Bachelor of Medical Science (Specialisation)
Duration | 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time |
Location | Bundaberg and Rockhampton |
Next start term | Term 1, 2024 |
Study mode | On Campus |
Course code | CG93 |
CRICOS | 072157E |

Overview
Explore health and disease issues and equip yourself with practical skills by studying the Bachelor of Medical Science. This course will prepare you to undertake best practices in patient testing, developing therapeutics, monitoring disease and sharing knowledge in the medical biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. Benefit from the flexibility to tailor this degree to suit your career goals with a choice of majors in clinical measurement, nutrition, pathology or biotechnology.
The Bachelor of Medical Science aims to develop your skills to apply Clinical Physiology knowledge to clinical practice in a health professional role or Biotechnology in support industries and medical research.
The course is designed to build a high level of technical and evaluative skill so you can assess and implement recommendations for best practices in patient testing, monitoring and education or develop therapeutics in the cutting-edge medical biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. The course also aims to develop high-level communication skills to interact positively with patients/clients, other health professionals, or industry leaders and be ready for the clinical or scientific work environment.
Clinical decision-making and problem-solving abilities will be promoted through opportunities such as developing designing, conducting and interpreting medical research skills.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Bachelor of Medical Science course from CQUniversity have developed the expertise and skills to work as health professionals in pathology, clinical measurement, biotechnology or nutritional areas.
The pathology specialisation will prepare students for employment in diagnostic medical laboratories where haematological, biochemical, microbiological and histological analysis of human blood, urine and tissue samples is conducted.
The clinical measurement specialisation will prepare students for employment as clinical measurement scientists. The specialisation offers multidisciplinary training in diagnostic physiological measurement in cardiac sciences, respiratory sciences, neurophysiology and sleep science.
The nutrition specialisation is targeted at students who will pursue a career in nutrition related health promotion and food and nutrition industries and provide a pathway for postgraduate study in health education, research and public health.
The biotechnology specialisation will prepare students for the medical research or biotechnology industries. With an emphasis on cutting-edge technologies in the development and application of therapeutics, the student is ideally placed to pursue a career in the biopharmaceutical industry or medical research laboratories.
Work integrated learning units are included in each specialisation to facilitate work readiness of graduates.
Please note that the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Pathology) will not be accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) after 31st December 2019. The Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Pathology) is in the process of being taught-out with closure of this major predicted for 2020. Students interested in a career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist should apply for the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours) degree which has applied for AIMS accreditation.
Structure & Availability
COURSE STRUCTURE
You will study eight core units and a major in either Biotechnology or Clinical Psychology.
If you choose to study one of these majors you will also select two minors from a prescribed minors list outlined in the Majors and Minors section below.
You also have the option to study the Biotechnology major and select a Diagnostic Pathology co-major. Upon graduation, if you opt for this co-major, you will receive the award of Bachelor of Medical Science (Biotechnology and Diagnostic Pathology). With this option, you also may transfer into the four-year accredited CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours) degree.
UNIT INFORMATION
For information on the units, you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.
CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
If you have already completed a study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.
On-Campus Availability
Intake | Locations |
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Term 1, 2024 | Bundaberg, Rockhampton |
Choose a major that suits you.
Enjoy a choice of majors that allow you to tailor your studies to suit your career goals or learning interests. Choose from:
Biotechnology
This major will prepare you for the medical research or biotechnology industries. With an emphasis on cutting-edge technologies in the development and application of therapeutics, the student is ideally placed to pursue a career in the biopharmaceutical industry or medical research laboratories. The major consists of 8 units (48 credit points), and with this major, you'll need to choose a second major or two minors from those listed below.
Second major options:
- Diagnostic Pathology Major: completing this major means you'll graduate with a Bachelor of Medical Science (Biotechnology and Diagnostic Pathology). You'll also be eligible to transfer into the 4-year accredited Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours).
- Food Technology Major: this major provides the opportunity to combine industry-relevant experience that translates across Human Health, Nutrition, Agriculture and Food Technology industries.
- Pathway to Teaching (Secondary) Major: this major allows for potential eligibility to CQU's Master of Teaching (Secondary) provided the GPA requirements and other admissions criteria are met.
Minors:
- Research Minor
- Chemistry Minor
- Entrepreneurship Minor
- Liberal Studies Minor
Clinical Physiology
Studying this major will prepare you for employment as a clinical physiologist and medical scientist. The major offers multidisciplinary training in diagnostic physiological measurement in cardiac sciences, respiratory sciences, neurophysiology and sleep science. You'll study eight units (48 credit points) and need to choose two minors to complement your studies in clinical physiology. Your choice of minors includes:
Minors:
- Biomedical Minor: this minor is highly recommended if opting to pursue a career pathway to practice as a Clinical Physiologist/Scientist. If you are interested in studying UQ's Graduate Medicine (MD Design) or other Graduate Medicine programs, then this minor should ideally be studied with the Research Minor as an ideal preparatory undergraduate degree.
- Research Minor: the Biomedical and Research Minors taken together, form an ideal recommended undergraduate degree for those students who plan to apply for future Graduate Medical studies.
- Entrepreneurship Minor
- Indigenous Health Minor
- Liberal Studies Minor
Advanced Work Integrated Learning - BMSC13012
All students enrolled in Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Specialisation) are required to undertake this unit. Students are required to undertake a minimum of 360 hours of compulsory work experience throughout the course. Refer to the More Details section within the Handbook for further information.
Work Integrated Learning - BMSC12005
This unit is specific to students enrolled in the Pathology and Clinical Physiology majors. Students are required to undertake a minimum of 360 hours of compulsory work experience throughout the course. Refer to the More Details section within the Handbook for further information.
You'll be required to complete 360 hours of compulsory work experience as part of this course for Clinical Measurement students and 180 hours for Biotechnology and Nutrition students. The work experience you complete throughout this course allows you to develop professional and practical skills relevant to your field of study.
Requirements
Recommended study
When applying, you must demonstrate that you have met the listed Entry Requirements and English Language Proficiency requirements.
After you have applied and enrolled in this course, you will need to be able to meet the Security and Health Requirements as these generally relate to work-integrated learning activities that form part of your course. You will be provided with more information about security and health requirements after enrolling in the relevant units that these relate to.
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion within the last 5 years of:
- a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
- bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA of 4.0
completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United states of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:
- An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) with an overall band score of at least 6.5 with minimum of 6.0 in each sub test, or
- A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL – internet based) with an overall score of at least 79, with no sub-score less than 21, or
- A Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) with an overall band score of 62 with no communication score less than 54, or
- An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
Each student will be assessed individually.
COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement for this course to be eligible for WIL placements.
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.
Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: COVID-19, Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening. Additional vaccinations and screening are subject to the site or state health authority.
Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance.
Other mandatory requirements include a student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.
Fees & Scholarships
2023 Indicative Fees
Fee Type | Fees |
---|---|
International Indicative First Term Fee | A$17,280 |
International Indicative First Year Fee | A$35,280 |
2024 Indicative Fees
Fee Type | Fees |
---|---|
International Indicative First Term Fee | A$19,140 |
International Indicative First Year Fee | A$38,820 |
Please note the following important information:
- Fees are in Australian dollars (A$).
- Fees are indicative only and do not cover additional costs such as textbooks, accommodation, visa applications, OSHC, general living etc.
- Fees are based on a full-time study load and the final fee payable will be determined by your selection of units and if any credit was awarded for recognition of prior learning.
- The University reserves the right to amend fees at any time during the course. Fees are reviewed yearly and may increase in the following year to enable CQUniversity to continue to provide quality services and facilities to students.
- Courses are subject to change at the discretion of the University.
- It is your responsibility to make yourself aware of the entry requirements and prerequisites of the courses you wish to undertake.
- The typical annual fee shown provides an estimate of the tuition fees for the first year of the course in the same academic year. This estimate assumes a full-time study load of 4 units per term (based on two terms).
- Students not on an Australian student visa can only undertake courses online from an overseas location.
- Courses undertaken online may be studied on a full-time or part-time mode.
- International students studying on-campus in Australia may take no more than 33 per cent of their entire course by online education, and this option cannot be taken in its entirety during a compulsory term (Term 1 and Term 2).
Please refer to our international course fees page.
We offer a range of scholarships to support international students and encourage you to apply for one that's right for you.
How to apply
Our easy to use online application system for international students will guide you through the process of applying for a course at CQUniversity Australia.