Why Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences?
It’s estimated that about 117 billion humans have lived on earth. Each of these unique lives began at the same remarkable point – conception.
Discover the essence of human existence with a Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences majoring in Reproductive and Childhood Health. Explore how genes and cells create new life and uncover how early experiences shape our health and development.
You’ll also develop a broad understanding of biomedicine and health, investigating how the human body works in health and disease. Graduate at the forefront of scientific discovery, ready to play your part in addressing expected health workforce shortages.
Overview
Get ready to be a leader in health with a Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences from Adelaide University. Examine real human specimens in dedicated anatomy labs and learn from world renowned academics. Put theory into practice with hands-on experiences including high-tech simulations.
Majoring in Reproductive and Childhood Heath, you’ll gain a fascinating insight into fertility, conception, pregnancy and birth. Learn how early life affects health across the lifespan. Investigate the key health issues that affect children and adolescents. Discover how reproductive technology works and how it can be used to help overcome fertility issues.
You’ll build practical skills in lab-based sessions and through a work-based project in a relevant industry or research placement. Graduate with adaptable and transferable skills suited to a wide range of exciting careers in health and biomedical sciences, or further postgraduate studies.
Key features
Study a degree with a focus on improving human health.- Explore the science behind fertility, conception, pregnancy, birth and childhood health.
- Complete work or research placements in the health sector.
- Access dedicated anatomy labs and study real human specimens.
- Graduate with in-demand, transferable skills relevant for a variety of careers in health.
- Learn from globally recognised academics in a degree backed by innovative research.
What you'll learn
The Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences is a fascinating and flexible three-year program covering human biology, health and disease. Spanning the breadth of health and medical science disciplines, it teaches you the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the dynamic health landscape.
As a biomedical and health sciences student, you'll study core courses in health systems, research, anatomy and physiology. With a focus on providing cross-cultural and First Nations viewpoints, the program ensures you graduate with a well-rounded and global perspective of health and care. You’ll also develop essential professional skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management. With opportunities to choose up to two majors and complete a capstone research project, you’ll be well-prepared for a variety of diverse health-related careers.
Majoring in Reproductive and Childhood Health, you’ll look under the microscope and discover the molecules, genes and cells that make up life itself. Explore the biology of reproduction, from puberty to menopause. Learn about fertility and infertility, as well as the advanced treatments and technologies available to assist reproduction.
You’ll study pregnancy in all its complexities – including the factors that influence normal and disordered pregnancies. Investigate key issues in reproductive and childhood health from biological and social viewpoints, and find out how early life events can shape long-term health outcomes. In your second year, you can choose to build lab skills with a microbiology practical or study epidemiology methods to research population health.
Throughout the program, you can broaden your expertise with elective courses or even opt for a second major. One of the highlights of the Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences is its flexibility, allowing you to tailor the course to your interests. And there's no need to decide immediately – you'll have plenty of time to explore and discover what excites you.
In your final year, you'll gain valuable and relevant real-world experience with 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:
- 24 units for all Major courses, and
- 6 units from Year 2 major selective 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
Health, Society and Systems
|
Course code
PUBH1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Reproduction and Developmental Biology
|
Course code
HBIO2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
From Child to Adult: Priorities for Health, Wellbeing and Relationships
|
Course code
MDST2004
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
|
Course code
BIOL2900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Essentials of Epidemiology
|
Course code
PUBH2002
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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
|
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 prepares you for a range of career options in health. With your major in Reproductive and Childhood Heath, you might work in a fertility clinic, helping clients with fertility assessments and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Or you might become a public health advisor, developing policies and programs to improve the health of mothers and children in the community or more broadly.
Your broad health expertise will also open opportunities as a:
- Embryologist
- Medical researcher
- Public health advisor
- Health informatics coordinator
- Laboratory research assistant
- Healthcare and diagnostic product specialist
- Science communicator.
You’ll also be prepared for further postgraduate studies in the health or medical fields, or in research.
Industry trends
Since its clinical debut in 1978, IVF has revolutionised human reproduction. Initially developed to assist infertile couples, IVF now addresses a range of medical and genetic conditions as well as fertility. While access and use of IVF varies globally, it currently accounts for over 4% of all births in Australia and is increasing worldwide. With infertility affecting about 10% of couples, IVF remains a crucial solution (Kushnir, Smith and Adashi, 2022). As its use continues to expand globally, job prospects in this area are also expected to grow.
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?
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.
