Why Bachelor of Science (Honours)?
Explore the world of molecules and uncover the secrets of life at the smallest scale.
Biochemistry reveals the mechanisms that sustain every form of life. It bridges the gap between biology and chemistry, shedding light on the processes that keep living cells functioning and adapting.
A Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Biochemistry immerses you in the foundations of health, disease and development at a molecular level. Investigate how essential molecules work together. Discover how cells generate and use energy. Explore how genes shape everything from physical characteristics to disease risk.
You’ll be equipped to pursue a rewarding future in biomedical science or biotechnology, contributing to groundbreaking research.
Overview
Studying a Bachelor of Science (Honours) opens the door to understanding the fundamental principles that shape our world. You major in Biochemistry will look at a molecular level of life – exploring the roles of proteins, DNA, RNA and other crucial molecules. Discover how cells generate energy and how genetics influence traits and disease risks.
Gain practical experience with extensive laboratory training and over 180 hours of hands-on lab work. You’ll master advanced techniques in molecular biology and biomedical science. You’ll learn from leading scientists and consider the ethical factors of modern scientific practices. In your third year, a professional placement or focused project will further develop your expertise.
Follow your passion for discovery and tackle real-world problems through scientific research. Your honours year will enhance your competitiveness in the job market and provide a strong foundation for advanced postgraduate studies. Be prepared to make meaningful contributions in fields like medicine, research, drug development, environmental science and biotechnology.
Key features
Sharpen essential critical thinking, analytical problem-solving and evidence-based decision-making skills.- Tailor your degree by selecting up to two majors that match your interests.
- Get hands-on in cutting-edge laboratories equipped with industry-standard technology.
- Expand your expertise and master advanced scientific methods in your honours year.
- Build technical proficiency with up to 180 hours of laboratory practicals.
- Open doors to a diverse field of scientific careers.
What you'll learn
Gain a comprehensive grounding in scientific methods and principles with Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Biochemistry. In our four-year honours degree, you’ll engage with foundational science courses and broaden your understanding. Through hands-on and practical experiences, you’ll develop industry-ready skills applicable to a range of exciting careers. These include scientific data analysis, analytical problem-solving and evidence-based decision making. You can also personalise your studies by selecting electives from a wide range of science disciplines and the option to pursue two majors.
Your Biochemistry major will dive into the molecular underpinnings of life, where you’ll investigate how crucial molecules like proteins, DNA and RNA are formed and how they function. Explore the world of genes, molecules and cells, and examine the molecular origins of diseases like cancer, and their early development.
Practical laboratory work is a key component of this degree – you’ll complete 180 hours of lab-based practicals including an industry placement in your third year. Be equipped with the essential lab skills needed for a range of scientific careers including in fields such as medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and genetic engineering. You’ll graduate with both the theoretical knowledge and practical expertise needed to address current challenges across multiple industries.
Your final honours year will consist of a focused Biological Sciences project and associated theoretical work. You’ll broaden your skill base and open the door to increased job opportunities. An honours year is also an important step for further postgraduate study.
Majors
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) is also available with majors in the following:
- Animal Behaviour
- Food Science and Technology
- Marine and Wildlife Conservation
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Nuclear and Radiation Physics
- Nuclear Chemistry
- Plant Biology.
What courses you'll study
Complete 192 units comprising:
- 42 to 54 units for Core courses, and
- 84 to 144 units for Majors, and
- At least 6 units from Work integrated learning, and
- 0 to 48 units for Electives
Complete 42 to 54 units comprising:
- 6 to 12 units for all Program core, and
- 12 to 18 units from Common Core, and
- 6 to 30 units from Core Selective
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Science of People, Society and the Future Planet
|
Course code
SCIE1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Data Skills for Scientists
|
Course code
STAT1000
|
Units
6
|
| 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
Biology 1A: Molecules, Genes and Cells
|
Course code
BIOL1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1B: Evolution and Diversity of Organisms
|
Course code
BIOL1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Chemistry
|
Course code
CHEM1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1A
|
Course code
CHEM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1B
|
Course code
CHEM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Planet Earth
|
Course code
EART1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Earth, Climate and Life Systems
|
Course code
EART1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Mathematics
|
Course code
MATH1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Calculus 1
|
Course code
MATH1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Calculus 2
|
Course code
MATH1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Physics
|
Course code
PHYS1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physics 1A
|
Course code
PHYS1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physics 1B
|
Course code
PHYS1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Differential Equations
|
Course code
MATHX202
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Linear Algebra
|
Course code
MATHX104
|
Units
6
|
Notes
Program core - Students in the following Majors will not enrol in STAT1000 Data Skills for Scientists:
Computational Physics, Experimental Physics, Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Physics and Geophysics, Space Science and Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics
Complete 54 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1C: Molecular Biology and Biomedical Science
|
Course code
BIOL1031
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 2 Metabolism
|
Course code
BIOL2015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 2: Molecular and Cell Biology
|
Course code
BIOL2017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences 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
Biochemistry 3: Practical
|
Course code
BIOL3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1A
|
Course code
CHEM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Scientific Data: Analysis and Visualisation
|
Course code
SCIE2000
|
Units
6
|
Complete at least 6 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Skills in Animal Science
|
Course code
ANIM3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
|
Course code
ANIM3900
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
|
Course code
BIOL2900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
|
Course code
BIOL3007
|
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
Field Palaeontology 3
|
Course code
EART3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Field Geoscience Program 3
|
Course code
EART3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Optics and Photonics 3
|
Course code
PHYS3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Computational Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX300
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Experimental Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX301
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Placement
|
Course code
SCIE3900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Project
|
Course code
SCIE3901
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics Practical 3B
|
Course code
BIOL2016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation
|
Course code
EART3004
|
Units
6
|
Notes
If studying ANACHSCIE - Analytical Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ANIBHSCIE - Animal Behaviour then complete ANIM3900 - Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
If studying BIOCHSCIE - Biochemistry then complete BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studying CHEYHSCIE - Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ECOLHSCIE - Ecology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ENVGHSCIE - Environmental and Geospatial Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingENVSHSCIE - Environmental Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying EVOLHSCIE - Evolutionary Biology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying EVOPHSCIE - Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology the complete EART3002 - Field Palaeontology 3
If studying EXPEHSCIE - Experimental Physics then completePHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studying FOODHSCIE - Food Science and Technology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying GENEHSCIE - Genetics then complete BIOL2900 - Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2 or BIOL3901 - Genetics Practical 3B or BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studyingGEOLHSCIE - Geology then complete EART3003 - Field Geoscience Program 3
If studyingGEOEHSCIE - Geology and Earth Resources then complete EART3003 - Field Geoscience Program 3
If studyingGEOPHSCIE - Geology and Palaeontology then complete EART3002 - Field Palaeontology 3
If studyingGEOYHSCIE - Geophysics then complete EART3004 - Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation and may also complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMARWHSCIE - Marine and Wildlife Conservation then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMEDBHSCIE - Medicinal and Biological Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMICRHSCIE - Microbiology and Immunology then complete BIOL2900 - Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2 and BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3 and BIOL3012 - Microbiology and Immunology Practical 3
If studyingNUCCHSCIE - Nuclear Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingNUCRHSCIE - Nuclear and Radiation Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics or PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studyingPHYGHSCIE - Physics and Geophysics then complete PHYS3004 - Optics and Photonics 3 or PHYSX300 - Computational Physics
If studyingPLABHSCIE - Plant Biology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingPACHHSCIE - Pure and Applied Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingSOILHSCIE - Soil Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingSPACHSCIE - Space Science and Astrophysics then complete PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studyingTHEOHSCIE - Theoretical Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics or PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Biological Sciences
|
Course code
BIOL4001
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Honours Biological Sciences Project
|
Course code
BIOL4002
|
Units
36
|
Career outcomes
A Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree sets you up for a versatile range of career paths and further postgraduate study. You might work at the cutting edge of science, developing new materials and devices at the molecular or atomic level. Or maybe you’ll apply biochemical techniques to analyse crime scene evidence, such as DNA and toxicology. Perhaps you’ll design and test new drugs and therapies, contributing to life-saving medical advancements.
Career outcomes also include:
- Biochemist
- Microbiologist
- Pharmaceutical microbiologist
- Biomedical technician
- Forensic scientist
- Medical researcher
- Laboratory research assistant
- Science communicator.
Industry trends
Australia is a global leader in life sciences, consistently ranked among the top five countries for biotechnology innovation – supported by strong government policies and funding in areas like medical technology, digital health, agritech and regenerative medicine (Ausbiotech, 2025). These initiatives, combined with world-class research infrastructure and a skilled workforce, continue to drive Australia’s growth and innovation in the life sciences sector.
An honours degree in Biochemistry equips you with the practical skills, scientific knowledge, and interdisciplinary expertise needed to thrive in this innovate sector.
Accreditation
Adelaide University is working through relevant approvals for program accreditation ahead of students commencing in 2026.
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.
