Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry

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.