Students should ensure they review the Course Structure information provided on the Course Details page for their Bachelor’s Degree. It is essential that students complete any Foundation units identified in that information at the earliest available opportunity in their studies. For those degrees which do not identify any Foundation Units, the necessary fundamental knowledge is incorporated within each degree specific major in your course. Where Foundation units are identified, they are essential and are chosen to provide fundamental knowledge which will assist you throughout the remainder of your studies. In some cases these foundation units are also essential prerequisites to enable you to undertake required units within your chosen majors, so these units should always be completed as early as possible in your course.

Students can access specific major pages through the handbook search function.

Course overview

Description

Students completing this double packaged award course will graduate with both a Bachelor of Biological Science majoring in Plant Biology, and a Master of Biotechnology.

In the Bachelor of Biological Science students will gain an appreciation of how living organisms, ranging from microbes to megaflora and megafauna, grow, reproduce, adapt and evolve. Students will learn how species and ecological communities can be managed, conserved and restored, using techniques ranging from genetic analysis to data collection from whole populations and ecosystems, to big data synthesis science.

In the Masters component of the course students specialise in, Genetics and Genomics, Synthetic Biology, Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology or AQUAtech in combination with gaining skills in entrepreneurship and commercialisation. This background prepares the next generation of biotechnologists with the skills required to generate biotechnological solutions and to bring them to market.

Course code
CM029
Status
Current / 2025
Administered by
School of Biological Sciences
Course Coordinator(s)
Professor Pauline Grierson
CRICOS code
107846J

Course details

Credit points required
192
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Structure
192 points comprising 32 six-point units. Students normally take eight units each year, four in each semester.
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Attendance type
Full-time only
Delivery mode
Internal
Standard full-time completion
4 years
Standard part-time completion
8 years (maximum 12 years)
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Majors available

MJD-PLBEM Plant Biology

Master programs available

71580 Master of Biotechnology (ID 389)

Minors available

None currently

Domestic fee type
Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Rules

Title

1. These rules are the Bachelor of Biological Science and Master of Biotechnology Degree Combined Course Rules.

Terms Used

2. The Glossary provides an explanation of the terms used in these rules.

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

3.(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 module

4.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in an undergraduate degree course of the University 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), Communication and Research Skills (the CARS module) and Indigenous Studies Essentials (the ISE module) in the teaching period in which they are first enrolled.

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE module, the CARS module or the ISE module is not required to repeat the relevant module.

English Language competency requirements

5. 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

6.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) achieved an ATAR of at least 90, or equivalent as recognised by UWA;

or

(b) an assured pathway offer;

or

(c) a place in a relevant UWA access program.

Admission ranking and selection

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

Transfer Requirements

8.(1) A student enrolled in an undergraduate degree course at UWA may apply to transfer into this combined degree course if they satisfy the following conditions:

(a) the student has not commenced their final semester of enrolment in their current course;

and

(b) the course transfer is undertaken within the two transfer windows in each academic year;

and

(c) there are no quotas preventing the student from enrolling in a major or unit in which the student seeks to enrol; and
(2) the student has completed a minimum of 48 points of study in their current course and achieved a WAM of at least 65

Course structure

9.(1) The Combined Bachelor's and Master's degree consists of 192 credit points (normally 32 units), comprising:

(a) 120 credit points (normally 20 units) of an undergraduate component, including:

(i) no more than 60 credit points (normally 10 units) at Level 1; and

(ii) at least 60 credit points (normally 10 units) at Level 2 and Level 3, including at least 18 credit points (normally 3 units) at Level 3; and

(iii) the degree-specific major: MJD-PLBEM Plant Biology

and

(iv) any relevant foundation units.

and

(b) a postgraduate component, including at least 72 credit points (normally 12 units) completed at Level 4 and Level 5.

(2) A student enrolled in this combined degree course must complete all requirements of the 71580 Master of Biotechnology (ID 389), subject to any restrictions specified in these rules.

(3) Students may choose to undertake an additional major and/or up to two minors from any undergraduate degree, provided the student will be able to complete all nominated majors and minors within 192 credit points.

Exit awards

10.(1) This course has the following exit award:

  • Bachelor of Biological Science (Advanced)

(2) A student who withdraws from this Combined Degree Course before completing it, but after completing a minimum of 144 points of study, comprising 120 credit points of undergraduate study at Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 and at least 24 credit points of study at Level 4 and/or Level 5 may apply to the School to be awarded the exit awards mentioned in (1).

Satisfactory progress

11.(1) 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.

(2) A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module or the ISE module when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress.

(3) A student who fails a unit twice is not permitted to enrol again in that unit unless the relevant board approves otherwise.

(4) Students must meet any additional progress requirements set out in the rules for the 71580 Master of Biotechnology (ID 389) course.

Progress status

12.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress 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 11(1) is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 11(1) is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 11(1) is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded';

(d) a student who does not make satisfactory progress under Rule 11(2) is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation' unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to make satisfactory progress under Rule 11(1).

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).