Bachelor of Life Sciences
Explore the life and health sciences.
Explore the life and health sciences.
If you’re curious about life, from the way things work at the molecular level to the study of entire ecosystems, this is the degree for you.
This program will no longer be taking new student enrolments from Term 1 2024. Please note that existing students will not be adversely impacted and no courses will be cancelled as a result of the program closure. Find out how you can transform your ideas into impact with our newly redesigned Bachelor of Science.
Discoveries in life sciences are integral to the advancement of our world and society. The Bachelor of Life Sciences is a generalist degree that brings together the biological, environmental and medical sciences to answer fundamental questions. This degree will equip you with transferable skills that can be applied to a wide range of industries. This program also provides a pathway to postgraduate study, especially in health and medical fields.
Learn with the best
UNSW Science is at the forefront of many new scientific developments, teaching and innovation. We’re responsive to the needs of industry, adaptive to change and take an innovative approach to teaching and learning. Our world-class laboratories, clinics and simulators give you the tools to explore new frontiers and make meaningful scientific discoveries to benefit society.
This degree is taught in the biological sciences building, which houses flexible research laboratories and advanced specialised equipment. Our world-class laboratories and equipment give you the tools to explore new frontiers and make meaningful scientific discoveries to benefit society.
Leverage our industry connections
Reach your career goals with industry relevant skills and training. Tap into our network of 400+ industry and research partners to start building your own professional connections.
Learn from world-class educators
Study with passionate and pioneering educators, including quantum physicist and 2018 Australian of the Year Professor Michelle Simmons AO, Nobel Laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart, leading marine ecologist and Dean of Science Professor Emma Johnston AO and ground-breaking recycling scientist Professor Veena Sahajwalla.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021
**Nature Index Institution Outputs 1 Dec 2019 – 30 Nov 2020
At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.
To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.
We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.
Mathematics Advanced plus Biology or Chemistry
We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.
HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.
Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.
Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.
Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our future student advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.
Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.
Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.
Please contact us for direct entry requirements.
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Fields of study include anatomy, biological chemistry, biology, biotechnology, ecology, genetics, marine science, microbiology, molecular and cell biology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology and psychology. While maths and the physical sciences aren’t necessarily part of this degree, there is still the option to study them as electives to broaden and enrich your studies.
The Bachelor of Life Sciences is made up of 24 courses taken over three years of full-time study. This includes the following components:
You can choose from the following majors to specialise within a specific subject area:
Study the structures of the human body. This major covers:
Study the science of life. Biologists explore how living organisms function, grow, evolve and relate to one another and the environment in which they live. Your study will cover:
Study the chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. This major sits at the intersection of chemistry and biology, examining chemistry through a life science lens. This major allows you to combine an interest in chemistry with studies in biochemistry and molecular biology. This major is only open to life sciences students. Unlike the standard chemistry major found in other undergraduate science degrees, this major includes environmental toxicology as a core subject, but does not require physical chemistry as a core subject.
Explore the various biological processes used to make products and perform services. Biotechnology is used for:
Explore how various organisms including mammals, invertebrates, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, plants and microbes interact with one another and with their environment.
In humans and all other species, genes influence every characteristic, from appearance to behaviour to disease. This major offers a general introduction to the discipline before delving into more specialised areas including molecular genetics, human genetics, plant and microbial molecular biology and conservation biology.
This major provides in-depth study of immunology, pathology and microbiology. It’ll prepare you to unlock better treatments and prevention strategies for immune-related illnesses. This major is particularly beneficial for students who want to pursue a career in the health sciences.
Explore all aspects of the marine environment, from biology to geology and the many sciences in between. This major can be studied with an emphasis on biology, earth sciences, climatology or oceanography.
Study the smallest forms of life: bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi and protozoa. These fascinating organisms cause disease in humans, animals and plants and spoil our food. On the positive side, they also turn the biological wheels on Earth and are responsible for the sustainability of life.
Explore molecular structures, the processes of cellular life and their roles in the function, reproduction and development of living organisms. Cell biology studies the basic unit of life, the cell, including:
Molecular Biology is a marriage of biochemistry, microbiology and cell biology.
Examine how and why diseases develop, what happens to our bodies when we’re ill and the effects of diseases. Pathology involves the study of diseases, such as infections and cancers, at the genetic, molecular, cellular and organ levels.
Explore the effect that drugs have on living tissues and the normal body functions of humans and animals. This major looks at the efficacy of drugs, the ability of the body to metabolise them and the toxicology/side effects of drugs.
This major is all about what makes human bodies work. Explore how the organs function, how humans grow and develop, how humans sustain bodily functions and what happens to these processes during disease and ageing.
Study human behaviour and mental processes. Psychology is a broad field that includes:
This major is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and when combined with honours, it satisfies the minimum requirement for provisional registration. It acts as the first step in the six-year pathway to becoming a registered psychologist.
Upon completion of this program, you may be eligible for entry to honours. Honours is a year-long independent research project under the guidance of an academic supervisor. During your honours year, you will write a thesis based on your project and may also be expected to complete advanced coursework. Entry to honours is subject to performance and your chosen major will determine which of two honours streams you are eligible for: Science (Honours) or Psychological Science (Honours).
If you have completed any major other than psychology, subject to performance you will be eligible for the Science (Honours) program. The purpose of this program is to enable students who have performed well at the undergraduate level to deepen their knowledge of approaches, perspectives, and traditions in their chosen scientific discipline. It is a means for connecting undergraduate study with supervised independent research by consolidating and extending work completed in the undergraduate program and providing an academic foundation for students continuing on to a master's by research or a PhD.
Upon completion of a psychology major, you will have completed an APAC accredited psychology sequence and, subject to performance, will be eligible for entry into Psychological Science (Honours). There is no preference given to any particular program and places are awarded on the basis of performance in undergraduate psychology units. Psychological Science (Honours) is the same for all students, regardless of the degree program in which they completed their undergraduate psychology major sequence.
Your project can be undertaken in most areas of psychology including:
You’ll also complete advanced level core and elective coursework in Terms 1 and 2.
Honours is the next step towards becoming a registered psychologist. You must complete an honours program to be eligible for entry into a psychology master's degree.
Studying a Bachelor of Life Sciences opens a wide range of rewarding career opportunities. Our graduates are working in higher education, conservation and government roles. They’re also employed in commercial enterprises across medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetics, food and beverage industries. This degree also provides a pathway to postgraduate study, especially in the health and medical fields.
STEM jobs are highly skilled with 75% of people employed in the STEM workforce working in a skill level occupation equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or higher. This has made a science degree one of the most valuable degrees in Australia and abroad.
Applications for undergraduate study from domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Visit the Apply section of the UAC website and you can nominate up to five degrees in order of preference, with the first being your most desired degree and university.
On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year for Term 1 admission. Late applications can be submitted, but a late fee will apply. For study starting in Term 1, the majority of offers are made in December and January. Visit the UAC website for key dates for admission outside of Term 1.
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
*If you are an international student studying an Australian qualification, go to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) for application and UAC key dates. Note: If you are under 18 years of age, you need to make special arrangements. Read more.
Commonwealth Supported Place: Student Contribution Band 2
*The student contribution for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The actual student contribution you will be liable for depends on your individual program of study and the calendar year in which you enrol. Actual fees are calculated upon enrolment. Student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the university and may increase each year during your studies (subject to caps determined by the Australian Government), effective at the start of each calendar year.
The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only - other fees and charges are not included.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2024.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.