UWA Handbook 2025

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) a Bachelor of Science, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

and

(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;

and

(c) met the prerequisite for the chosen specialisation

(2) For the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology specialisation an applicant must have—

(a) successfully completed intermediate units at a tertiary level in Biochemistry, or equivalent, as recognised by UWA; and

(b) successfully completed intermediate units at a tertiary level in Molecular Biology, or equivalent, as recognised by UWA

(3) For the Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology specialisation, an applicant must have successfully completed Chemistry ATAR, or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry equivalent, as recognised by UWA

(4) For the Genetics and Genomics specialisation, an applicant must have successfully completed intermediate units at a tertiary level in Genetics, or equivalent, as recognised by UWA

(5) For the AQUAtech specialistion an applicant must have successfully completed Chemistry ATAR, or equivalent, as recognised by UWA

(6) For the Synthetic Biology specialisation an applicant must have successfully completed intermediate units at a tertiary level in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or Genetics, or equivalent, as recognised by UWA

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) This course has the following exit awards:

• 73380 Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology (48 points)
• 73280 Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology (24 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Biotechnology course before completing it, but after completing 48 points, including at least four core units, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology.

(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of Biotechnology course before completing it, but after completing 24 points excluding conversion units, with at least 12 points of core units, of which a minimum of 6 points must be degree core

, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which includes conversion units to a value of 24 points, course core units and specialisation units. The course comprises the following specialisations :

• SP-AQTCH AQUAtech
• SP-BCHMB Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• SP-ENVBT Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology
• SP-GENOM Genetics and Genomics
• SP-SYNBIO Synthetic Biology

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

(3) Students who have completed tertiary units that are deemed equivalent to the conversion units for the chosen specialisation are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

Additional rules

Research project or dissertation

14. Students who request approval to undertake a research project or dissertation in this course must:

(i) have a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3 units in their UWA undergraduate major. These units must be relevant to the master's specialisation; or

(ii) have a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3, 4 and 5 units completed within the course; or equivalent as recognised by the School; and

(iii) must have a supervisor, approved by the School, who has confirmed their willingness and availability to supervise the research project.

(iv) Students in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or Genetics and Genomics,or Synthetic Biology or Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology or AQUAtech specialisations who were required to complete SCIE4404 Techniques in Molecular Sciences must have achieved a mark of at least 70% in this unit.