Program Overview

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Molecular Life Sciences (Extended Major)

This extended major will help you develop in-depth understanding in biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, preparing you for a career in fields such as biotechnology, health diagnostics, aquaculture and plant breeding.

Course Details

Careers and Further Study

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

Career Pathways

A bachelor’s degree in Molecular Life Sciences from UWA would be highly recognised amongst employers in the biosciences. Career options include agricultural consultancy, biotechnology, drug development, food production and quality control, fermentation industries and chemical production. Life scientists find jobs in diagnostic laboratories in hospitals, veterinary health, toxicology and allied health fields. Opportunities beyond the laboratory include education, patent law and policy-making, as well as in agriculture and the environment, sales and marketing for medical, research and pharmaceutical industries. With their specialist knowledge of living systems, molecular life scientists find work as journalists and science communicators. A degree in Molecular Life Sciences is also an ideal launchpad for specialised postgraduate courses in bioinformatics, synthetic biology or forensics. Finally, many careers in the molecular life sciences benefit from further study towards a higher degree by research, so that graduates can reach more senior positions in research and development, whether in academia or in industry.

Some international, Australian and WA-based companies and institutions that seek molecular life scientists include:

• Pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Pfizer, CSL, Abbvie, GlaxoSmithKline, EvansPetersen Healthcare)
• Biotechnology companies (e.g. Dimerix, PYC Therapeutics, Orthocell, Novozyme, Life Cykel, Qiagen, Roche, Merck)
• Molecular diagnostics laboratories (e.g. Pathwest, Safe Work Laboratories)
• Biochemical/protein analytical laboratories (e.g. Proteomics International)
• Provisioners of scientific instrumentation (e.g. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Westlab, LabGear Australia)
• Research Centres (e.g. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)*, Telethon Kids Institute, Ingham Institute, Garvan Institute for Medical Research)
• Top-ranked universities around the world

Further Study

You might consider further studies in:

• Master of Biotechnology

Fees and Scholarships

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee

2025

$49,200.00

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Admission Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

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

• All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE): 11.5
• Canadian High School (except Quebec): 70
• French Baccalaureate: 12
• Gao Kao (PR China NCEE)/750: 525
• GCE A-Levels: 9
• German Abitur: 3.3
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 15
• Indian Senior School Certificate (CISCE): 60
• Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65: 79
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 26
• Malaysian STPM: 11
• Monash University Foundation Year: 270
• NCUK Foundation Program: 9
• Norwegian Vitnemål: 3.8
• Singapore - Cambridge A Levels: 8
• South African National Senior Certificate: 4.6
• South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 330
• Sweden Slutbetyg: 15
• Trinity College Foundation: 300
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC): 12
• University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program: 66
• US College Board Advanced Placements: 8
• US College Board SAT: 1170
• Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP): 60
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards: 80

Prerequisites

This major requires:

• Mathematics Methods ATAR; OR
• Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year; OR
• Students without ATAR mathematics to take two mathematics units in their first year.
• Chemistry ATAR or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

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.

Refer to the below regarding application processes for each of the pathways . More information regarding admission requirements and prerequisites for each pathway can be found on the 'Admission Requirements' tab.

Course Structure

Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.

Level 1

• Core: Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:
  • SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis (6)
  • STAT1400 Statistics for Science (6)
• Core: Take all units (24 points):
  • BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry (6)
  • BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (6)
  • CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics (6)
  • SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell (6)
• Bridging: Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students without Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher take MATH1721. Students without Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher take MATH1720 and MATH1721. Students without Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher take CHEM1003.
  • CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (6)
  • MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (6)
  • MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (6)

Level 2

• Core: Take all units (42 points):
  • BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell (6)
  • BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function (6)
  • CITS2401 Computer Analysis and Visualisation (6)
  • ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity (6)
  • ENVT2236 Soil Science (6)
  • GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I (6)
  • PLNT2201 Plants in Action (6)

Level 3

• Core: Take all units (36 points):
  • BIOC3001 Molecular Biology (6)
  • BIOC3002 Structural and Functional Biochemistry (6)
  • BIOC3003 Omics—Global Approaches to Cell Function (6)
  • BIOC3005 Cellular Biochemistry (6)
  • GENE3350 Evolution and Development (6)
  • GENE3370 Genomics (6)

Work Integrated Learning

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) helps bridge the gap between theory and practice by providing opportunities for students to gain hands-on, practical industry relevant experience and for employers to help shape the graduates of tomorrow.

Your Degree Options

Bachelor of Molecular Sciences Bachelor of Philosophy

You'll Learn to

• Demonstrate a profound understanding of the theoretical basis of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics in animals, plants and microorganisms
• Gain technical competency and practical skills to master state-of-the-art molecular techniques
• Develop and demonstrate your skills in critical thinking, experimental design, data analysis and interpretation

Facility

Cell and Molecular Life

The Cell and Molecular Life Facility offers state-of-the-art technology to staff and students whose research investigates diverse insults affecting animal and human cells and tissues.

Research conducted in the Cell and Molecular – Life Facility lead to a better understanding of cell and body function, help develop therapeutics and contribute to prevent disease. Investigating changes at the molecular level gives researchers the opportunity to understand the effects of genes on cell and body function (and vice versa) at an early stage of insult manifestation.