BlogUniversityWhat It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS

What It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS

Medical Science UTS Fact Sheet

So, you’re thinking a Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS could be something for you?

Well if you’re a science lover who wants a hands on degree and is interested in medicine, health and research, then keep reading! 

We’ll take you through everything you need to know about the core units, assessments, faculty culture and more!

What is a Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS?
Core Units for this Degree
How to Get into a Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS
What’s the Teaching Format?
What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

What is a Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS?

A Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS covers so many different medical and health-related science subjects. There’s a lot of variety and by the end of the degree, you would have dabbled in a bit of everything which will make you a very well-rounded scientist!

This degree is hands-on and from day one, you’ll be working in state-of-the-art science facilities and laboratories, carrying out experiments and conducting research. You’ll learn in-depth about the human body, diseases, treatments, clinical diagnosis and even how to write an industry standard scientific journal article – and that’s just the start.  

Students who maintain at least a credit average throughout their degree have the chance to complete an Honours year. During this year, you conduct original research in the field to produce your thesis, which will open doors for you to continue more research at a Masters or PhD level.

If you’re interested in a Medical Science career that extends beyond Australia, you might consider combining it with a Bachelor of International Studies.  

Career Paths 

So, you’re thinking, what can you do with a Bachelor of Medical Science?

Let’s just mention here that most students go on to complete postgraduate studies. Since health is such a big part of our lives and we’re all living organisms, studying Medical Science means there’s a lot of very cool and different jobs you can go into. 

Perhaps you’ll take on a role as a:

    • Medical researcher
    • Medical laboratory specialist
    • Health educator
    • Biochemist
    • Microbiologist
    • Epidemiologist

You’ll also find jobs within laboratories, hospitals, government departments, public healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. 

Studying Medical Science at Other Universities

UTS isn’t the only university that offers this degree and figuring out which one you’d like to pursue your undergrad studies at takes a bit of time. If you’re thinking about which university will best suit your needs, you can check out what it’s like studying Medical Science at UNSW, WSU or USYD!

Core Units for this Degree

Medical Science UTS - Student Quote

What are the core units? 

This degree is mostly based on core units so there isn’t a lot of flexibility apart from the four electives you get to choose. The advantage is that you get a taste of everything and cover so many different areas of medical science which means you can walk into a range of diverse jobs. 

If you decide to complete an Honours year, you may have already found a topic for your thesis that’s really grabbed your interest during your Bachelor’s degree. 

First Year

In the first year, you’ll build on what you’ve learnt in high school science to form a good basis across a range of science and maths subjects. Don’t worry, if you didn’t do Chemistry because you’ll be brought up to speed within a few weeks of class with Chemistry 1 and 2. 

Cell Biology and Genetics gives you a quick recap on high school biology before going in-depth about genetics, DNA, and how cells work and function. You’ll learn how to work in a lab and carry out experiments which teach you the foundations of laboratory work. 

Now, the subject Human Anatomy and Physiology sounds very cool – it teaches you about the organs, common diseases, how to test and treat patients and you’ll probably get to dissect a sheep’s heart!

Second and Third Year

The degree becomes more medical-based in your second and third years. In Human Pathophysiology you’ll cover different diseases and disorders and how those affect the body. 

You’ll develop your research and communication skills in Evidence-based Medical Science which looks at clinical management. You’ll learn all about the current and emerging science devices which are used in clinics to treat patients (Medical Devices and Diagnostics) and you’ll also take a subject on Neuroscience (cool stuff!). 

The degree also focuses on the importance of being able to communicate science to the public and in the subject Case Studies in Medical Science, you’ll analyse scientific research and journal articles. 

That’s just a glimpse into some of the fascinating subjects you get to do! Have a look here to find out more!

Electives

You get to choose four electives and you can also complete them during the Summer session if you want – perhaps you want to take the workload off during the Autumn and Springs sessions.

There are loads of great electives you can take including Science Research Internships, Professional Science Document Writing and more! Have a look here to see what UTS offers.

Are there built-in internships?

While there are no built-in internships, it’s highly recommended to find at least one during your degree because that’s where you make connections and get experience. The best part is that there’s even an internship subject that you can take as an elective which gives you credit points – soooo worth it!

What are the facilities like?

The Science facilities at UTS will blow your mind away – they’re new, high tech and very impressive! They’re not only used by the students but also researchers. 

There are labs decked out with the latest scientific instruments, computer screens and areas for group work. UTS also has a Surgical and Anatomical Science Facility where students (if they want to – there’s no pressure) can learn about human physiology and anatomy on real specimens (of course, in a consensual way).

How to Get into a Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS? 

You’ll need an ATAR of 87.05 to secure yourself a spot for a Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS.

Pathway Programs 

If you didn’t get the required ATAR to study Medical Science at UTS, there are alternate pathways to get you there. By successfully completing a Diploma of Science with UTS Insearch, you’ll be able to transfer into the second year of the course – as long as you meet the required GPA! 

Assumed Knowledge  

If you’ve studied Mathematics and of course, any two units of Science, then this degree will be less stressful! Don’t forget that as Scientists, you have to be able to communicate your findings to the public, so that’s why two units of English are also recommended.

Are there any scholarships available?

There are many scholarships for different faculties at UTS which can be found here! If you’re already thinking about postgraduate studies, have a look here for some of the research scholarships UTS offers. 

What’s the Teaching Format?

A Bachelor of Medical Science at UTS combines pracs, lectures and workshops! And yes, you complete the UTS Medical Science degree through semesters (yay)!

Medical Science UTS - Class Structure

Lectures

You’re going to want to attend the lectures or watch them in your own time (yes, they are also recorded) because the Faculty of Science loves to test your knowledge with a quiz every couple of weeks! There’s usually 50 to 100 people in them and for some classes, you may have more than one lecture a week.

Make sure you take notes because it will make it so much easier to stay on top of all the content and you can always revisit them before exam time. 

Pracs

The pracs are the fun part where you get to conduct experiments and work in small groups of 2 to 4 people. There’s usually 30 to 45 students in each prac class with 2 or 3 teachers around to guide you and answer questions.

You’ll follow a practical manual, carry out the experiment and then either discuss your findings in class or answer questions to submit later for homework.

You might even get to grow microbes and look at them under the microscope during a Microbiology prac. There are so many different core subjects for Medical Science at UTS so there is a lot of variety – you won’t get bored!

Workshops

The workshops are like tutorials in that they are very discussion-based with a lot of group work and interaction between the students, often with 30 to 40 people within a class. You might discuss different case studies, think about practice questions for the upcoming tests, ask any questions or work on your group assignments. 

How many hours do you have to go to university?

Now, don’t let this turn you off but Medical Science at UTS (like most other Science degrees) is a contact-heavy degree.

You’ve got practicals, workshops and lectures – which also means there’s time to hang out between classes on campus with your friends. It’s also good to keep in mind that if you work efficiently in class and finish your work early, you usually get to leave (yay!).

If you study Medical Science at UTS full-time, you’ll usually do four subjects which each have a 1-2 hour lecture, a 3 hour practical and usually a workshop for an hour, meaning each subject has around 6 contact hours a week! Lucky for you, the science labs and facilities are very modern and fresh! 

In your third year, you’ll move away from pracs and instead do more workshops as the focus shifts to disease and clinical case studies. 

What are the assessments like? 

Throughout the semester each subject has multiple choice quizzes every 3 to 4 weeks based on the content from either lectures or pracs. Although they sound a little bit annoying, it will be a lot easier when it comes to the final exam and you don’t have to relearn the entire syllabus. 

Cramming is not fun! These quizzes will hold you accountable and you’ll be thankful for them…eventually!

You’ll also have a theory and practical-based exam for each subject. There’s also a major assignment where you conduct an experiment, use the results and further research to write up a report. 

Now before we get to the final exams, you would have covered a lot of content throughout the semester. There’s no need to stress because UTS cares more about testing how you apply the knowledge instead of spending hours memorising the periodic table.

So, exams are either open book or restricted open book (meaning you can take in 2 pages of notes). This does mean that the questions are more challenging and test your thinking (you’ve got this!).

Skills That You Refine and Learn

From day one, you’ll develop your laboratory skills so you’re equipped to work comfortably in a lab. You’ll quickly move on from the high school days of Bunsen burner science to titration, dissections, growing microbes, making paracetamol and using machines to run diagnostics.

As science is a collaborative field, there will be a lot of group work which will refine your ability to work in a team and communicate effectively with others.

This degree will also develop your oral and written communication skills as you have to give presentations and write scientific reports. In the world of science, it is important that you can communicate clearly and explain all those big words in everyday language for the public.

What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

There’s no denying that Medical Science students at UTS spend a lot of time on campus, but that also means there’s time to hang out and meet new people. The culture and vibe within the Science Faculty is welcoming, supportive and fun!

Since many of the lecturers and tutors are working in the industry and doing their own research, they have many connections and can recommend students for jobs and internships. As UTS is a smaller uni, there is a chance to get to know the faculty staff and connect students with their network which can really help for future job opportunities. 

The UTS Medical and Health society is a great way to not only meet people in your cohort but also second and third years. They’re all easy going and are also open to answering questions about internships and opportunities for work experience!

It’s recommended that first years attend the annual science camp because it’s a great way to meet people and get to know the Science faculty. There’s also Welcome Drinks, Trivia nights and other events throughout the year.

Check out some of the other Science societies that you can join here!


Tanna Nankivell is a Content Writer at Art of Smart Education and is currently in Germany completing a year of study for her double degree in Communications (Journalism) and Bachelor of Arts (International Studies). She has had articles published on Central News – the UTS Journalism Lab and wrote a feature piece for Time Out Sydney during her internship. Tanna has a love for travel and the great outdoors, you’ll either find her on the snowfields or in the ocean, teaching aqua aerobics or creating short films.

 

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