Why Bachelor of Science (Honours)?
Learn the chemistry that saves lives.
Medicinal and biological chemists are the scientists behind some of modern medicines greatest breakthroughs – including treatments for pneumonia, diabetes and HIV.
All new medicines begin as chemical compounds, created by scientists in labs, before undergoing rigorous pre-clinical and clinical testing. In this degree, you’ll learn the science behind creating safe and effective medicines and emerge ready to tackle real-world health issues as a skilled scientist.
Our Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry is a four-year degree designed to deepen your scientific knowledge and research skills. It builds a strong foundation for further study and faster career growth – whether you aspire to work in industry or academia.
Overview
Interested in the human body? Want to join a field with infinite potential to improve lives and wellbeing? Our Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry may be the perfect fit for you.
The first three years of this degree mirror those of our Bachelor of Science majoring in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry. The extra honours year is designed to deepen your knowledge with a major research or professional project.
In the Medicinal and Biological Chemistry major, you’ll complete specialised courses and work closely with expert academic staff on real-world projects. You’ll build high-level research skills and graduate with an advanced qualification that’s highly valued by employers.
Our Bachelor of Science (Honours) also provides a pathway for entry into a research degree at either a master's or PhD level, through the supported development of an honours thesis in your final year.
Key features
Study the chemistry behind safe and effective pharmaceutical drugs.- Gain cross-disciplinary insights from chemistry, biology and pharmacology.
- Build critical thinking, problem-solving and evidence-based decision-making skills.
- Choose up to two majors aligned with your interests and career goals.
- Access labs with industry-standard tools and technologies.
- Complete a major research or professional project in your final year.
What you'll learn
In our Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, you’ll learn the science behind how modern drugs are created – from initial discovery through to design and development.
By exploring key concepts in chemistry, biology and pharmacology, you’ll develop the expertise needed to tackle the complex challenges of creating effective and safe pharmaceutical compounds.
You’ll learn scientific data handling, analytical approaches to problem solving, and evidence-based decision-making. You can opt to customise your degree with the choice of one or two majors aligned to your interests.
Core courses will introduce you to molecules, genes and cells – the building blocks of life itself. You’ll discover how cells mutate, repair and evolve. Learn about chemical reactions, how they happen and how they reach equilibrium. Get familiar with different types of molecules and create new materials through chemistry. Study the metabolism of the human body, looking at how it manages energy and adapts to change. You’ll also explore how drugs are tested for safety and efficacy in both preclinical phases and clinical trials.
Many of your courses include a practical component, allowing you to apply theory in hands-on laboratory work. In your final year, you’ll also have the option to complete 80 hours in a professional placement or research project.
In your honours year, you’ll take advanced courses designed to help you develop your research skills. You’ll apply these skills through completion of a Medicinal and Biological Chemistry honours project. Under the guidance and support of our world-class research staff, you’ll design, undertake and report on a project in an area that’s of interest to you and relevant to the field.
This degree provides a pathway for entry into a research degree at either a master's or doctoral (PhD) level.
Majors
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) is also available with majors in the following:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Animal Behaviour
- Animal Science
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Computational Physics
- Ecology
- Environmental and Geospatial Science
- Environmental Science
- Evolutionary Biology
- Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology
- Experimental Physics
- Food Science and Technology
- Genetics
- Geology
- Geology and Earth Resources
- Geology and Palaeontology
- Geophysics
- Marine and Wildlife Conservation
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Nuclear and Radiation Physics
- Nuclear Chemistry
- Physics and Geophysics
- Plant Biology
- Pure and Applied Chemistry
- Soil Science
- Space Science and Astrophysics
- Theoretical Physics.
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 exactly 96 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1A: Molecules, Genes and Cells
|
Course code
BIOL1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1C: Molecular Biology and Biomedical Science
|
Course code
BIOL1031
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1A
|
Course code
CHEM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1B
|
Course code
CHEM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Organic Chemistry 2
|
Course code
CHEM2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Analytical and Sustainable Chemistry 2
|
Course code
CHEM2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 2
|
Course code
CHEM2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 2: Molecular and Cellular Biology
|
Course code
BIOL2017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 2: Metabolism
|
Course code
BIOL2015
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 3 Molecular and Structural Biology
|
Course code
BIOL3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 3
|
Course code
CHEM3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Organic Chemistry 3
|
Course code
CHEM3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Analytical Chemistry 3
|
Course code
CHEM3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Synthetic Methods
|
Course code
CHEM3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Drug Discovery
|
Course code
PHAR2020
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Drug Development 2
|
Course code
PHAR3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Drug Development 1
|
Course code
PHAR2007
|
Units
6
|
Notes
The courses CHEM1002 Chemistry 1A and CHEM1003 Chemistry 1B require students to have passed certain SACE Stage 2 subjects, or equivalent subjects, to be eligible to enrol. Please see the course information webpages for prerequisite and/or assumed knowledge details. Foundational pathways are available to students without this background, which may increase the duration of the program beyond 3 years. Please contact the Science Program Director to discuss specific enrolment advice based on your previous study.
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 Chemistry (Hons) A
|
Course code
CHEM4000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Communicating Science
|
Course code
EART4004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Honours Chemistry Project
|
Course code
CHEM4001
|
Units
36
|
Career outcomes
You’ll graduate prepared for a variety of exciting and rewarding careers. Your scientific knowledge and approach to problem-solving, along with the research skills developed during your honours year, will make for a skillset that’s highly sought-after by employers in both traditional scientific fields and emerging interdisciplinary areas.
You might become a forensic toxicologist, helping analyse biological samples collected at crime scenes to assist in legal investigations. Perhaps you’ll apply your expertise as a medicinal chemist, designing, synthesising and optimising chemical compounds to create new pharmaceutical drugs. You could even work as a clinical research associate, overseeing clinical trials and ensuring compliance with regulations.
Graduates from this degree can pursue a range of roles including:
- Medical researcher
- Toxicologist
- Forensic scientist
- Medicinal chemist
- Health informatics coordinator
- Laboratory research assistant
- Clinical operations manager
- Science communicator.
Industry trends
The field of clinical trials is evolving fast, driven by technological advancements and personalised medicine. These changes are leading to exciting new opportunities. In Australia in 2019, clinical trials contributed $1.4 billion to the economy through direct expenditure or investment (Australian Clinical Trials Alliance, 2021). The benefits of clinical trials are extensive, leading to better patient outcomes, public health improvements and significant scientific advancements.
In the broader field of scientific research, CSIRO highlights commercialisation and cross-sector collaboration as key to unlocking innovation potential (CSIRO, 2021). Adelaide University’s future-focused, collaborative approach to teaching science will prepare you for a dynamic career in scientific discovery.
Accreditation
Adelaide University is working through relevant approvals for program accreditation ahead of students commencing in 2026.
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.
