Bachelor of Science (International)

Photograph of science students in a garden centre

In an increasingly globalised business and research environment, scientists need to be experts in their field and qualified to interact effectively with colleagues around the world.

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.

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended)

Award

Bachelor of Science (International)

Commencing Terms

Term 1, Term 2, Term 3

Duration (Full Time)

4 Year(s)

Overview

The Bachelor of Science (International) focuses on a science major as well as cross-cultural skills, knowledge and understanding. It includes study overseas at a UNSW partner university and you'll receive financial assistance to help fund your exchange.

The wide range of majors available from UNSW Science will give you a solid education in scientific theory, methods and research. A minor in a language and electives covering cultural studies, international business, development studies and globalisation will prepare you for a science career in a global environment.

Key features

Why study this degree at UNSW?

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.

We’re of the top 50 universities in the world for Environmental Sciences (#19), Psychology (#24), Mathematics (#38), Geology (#38), Materials Science (#39), Earth & Marine Science (#40) and Anatomy & Physiology (#50).^*
We’re ranked 1st in Australia for research output in Chemistry and Physical Sciences and 2nd in Australia for research output in Earth & Environmental Sciences.^**

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}

Program Code

3987

CRICOS Code

068780E

Campus

Kensington

UAC Code

429420

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

192

Indicative Enrolments

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Entry requirements

2023 Lowest Selection Rank

2023 A levels

2023 IB Diploma

2023 Lowest ATAR

73*

The 2022 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2022.

The 2022 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subject. Entry scores are calculated from the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. At most one Applied A Level subject may be included in the best four subjects used to calculate the aggregate.

The 2022 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2022. It is to be used as a guide only.

The 2022 Lowest ATAR is the lowest ATAR (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made. Where <5 is listed, this indicates that less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made and so the score has not been published. N/A indicates no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
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.

See more

Assumed knowledge

Mathematics Advanced or Mathematics Extension 1 (depending on chosen area of study) plus one or more of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Physics.

Adjustment Factors

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.

Admission pathways

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.

English language requirements

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.

International direct entry

I studied in:

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.

Admission pathways

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. 

English language requirements

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:

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Select from the options below

Which applies to you?

Program structure

Full program structure

The Bachelor of Science (International) is made up of 32 courses taken over four years of full-time study. This includes the following components:

Science major
Language minor
Global directed electives
Science electives
Free electives

You will also complete an overseas exchange at one of our exchange partner universities, where you will take courses that count towards any of the above degree components.

Science majors

Study the structures of the human body. This major covers:

gross anatomy (form, arrangement and function of the bones, joints, muscles and internal organs)

histology (microscopic structure of tissues and cells)

embryology (development of the embryo and fetus from conception to birth)

neuroanatomy (organisation and functions of the brain and spinal cord)

biological anthropology (applying biological principles to the study of humans and non-human primates).

Find out more
Develop technologies for analysing and interpreting genetic information. You’ll learn how to design and implement software for activities such as identifying cancer genes. This major covers the foundational disciplines of bioinformatics: biology, computing algorithms and mathematics and statistics.

Find out more
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

animal behaviour, morphology and physiology

plant morphology and physiology

cell biology, evolutionary studies and genetics

marine biology.

Find out more
Explore the various biological processes used to make products and perform services. Biotechnology is used for:

the production of food

industrial chemicals

the development of improved crops and livestock for farming

environmental clean-up

forensics

the production of pharmaceuticals.

Find out more
Study the world from the ground up - from the sub-atomic, atomic and molecular to the spectacular. This major is designed for students who wish to specialise in the chemical sciences.

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Explore the science of nature and the evolution of our planet. This major covers everything from the structure of natural crystals and formation of fossils to the powerful forces that drive earthquakes and volcanoes.

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Explore how various organisms including mammals, invertebrates, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, plants and microbes interact with one another and with their environment.

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Explore the fundamental sciences involved in food processes, food commodities, food composition and food quality. In this major, you’ll study food production, handling, processing, preservation, distribution and marketing, right through to consumption and use by consumers.

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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.

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Study the Earth’s landscapes, peoples, places and environments. This major explores how natural and built environments function and change over time. Discover how these environments enhance or constrain human activity.

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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.

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Everything we use is made of materials, yet only a handful of these materials occur naturally. The rest have been microscopically engineered originally by nature, but increasingly by materials scientists and engineers. This major is the foundation for creating high-performance components and devices from metals, ceramics, polymers and composites for use in society.

Find out more
Mathematics underpins all corners of science and technology and is a vibrant and fascinating field of study. Mathematics specialisations can be broadly categorised into:

Pure mathematics - the study of concepts that transcend specific applications

Applied mathematics - develops models to make sense of scientific phenomena, solve technical/industrial problems and for use in the social, economic and natural sciences

Statistics can also be studied within a mathematics major or as a stand-alone major.

Find out more
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.

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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:

cell anatomy

cell division

cell processes such as cell respiration and cell death.

Molecular Biology is a marriage of biochemistry, microbiology and cell biology.

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Study the biological and behavioural aspects of the nervous system. The nervous system includes the:

central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

peripheral nervous system (nerves in limbs, muscles and organs).

This major is based on the neuroscience courses offered by the School of Psychology and UNSW’s Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology Departments.

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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.

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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.

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Study the physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean such as waves, currents and tides, its interaction with the atmosphere and its role in climate. Through this major, you’ll gain an understanding of the mathematical equations that describe fluid flow and how these are used in the context of the ocean.

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Physics is the study of the laws of nature that govern the behaviour of the universe, from the smallest sub-atomic particles to the universe itself. It applies these laws to the solution of practical and theoretical problems and to the development of new technologies.

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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.

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Study human behaviour and mental processes. Psychology is a broad field that includes:

brain-behaviour relationships

the processes of perceiving, learning, memory and thinking

the assessment of abilities and attitudes

the origins of personality and emotional states

the nature and effects of social interactions with other people.

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.

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This major provides comprehensive training in:

probability and stochastic processes

statistical inference and modelling

modern statistical computing methods.

Third year electives allow you to further develop your statistical capabilities according to your own interests.

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Study the sensory processes that underlie vision and vision-related technologies. This major covers the following topics:

optics

anatomy and functioning of the eye

eye disorders

clinical optometry

ocular therapy

sensation and perception

psychophysics

research design/methods.

Find out more

Language minors

Thinking about honours?

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:

psychopathology

behavioural neuroscience

cognitive science

cognition and perception

forensic psychology

social, personality and developmental psychology.

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.

Download Sample Program

Go to the handbook

Future careers

Scientist
Technical specialist
International government and non-government organisations
Scientific researcher
Science communicator

How to apply

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.

Ready to apply?

Apply now

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.

Ready to apply?

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Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$7,950*

Commonwealth Supported Place multiple Student Contribution Bands may apply for this double degree. See single degrees for the applicable fee bands.*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.

2023 Indicative First Year Fee

$43,845*

2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$188,005*

*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.

Scholarships

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.