Master of Biomedical Science – The University of Western Australia

Biomedical science has direct relevance to everyone; it has a defining influence on our quality of life, the pursuit of healthy living and our capacity to diagnose and treat disease.

Biomedical Science encompasses a range of biological, medical and health-related disciplines, which address global biomedical challenges such as obesity, cancer, neurological diseases and cardiovascular disease. It draws on the disciplines of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and neuroscience to understand normal human biology (including our evolutionary history). It also uses the paraclinical disciplines of microbiology, pathology and pharmacology to understand and treat human disease.

You’ll have the opportunity to pursue advanced study in your biomedical science specialisation. Emphasis is placed on cutting-edge research and its translation to healthy living and to clinical settings of diagnosis and treatment of disease. While research training within a specific discipline is available as part of the course (e.g. advanced laboratory skills and their application within an independent research project), this is not obligatory. Therefore, you’ll be able to focus on building discipline-specific knowledge and an understanding of how this knowledge is applied.

Regardless of the amount of research training undertaken, the course places strong emphasis on developing research literacy, with thorough interrogation of the scientific literature and its communication.

Specialisations:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Human Biology
• Neuroscience
• Physiology

Core
Take all units (12 points):

• SCIE5510 Biomedical Science Research in Context—Literature Review (6)
• SCIE5515 Global Challenges in Biomedical Science (6)

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology specialisation

Students may be required to take conversion units, up to a value of 24 points based on an assessment of prior learning by the Faculty, including but not limited to the following units:

• BIOC4003 Fundamentals of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II (6)
• SCIE4401 Data Use in Science (6)
• SCIE4403 The Conduct, Ethics and Communication of Science (6)
• SCIE4404 Techniques in Molecular Sciences (6)

Take all units (30 points):

• BIOC4001 Advanced Studies in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (6)
• BIOC5001 Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Techniques (6)
• MSCI4006 Advanced Techniques in Molecular Sciences (6)
• PUBH4403 Epidemiology I (6)
• SCIE4001 Collecting, Analysing and Interpreting Big Data in Biology (6)

For students in course by coursework and dissertation only, take all units (24 points):

• MSCI5560 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Literature Review and Research Proposal (6)
• MSCI5561 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research Project Part 1 (6)
• MSCI5562 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research Project Part 2 (6)
• MSCI5563 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research Project Part 3 (6)

For students in course by coursework only, take unit(s) to the value of 30 points of which at least 18 points must be taken at Level 5.Students in the course by coursework and dissertation take unit(s( to the value of 6 points.

• APHB5501 Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (6)
• APHB5503 Neuroendocrinology (6)
• SCIE4481 Good, Bogus and Corrupted Science (6)
• SCIE5304 Science Practicum (6)
• SCIE5507 Food Fibre and Fuel Security (6)
• SCIE5508 Synthetic Biology: Solving Global Challenges (6)
• SSEH5685 Work Site Health Promotion (6)

Neuroscience specialisation

Students may be required to take conversion units, up to a value of 24 points based on an assessment of prior learning by the Faculty, including but not limited to the following units:

• ANHB2217 Human Neurobiology (6)
• ANIM3320 Comparative Neurobiology (6)
• NEUR3301 Advanced Neuroscience 1 (6)
• PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells (6)
• SCIE4403 The Conduct, Ethics and Communication of Science (6)

For students in course by coursework and dissertation only, take all units (24 points).

• APHB5520 Literature Review and Research Proposal (6)
• APHB5521 Science Research Project Part 1 (6)
• APHB5522 Science Research Project Part 2 (6)
• APHB5523 Science Research Project Part 3 (6)

Take all units (24 points):

• APHB5500 Advanced Research Techniques (6)
• APHB5503 Neuroendocrinology (6)
• NEUR4010 Modern Research Tools in Neuroscience (6)
• NEUR5011 Neurological Disorders (6)

Take units to the value of 6 points.

• SSEH5644 Neurological Rehabilitation (6)
• SSEH5647 Chronic and Complex Conditions 2 (6)

For students in course by coursework only, take unit(s) to the value of 30 points. Students in course by coursework and dissertation, take unit(s) to the value of 6 points.

• ANIM5501 Animal Evolution and Development (6)
• PUBH4403 Epidemiology I (6)
• SCIE4001 Collecting, Analysing and Interpreting Big Data in Biology (6)
• SCIE4002 Bioinformatics and Data Analysis for Genomics (6)
• SCIE4481 Good, Bogus and Corrupted Science (6)
• SCIE5304 Science Practicum (6)

1. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
   • a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Health Science, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and
   • the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; and
   • met the prerequisite for the chosen specialisation
2. For the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology specialisation an applicant must have—
   • successfully completed intermediate units at a tertiary level in Biochemistry, or equivalent as recognised by UWA; and
   • successfully completed intermediate units at a tertiary level in Molecular Biology, or equivalent as recognised by UWA
3. For the Neuroscience, specialisation an applicant must have successfully completed prior studies at a tertiary level in either biology, biomedical science, health science, or medicine; or in a related cognate discipline, as recognised by UWA

Dates
For more information on Application Dates, click here.

Fees
For more information on Fee, Scholarships and Finance matters, click here.

The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Perth
Western Australia 6009

Tel: +61 8 6488 1000
Email: international@uwa.edu.au