Overview 2021
Location
Commonwealth Supported places available
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the International Online Course Guide (PDF 809KB) for courses that are offered to international students
At its core are the concepts and principles underlying human health and disease, as well as an understanding of the technologies, strategies and tools used to address medical research problems.
In choosing the Bachelor of Medical Research you will:
- Learn from active research scientists who are well equipped to teach research methods and skills as they apply to their disciplines.
- Acquire transferable skills – teamwork, critical thinking and the ability to communicate clearly - that will equip you for lifelong learning.
- Enjoy practical real-world learning experiences such as laboratory work and participation in project-based research.
Catalyst Program
Are you a high achiever and want to get the most out of your University experience? The Catalyst Program combines your Bachelor degree with scholarships, extracurricular experiences, special events, and networking opportunities. It was created for outstanding students, just like you. Learn more about the Catalyst Program
Course objectives
In your first year of study you will learn the fundamentals of cells and the systems of the body. The following year, you will start to navigate the interacting systems that make up the human body – including exploring biochemical pathways and physiological systems fundamental to human health and disease.
In your third and final year, you will specialise in an area of interest and gain invaluable real-world experience in medical research. This course emphasises the acquisition of research skills and students will have exposure throughout the course to scientists actively involved in medical research, who are investigating current research questions in a range of fields.
As well as an in-depth knowledge of the disciplines that underpin Biomedicine, students develop important attributes, including:
- Effective communication skills.
- Critical and creative thought and problem solving skills.
- Ethical and social understanding
- Global perspectives
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the Bachelor of Medical research will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge in one or more biomedical discipline(s) in the context of understanding of health and disease
- Design and conduct experiments and interpret scientific data
- Source, critically evaluate and analyse information relevant to biomedical research
- Communicate discipline-specific information to a variety of audiences
- Describe the global importance and impact of medical research
- Conduct work in a legally, ethically, socially and culturally responsible manner
Practical experience
The Bachelor of Medical Research program includes real-world learning experiences such as laboratory work and participation in project-based research.
Career outcomes
I was supported by an excellent group of researchers and academics at the University of Tasmania who encouraged me to pursue my goals which led to a PhD in malaria at the University of Oxford.
This vital field of medical work requires its practitioners to have a strong aptitude for science, the ability to make clear and precise observations, to work accurately under pressure, and be able to identify and analyse problems and develop practical solutions.
What do medical researchers do?
Medical research incorporates the work of Biomedical Scientists, Clinical Research Scientists, Geneticists, Pharmacologists and many other medical science professionals. Medical researchers work alongside other scientists, conducting tests and experiments and carrying out research projects in order to address problems relevant to human health.
Where do medical researchers work?
Medical Researchers use their skills in a range of careers including:
- Research Institutes
- University Departments
- Hospitals
- Pathology Laboratories
- Pharmaceutical
- Biomedical companies and Government Departments
Careers in Medical Research
Medical researchers apply their expert scientific skills and research findings to develop a better understanding of illnesses and other medical problems. They work towards practical solutions, developing new medicines, finessing existing drugs, testing new products and figuring out measures to prevent and combat diseases.
This course will give you the necessary skills to work in medical research across a range of industries, including the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors, research institutes, hospitals, and universities.
Postgraduate study
If you successfully complete this course, you may be also be eligible to apply for a range of other postgraduate courses including Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas and Masters by coursework and research.
Professional Recognition
The Bachelor of Medical Research is not limited to a single professional discipline but designed to provide a basis for medical research in a variety of settings.
Course structure
A major is an area of focus in your degree. During your studies, you’ll choose an area that interests you, and then study a group of units related to that area. Find out more at What is a Major?
Core Units
YEAR 1
Undertaking medical research requires a range of skills and knowledge related to the ways information is generated, evaluated and communicated. Processes like peer review and open evaluation are essential to ensure that the knowledge underpinning medicine, health care and medical…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CAM103 Scientific and Research Literacy
This unit will examine the biological processes that lead to disease. We will explore the world of infectious disease including bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic diseases, and how the body’s immune system detects and destroys these pathogens. This unit will…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit equips you with introductory level clinical laboratory skills and theoretical knowledge in the disciplines of Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry and Microbiology. At the end of this unit, you will be competent in a range of basic laboratory techniques, using…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for CXA101 Introduction to Medical Laboratory Sciences
This unit is designed to introduce students to human cells and tissues and the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, defence, musculoskeletal and neuroendocrine systems in the human body. The unit will include: (a) the basic facts and concepts relating…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit is designed to introduce you to the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and digestive systems of the human body. The regulation of body temperature will also be studied in the unit. The unit will…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
In this unit you will examine research methods that will help you design studies to investigate questions about relationships and differences among a variety of behavioural and health-related variables. You will learn when and how to use data analysis methods…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
YEAR 2
This unit is designed to provide an overview of the key research skills that are necessary for medical research. This unit will allow students to develop these skills in a collaborative and supportive environment through interactive group activities and engagement…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CAM203 Contemporary Issues in Medical Research
This unit focuses on the key elements of experimental design and data analysis in the context of medical research. In this unit, students develop and apply their skills as they are guided through the design, planning, data collection, statistical analysis,…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CAM204 Experimental Design and Analysis in Medical Research
Provides students with a broad introduction to metabolic and nutritional aspects of biochemistry, and laboratory techniques in biochemical analysis of tissues and enzymes. Major topics include structure, function and metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids; the integration and control…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CBA260 Biochemistry: Metabolism & Nutrition
This unit provides students with a broad introduction to molecular biology and how it can be used to investigate health & disease. The focus of this unit is primarily on humans and other mammals, but most of the matters discussed…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CBA265 Molecular Biology in Health & Disease
Human Physiology A (CHP207) builds on first year Biology-based units and gives students an understanding of the function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and their integration and interaction in the human body. Students will learn how to collect and…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit will provide students with the foundation knowledge of pathology by gaining an understanding of the fundamental processes that occur when the human organism undergoes disturbance of its homeostasis. They will gain an appreciation of the ‘one health’ concept…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CJA212 Basic Pathological Processes and Immunity
YEAR 3
This unit provides students with an understanding of how contemporary approaches in molecular biology are being used to address problems in human health and wellbeing. This includes an introduction to genomics and proteomics. The use of molecular biology and protein…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CAM312 Biomolecular Approaches to Medical Research
This unit provides students with an understanding of how systems-based approaches are being used to address problems in human health and wellbeing. Students will plan and undertake experiments investigating disease mechanism using systems-based tools and approaches to data collection and…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CAM313 Systems-based Approaches to Medical Research
This unit provides students with ‘hands-on’ experience in research in an area of biomedical science. Students will be provided with the opportunity to develop their research skills, including experiment planning and design, conducting a research project and analysing data. In…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit provides students with ‘hands-on’ experience in research in an area of biomedical science. Students will be provided with the opportunity to develop their research skills, including experiment planning and design, conducting a research project and analysing data. In…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
Electives or Optional Major
Students may complete two elective units in both Year One and Year Two, and four elective units in Year Three; OR choose to undertake an optional major (8 units) in place of electives.
Optional Major - Medical Science
Year 1
This unit introduces students to the foundation knowledge, skills and conceptual frameworks that underpin contemporary public health practice. It explores the biological, social, economic and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing as a basis for developing strategies and systems that…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
Cell Biology, Genetics & Evolution is a core first year unit for BSc students majoring in Plant Science, and important for any student studying Biological Sciences. Cell biology, genetics and evolution are fundamental to an understanding of the processes of…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for KPZ164 Cell Biology, Genetics and Evolution
Year 2
This unit will explore communicable diseases of humans from an epidemiological perspective. It will provide an introductory overview of the basic biological knowledge needed to understand the interactions within and between populations of microbes, human and other animals. Students will…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
Chronic health conditions are the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia. This unit will explore the aetiology and epidemiology of the most common chronic diseases, exploring the risk factors which contribute to disease, the underlying mechanisms which…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
Year 3
This unit provides an opportunity for you to study the topographical and systems macroscopic anatomy of the human limbs and trunk. Emphasis is placed upon the identification and description of structures and the correlation of structure with function. This includes…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit discusses human disease and provides students with an understanding of recent advances and innovation in the areas of inflammation, medical microbiology, and immunology. In addition, the unit is designed to enable students to develop skills to become effective…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CAM311 Inflammation, Infection and Immunity
This unit provides students with an understanding of recent developments and contemporary issues in the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology. Areas covered include topics related to hormones and signal transduction, gene regulation and epigenetics, stem cells, transgenic animals and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CBA343 Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Genetics forms the nexus between human biology and the environment with almost every human disease having a genetic component. This course covers the basic tenets of human genetics, introducing genetic concepts and building on these throughout the course. This will…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
The aim of this unit is to build on the knowledge you have gained regarding the structure and function of the nervous system in CHP311 and relate that to our current understanding of how the nervous system functions, for example…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit is an elective option within the Medical Science Major within the Bachelor of Medical Research. It is designed to for students who have completed introductory pharmacology modules in Year 2 of the course. In this unit, students will…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CSA317 Applied Pharmacology for Medical Scientists
Need help choosing your first year units? Try the Unit Selection Guide.
Entry requirements
Eligibility
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you’re not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, the admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Enquire online for advice on the application process and the available pathways to study.
DOMESTIC APPLICANTS
Domestic applicants who recently completed secondary education (completed in the past two years)
Guaranteed entry ATAR: 85.
Applicants with an ATAR of 85 or above will be guaranteed entry into this course upon satisfying the prerequisites below. In 2019, the lowest ATAR to receive an offer into this course was 79.65. The lowest ATAR to receive an offer may change from year to year based on the number of applications we receive.
To be eligible for an offer, you must also have a satisfactory achievement in Tasmanian Senior Secondary Chemistry (CHM415115) (or equivalent). If you have not met this prerequisite, you will need to complete a UTAS foundation unit before you start your course.
Domestic applicants with higher education study
To be eligible for an offer, you must have:
- Completed UTAS Diploma of University Studies (Health Science), with a Credit (60%) average
OR
- Previous tertiary study at Bachelor level or higher - complete or incomplete with a Credit (60%) average on the most recent 8 (Level 100 units or above) units studied (equivalent to 2 full semesters of study) over no more than 4 semesters, undertaken within the last five years, plus pre-requisites.
- Applicants with less than the equivalent of 2 full semesters of study must have a Credit (60%) average on Level 100 units or above + ATAR of 85 or above. If study was taken more than 5 years ago, it must be relevant and the applicant engaged in relevant employment which has kept their knowledge up-to-date.
- In addition, prior studies and/or experience equivalent to a satisfactory achievement in Tasmanian Senior Secondary Chemistry (CHM415115). If you have not met this prerequisite, you will need to complete a UTAS foundation unit before you start your course.
Domestic applicants with VET / TAFE study
Applicants are not eligible for admission to this course on the basis of VET or TAFE study. You can enquire online for advice on available pathways and alternative course options.
Domestic applicants with work and life experience
Applicants are not eligible for admission to this course on the basis of work or life experience. You can enquire online for advice on available pathways and alternative course options.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.
We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Admissions information for international applicants, including English language requirements, is available from the International Future Students site. You can also enquire online to check your eligibility.
Credit transfer
Credit for appropriate studies completed from other university courses may be granted. Applications for credit can be made in your course application. Find out more information about how to apply for a credit transfer/advanced standing at Recognition of Prior Learning.
Talk to us on 1300 363 864 or enquire online about your credit transfer.
Articulation from
Credit for appropriate studies completed in other university courses may be granted.
Articulation to
Students interested in pursuing an Honours course should contact the Course Coordinator.
Alternative entry pathways
If you meet the minimum ATAR but haven't completed the required pre-requisite unit(s), we offer foundation units to help you bridge the gap:
HECS scholarships may be available for Domestic Students run during spring and summer school so you can meet a prerequisite and not delay the start of your Bachelor level studies.
Detailed Admissions Information
Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
Domestic students enrolled in a full fee paying place are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the fees you pay for each unit you enrol in. Full fee paying domestic students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.
Detailed tuition fee information for domestic students is available at the Domestic Student Fees website, including additional information in relation to a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
International students
2021 Total Course Fee (international students): $102,350 AUD*.
Course cost based on a rate of $32,950 AUD per standard, full-time year of study (100 credit points).
* Please note that this is an indicative fee only.
International students
International students are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the annual rate. International students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.
Scholarships
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
How can we help?
Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.
- Domestic
- 1300 363 864
- International
- +61 3 6226 6200
- Course.Info@utas.edu.au
- Online
- Online enquiries