Bachelor of Science
Undergraduate
MAQ-BSC-DEG 2025Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Learn from international leaders in science
Benefit from the guidance of teachers whose research findings are known on a global scale. Use this research to conduct case studies. Take a hands-on approach with a lab component. Specialise in biology, including genetics, genes and life processes.
- Study method
- Online & on-campus
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Applications close
- 9 Feb 2025,
- 13 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Bachelor of Science
About this degree
On successful completion you will be able to
- Demonstrate broad and coherent in-depth knowledge and skills from a scientific discipline.
- Evaluate science as a social endeavour, one that influences and is influenced by different ways of knowing, including Indigenous knowledge and cultural perspectives.
- Apply scientific principles, theory and practice, technical skills and quantitative and/or qualitative methods to independently research, analyse, and creatively solve complex problems.
- Employ scientific knowledge, tools, and skills in practical real-world contexts.
- Gather and process data systematically and draw evidence-based conclusions, while recognising the limitations and underlying assumptions of the approaches used.
- Work collaboratively with peers and stakeholders on industry- and research-related projects by integrating scientific knowledge and skills into practice.
- Communicate scientific concepts, results and information, and the role and value of science in benefiting society, in diverse modes to a range of audiences.
- Identify ethical and sustainability issues and adhere to professional ethical standards when undertaking scientific work, taking into account potential impacts on society, the environment and the planet.
- Demonstrate professional skills and attributes, including career literacy, personal accountability, independent and self-directed learning, and critical reflection.
In an era where the influence of science has reached new heights, we invite you to embark on an educational journey with our Bachelor of Science (OUA), a dynamic and comprehensive degree that empowers you to shape your scientific destiny. Serving as your gateway to understanding and navigating the complexities of today's scientific landscape, this course allows you to explore the myriad possibilities within the sciences, charting a course tailored to your career aspirations. You will immerse yourself in an in-depth study of biology, acquiring the knowledge and skills essential for making a meaningful impact on the world today and tomorrow.
Complementing this specialised focus, our course places a premium on foundational units designed to enhance transferable skills highly sought after by employers. In a rapidly evolving global scenario, where science plays a pivotal role in addressing pressing issues, this degree prepares you for both scientific excellence and the practical challenges of working in the field. You will delve into core units that intricately weave Indigenous knowledge and sustainability considerations, providing a holistic perspective that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of scientific exploration.
As a scientist in today's world, quantitative and qualitative skills are non-negotiable. Our curriculum ensures mastery in understanding, analysing, and communicating complex data. But this foundational stream isn't just theoretical: it integrates real-world learning activities that culminate in a unit where you engage in work-integrated learning activities in collaboration with industry organisations, gaining practical experience that sets you apart in the competitive scientific landscape.
The Bachelor of Science (OUA) is a transformative experience. By seamlessly blending specialised discipline education with a broader skill set, this course provides a world-class science education. Step into the future of science, where innovation meets education, and be prepared to actively shape the world of science.
Please note: Some subjects in this degree require you to attend laboratory sessions in Sydney.
Recommended study pattern
Students are required to complete 24 subjects (240 credit points).
Core zone - 160 credit points comprised of:
- Major - 80 credit points
- Essential Subjects - 80 credit points
Flexible zone - 80 credit points
You can enrol in any OUA subject for which you meet the requisites.
Major
Biology major: - 80 credit points
- BIOX1310 Organisms to Ecosystems
- BIOX1110 Genes to Organisms
- BIOX2430 Plants
- BIOX2350 Animals
- BIOX2110 Genetics
- BIOX2310 Diversity of Life
- BIOX3110 Evolutionary and Conservatory Genetics
- BIOX3130 Ecology and Evolution of Emerging Infectious Diseases
- BIOX3320 Animal Behaviour (to be offered in 2026)
Essential subjects -80 credit points
- STAX1170 Introductory Statistics
- FOSX1025 Scientific Computing
- BIOX1210 Human Biology
- BIOX2610 Biological Data Analysis
- BIOX3120 Human Genetics and Evolutionary Medicine
- FOSX1000 Becoming a Scientist
- FOSX2000 The Science Practitioner (to be offered in 2026)
- FOSX3000 Making Science Work for You and Society :Capstone
Award requirements
To be awarded the degree, students must complete the following minimum requirements.
Minimum number of subjects for the degree = 24
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Applications are due the Friday two weeks prior to the close of enrolment date for the study session you are applying for.
Please Note: Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) and HECS are not available for this degree. However, subject to your eligibility, other HELP loans may be available.
Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students.
Visit Studying a degree through OUA for further information.
Please note that students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy will not be permitted to register in Macquarie University degrees offered through OUA. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
In 2025, the curriculum of the Bachelor of Science has been changed. Students previously admitted will be supported to complete their degree on time.
Changes in 2025:
Students are no longer required to complete a minor in the degree.
Some of the existing units are replaced by new units.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$10,185
Indicative total fee $30,555
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 10
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 10
Entry requirements
With the exception of the open enrolment subjects, this is a restricted degree. Further enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
- 4 OUA undergraduate subjects at pass level from any OUA provider, OR
- 2 OUA undergraduate subjects at credit grade level from any OUA provider
A competitive ATAR of 75 or equivalent OP of 12.
The required standard of English for this program is:
Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each band, or equivalent.
All applicants to coursework programs at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
For more information on accepted equivalents, please see English Language Requirements.
If you have completed prior study at Diploma level or higher, you may be eligible for credit towards your Bachelor at Macquarie which can reduce the duration of your program.
For more information see our Recognition of Prior Learning page or submit an enquiry.
Study method requirements
Due to the specialist nature of this degree, you will be required to attend Macquarie University in Sydney to complete practical and laboratory classes.
These subjects require 4-6 days of on-campus attendance. The classes are typically offered in 2-day blocks.
The following subjects have on-campus laboratory and/or practical classes:
- BIOX1310 Organisms to Ecosystems
- CHEX1001 Foundations in Chemistry
- BIOX2210 Life Processes
- BIOX2310 Diversity of Life
- BIOX3130 Ecology and Evolution of Emerging Infectious Diseases
- BIOX3510 Vertebrate Biology and Behaviour
- BIOX1110 Genes to Organisms
The following units require in person field work:
BIOX2430 Plants
BIOX2350 Animals
BIOX3320 Animal Behaviour
On-campus Classes
All classes are based at Macquarie University, North Ryde Campus, Sydney, NSW.
2025 On-campus Schedule to be confirmed.
Travel and Accommodation
Financial Support
- Please note that you may also be eligible for a travel subsidy from OUA.
Career opportunities
Completion of this course provides you with a range of career opportunities, including:
- Biotechnology industry
- Forensic scientist
- Hospital scientist
- Patent officer
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Science communication
- Science teacher, secondary and tertiary
- Scientific research
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Forestry Scientists | $93K to $120K | Down 14.5% |
Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists | Over $120K | Up 5.1% |
Environmental Consultants | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Environmental Scientists | $93K to $120K | Up 22.4% |
Life Scientists | $93K to $120K | Up 27.2% |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.