Why Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences?
The human brain is extraordinary. Thoughts, language, movement, emotion, behaviour, memory, sleep – these incredible functions are all controlled by over 100 billion nerve cells, working together to create a unique person.
If you're fascinated by the inner workings of the brain and its potential, the Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences majoring in Neuroscience is for you. Learn how the nervous system works and communicates – and how disruptions can lead to neurological disorders.
You’ll also develop a deep understanding of biomedicine and health, investigating how the human body works in health and disease. Graduate at the forefront of scientific inquiry, ready to play your part in addressing future workforce shortages in health.
Overview
Become a future leader in health with Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences. Study anatomy with real human specimens and learn from internationally acclaimed academics. Turn theory into practise with hands-on experiences and high-tech simulations.
Majoring in Neuroscience, you’ll learn how the nervous system controls the body and behaviour. Explore brain development from embryonic stages through to ageing. Investigate how the brain adapts to life experiences and how cognitive training and rehabilitation can improve neuroplasticity. Discover innovative ways to prevent or cure neurological disorders.
You’ll gain practical skills in lab-based sessions and through a work placement in a relevant industry or research setting. Graduate with in-demand, versatile skills, ready for an exciting career in the health and biomedical sector or further postgraduate studies.
Key features
Study a degree focused on improving human health.- Explore how the body’s nervous system controls the body and behaviour.
- Complete work or research placements in the health sector.
- Examine authentic human specimens in dedicated anatomy labs.
- Graduate with in-demand, relevant skills adaptable to many careers in health.
- Engage with a curriculum backed by cutting-edge research and taught by globally recognised academics.
What you'll learn
The Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences is a dynamic and flexible three-year program that explores human biology, health and disease. Covering the breadth of health and medical science disciplines, it provides the essential skills and knowledge to thrive in the ever-evolving health landscape.
As a biomedical and health sciences student, you'll take core courses in health systems, research, anatomy and physiology. The degree includes cross-cultural and First Nations perspectives, ensuring you gain a comprehensive understanding of health and care. Throughout your studies, you'll develop key skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management. You’ll also choose up to two majors and complete a capstone research project, preparing you for diverse career paths in health.
Majoring in Neuroscience, you’ll learn how the nervous system regulates the body and behaviour. Core major courses will introduce you to neuroscience, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. See how the brain is composed at a cellular level using real-life human specimens in a dedicated anatomy lab. Discover how neurons communicate and how this affects sensation and the perception of pain. Investigate the relationship between the brain and human behaviour and learn how neuroscience can prevent or cure neurological disorders. Choose from other major topics including neurological diseases, addiction, human cognition, human movement, molecular neuropharmacology and disease, cellular neurobiology and more.
You can also opt to broaden your expertise with elective courses from across the health and biomedical spectrum, or select a second major. This flexibility is one of the highlights of the Biomedical and Health Science degree. You can tailor your studies to your interests and there’s also no need to decide immediately – you'll have plenty of time to explore and discover what excites you.
In your second year, you’ll build real lab skills with 40 hours of practicals, applying molecular and cellular biology techniques. And in your final year, you’ll complete a work placement in a professional or research setting.
Majors
The Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences is also available with a major or second major in the following:
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 42 units for Core courses, and
- 48 units for one Major from Majors, and
- 6 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 48 units for Electives
Complete 42 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core, and
- 24 units for all Program core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Health Research
|
Course code
HLTH1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human Anatomy and Physiology A
|
Course code
HBIO1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human Anatomy and Physiology B
|
Course code
HBIO1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Development of Health Research Skills
|
Course code
MEDI3003
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units comprising:
- 30 units for all Major courses, and
- 18 units from Year 3 major selective courses
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1A: Molecules, Genes and Cells
|
Course code
BIOL1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Essentials of Neuroscience
|
Course code
HBIO1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 2
|
Course code
BIOL2900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Human Neurophysiology
|
Course code
HBIO2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Human Neuroanatomy
|
Course code
MDST2002
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Neurological Diseases
|
Course code
HBIO3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Neuromotor Control of Human Movement
|
Course code
HBIO3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human Motor Behaviour and Learning
|
Course code
HBIO3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biological Psychiatry
|
Course code
HBIO3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Cellular and Systems Neurobiology
|
Course code
HBIO3009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Neuroscience of Human Cognition and Behaviour
|
Course code
HBIO3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular Neuropharmacology and Disease
|
Course code
PHAR3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biological and Psychosocial Factors of Addiction
|
Course code
PSYC3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Assessment and Treatment of Addiction
|
Course code
PSYC3005
|
Units
6
|
Complete 6 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
WIL in Biomedical and Health Sciences
|
Course code
HLTH3900
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units comprising:
- 48 units from Program electives
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1A: Molecules, Genes and Cells
|
Course code
BIOL1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics 2A: Introduction to Genetic Analysis
|
Course code
BIOL2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics 2B: Applications of Genetic Analysis
|
Course code
BIOL2006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics 3B: Quantitative, Developmental and Medical Genetics
|
Course code
BIOL2007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Immunology and Virology 2
|
Course code
BIOL2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 2: Metabolism
|
Course code
BIOL2015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 2: Molecular and Cellular Biology
|
Course code
BIOL2017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Microbiology 2
|
Course code
BIOL2021
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
|
Course code
BIOL2900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 3 Molecular and Structural Biology
|
Course code
BIOL3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 3 Molecular Basis of Cancer
|
Course code
BIOL3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics 3A: Evolutionary Genetics and Epigenetics
|
Course code
BIOL3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Infection and Immunity 3A
|
Course code
BIOL3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Infection and Immunity 3B
|
Course code
BIOL3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 3: Practical
|
Course code
BIOL3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Microbiology and Immunology Practical 3
|
Course code
BIOL3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics Practical 3A
|
Course code
BIOL3900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Chemistry
|
Course code
CHEM1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1A
|
Course code
CHEM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Essentials of Neuroscience
|
Course code
HBIO1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Human Neurophysiology
|
Course code
HBIO2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Musculoskeletal Anatomy
|
Course code
HBIO2006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physiology 2A - Heart, Lung and Neuromuscular Systems
|
Course code
HBIO2007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physiology 2B - Systems and Homeostasis
|
Course code
HBIO2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Functional Histology
|
Course code
HBIO2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Reproduction and Developmental Biology
|
Course code
HBIO2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Reproductive Health Matters
|
Course code
HBIO3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biology of Childhood Growth and Development
|
Course code
HBIO3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Infant, Child and Adolescent Health
|
Course code
HBIO3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Assisted Reproductive Technology
|
Course code
HBIO3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Neurological Diseases
|
Course code
HBIO3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Neuromotor Control of Human Movement
|
Course code
HBIO3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human Motor Behaviour and Learning
|
Course code
HBIO3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biological Psychiatry
|
Course code
HBIO3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Cellular and Systems Neurobiology
|
Course code
HBIO3009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Neuroscience of Human Cognition and Behaviour
|
Course code
HBIO3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Integrated and Applied Systems Physiology
|
Course code
HBIO3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Research Techniques to Investigate Human Disease
|
Course code
HBIO3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Reproductive Biology
|
Course code
HBIO3016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Principles of Human Health, Disease and Treatment
|
Course code
HLTH1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Health Ethics
|
Course code
HLTH1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
First 1000 Days
|
Course code
HLTH2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Applied Human Anatomy
|
Course code
HLTH2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Health, Culture, Community, and Country
|
Course code
INDG1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Human Neuroanatomy
|
Course code
MDST2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
From Child to Adult: Priorities for Health, Wellbeing and Relationships
|
Course code
MDST2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Essentials of Pathology
|
Course code
MDST3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Clinical Trials
|
Course code
PHAR1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Non-Clinical Studies for Clinical Trials
|
Course code
PHAR2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Pharmacology
|
Course code
PHAR2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Pharmacology and Pathophysiology
|
Course code
PHAR2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Drug Discovery and Development
|
Course code
PHAR3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Clinical Trials Management
|
Course code
PHAR3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacometrics, and Systems Pharmacology
|
Course code
PHAR3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular Neuropharmacology and Disease
|
Course code
PHAR3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
|
Course code
PHAR3008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biological and Psychosocial Factors of Addiction
|
Course code
PSYC3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Assessment and Treatment of Addiction
|
Course code
PSYC3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Public Health Information and Intelligence
|
Course code
PUBH1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Upstream Determinants of Health
|
Course code
PUBH1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Health, Society and Systems
|
Course code
PUBH1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human-Animal Relationships in Health and Society
|
Course code
PUBH1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Qualitative Approaches in Health
|
Course code
PUBH2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Essentials of Epidemiology
|
Course code
PUBH2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Climate Change and Health
|
Course code
PUBH2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Public Health Ethics
|
Course code
PUBH2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Social Foundations of Health
|
Course code
PUBH2006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Essentials of Biostatistics
|
Course code
PUBH2007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Global Health
|
Course code
PUBH2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Rural Public Health
|
Course code
PUBH2010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control
|
Course code
PUBH2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental and Occupational Health
|
Course code
PUBH2024
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Designing and Managing Public Health Programs
|
Course code
PUBH2902
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Public Health Evaluation
|
Course code
PUBH3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Health Promotion in Action
|
Course code
PUBH3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Epidemiology in Action
|
Course code
PUBH3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Science, Evidence and Politics: Building Healthy Public Policy
|
Course code
PUBH3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Public Health Practice
|
Course code
PUBH3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Health Economics
|
Course code
PUBH3018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis
|
Course code
PUBH3019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Topics in Forensic Science
|
Course code
SCIE3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Data Skills for Scientists
|
Course code
STAT1000
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
The Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences opens doors to a huge range of career options in health. With your Neuroscience major, you may work in neurorehabilitation, helping patients to recover from brain injuries. Or you might become a researcher, discovering new insights into the nervous system and neuroplasticity. Perhaps you’ll become a science communicator, translating complex scientific ideas into popular news articles for everyone to enjoy.
Your broad health expertise may also lead to careers as a:
- Medical researcher
- Public health advisor
- Health informatics coordinator
- Laboratory research assistant
- Healthcare and diagnostic product specialist
- Science communicator.
You’ll also be prepared to enter postgraduate studies – in a health or medical field or in research.
Industry trends
Brain disorders – including both neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders – are a significant global health problem and the second largest source of deaths worldwide. Over 30% of deaths worldwide each year are attributable to some form of brain disorder (Deloitte, 2024). Further research into brain disorders, new treatments and better early diagnostic tools are required to improve morbidity rates. With a health and biomedical science degree majoring in neuroscience, you’ll be ready to address these issues and make a positive impact on health and longevity.
Strong career opportunities are also available in healthcare more broadly. According to the World Health Organization’s Global Monitoring Report (2023 ), by 2030 there will be a global shortage of 10 million healthcare professionals. With this growing demand comes bright employment prospects for Adelaide University health graduates.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
