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The University of Western Australia (UWA)

  • 22% international / 78% domestic

Genetics

  • Non-Award

Studying this major conveys profound knowledge on the function and inheritance of genes, preparing you for jobs in biotechnology, medicine, food production and environmental conservation.

Key details

Degree Type
Non-Award
Duration
3 - 4 years full-time
Course Code
MJD-GENET
Study Mode
In person

About this course

Your studies in genetics involve the analysis of DNA and the many ways in which it is expressed. This major delivers a broad overview of the universal principles, potentials and problems associated with DNA-based life, and provides you with the essential skills of a geneticist. The knowledge acquired by studying genetics opens up many career opportunities because it is important for all biological sciences, allowing you to work in a wide range of disciplines including agriculture, biochemistry, botany, conservation biology, ecology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology and zoology.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you're interested in studying this major, find out the admission details below.

Minimum entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements

Below you'll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65
  • 75.5
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 254
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 324
Trinity College Foundation
  • 280
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 61
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 56
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 75
Below you'll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).
Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65
  • 75.5
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 254
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 324
Trinity College Foundation
  • 280
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 61
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 56
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 75
Admission requirements
For applicants with recent secondary education, information on admission criteria is available on our entry requirements page or on the UWA Handbook for course specific requirements and prerequisites.
Admission requirements
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
English competency
Chemistry / biology requirement

Applicants are recommended to have completed Chemistry ATAR and Biology ATAR / Human Biology ATAR.

International students commencing in semester 2 must have completed Biology ATAR and Chemistry ATAR or equivalent to be admitted.

Chemistry / biology requirement

Study locations

Perth

Career pathways

Careers and further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

Studying Genetics at UWA will open doors to a range of possible career opportunities. Genetics graduates may get jobs in biotechnology, drug development and food production. Molecular geneticists may find jobs in genomics laboratories in public and private research institutes, hospitals, and in broader public health, as well as in agriculture and breeding. Population geneticists are needed in healthcare, wildlife conservation and ecological management, using large amounts of genomics data. Outside the laboratory, jobs include patent law and policy-making. Geneticists take on sales and marketing roles in the medical, research and pharmaceutical industries. With their specialist knowledge in inheritance and genomics, geneticists can also become valued science journalists and science communicators or science educators. A UWA Genetics major is a starting point for more specialised industry-specific courses such as bioinformatics, applied quantitative genetics, statistical genetics or genetic counselling. Many genetics graduates do a higher degree by research such as a Master or PhD, so that they can reach more senior positions in research and development in academia and/ or industry.

To prepare you for these diverse career pathways, UWA's unique degree structure provides you with a wide range of specialisation options. For example, it is possible to combine your major in Genetics with a second major in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology, Agricultural Sciences, Botany, Anatomy and Human Biology, Zoology, or do a extended major in Molecular Life Sciences. You can use your personal interests as a basis for your choice of subjects to study, and ultimately, to direct your career. A tailor-made UWA major in Genetics will empower you to become the next leader in future-proof fields, such as biotechnology, synthetic biology, biomedicine or science communication.

Some international, Australian and WA-based companies and institutions include:

* Pharmaceutical/ medical device companies (e.g. CareDx, CSL, Pfizer, Abbvie, GlaxoSmithKline)
* Agricultural breeding companies (e.g. Australian Grain Technologies, Intergrain)
* Biotechnology companies (e.g. Ozgene, PYC Therapeutics, Dimerix, Novozyme, IDT Australia, Life Cykel, Qiagen, Roche)
* Molecular diagnostics laboratories (e.g. Pathwest, Safe Work Laboratories, Precision Oncology, Mater Pathology)
* Research Centres (e.g. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Telethon Kids Institute, Ingham Institute, Garvan Institute for Medical Research)
* Provisioners of scientific instrumentation (e.g. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Westlab, LabGear Australia)
* Genetic counselling services (Government/State, e.g. WA Health)
* Government agencies (Primary Industries and Regional Development)
* World Health Organisation
* Top ranked universities around the world

With a UWA Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics you will be prepared to help these companies and institutions in solving humanity's greatest challenges:










* Fighting infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and drug-resistant bacteria
* Developing treatments for heritable diseases and cancer
* Extending and improving quality of life
* Providing food and water for the world's ever-growing population
* Understanding and adapting to climate change
* Producing sustainable, bio-based materials
* Preserving our planet's amazing biodiversity





Career Pathways

Studying Genetics at UWA will open doors to a range of possible career opportunities. Genetics graduates may get jobs in biotechnology, drug development and food production. Molecular geneticists may find jobs in genomics laboratories in public and private research institutes, hospitals, and in broader public health, as well as in agriculture and breeding. Population geneticists are needed in healthcare, wildlife conservation and ecological management, using large amounts of genomics data. Outside the laboratory, jobs include patent law and policy-making. Geneticists take on sales and marketing roles in the medical, research and pharmaceutical industries. With their specialist knowledge in inheritance and genomics, geneticists can also become valued science journalists and science communicators or science educators. A UWA Genetics major is a starting point for more specialised industry-specific courses such as bioinformatics, applied quantitative genetics, statistical genetics or genetic counselling. Many genetics graduates do a higher degree by research such as a Master or PhD, so that they can reach more senior positions in research and development in academia and/ or industry.

To prepare you for these diverse career pathways, UWA's unique degree structure provides you with a wide range of specialisation options. For example, it is possible to combine your major in Genetics with a second major in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology, Agricultural Sciences, Botany, Anatomy and Human Biology, Zoology, or do a extended major in Molecular Life Sciences. You can use your personal interests as a basis for your choice of subjects to study, and ultimately, to direct your career. A tailor-made UWA major in Genetics will empower you to become the next leader in future-proof fields, such as biotechnology, synthetic biology, biomedicine or science communication.

Some international, Australian and WA-based companies and institutions include:

* Pharmaceutical/ medical device companies (e.g. CareDx, CSL, Pfizer, Abbvie, GlaxoSmithKline)
* Agricultural breeding companies (e.g. Australian Grain Technologies, Intergrain)
* Biotechnology companies (e.g. Ozgene, PYC Therapeutics, Dimerix, Novozyme, IDT Australia, Life Cykel, Qiagen, Roche)
* Molecular diagnostics laboratories (e.g. Pathwest, Safe Work Laboratories, Precision Oncology, Mater Pathology)
* Research Centres (e.g. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Telethon Kids Institute, Ingham Institute, Garvan Institute for Medical Research)
* Provisioners of scientific instrumentation (e.g. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Westlab, LabGear Australia)
* Genetic counselling services (Government/State, e.g. WA Health)
* Government agencies (Primary Industries and Regional Development)
* World Health Organisation
* Top ranked universities around the world

With a UWA Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics you will be prepared to help these companies and institutions in solving humanity's greatest challenges:










* Fighting infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and drug-resistant bacteria
* Developing treatments for heritable diseases and cancer
* Extending and improving quality of life
* Providing food and water for the world's ever-growing population
* Understanding and adapting to climate change
* Producing sustainable, bio-based materials
* Preserving our planet's amazing biodiversity





Further Study
By undertaking Honours in Genetics, you will develop an understanding of the research process and your abilities to conduct independent research. You will acquire training and practice in skills such as experimental methods, problem solving, literature searching, data analysis, computing, team building, and written and oral communication. Subjects include Advanced Studies in Genetics and Genomics, Advanced Techniques in Molecular Sciences and others.

Further Study By undertaking Honours in Genetics, you will develop an understanding of the research process and your abilities to conduct independent research. You will acquire training and practice in skills such as experimental methods, problem solving, literature searching, data analysis, computing, team building, and written and oral communication. Subjects include Advanced Studies in Genetics and Genomics, Advanced Techniques in Molecular Sciences and others.

Course structure

Level 1
Core

Take all units (6 points):

Core

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Core

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Core

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Bridging

Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1721. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1720 and MATH1721. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete CHEM1003.

Level 2
Core

Take all units (12 points):

Level 3
Students are encouraged to take all Level 3 genetics units to appreciate the diversity of the discipline and its application in all areas of biological sciences, and to acquire the broadest knowledge and the skills for future study and / or employment. Core

Take all units (18 points):

Core

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Science & Mathematics courses at The University of Western Australia (UWA).
77.4%
Overall satisfaction
81.6%
Skill scale
63.8%
Teaching scale
54.3%
Employed full-time
$52k
Average salary