Program Overview

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Plant Biology (Extended Major)

Apply knowledge from botany, molecular sciences and genetics to work on applications to real-world problems.

Course Details

Careers & further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Fees & Scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course. For fee type definitions and further assistance, see the Fee Calculator Help page. You can also search our database for scholarships that are relevant to you or this course.

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying one of these majors, find out the admission details below.

Admission Requirements

Minimum entry requirements

Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

• Indonesian Secondary School Leaving Certificate (STTB SMA): 8
• All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE): 12
• Canadian Matriculation (except Quebec): 70
• Chinese Gao Kao: 525
• Chinese Unified Examinations (UEC): 12
• French Baccalauréat: 12
• GCE or Cambridge Advanced-level Examinations: 8
• German Abitur: 3.3
• Indian School Certificate (CISCE): 60
• International Baccalaureate: 27
• Norwegian Vitnemål: 4
• Singapore-Cambridge A-Levels: 8
• South African National Senior Certificate: 4.6
• Swedish Slutbetyg: 15
• UWA Foundation Programme (UWAFP): 66
• Western Australian Universities Foundation Program (WAUFP): 60
• Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY): 270
• Trinity College Foundation Program: 75
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards: 80
• Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 320
• U.S. College Board Advanced Placement Examinations: 8
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 15

Mathematics requirement

This major requires a certain level of Chemistry and Mathematics. If you do not meet this level, you can take additional Chemistry and/or Mathematics units in your first year to satisfy this requirement.

• WACE prerequisite: Mathematics Methods ATAR and Chemistry ATAR

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

• Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

How to Apply

The application process to this course is different for the assured and graduate entry pathways, and for international and domestic applicants.

Domestic Pathways

• Domestic Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via TISC.
• Domestic Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via GEMSAS, which open and close in accordance with the GEMSAS timeline. All domestic applicants must submit a valid GAMSAT score by the application closing date.

International Pathways

• International Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.
• International Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.

Course Structure

Extended majors enable you to dive deeper into a particular area of study and normally require 13 to 18 units studied over the course of your degree.

Why Study This Course at UWA?

• Study near the South West of Western Australia, one of the world’s 25 ‘biodiversity hotspots’ (Conservation International)
• We’ll provide you with the environment to build technical skills through hands-on learning in the classroom and out in the field, visiting places across WA from the desert to forests and tropical reefs.
• A major in Plant Biology can accelerate you into a diverse range of career opportunities

You'll Learn to

• Describe the development, structure and functioning of plants from the molecular scale through to the whole plant
• Demonstrate competency in scientific methodologies such as field and laboratory sampling, experimentation and data analysis in the plant sciences
• Demonstrate understanding of the different ways genome sequencing, genome editing, genome diversity and evolution are used to solve both fundamental and applied problems in the plant sciences
• Demonstrate an understanding of the crucial relationship between a plant's genetics, physiology and ecology with capacity to respond to changing environment and threats e.g. pathogen resistance, impacts of climate change, salinity
• Demonstrate competency in high-level critical thinking and communication skills suited to gaining employment in the plant sciences

Fieldwork in Science

Find out more about our amazing field trips in the Natural and Physical Sciences interest area that'll take you all around Western Australia and beyond.

Your Degree Options

This major is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for these degrees.

• Bachelor of Biological Science

Quick Details

• Status: Available
• Locations: Perth (Crawley campus)
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On-campus
• Starting dates: Semester 1, Semester 2
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Course Code: MJD-PLBEM
• Full time/part time duration: 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
• Degrees course is available in: Bachelor of Biological Science