Why Bachelor of Science?
Unravel the mysteries of the universe with a Bachelor of Science. Let your scientific curiosity propel you to the forefront of new discoveries and breakthroughs.
Help to solve global challenges and advance knowledge in your area of interest. Explore big-picture questions, gaining a deep understanding of the world and your place within it.
You’ll graduate as an adaptable scientist, grounded with ethical practice and an open mindset for innovation. There’s really no limit to where science can take you.
Overview
Make new discoveries within the vast natural and physical sciences – from the sub-atomic to the planetary and beyond.
Through the Bachelor of Science, you’ll unveil the wonders of our universe through ethical observation, measurement, and prediction. Develop the systematic and creative thinking required to navigate the complexities of scientific inquiry.
You’ll graduate with the analytical methods, laboratory and field techniques, and information technology skills needed to apply scientific research into real-world contexts. Coupled with your insatiable curiosity, you’ll have the insight and expertise required to contribute to local and global challenges across a range of industries.
Key features
Unlock your curiosity and study a flexible degree in science.- Build foundations in critical thinking, analytical problem-solving and evidence-based decision making.
- Choose two majors that align to your interests and career goals, spanning the diverse natural and physical sciences.
- Access purpose-built laboratories with industry-standard tools and technologies.
- Complete a professional science project or placement.
- Have the option to complete 80 hours of practical and field experience.
What you'll learn
The Bachelor Science is a flexible gateway into the study of our natural and physical world – as well as the unknown.
You’ll study foundational courses that will develop your understanding of human ecology and Earth impacts. You’ll focus on global challenges and current scientific advancements, and you’ll build valuable skills in scientific data handling and visualisation.
Through this highly flexible degree, you can choose to study at least one major from a wide variety of scientific areas.
Broaden your thinking with cross-disciplinary electives in areas like languages, business, health, STEM and the arts. This will enable you to work with diverse teams, build management and financial skills, intersect with critical healthcare needs, and bridge science with the humanities.
A Work Integrated Learning project will see you complete a professional science project or placement totalling 80 hours, gaining practical and field experience in your chosen area of interest.
Majors
You can also choose a Bachelor of Science with a major in one of 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
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry
- 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 144 units comprising:
- 42 to 54 units for Core Courses, and
- Either:
- 30 to 96 units for one Major from Majors, or
- 48 units from Discipline courses, 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
Linear Algebra
|
Course code
MATHX104
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Differential Equations
|
Course code
MATHX202
|
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 48 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Analytical Chemistry
|
Course code
ANACBSCIE
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Animal Behaviour
|
Course code
ANIBBSCIE
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Animal Science
|
Course code
ANISBSCIE
|
Units
66
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry
|
Course code
BIOCBSCIE
|
Units
54
|
|
|
Course name
Biotechnology
|
Course code
BIOTBSCIE
|
Units
60
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry
|
Course code
CHEYBSCIE
|
Units
42
|
|
|
Course name
Computational Physics
|
Course code
COMPBSCIE
|
Units
72
|
|
|
Course name
Ecology
|
Course code
ECOLBSCIE
|
Units
60
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental and Geospatial Science
|
Course code
ENVGBSCIE
|
Units
96
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Science
|
Course code
ENVSBSCIE
|
Units
66
|
|
|
Course name
Evolutionary Biology
|
Course code
EVOLBSCIE
|
Units
66
|
|
|
Course name
Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology
|
Course code
EVOPBSCIE
|
Units
72
|
|
|
Course name
Experimental Physics
|
Course code
EXPEBSCIE
|
Units
66
|
|
|
Course name
Food Science and Technology
|
Course code
FOODBSCIE
|
Units
72
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics
|
Course code
GENEBSCIE
|
Units
42
|
|
|
Course name
Geology
|
Course code
GEOLBSCIE
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Geology and Earth Resources
|
Course code
GEOEBSCIE
|
Units
84
|
|
|
Course name
Geology and Palaeontology
|
Course code
GEOPBSCIE
|
Units
72
|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics
|
Course code
GEOYBSCIE
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Marine and Wildlife Conservation
|
Course code
MARWBSCIE
|
Units
66
|
|
|
Course name
Medicinal and Biological Chemistry
|
Course code
MEDBBSCIE
|
Units
96
|
|
|
Course name
Microbiology and Immunology
|
Course code
MICRBSCIE
|
Units
30
|
|
|
Course name
Nuclear and Radiation Physics
|
Course code
NUCRBSCIE
|
Units
72
|
|
|
Course name
Nuclear Chemistry
|
Course code
NUCCBSCIE
|
Units
54
|
|
|
Course name
Physics and Geophysics
|
Course code
PHYGBSCIE
|
Units
84
|
|
|
Course name
Pure and Applied Chemistry
|
Course code
PACHBSCIE
|
Units
78
|
|
|
Course name
Plant Biology
|
Course code
PLABBSCIE
|
Units
60
|
|
|
Course name
Soil Science
|
Course code
SOILBSCIE
|
Units
72
|
|
|
Course name
Space Science and Astrophysics
|
Course code
SPACBSCIE
|
Units
72
|
|
|
Course name
Theoretical Physics
|
Course code
THEOBSCIE
|
Units
60
|
Notes
Courses chosen from any of the Majors in the Bachelor of Science.
Complete one Major from the following:
| Major name | |
|---|---|
|
|
Major
Analytical Chemistry
|
|
|
Major
Animal Behaviour
|
|
|
Major
Animal Science
|
|
|
Major
Biochemistry
|
|
|
Major
Biotechnology
|
|
|
Major
Chemistry
|
|
|
Major
Computational Physics
|
|
|
Major
Ecology
|
|
|
Major
Environmental and Geospatial Science
|
|
|
Major
Environmental Science
|
|
|
Major
Evolutionary Biology
|
|
|
Major
Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology
|
|
|
Major
Experimental Physics
|
|
|
Major
Food Science and Technology
|
|
|
Major
Genetics
|
|
|
Major
Geology
|
|
|
Major
Geology and Earth Resources
|
|
|
Major
Geology and Palaeontology
|
|
|
Major
Geophysics
|
|
|
Major
Marine and Wildlife Conservation
|
|
|
Major
Medicinal and Biological Chemistry
|
|
|
Major
Microbiology and Immunology
|
|
|
Major
Nuclear and Radiation Physics
|
|
|
Major
Nuclear Chemistry
|
|
|
Major
Physics and Geophysics
|
|
|
Major
Pure and Applied Chemistry
|
|
|
Major
Plant Biology
|
|
|
Major
Soil Science
|
|
|
Major
Space Science and Astrophysics
|
|
|
Major
Theoretical Physics
|
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 ANACBSCIE - Analytical Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ANIBBSCIE - Animal Behaviour then complete ANIM3900 - Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
If studying ANISBSCIE - Animal Science then complete ANIM3901 - Professional Skills in Animal Science (UoA)
If studying BIOCBSCIE - Biochemistry then complete BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studying BIOTBSCIE - Biotechnology then complete BIOL2900 - Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2 and BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studying CHEYBSCIE - Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying COMPBSCIE - Computational Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics
If studying ECOLBSCIE - Ecology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ENVGBSCIE - Environmental and Geospatial Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ENVSBSCIE - Environmental Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying EVOLBSCIE - Evolutionary Biology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying EVOPBSCIE - Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology then complete EART3002 - Field Palaeontology 3
If studying EXPEBSCIE - Experimental Physics then complete PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studying FOODBSCIE - Food Science and Technology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying GENEBSCIE - Genetics then complete BIOL2900 - Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2 or BIOL3900 - Genetics Practical 3Aor BIOL3901 - Genetics Practical 3B and BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studying GEOLBSCIE - Geology then complete EART3003 - Field Geoscience Program 3
If studying GEOEBSCIE - Geology and Earth Resources then complete EART3003 - Field Geoscience Program 3
If studying GEOPBSCIE - Geology and Palaeontology then complete EART3002 - Field Palaeontology 3
If studying GEOYBSCIE - Geophysics then complete EART3004 - Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation and may also complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying MARWBSCIE - Marine and Wildlife Conservation then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying MEDBBSCIE - Medicinal and Biological Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying MICRBSCIE - 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 studying NUCCBSCIE - Nuclear Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingNUCRBSCIE - Nuclear and Radiation Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics or PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studying PHYGBSCIE - Physics and Geophysics then complete PHYS3004 - Optics and Photonics 3 or PHYSX300 - Computational Physics
If studying PLABBSCIE - Plant Biology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying PACHBSCIE - Pure and Applied Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying SOILBSCIE - Soil Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying SPACBSCIE - Space Science and Astrophysics then complete PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studying THEOBSCIE - Theoretical Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics or PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
Career outcomes
A Bachelor of Science is a versatile entry point into a wide range of fascinating careers. You could surround yourself with plants as a botanist, work in stem cell research, take up teaching, or apply your skills in the business world. You might help the community engage with science through games and apps – or go back in time by studying fossils. You may work in marine conservation or investigate new viruses and microorganisms. Perhaps you’ll launch your career as a space entrepreneur, one of the many emerging roles in science that we’re only just beginning to uncover.
Industry trends
CSIRO has identified commercialisation, cross-sector collaboration, and innovation as key elements to unlocking potential in science research (CSIRO Unlocking the Innovation Potential Report, December 2021). Our collaborative and innovative approach to teaching science will prepare you for an exciting career in scientific discovery.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Ask 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.
