Overview
The Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) degree provides students with a sound foundation in the scientific principles underpinning biomedical research and thus our current understanding of health and disease. A defining feature of this degree is its interdisciplinary nature with students able to select papers from multiple contributing Departments. The BBiomedSc is a springboard for advanced study and a diverse range of careers including research, health services, and professional programmes.
Programme structure
The BBiomedSc is a three-year programme that starts with a first year course, the Biomedical Sciences First Year (BSFY), followed by the BBiomedSc (2nd Year and Above) programme. The BSFY consists of six compulsory papers plus one further paper. The BBiomedSc (2nd Year and Above) requires that students undertake one of the following majors:
- Drugs and Human Health
- Functional Human Biology
- Infection and Immunity
- Molecular Basis of Health and Disease
- Nutrition and Metabolism in Human Health
- Reproduction, Genetics and Development
Information for applicants
Applicants starting their University studies and interested in biomedical sciences should apply for the BSFY using the Apply Now button for the ‘Biomedical Sciences First Year’.
Applicants who have passed the First Year papers (either through the BSFY, HSFY, BSc or through another institution) and want to undertake a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences should apply for the ‘BBiomedSc 2nd Year and Above’ programme through their eVision portal or the Apply Now button for the ‘Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (2nd Year and Above)’.
Contact details
Email biomedsc@otago.ac.nz
Website School of Biomedical Sciences
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) majoring in Drugs and Human Health
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PHSI 191 Biological Physics 18 further points | 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 |
| 2nd year | PHAL 211 Introductory Pharmacology PHAL 221 Drug Discovery and Development PHSL 232 Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology, or PHSL 233 Cellular, Gastrointestinal and Renal Physiology At least 54 further points from ANAT 241, BIOC 223, CHEM 205, MICR 221, MICR 223, PATH 201, PHSL 232, PHSL 233 18 further points | 18 18 18
54 |
| 3rd year | PHAL 304 Human Pharmacology PHAL 306 Human Toxicology At least 36 points from ANAT 332, BIOC 353, CHEM 305, MICR 334, PATH 302, PHAL 303 (or PHAL 305), PHSL 343, PHSL 344, PHSL 345 36 further points | 18 18 36 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) majoring in Functional Human Biology
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PHSI 191 Biological Physics 18 further points | 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 |
| 2nd year | PHSL 231 Neurophysiology PHSL 232 Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology PHSL 233 Cellular, Gastrointestinal and Renal Physiology At least 54 points from ANAT 241, ANAT 242, BIOC 223, HUNT 241, HUNT 243, MICR 221, MICR 223, PATH 201, PHAL 211, PHAL 221 18 further points | 18 18 18 54 |
| 3rd year | PHSL 343 Cellular and Epithelial Physiology PHSL 345 Physiological Aspects of Health and Disease At least 36 points from ANAT 331, ANAT 332, ANAT 335, BIOC 353, HUNT 342, MICR 332, MICR 334, PATH 301, PHAL 304, PHAL 305, PHSL 342 (or PHSL 341 or PHSL 344) 36 further points | 18 18 36 |
| Total | 360 |
*Further information will be available for these papers in early September.
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) majoring in Infection and Immunity
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PHSI 191 Biological Physics 18 further points | 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 |
| 2nd year | MICR 221 Microbes to Medicine MICR 222 Microbes in Action MICR 223 Infection and Immunity At least 54 points from ANAT 241, BIOC 221, BIOC 222, BIOC 223, FOSC 202, GENE 221, GENE 223, PATH 201, PHSL 231, PHSL 232, PHSL 233 18 further points | 18 18 18 54 |
| 3rd year | MICR 332 Health Microbiology MICR 334 Advanced Immunology At least 36 points from ANAT 332, BIOC 352, BIOC 353, GENE 313, GENE 314 (or GENE 315), MICR 337, PATH 301, PATH 302, PHAL 305, PHSL 342, PHSL 343, PHSL 345 36 further points | 18 18 36 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) majoring in Molecular Basis of Health and Disease
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PHSI 191 Biological Physics 18 further points | 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 |
| 2nd year | ANAT 241 Human Biology: Cells to Systems BIOC 221 Molecular Biology BIOC 223 Cellular Biochemistry and Metabolism PATH 201 Foundations in Human Pathology At least 36 points from ANAT 243, BIOC 222, GENE 221, GENE 222, GENE 223, HUNT 241, HUNT 243, MICR 221, MICR 223, PHAL 211, PHAL 221, PHSL 232, PHSL 233 18 further points | 18 18 18 18 36
18 |
| 3rd year | Three of: At least one further paper from ANAT 332, BIOC 351, BIOC 352, BIOC 353, GENE 313, GENE 314, GENE 315, MICR 332, MICR 334, MICR 337, PATH 301, PATH 302, PHAL 304, PHAL 305, PHAL 306, PHSL 343, PHSL 345 36 further points | 54
18
36 |
| Total | 360 |
*Further information will be available for these papers in early September.
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) majoring in Nutrition and Metabolism in Human Health
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PHSI 191 Biological Physics 18 further points | 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 |
| 2nd year | HUNT 241 Fundamentals of Nutrients and Health HUNT 242 Nutritional Assessment HUNT 243 Lifecycle Nutrition At least 54 further points from ANAT 241, BIOC 221, BIOC 223, MICR 221, MICR 223, PHSL 232, PHSL 233 18 further points Note: HUNT 141 is a prerequisite for HUNT 241-243 but can be taken as a co-requisite for HUNT 241 | 18 18 18 54 |
| 3rd year | HUNT 343 Community and Public Health Nutrition* HUNT 342 Nutrition and Chronic Diseases* At least 36 further points from ANAT 331, ANAT 332, BIOC 352, BIOC 353, HUNT 346, MICR 331, MICR 332, PHSL 343, PHSL 345 36 further points | 18 18 36 36 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) majoring in Reproduction, Genetics and Development
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PHSI 191 Biological Physics 18 further points | 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 |
| 2nd year | ANAT 241 Human Biology: Cells to Systems ANAT 243 Reproductive and Developmental Biology GENE 221 Molecular and Microbial Genetics GENE 223 Developmental and Applied Genetics At least 36 points from ANAT 242, BIOC 221, GENE 222, MICR 223, PATH 201, 18 further points (BIOL 112 required if intending to take ZOOL 223 in third year; GENE 222 required if intending to take GENE 313 in third year) | 18 18 18 18 36 18 |
| 3rd year | Three of: At least 18 points from ANAT 332, ANAT 333, ANAT 334, ANTH 322, GENE 313, GENE 314, GENE 315, MICR 332, MICR 334, PATH 301, PATH 302, PHSL 341, PHSL 342 36 further points (ZOOL 223 recommended) Note: ANAT 333 and PATH 301 cannot be taken concurrently. Students wishing to include PATH 301 must also take ANAT 334, GENE 314, 315. | 54
|
| Total | 360 |
Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc)
Admission to the Programme
Except for students enrolling in a First Year course for the degree, admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Director of the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences programme (or nominee).
Structure of the Degree
- Every programme of study for the degree shall satisfy the requirements for at least one of the major subjects listed above.
- Candidates will not normally be permitted to enrol for any papers of a year until all papers of the preceding year have been passed.
Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions
Every programme of study shall satisfy the requirements for prerequisites, corequisites, and restrictions set out in the Prescriptions (published in the Guide to Enrolment).
Duration of the Programme
The programme may be taken by full-time candidates in three years.
Cross Credits
A candidate who is enrolled for two degrees concurrently, or who has completed one degree and is proceeding with another, may cross credit 100-level and 200-level papers which are common to both degrees up to a maximum of 126 points where the other degree is a three year degree and up to a maximum of 180 points where the other degree is longer than a three year degree.
Variations
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.
