Welcome to undergraduate study at UWA
Congratulations on your decision to study at The University of Western Australia.
UWA's courses will provide you with an outstanding education and a globally recognised qualification. Our undergraduate degrees have been carefully designed for flexibility so you can follow your passion right from your first year or experiment a little before you commit to a major. A wide range of majors and electives mean you can construct a course of study that best suits you and will give you a unique education that sets you apart.
Our courses include the teaching of generic skills including critical thinking, communication skills, problem solving, teamwork and research skills that will give you the employability edge with attributes attractive to employers all over the world. There are exciting opportunities including study abroad, work-integrated learning (such as internships and placements), service learning and practical activities including field trips.
I encourage you to take advantage of the many wonderful opportunities available to you during your study at UWA to enhance your learning now and into the future.
Congratulations again and enjoy your study at this amazing world-class institution.
Professor Graham Brown
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Courses
Bachelor's degrees
Study pathway overview
The following courses are available to students commencing in 2021.
Bachelor of Arts
Degree-specific majors
The Bachelor of Arts course offers these majors listed below.
- Anthropology and Sociology
- Archaeology
- Asian Studies
- Chinese Studies
- Classics and Ancient History
- Communication and Media Studies
- Criminology
- English and Literary Studies
- European Studies Only available to re-enrolling students; not available to students commencing in 2021.
- Fine Arts
- French Studies
- Gender Studies
- German Studies
- History
- History of Art
- Human Geography and Planning
- Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage
- Indonesian Studies
- Integrated Design
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Studies
- Law and Society
- Linguistics
- Medieval and Early Modern Studies Only available to re-enrolling students; not available to students commencing in 2021.
- Music General Studies
- Music Specialist Studies Music Specialist Studies can be taken as a second major only in conjunction with the co-requisite Music Studies degree-specific major.
- Music Studies
- Music: Electronic Music and Sound Design
- Philosophy
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychological and Behavioural Sciences [not available in 2021]
- Psychology
- Psychology in Society
- Spanish Studies
- Work and Employment Relations
Bachelor of Commerce
Degree-specific majors
Bachelor of Commerce students can choose their degree-specific major from the majors listed below.
Bachelor of Science
Degree-specific majors
Choose your Bachelor of Science major from those listed below. Students can choose any one of these majors (except Science Communication and Biomedical Science) as a degree-specific major.
- Agribusiness
- Agribusiness and Agricultural Science
- Agricultural Science
- Agricultural Science and Technology
- Agricultural Technology
- Anatomy and Human Biology
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry of Nutrition
- Biomedical Science Only available to re-enrolling students; not available to students commencing in 2021.
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Chemistry - Physical and Analytical
- Chemistry - Synthetic
- Computer Science
- Conservation Biology
- Cybersecurity
- Data Science
- Engineering Science
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Science and Management
- Exercise and Health
- Genetics
- Geochemistry
- Geographical Sciences
- Geology
- Integrated Earth and Marine Sciences
- Marine and Coastal Processes
- Marine Biology
- Marine Science
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Molecular Life Sciences
- Natural Resource Management
- Neuroscience
- Physics
- Physiology
- Psychological and Behavioural Sciences [not available in 2021]
- Psychological Science
- Psychology
- Quantitative Methods
- Science Communication Science Communication can only be taken as a second major in conjunction with a degree-specific Science major.
- Sport Science
- Sport Science, Exercise and Health
- Wildlife Conservation
- Zoology
Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Degree-specific majors
Bachelor of Biomedical Science students can choose one of the majors listed below (except Science Communication) as a degree-specific major. Science Communication can only be taken as a second major in conjunction with a degree-specific Science major.
- Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing
- Anatomy and Human Biology
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Exercise and Health
- Genetics
- Humanities in Health and Medicine
- Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
- Medical Sciences
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Population Health
- Science Communication Science Communication can only be taken as a second major in conjunction with a degree-specific Science major.
- Vision Science
Bachelor of Automation and Robotics
Degree-specific majors
The Bachelor of Automation and Robotics is a specialised, single-major course.
Bachelor of Music
Degree-specific majors
The Bachelor of Music is a specialised, double-major course.
Bachelor of Business
Degree-specific majors
The Bachelor of Business offers these majors.
Bachelor of Environmental Design
Degree-specific majors
The Bachelor of Environmental Design is a specialised, single-major course except for students who choose the Architecture A and Architecture B double major.
- Architecture A
- Architecture B Architecture B can only be taken as a second major in conjunction with the co-requisite Architecture A.
- Environmental Geography and Planning
- Landscape Architecture
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Degree-specific majors
The Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics is a specialised course.
Students do not choose a major in the Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics but instead must complete all essential units and choose from a selection of other units in their second and third years to complete their degree.
Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
The Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) is a four-year integrated honours degree for high achievers.
Degree-specific majors
Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) students have the freedom to choose a degree-specific major from any of those offered in the undergraduate pass degree courses, subject to the requirements of those individual degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students.
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science
- Bachelor of Business
- Bachelor of Environmental Design
- Bachelor of Automation and Robotics
- Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science
- Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics
- Bachelor of Music
Second majors and minors
Students can also choose a second major or a minor from those offered in the undergraduate pass degree courses.
Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours)
The Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours) is a four-year integrated honours degree for high achievers.
Degree-specific majors
The Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours) offers these specialised single majors.
A full list of all majors across all degrees is available.
You can take a second major from almost all of those offered in any of the other bachelor's degrees except where this is explicitly not permitted.
Important information
Re-enrolling students only
Bachelor of Design
Degree-specific majors
Bachelor of Design majors have been integrated into our other degree courses.
- Integrated Design is now a Bachelor of Arts major.
- Architecture A and Architecture B are now Bachelor of Environmental Design majors. Architecture B can only be taken as a second major in conjunction with the co-requisite Architecture A.
- Landscape Architecture is now a Bachelor of Environmental Design major.
Honours degrees
If you have enjoyed your undergraduate course and wish to excel in your chosen field or pursue further study at postgraduate level, consider applying for honours. Honours involves undertaking an additional year of study at the end of your three-year bachelor's degree course.
An honours program involves one year of full-time study (or equivalent) and includes both research and coursework components. It comprises the equivalent of eight Level 4 units, normally including a dissertation of approximately 15,000 words (equal to four Level 4 units) which is completed over two consecutive semesters. Honours programs for different disciplines may vary. See your assigned Student Office for more details.
Honours students conduct a research project, developing valuable skills in advanced problem solving, critical thinking, independent learning and communication that are highly regarded by employers and important for further academic study.
You may apply to undertake an honours course in any discipline or field of study in which you have completed a major (either as a degree-specific major or as a second major).
The following honours courses are available to current UWA students as well as students who have completed their undergraduate course at another university:
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
The following specialisations will be offered in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) course as an additional year for suitably qualified graduates from The University of Western Australia as well as other institutions.
See the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules for the course structure of honours courses.
Joint and cognate honours
Arts students who wish to diversify their honours study may also choose to study either joint or cognate honours:
- In a joint honours program, the student enrols in 18 or 24 points in their second area, and both specialisations are listed on the honours award. The student enrols in the 4700 administrative codes for both areas. Overall the student completes a standard 48 point program (50 per cent dissertation; 50 per cent seminar units).
- In a cognate honours program, the student enrols in 6 or 12 points in their second area, and only the main specialisation is listed on the Honours award. The student enrols in the 4700 administrative code for the main area only. Overall the student completes a standard 48 point program (50 per cent dissertation; 50 per cent seminar units).
Honours available
- Anthropology and Sociology
- Archaeology
- Asian Studies
- Classics and Ancient History
- Communication and Media Studies
- English and Literary Studies
- European Studies
- Fine Arts
- French Studies
- German Studies
- History
- History of Art
- Italian Studies
- Law and Society
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Work and Employment Relations
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours)
The following specialisations will be offered in the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) course as an additional year for suitably qualified graduates from The University of Western Australia as well as other institutions.
See the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules for the course structure of honours courses.
Honours available
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)
The following specialisations will be offered in the Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) course as an additional year for suitably qualified graduates from The University of Western Australia as well as other institutions.
See the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules for the course structure of honours courses.
Honours available
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
The following specialisations will be offered in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) course as an additional year for suitably qualified graduates from The University of Western Australia as well as other institutions.
See the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules for the course structure of honours courses.
Honours available
- Agricultural Science
- Anatomy and Human Biology
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Computer Science and Software Engineering
- Conservation Biology
- Engineering Science
- Environmental Science
- Genetics
- Geographical Sciences
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Marine Science
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Medical Research
- Natural Resource Management
- Neuroscience
- Physics
- Physiology
- Psychology
- Science Communication
- Sport Science, Exercise and Health
- Zoology
Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Students enrolled in the four-year Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) course will undertake honours as part of their course structure. Advanced training in research and communication skills commences in the first year of the course.
Re-enrolling students only
Bachelor of Design (Honours) Only available to re-enrolling students.
The following specialisations will be offered in the Bachelor of Design (Honours) course as an additional year for suitably qualified graduates from The University of Western Australia as well as other institutions.
See the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules for the course structure of honours courses.
Honours available
Students cannot complete honours in Architecture, Integrated Design or Landscape Architecture ? research components are incorporated within the Master of Architecture and Landscape Architecture if they wish to pursue this option. Integrated Design is also in teach-out mode and is not available to new students.
Diplomas
Diplomas for undergraduates
Undergraduate diplomas can be studied concurrently with your undergraduate bachelor's degree.
Diplomas for graduates
Graduate-entry diplomas are available to students who already have a bachelor's degree.
Re-enrolling students only.
Advanced diploma
Advanced diploma courses provide a dedicated pathway for mature-aged Indigenous students preparing them for entry to UWA's professional postgraduate courses in law or medicine
Undergraduate certificate
- Undergraduate Certificate in Environmental Studies (CU001)
- Undergraduate Certificate in Biological Sciences (CU002)
- Undergraduate Certificate in Health and Fitness (CU003)
- Undergraduate Certificate in Earth Science (CU004)
- Undergraduate Certificate in Business (CU005)
- Undergraduate Certificate in Data Science (CU006)
Course advice
All enrolled students are allocated to a Student Office according to their individual study choices. Your Student Office will provide you with course information and advice. You can ask a question in person, online or via phone with an adviser. To find out which Student Office you are assigned to, login to studentConnect.