The University of Western Australia
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Microbiology and Immunology)
Nationally Recognised Higher EducationMicrobiology explores the hidden world of microorganisms and how they shape our health and ecosystems. Immunology is the study of our immune system and how this interacts with the environment to create healthy or disease syndromes. Your studies can be applied in areas as diverse as medicine, food spoilage, control of environmental pollution and space science. You'll receive a thorough grounding in the scientific basis of the discipline and its applications in the real world.
Information in this major covers basic immunology including allergic diseases and microbiology including microbial ecology, physiology and genetics of microbes. This knowledge can be applied in many diverse careers including but not limited to medicine, public health and industrial activities such as environmental testing, food production and patent law.
The Microbiology and Immunology major is distinguished by the embedding of the discipline's research strengths in virology, bacteriology and immunology. You'll be taught by the people conducting this cutting-edge research and you will discuss, apply and expand on the theoretical content of your unit in weekly practical laboratory classes and structured tutorials.
Delivery mode
The University of Western Australia offers this course through the following delivery modes:
On campus
Work with instructors and classmates in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Locations
- 35 Stirling Highway, Perth
- 35 Stirling Terrace, Albany
Entry requirements
Domestic Students
- There are no mandated entry requirements.
Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)
To be eligible for UWA’s undergraduate degrees based on previous or current Australian Year 12 studies, applicants must have completed the relevant state Certificate of Education and achieved an Australian Tertiary Aggregate Rank (ATAR) of 75 or above. Applicants must also provide evidence of satisfying UWA’s ELC requirements.
Applicants completing the International Baccalaureate (IB) are required to successfully complete the diploma program. To be eligible for UWA’s undergraduate degrees, IB graduates will require a minimum score of 24 or higher (this may vary depending on the level of mathematics undertaken). Applicants must also provide evidence of satisfying UWA’s ELC requirements. View further information on satisfying UWA’s entry requirements for IB graduates.
Applicants sitting Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) or International Baccalaureate in Western Australia can apply for an Early Offer and be admitted based on predicted ATAR or IB score. Predicted ATARs are determined by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre, Western Australia (TISC) based on Year 11 or Year 12 results. Applicants are still required to achieve WACE and complete four ATAR subjects as well as provide evidence of satisfying UWA’s ELC requirements.
Applicants with Higher Education Study
To be eligible for UWA’s undergraduate degrees based on previous higher education studies, applicants must have completed one full-time semester or the equivalent of studies at an Australian university and at the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 7 or higher; and have achieved a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 (7) or above. Applicants must also provide evidence of satisfying UWA’s ELC requirements. Applicants who have completed one full-time year or the equivalent of studies at the AQF Level 7 or higher, within the previous two years of application, and achieved a GPA of 4.0 (7) or above are not required to provide separate evidence of ELC to be eligible.
Applicants who have completed Higher Education studies outside of Australia must have completed the equivalent of one semester of an AQF Level 7 qualification with a GPA comparable to an Australian GPA of 4.0 on a 7.0 scale; separate evidence of ELC is also required. UWA will determine the equivalence to an Australian Level 7 qualification using the Australian Government’s Department of Education and Training Country Education Profiles.
Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) Study
To be eligible for UWA’s undergraduate degrees based on previous VET studies, applicants must have completed an AQF Level 5 qualification or above. Applicants who have completed a Level 5 or a Level 6 AQF qualification with a full-time duration of 12 months or more and completed within two years prior to commencement at the University are not required to provide separate evidence of ELC. All other applicants must provide evidence of satisfying UWA's ELC requirements.
Applicants with work and life experience
Applicants over the age of 20 before 1 March (1 August for semester two entry) in the year they wish to commence university can complete the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Applicants require a selection rank to meet entry as per the STAT Calculator on TISC.
Maths prerequisite
This major requires a certain level of Mathematics. If you do not meet this level, you may be able to take additional Mathematics units in your first year to satisfy this requirement.
WACE prerequisite: Mathematics Applications ATAR
Chemistry / biology requirement
Applicants are recommended to have completed Chemistry ATAR and Biology ATAR / Human Biology ATAR.
International students commencing in semester 2 must have completed Biology ATAR and Chemistry ATAR or equivalent to be admitted.
English competency
English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.
Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing.
Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)
To be eligible for UWA’s undergraduate degrees based on previous or current Australian Year 12 studies, applicants must have completed the relevant state Certificate of Education and achieved an Australian Tertiary Aggregate Rank (ATAR) of 75 or above. Applicants must also provide evidence of satisfying UWA’s ELC requirements.
Applicants completing the International Baccalaureate (IB) are required to successfully complete the diploma program. To be eligible for UWA’s undergraduate degrees, IB graduates will require a minimum score of 24 or higher (this may vary depending on the level of mathematics undertaken). Applicants must also provide evidence of satisfying UWA’s ELC requirements. View further information on satisfying UWA’s entry requirements for IB graduates.
Applicants sitting Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) or International Baccalaureate in Western Australia can apply for an Early Offer and be admitted based on predicted ATAR or IB score. Predicted ATARs are determined by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre, Western Australia (TISC) based on Year 11 or Year 12 results. Applicants are still required to achieve WACE and complete four ATAR subjects as well as provide evidence of satisfying UWA’s ELC requirements.
Applicants with Higher Education Study
To be eligible for UWA’s undergraduate degrees based on previous higher education studies, applicants must have completed one full-time semester or the equivalent of studies at an Australian university and at the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 7 or higher; and have achieved a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 (7) or above. Applicants must also provide evidence of satisfying UWA’s ELC requirements. Applicants who have completed one full-time year or the equivalent of studies at the AQF Level 7 or higher, within the previous two years of application, and achieved a GPA of 4.0 (7) or above are not required to provide separate evidence of ELC to be eligible.
Applicants who have completed Higher Education studies outside of Australia must have completed the equivalent of one semester of an AQF Level 7 qualification with a GPA comparable to an Australian GPA of 4.0 on a 7.0 scale; separate evidence of ELC is also required. UWA will determine the equivalence to an Australian Level 7 qualification using the Australian Government’s Department of Education and Training Country Education Profiles.
Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) Study
To be eligible for UWA’s undergraduate degrees based on previous VET studies, applicants must have completed an AQF Level 5 qualification or above. Applicants who have completed a Level 5 or a Level 6 AQF qualification with a full-time duration of 12 months or more and completed within two years prior to commencement at the University are not required to provide separate evidence of ELC. All other applicants must provide evidence of satisfying UWA's ELC requirements.
Applicants with work and life experience
Applicants over the age of 20 before 1 March (1 August for semester two entry) in the year they wish to commence university can complete the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Applicants require a selection rank to meet entry as per the STAT Calculator on TISC.
Maths prerequisite
This major requires a certain level of Mathematics. If you do not meet this level, you may be able to take additional Mathematics units in your first year to satisfy this requirement.
WACE prerequisite: Mathematics Applications ATAR
Chemistry / biology requirement
Applicants are recommended to have completed Chemistry ATAR and Biology ATAR / Human Biology ATAR.
International students commencing in semester 2 must have completed Biology ATAR and Chemistry ATAR or equivalent to be admitted.
English competency
English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.
Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing.
Additional requirements may apply.Course fees
$27,401
$130,800
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Microbiology and Immunology) will prepare you for the following roles.
Immunologist
An Immunologist studies the immune system to understand how it defends the body against disease. You might work in a hospital, research laboratory,...
Microbiologist
A Microbiologist studies microorganisms and uses their knowledge to develop products such as vaccines or medications. You might focus on a particul...
Medical Laboratory Scientist
A Medical Laboratory Scientist plays a crucial role in diagnosing and monitoring diseases by performing laboratory tests on various specimens. They...
Research Scientist
A Research Scientist collects and analyses information from scientific tests, trials and experiments. You might work in a particular field of scien...
About The University of Western Australia
Just 10 minutes from Perth city, UWA is located on the banks of the Swan River, or Derbal Yerrigan, on the land of the Whadjuk Nation.
We have the immense privilege of sitting on the sacred soil where Western Australian kaartdijin, or knowledge, began. It has been a place to gather and learn for tens of thousands of years, with stories and lessons shared from generation to generation of the world’s oldest continuous culture.
Today, we welcome you to continue seeking and sharing wisdom with us. Our students take their learning beyond the books, at the cutting edge of knowledge creation, from passionate lecturers with real industry experience and connections. We’ll support them in their learning journeys and help set them up for a career they’ll love.
The global impact of our research and education places us as a world top 100 university (QS 2024). This means students join a community of passionate, intelligent and resourceful leaders who are driving innovation and change. They’ll connect with and work alongside leaders in education, research and industry, and follow in the footsteps of our thousands of graduate success stories.
