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CG93 - Bachelor of Medical Science

Overview

Optional Residential School

Some units in this course require you to attend an optional Residential School or Work Integrated Learning. Please see Course Features in the Getting Started tab for further information.

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Medical Sciences aims to develop graduates who are able to apply knowledge of pathology, clinical investigation or nutrition to clinical practice in a  health professional role, or biotechnology in support industries.  To enable this ability in graduates, the program is designed to build a high level of technical and evaluative skill so graduates can assess and implement recommendations for best practice in patient testing, monitoring and education.  The program also aims to develop high level communication skills so that graduates can interact positively with patients and other health professionals and are ready for the clinical or scientific work environment.  Clinical decision making and problem solving ability will be promoted in graduates through opportunities to build skills in designing, conducting and interpreting medical research.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • 1. Apply knowledge of pathology, clinical investigation, biotechnology or nutrition to practice in the context of their professional role.
  • 2. Respond appropriately during interactions with patients and other health professionals
  • 3. Evaluate recommendations for best practice in patient testing, monitoring and education within the context of their clinical discipline.
  • 4. Develop new testing procedures to increase efficacy of patient diagnostic testing.
  • 5. Develop new strategies to effect therapeutic behavioural change in patients
  • 6. Participate actively in discussion of topics relevant to their professional practice
  • 7. Adapt standard protocols effectively to meet novel requirements.
  • 8. Demonstrate skills in research design, application and interpretation

Career Information

Graduates of the Bachelor of Medical Science course from CQUniversity have developed the expertise and skills to work as health professionals in clinical physiology, biotechnology pathology or nutritional areas.

 

The Clinical Physiology specialisation will prepare students for employment as clinical physiologists and medical scientists. The specialisation offers multidisciplinary training in diagnostic physiological measurement in cardiac sciences, respiratory sciences, neurophysiology and sleep science.

 

The Nutrition specialisation is targeted at students who will pursue a career in nutrition related health promotion and food and nutrition industries and provide a pathway for postgraduate study in health education, research and public health.

 

The Biotechnology specialisation will prepare students for the medical research or biotechnology industries. With an emphasis on cutting-edge technologies in the development and application of therapeutics, the student is ideally placed to pursue a career in the biopharmaceutical industry or medical research laboratories.

 

The Pathology specialisation (3-year exit only award for the CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours course) will prepare students for employment in diagnostic medical laboratories where haematological, biochemical, microbiological and histological analysis of human blood, urine and tissue samples is conducted.

 

 

Course Details
Duration 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 144
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study Each unit at this level, typically requires 144 hours of student commitment over a period of 12 weeks.
Course Type Undergraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) BMedSc
AQF Level Level 7: Bachelor Degree
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $19,860
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $40,500
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $9,888
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $30,786
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $19,140
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $38,820
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $9,172
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $17,280
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $35,280
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $8,842
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $17,280
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $35,280

Admission Codes

Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.

Domestic Availability

Term 2 - 2025

Bundaberg
Online
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2025

Bundaberg
Online
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2024

Bundaberg
Online
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2024

Bundaberg
Online
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2023

Bundaberg
Online
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2023

Bundaberg
Online
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2022

Bundaberg
Online
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2022

Bundaberg
Online
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2021

Online
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2020

Online
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2020

Online
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2019

Online
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2019

Online
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2018

Students commencing the course in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study. There are compulsory residential schools in Rockhampton and work integrated learning placement in Queensland in some units for all majors in this course.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2018

There are compulsory residential schools in Rockhampton and work integrated learning placement in Queensland in some units for all majors in this course.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2017

Students commencing the course in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2017

Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2016

Students commencing the course in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2016

Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2015

Students commencing the program in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2015

Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2014

Students commencing the program in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2014

Distance
Rockhampton
Show All

International Availability

Term 2 - 2025

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2025

Bundaberg
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2024

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2024

Bundaberg
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2023

Bundaberg
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2023

Bundaberg
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2022

Bundaberg
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2022

Bundaberg
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2021

Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2020

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2020

Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2019

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2019

Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2018

Students commencing the course in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study. There are compulsory residential schools in Rockhampton and work integrated learning placement in Queensland in some units for all majors in this course.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2018

There are compulsory residential schools in Rockhampton and work integrated learning placement in Queensland in some units for all majors in this course.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2017

Students commencing the course in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2017

Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2016

Students commencing the course in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2016

Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2015

Students commencing the program in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2015

Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2014

Students commencing the program in Term 2 will only be eligible for part-time study.
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2014

Distance
Rockhampton
Show All
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Rank Threshold SR 69 | ATAR 69
Entry Requirements

Domestic students

Nil

 
International students
 

International students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information including English language requirements. 

Assumed Knowledge

Recommended study - English (4, SA), Maths B (4, SA), Chemistry, Biology, Science

Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards CB25 - Associate Degree of Medical Science
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Core

    The Clinical Measurement specialisation course of study has been developed in conjunction with the relevant professional societies.  The Nutrition specialisation plan has been developed in accordance with guidelines of the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA). Students interested in a career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist should consider the CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours) degree which has full AIMS accreditation.

Residential School Requirements

Optional Residential School There are several compulsory residential schools/workshops attached to the following program when taken in the Distance mode. See More Details for more information.
Click here to view all Residential Schools

Practicum/Work Placement

- Students are required to undertake up to 480 hours of compulsory work experience throughout the program. Refer to More Details for further information.

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 135
2023 161
2022 196
2021 193
2020 213
Inherent Requirements
There are Inherent Requirements (IRs) that you need to be aware of, and fulfil, to achieve the core learning outcomes of the units and course. IRs are the essential capabilities, knowledge, behaviours and skills that are needed to complete a unit or course.

Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.

If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.

Ethical Behaviour
  • Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Charter, Student Misconduct Policy and Student Behavioural Misconduct Procedures and Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
  • Treating personal information obtained in classroom, clinical and practice settings as private and confidential.
  • Respecting an individual's/group's diversity by demonstrating sensitivity to religious, cultural and individual differences.
  • Demonstrating an ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and taking responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour.
  • Being governed by codes, guidelines and policies outlined by the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS) and Queensland Health.
  • Complying with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Research Council (ARC) and Universities Australia (UA)) and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NHMRC).
Behavioural Stability
  • Interacting positively and effectively with other students, health practitioners and members of the public while attending activities related to the course.
  • Being receptive and responding appropriately to different viewpoints, constructive feedback and direction from academics, clinical staff and practice supervisors.
  • Coping effectively with your own emotions, responses and behaviour when dealing with challenging situations in the classroom, clinical and practice settings.
Legal Compliance
  • Complying with relevant child protection and safety legislation including mandatory reporting requirements.
  • Understanding and adhering to professional policy around the use of social media.
  • Knowing, understanding and complying with legislative and regulatory requirements which are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
Communication Skills (Verbal, Non-verbal, Written and Technology)
  • Actively participating in discussion activities related to the course.
  • Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual or group.
  • Verbally communicating your knowledge and skills with accuracy, appropriateness and effectiveness.
  • Providing team members with clear concise verbal reports which relate to clients or patients.
  • Recognising and interpreting non-verbal cues of all persons encountered during interactions and activities included in the course and responding appropriately.
  • Using appropriate facial expressions, eye contact and gestures while being mindful of interpersonal space.
  • Constructing your assessment work to academic standards with attention to correct grammar and punctuation and structure.
  • Constructing fluent summarised written text from complex and detailed information.
  • Constructing legible reports in a timely manner to meet professional standards and clearly communicating the intended message.
  • Accurately documenting charts, records and reports to meet legal and professional requirements.
  • Accessing a computer for your studies.
  • Regularly accessing the Internet for research and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
  • Analysing, manipulating and displaying scientific information.
Cognitive Abilities (Knowledge and Cognitive Skills, Literacy and Numeracy)
  • Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
  • Applying knowledge of policy and procedures in the classroom, clinical and practice settings.
  • Performing your duties within set time frames.
  • Applying theoretical knowledge to understand best-practice when providing care or services.
  • Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions.
  • Actively listening to information within a variety of academic, clinical and practice settings.
  • Reading and accurately interpreting information related to patients and/or clients.
  • Completing documentation that is accurate, clear and concise.
  • Demonstrating effective use of numeracy skills to record data accurately.
  • Applying numeracy skills to interpret and solve problems in a range of education, clinical and practice settings.
Sensory Abilities (Visual, Auditory, Tactile)
  • Focussing on and recognising objects that are either near or far.
  • Ability to visually distinguish colour in order to interpret results of investigations.
  • Safely operating laboratory equipment.
  • Sufficiently hearing verbal communication from other students, academics, clinical staff and practice supervisors during activities related to the course.
  • Having sufficient auditory ability to consistently and accurately monitor, access and manage, and respond to patient and client needs.
  • Accurately interpreting verbal communications and directions from staff.
  • Using touch in an appropriate manner when conveying positive messages for emotional support during difficult circumstances.
  • Conducting physical assessments and detecting anatomical abnormalities.
Relational Skills
  • Rapidly building rapport with people from all walks of life, as well as with colleagues and/or research participants and/or clients in the professional context.
  • Maintaining positive working relationships when under stressful circumstances.
  • Maintaining confidentiality in all contexts.
Reflective Skills
  • Reflecting critically on topics taught during the course.
  • Identifying when your practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions and be able to reflect and learn from this experience.
  • Reflecting on situations that may be difficult and sensitive.
  • Identifying, reflecting and learning from successful situations as well as opportunities for improvement.
Sustainable Performance
  • Actively participating in activities related to the course with adequate, sustained levels of physical energy and concentration.
  • Participating in learning clinical and practical laboratory skills and fully engaging in clinical practice activities.
Strength and Mobility (Gross Motor Skills and Fine Motor Skills)
  • Incorporating a range of gross motor skills while participating effectively in activities related to the course.
  • Maintaining balance while safely transferring delicate equipment.
  • Moving with ease around patients and equipment items while performing delivery of care.
  • Safely retrieving and utilising stock and equipment.
  • Manipulating delicate, breakable equipment with ease and care.
  • Manipulating clinical measurement instruments,  syringes and needles with precision and care avoiding harm to self and others.
Interpersonal Engagement
  • Demonstrating the skills of collaborating with fellow students and colleagues, modifying and reflecting on practice during a project, or modifying and reflecting on work integrated learning in response to supervisor feedback.
  • Critically self-reflecting on situations that may/may not have gone well, and taking the learning point(s) from that situation.
  • Interacting and engaging with individuals and groups in clinical practice and/or work placement in a respectful and culturally competent manner in a wide variety of contexts.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Abilities
  • Competently using a desktop operating system such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X.
  • Accessing a computer and having sufficient computer skills to engage in on-line learning, reading and responding as required to emails, and completing relevant assessments for the course.
  • Regularly accessing the Internet for research and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
  • Using a variety of computer programs to analyse, manipulate and display scientific information applicable to your course of study.
Compulsory Requirements
Health Requirements

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course. 

Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening. Additional vaccinations and screening are subject to the site or state health authority. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Advice

Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.    

Security Requirements

Mandatory security requirements may include an Australian Federal Police clearance, working with children check, and NDIS worker screening clearance.

 

Other Compulsory Requirements

Other mandatory requirements may include a First Aid and CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.

Core Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Biotechnology Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Clinical Investigation Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Nutrition Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Pathology Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
Number of units: 8 Total credit points: 48

Program Structure

Students must complete:

  • 8 core courses
  • 16 specialisation courses from one of the following specialisations:
    • Pathology;
    • Clinical Investigation;
    • Nutrition; or
    • Biotechnology

Please note that whilst individual courses may be available across more than one campus, students enrolled on the Bachelor Medical Sciences can only select the Rockhampton or Flexible Learning campus option.

 

Year 1 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
BMSC11001 Human Body Systems 1
BMSC11003 Professional Practice in Medical Sciences
CHEM11041 Chemistry for the Life Sciences
ESSC11004 Study and Research Skills for Health Science
Year 1 - Term 2
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
BMED19010 Macromolecules and Cell Function
MEDI11002 Physics for Health Sciences
MEDI11004 Professional Practice
BMSC11002 Human Body Systems 2
More Details

PLEASE NOTE: ONLY THE CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY MAJOR CAN BE STUDIED INTERNALLY ON CAMPUS AT BUNDABERG. All other majors can be studied on Rockhampton campus or Online.

Work Placement

Students are required to undertake work placement in health industry professional discipline areas relevant to their specialisation (Biotechnology, Clinical Physiology, Nutrition). From 2025, there will be no student enrolment in the Nutrition specialisation. Students should enrol in the Bachelor of Nutrition courses (CM60, CM61, CM62). Existing Nutrition specialisation students will continue with their course planner. Experience in authentic work environments is very valuable as it develops the professional skills and ‘work readiness' of graduates. Work placements are currently required for the following units:

Clinical Physiology

BMSC12005 - 6 weeks

BMSC13012 – 6 weeks

Nutrition

BMSC13012 – 6 weeks

Biotechnology

BMSC13012 – 6 weeks

Failure to complete work placement and submit the compulsory activities (verified log book and supervisor evaluation) will result in students being deemed ineligible to graduate until this component is satisfactorily completed, regardless of whether all other required elements of the course have been successfully completed.

Before commencing work placement or Work Integrated Learning units, students must have gathered the following:

        Current National Police Check (not older than 3 years), or current Blue card for Queensland residents;

        Completed Queensland Health student health professionals' clinical placement or field work orientation checklist (http://www.health.qld.gov.au/SOP/) if attending a clinical placement within a Queensland Health facility;

        Current first aid certificate;

        Blue Card; and

        Evidence of Immunisations as per the CQUniversity Policy for Vaccination of students in health courses.

 

Residential Schools

Online/mixed mode students will be required to attend residential schools on Rockhampton campus to promote development of course learning outcomes.

 

Computing Requirements

It is a requirement of enrolment in this course that students have access to the CQUniversity website. Students may be required to undertake various components of study in the course using email and the Internet.

It is strongly recommended that students have access to a broadband connection or higher to access online student resources that would include but not limited to, email, internet, video streaming, electronic assessment submission.

 

Recognition of prior learning and application for credit transfer

Course credit may be granted to students who are able to demonstrate appropriate prior learning or experience. Credit transfer will only be granted where a student is able to demonstrate that tertiary studies, equivalent in content and depth to the CQUniversity course, have been successfully completed. Students should examine the unit synopses in this handbook to determine the units for which they may be eligible to claim exemption.

Refer to the Credit Transfer website at http://www.cqu.edu.au/credittransfer for further details on the guidelines and application process.

You can apply for direct credit against CQUniversity units, if equivalent tertiary level study has been completed. You must supply relevant documentation (study guides, unit profiles, etc) to do this. If your study was undertaken more than 10 years ago, you may not be eligible for credit.