Bachelor of Science
UndergraduateMAQ-BSC-DEG2024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Learn from international leaders in science
Benefit from the guidance of teachers whose research findings are known on a global scale. Use this research to conduct case studies. Take a hands-on approach with a lab component. Specialise in biology, including genetics, genes and life processes.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- Online & on-campus
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Bachelor of Science
About this degree
On successful completion you will be able to
- Demonstrate broad and coherent in-depth knowledge and skills from a scientific discipline.
- Identify ethical issues as they arise in scientific work and adhere to professional ethical standards when undertaking this work, determining the potential impact on others and the planet, including Indigenous, inter-cultural and environmental contexts.
- Integrate scientific knowledge and skills into practice through working collaboratively on industry- and research-related projects, and effectively communicating scientific concepts in multiple modes to a range of audiences.
- Identify the range of career paths available to science graduates and demonstrate related professional skills and attributes, including career literacy, personal accountability, use of digital communication and technologies, independent learning and critical evaluation.
- Apply sound knowledge of scientific principles, theory and practice, technical skills and foundational quantitative methods, to independently analyse, research and creatively solve complex problems.
The Bachelor of Science allows you to follow a path to suit your intended career in the sciences. You will undertake an in-depth study of the Biology – the study of all living things, encompassing diverse subdisciplines, including cell and developmental biology, behaviour, biodiversity, conservation, ecology, genetics, microbiology, anatomy and physiology. You'll learn about the function and processes that influence the ecology and evolution of organisms. You’ll consider taxa ranging from microbes to fungi, plants and animals, with a focus on Australia’s unique biodiversity. Following our philosophy of learning by doing, you’ll learn to apply your knowledge and skills, with foundational quantitative methods, to independently analyse, research and creatively solve problems. You’ll be equipped to adapt and thrive in future enterprises and employment with skills such as working collaboratively on industry- and research-related projects, and effectively communicating scientific concepts in multiple modes to a range of audiences.
Supporting the primary study in Biology, students will study a minor in human biology. This popular area of biology encompasses all aspects of what it is to be human, including genetics, anatomy, physiology, anthropology, ecology and epidemiology.
Core units in the degree will address the quantitative skills needed by all scientists. Scientists need to be able to understand, analyze and communicate data.
Critical employability skills will be addressed both in the core units and through embedded learning in the discipline units of the majors.
The course integrates real-world learning activities, culminating in a Science Capstone unit.
By providing both in-depth discipline education as well as the broader skills required by all scientists the degree will provide a world-class science education.
The Bachelor of Science will help you develop skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking through practical work and peer-assisted learning. Our science staff are recognised for their excellence in teaching and many are known internationally for their research, ensuring you are taught with the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.
Please note: Some subjects in this degree require you to attend laboratory sessions in Sydney.
Recommended study pattern
Students are required to complete 24 subjects (240 credit points).
Core zone - 160 credit points comprised of:
- Major - 80 credit points
- Minor - 40 credit points
- Essential Subjects - 40 credit points
Flexible zone - 80 credit points
You can enrol in any OUA subject for which you meet the requisites.
Major
Biology major: - 80 credit points
- BIOX1310 Organisms to Ecosystems
- CHEX1001 Foundations in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences 1
- BIOX2210 Life Processes
- BIOX2310 Diversity of Life
- BIOX2610 Biological Data Analysis
- BIOX3110 Evolutionary and Conservatory Genetics
- BIOX3130 Ecology and Evolution of Emerging Infectious Diseases
- BIOX3510 Vertebrate Biology and Behaviour
Minor
Human Biology Minor - 40 credit points
- BIOX1110 Genes to Organisms
- BIOX1210 Human Biology
- BIOX2110 Genetics
- BIOX3120 Human Genetics and Evolutionary Medicine
Essential subjects - 40 credit points
- FOSX1015 Statistical Concepts for Science
- FOSX1025 Scientific Computing
- BIOX1320 Biological Basis of Behaviour
- FOSX3000 Making Science Work for You and Society :Capstone
Award requirements
To be awarded the degree, students must complete the following minimum requirements.
Minimum number of subjects for the degree = 24
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Applications are due the Friday two weeks prior to the close of enrolment date for the study session you are applying for.
Please Note: Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) and HECS are not available for this degree. However, subject to your eligibility, other HELP loans may be available.
Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students.
Visit Studying a degree through OUA for further information.
Please note that students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy will not be permitted to register in Macquarie University degrees offered through OUA. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
In 2021, the curriculum of the Bachelor of Science has been changed. Students previously admitted in the 2020 curriculum will be migrated to the new curriculum.
Changes in 2021:
The Bachelor of Science is no longer the Bachelor of Science (Specialisation in Biology).
This degree wilL become a generalist degree with a major in Biology and minor in Human Biology.
Students can now gain entry to the degree by completing:
4 OUA undergraduate subjects at pass level from any OUA provider, OR
2 OUA undergraduate subjects at credit grade level from any OUA provider.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $29,240
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 10
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 10
Entry requirements
With the exception of the open enrolment subjects, this is a restricted degree. Further enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
- 4 OUA undergraduate subjects at pass level from any OUA provider, OR
- 2 OUA undergraduate subjects at credit grade level from any OUA provider
A competitive ATAR of 75 or equivalent OP of 12.
The required standard of English for this program is:
Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each band, or equivalent.
All applicants to coursework programs at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
For more information on accepted equivalents, please see English Language Requirements.
If you have completed prior study at Diploma level or higher, you may be eligible for credit towards your Bachelor at Macquarie which can reduce the duration of your program.
For more information see our Recognition of Prior Learning page or submit an enquiry.
Study method requirements
Due to the specialist nature of this degree, you will be required to attend Macquarie University in Sydney to complete practical and laboratory classes.
These subjects require 4-6 days of on-campus attendance. The classes are typically offered in 2-day blocks.
The following subjects have on-campus laboratory and/or practical classes:
- BIOX1310 Organisms to Ecosystems
- CHEX1001 Foundations in Chemistry
- BIOX2210 Life Processes
- BIOX2310 Diversity of Life
- BIOX3130 Ecology and Evolution of Emerging Infectious Diseases
- BIOX3510 Vertebrate Biology and Behaviour - Coming Soon
- BIOX1110 Genes to Organisms
On-campus Classes
All classes are based at Macquarie University, North Ryde Campus, Sydney, NSW.
2024 On-campus Schedule to be confirmed.
Travel and Accommodation
Financial Support
- Please note that you may also be eligible for a travel subsidy from OUA.
Career opportunities
Completion of this course provides you with a range of career opportunities, including:
- Biotechnology industry
- Forensic scientist
- Hospital scientist
- Patent officer
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Science communication
- Science teacher, secondary and tertiary
- Scientific research
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Agricultural and Forestry Scientists | $93K to $120K | Down 14.5% |
Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists | Over $120K | Up 5.1% |
Environmental Consultants | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Environmental Scientists | $93K to $120K | Up 22.4% |
Life Scientists | $93K to $120K | Up 27.2% |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.