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

Are you considering commencing a Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU? 

We will give you all the info you could ask for about the degree, including info on requirements, subjects, majors, uni culture and more! 

Have a look below! 

What is a Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU?

Core Units and Majors

How to get into a Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU

What’s the Teaching Format?

What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

What is a Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU?

A Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU provides students with the opportunity to learn about the basic sciences underpinning and surrounding the ideas of human health, wellbeing and its application to human disease. After a typical first year of study, students can decide on a major, these include: Biomedical Science, Medicinal Chemistry, Forensic Mortuary Practice and Anatomy and Physiology. 

It should be noted that different majors and sub-majors are offered on different campuses, and not all majors/sub-majors are offered at every campus. First-year subjects for this degree are offered at the Parramatta and Campbelltown campuses.

To have a deeper understanding of where specific subjects and majors are held, check out the handbook here! 

Career Paths

Potential careers that can emerge from this degree include:

• Lab research-based careers
• Practical lab jobs
• Jobs within pharmaceuticals

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a pathologist, a medical researcher, or have a passion for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics having this degree under your belt will definitely come in handy!

Check out other careers you can pursue with a Bachelor of Medical Science here!

Studying Medical Science at Other Universities

WSU isn’t the only university that offers this degree and it takes some time and consideration to be sure about where you want to study your undergrad program. 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
• UTS
• USYD
• Macquarie University
• ANU

Thinking about studying medicine? Check out the Top 5 Medical Schools in Australia.

Core Units and Majors

Core units within this medical science degree include a large range of subjects. These include subjects such as Scientific Literacy, Biodiversity, Functional Proteins and Genes and Introductory Chemistry.

All of these subjects allow students to grasp scientific concepts, become familiar with scientific literacy and gain a more in-depth knowledge of medical concepts. 

Some core units have an allowance to choose between one or the other, meaning that the completion of only one out of the pair of core units offered is necessary. For example, you may choose between the units Work Internship for Science Professionals or Complex Case Studies in Science.

The core units students can select are further outlined in the handbook. 

Majors

There are four different majors that can be selected within this degree. They are Biomedical Science, Medicinal Chemistry, Forensic Mortuary Practice and Anatomy and Physiology. 

• Biomedical Science: This major has a focus on the cellular, molecular and genetic biology aspects of health and disease. With this major, you will obtain a solid grasp of both biological and medical science disciplines. 
• Medicinal Chemistry: This focuses on the chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacological aspects of human health disease. This major will provide you with skills such as research and development. 
• Forensic Mortuary Practice: This major combines biomedical disciplines including biology, chemistry and biochemistry with medical science including anatomy, physiology and pathology. This major has a focus on forensic science in the senior years of the degree.
• Anatomy and Physiology: This major has a scope on anatomy, physiology and pharmacology. You will focus on the functionality of the human body, and how the structures work together. 

More information is available on the majors offered for the Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU here!

Within this degree, there is also an opportunity to commence community-based practical experience or a placement in the second-year unit, Work Integrated Learning in Science! Through this unit, students attend seminars and build e-portfolios, and are encouraged (with the help of their lecturers) to find their own placements in fields in which they are interested. 

How to Get into a Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU 

The ATAR cut off for this degree is 70. WSU offers alternate pathways to get into this course, you can find more info here! 

HSC True Reward Program

Western Sydney University also has the HSC True Reward Program which offers students entry based on their Year 11 or Year 12 results. However, it should be noted that students who apply using their Year 11 results must successfully complete the HSC!  

Assumed Knowledge

To get into a Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU there is assumed knowledge of two units of any English subject, any two-unit Science subject and two units of a Mathematics subject. 

What’s the Teaching Format?

Western Sydney University follows the semester teaching pattern, meaning that the teaching structure for each year will be broken up into two learning blocks with breaks in between.  

Most classes for this degree are workshops and involve a practical aspect in some form. Workshops take place to discuss lecture material and provide students with a hands-on approach to problem solving and interaction with fellow classmates.

Some classes have tutorials. Tutorials go through more technical parts of the units with the lecturer explaining new concepts to the class.

Labs are the practical aspect of this degree, allowing students to implement their learning through a practical sense, conducting experiments, testing hypotheses and learning new things.

There are generally 2-4 classes per unit. Contact hours vary for each unit, but on average each unit will have 3 contact hours inclusive of labs, lectures, workshops or tutorials on a weekly basis. 

Class sizes vary for each unit. Lectures cater to a large number of students, ranging from around 100-250 students in a lecture theatre. Tutorials, Labs and Workshops, however, break down into smaller classes of 20-30 students at the most. 

Assessments

Assessment types for this degree vary depending on different classes. For example, in a first-year unit based on mathematics, Quantitative Thinking, attendance is encouraged by lecturers through having practical papers and assessments due weekly. This is done by completing quizzes or solving questions to be graded. At the end of the semester, there is also an exam for this unit. 

Another example is within the class, Cell Biology. Learning modules are integrated through Virtual Labs! These labs have been able to help students get a grasp of labs in all learning environments, even when studying remotely. 

Skills That You Refine and Learn 

Through studying a Bachelor of Medical Science at WSU, you get to dip your toe into many disciplines within your first year of study! 

Within this degree, you will be able to extend your scientific literacy, with units focused on teaching and building on scientific principles that will help you throughout your study. 

You will also further develop your analysis and problem solving with classes formulated to emulate real-life industry experience when presented with a problem to solve or analyse. 

This degree also comes with the option to include a sub-major, such as Climate Change, Physiology and Microbiology – all subjects that are reflective of the current global climate. 

What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

The Bachelor of Medical Science is a part of the Science faculty at WSU. This school hosts a broad range of disciplines, with approximately 100 professors, doctors and teaching staff within the science faculty.

WSU hosts a large range of students, hailing from local and global parts of the world. WSU promotes an inclusive and fun culture alongside their learning environments. 

Western Sydney Uni encourages an environment of learning and connecting with like-minded people! The lecturers are passionate about their subjects and do their best to instil self-driven passion and individualised thought to their students. 

Societies

Through joining clubs and societies, students can connect with like-minded students and network. There are two clubs that WSU host related to Medical Science:

WESTEM –  A student club based in the Sydney City campus, WESTEM connects students who all share a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics. WESTEM hosts events, competitions and even parties! 

WiSE – The name of this program stands for Women in STEM Education (WiSE). WiSE supports the career development of women studying in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at WSU.

Western Sydney Uni hosts a first-year uni student support program called MATES, the basis of this program is to connect the second year and beyond students with first-year students. The aim of this program is to help new students settle into university life as well as connect with other students.

Now you’ve got all the facts, check out what people really think about studying Medical Science at WSU!

Matilda Elliott is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and a Communication graduate with a major in Journalism at Western Sydney University. You can find some of her published work in a range of platforms including SBS World News, The Music Network and within her own creative exploits with her twin sister. Matilda is a lover of listening, helping people to tell their stories, making genuine connections, clowning around in her circus troupe and dancing like no one is watching at live music shows!