 60%
• Colombia: Successful Completion of Bachiller Académico with a minimum overall average score of 70%
• Fiji: Successful completion of Form 7 with a B in English and Maths and a pass in all other units, with an overall score of 240
• France: Baccalaureate with an average of 10
• Ghana: 2 passes in GCE A-levels
• Hong Kong: Completion of HKDSE with a minimum total score of 8 points over the best 4 subjects from Category A and C (Excluding Physical Education)
• India: Completion of Year 12 with a minimum 60%
• Indonesia: SMA III with an average grade of 6.5 in 4 academic units
• Iran: Successful Completion of National High School Diploma (Theoretical steam ) studied for minimum 3 years with an overall grade of 14 or above out of 20.
• Japan: Successful completion of Upper Secondary School Certificate of Graduation (Kotogakko) Year 3 with GPA 2.5
• Kenya: Completion of KCSE with a C grade average
• Korea: Senior High School Certificate Year 3 (Year 12) with an average rank of 6 in 4 academic subjects
• Kuwait: Completion of Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-Aama (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a 70% average in final results.
• Laos: IB Diploma score of 22 or above
• Lebanon: General Secondary Certificate (Lebanese Baccalaureate) - Baccalauréat Libanais with a minimum score of 12 (out of 20).
• Macau: Successful completion of Senior Middle 3 (Form 6) with an average of 60% in 4 academic units
• Malawi: 2 passes in GCE A-levels
• Mexico: Completion of Mexican Upper Secondary School Program (Bachillerato or Preparatria program) with a minimum 7.0 GPA
• Malaysia: STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia) with 2 passes (minimum Grade C)
• Mongolia: Successful completion of Gerchilgee (Certificate of Senior Secondary Education) with an overall average score of 70%
• Myanmar: Completion of Basic Education High School Exam with grade of 50% in final year results
• Nepal: Completion of Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Year 12) with a GPA of 2.4
• New Zealand: Completion of National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 with a minimum of 42 credits in 3 approved subjects at Level 3
• Nigeria: Senior Secondary School Certificate (WAEC or NECO) with 5 grades at C6 level
• Oman: Additional year of study following General Secondary Education Certificate or Year 12 American program
• Pakistan: Completion of Higher Secondary School Certificate with a grade average of 55%
• Papua New Guinea: Higher School Certificate with a grade average of 70%
• Philippines: Successful completion of Year 12 with an 80% average
• Russian: Successful completion of Certificate of Secondary (Complete) General Education with an overall grade average of 3.0
• Saudi Arabia: Additional year of study following General Secondary Education Certificate or Year 12 American program
• Singapore: 2 H2 passes in GCE A-levels
• South Africa: Successful completion of Year 12
• Sri Lanka: 2 passes in GCE A-levels or equivalent
• Sweden: Avgangsbetyg / Slutbetyg (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a score of 10 points.
• Taiwan: Successful completion of Senior Middle 3 with a B or 60% average in 4 academic units
• Tanzania: 2 passes in GCE A-levels
• Thailand: Successful completion of Matayom 6 with a GPA of 2.0
• Turkey: Successful completion of Lise Diplomasi with GPA of 3.0
• UAE: Successful completion of Secondary Education Certificate (Year 12) with a minimum overall average score of 80% or higher.
• Uganda: Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) with passes in at least 2 principal studies plus Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with passes in 6 studies
• UK: GCE A Levels with a pass in 2 subjects
• USA: Successful completion of American High School Diploma with a minimum score of 2.0; or Successful completion of Year 12 or equivalent PLUS with a SAT score of 1000; or Successful completion of GED (High School Equivalency) with a minimum overall score of 580, and no content area module below 145.
• Vietnam: Successful completion of Year 12 with a 6.0 GPA
• Zambia: 2 passes in GCE A-levels
• Zimbabwe: 2 passes in GCE A-levels

English Language Entry Requirements

International students must be able to demonstrate English language proficiency before being admitted to this course.

Transfer Guidelines

View the transfer requirements for the Diploma of Science below.

Domestic Students

International Students