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The University of Western Australia (UWA)

  • 22% international / 78% domestic

Molecular Life Sciences (Extended Major)

  • Non-Award

This extended major will help you develop in-depth understanding in biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, preparing you for a career in fields such as biotechnology, health diagnostics, aquaculture and plant breeding.

Key details

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

About this course

The extended major in Molecular Life Sciences will help you develop a scientific understanding of the biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics of all living organisms. You will study the way molecules are organised and how they interact to achieve the functions of the living cell and that of the organism. This extended major further introduces you to aspects of agriculture, marine and aquatic food resources, and environmental aspects through units in plant, fisheries and soil sciences. This combination was carefully selected to provide you with a broader base for your career choices and will enable you to pursue a Master's degree in Biotechnology with specialisations in AQUAtech, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology, Genetics and Genomics or Synthetic Biology.

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
  • 79
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 270
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 330
Trinity College Foundation
  • 300
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 66
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 60
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 80
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
  • 79
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 270
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 330
Trinity College Foundation
  • 300
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 66
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 60
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 80
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
Prerequisites

This major requires:

  • Mathematics Methods ATAR; OR
  • Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year; OR
  • Students without ATAR mathematics to take two mathematics units in their first year.

  • Chemistry ATAR or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

Prerequisites
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

Study locations

Albany

Perth

Career pathways

Careers and further study

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

Career Pathways

A bachelor's degree in Molecular Life Sciences from UWA would be highly recognised amongst employers in the biosciences. Career options include agricultural consultancy, biotechnology, drug development, food production and quality control, fermentation industries and chemical production. Life scientists find jobs in diagnostic laboratories in hospitals, veterinary health, toxicology and allied health fields. Opportunities beyond the laboratory include education, patent law and policy-making, as well as in agriculture and the environment, sales and marketing for medical, research and pharmaceutical industries. With their specialist knowledge of living systems, molecular life scientists find work as journalists and science communicators. A degree in Molecular Life Sciences is also an ideal launchpad for specialised postgraduate courses in bioinformatics, synthetic biology or forensics. Finally, many careers in the molecular life sciences benefit from further study towards a higher degree by research, so that graduates can reach more senior positions in research and development, whether in academia or in industry.

Some international, Australian and WA-based companies and institutions
that seek molecular life scientists include:

* Pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Pfizer, CSL, Abbvie, GlaxoSmithKline, EvansPetersen Healthcare)
* Biotechnology companies (e.g. Dimerix, PYC Therapeutics, Orthocell, Novozyme, Life Cykel, Qiagen, Roche, Merck)
* Molecular diagnostics laboratories (e.g. Pathwest, Safe Work Laboratories)
* Biochemical/protein analytical laboratories (e.g. Proteomics International)
* Provisioners of scientific instrumentation (e.g. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Westlab, LabGear Australia)
* Research Centres (e.g. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)*, Telethon Kids Institute, Ingham Institute, Garvan Institute for Medical Research)
* Top-ranked universities around the world





Career Pathways

A bachelor's degree in Molecular Life Sciences from UWA would be highly recognised amongst employers in the biosciences. Career options include agricultural consultancy, biotechnology, drug development, food production and quality control, fermentation industries and chemical production. Life scientists find jobs in diagnostic laboratories in hospitals, veterinary health, toxicology and allied health fields. Opportunities beyond the laboratory include education, patent law and policy-making, as well as in agriculture and the environment, sales and marketing for medical, research and pharmaceutical industries. With their specialist knowledge of living systems, molecular life scientists find work as journalists and science communicators. A degree in Molecular Life Sciences is also an ideal launchpad for specialised postgraduate courses in bioinformatics, synthetic biology or forensics. Finally, many careers in the molecular life sciences benefit from further study towards a higher degree by research, so that graduates can reach more senior positions in research and development, whether in academia or in industry.

Some international, Australian and WA-based companies and institutions
that seek molecular life scientists include:

* Pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Pfizer, CSL, Abbvie, GlaxoSmithKline, EvansPetersen Healthcare)
* Biotechnology companies (e.g. Dimerix, PYC Therapeutics, Orthocell, Novozyme, Life Cykel, Qiagen, Roche, Merck)
* Molecular diagnostics laboratories (e.g. Pathwest, Safe Work Laboratories)
* Biochemical/protein analytical laboratories (e.g. Proteomics International)
* Provisioners of scientific instrumentation (e.g. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Westlab, LabGear Australia)
* Research Centres (e.g. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)*, Telethon Kids Institute, Ingham Institute, Garvan Institute for Medical Research)
* Top-ranked universities around the world





Further Study

You might consider further studies in:

Further Study

You might consider further studies in: