Bachelor of Science

Science holds the key to many of the challenges - pandemics, climate change, antibiotic resistance - that threaten the world today. With the UTS Bachelor of Science, students can take their place at the forefront of a profession with the power to build resilience in both humanity and the planet.

This flagship degree has been designed with flexibility in mind: with eight majors to choose from and extensive elective blocks on offer, students can build a degree that's uniquely theirs. In their first year, they gain access to the 'scientist's toolkit', a series of core subjects designed to help them critically analyse the ways in which science can help solve global problems.

From there, they can dive into specialist science subjects in their chosen major, working in world-class facilities and on industry-standard equipment. Our practice-based learning approach means students learn by doing, translating scientific theory into real-world practice. But they don't just do it in the classroom: extensive professional experiences, from internships and field trips to global exchange placements, help bring their learning to life.

Science is about more than just what happens in the lab. UTS science students pair the study of hard science with the development of crucial professional skills - inquiry, reflection, innovation and communication - that prepare them for a diverse and thriving career.

What you'll study

Students can choose from eight majors from the Mathematical and Physical Sciences or Life Sciences stream and build specialist skills in their chosen scientific discipline.

Mathematical and Physical Sciences

• Chemistry: UTS Chemistry graduates are recognised within industry for their laboratory skills. This major emphasises the translation of theoretical learning into hands-on lab-based practice. In this major, students explore chemistry in all its forms, from organic and physical to analytical, inorganic and medicinal, and upskill in a secondary discipline with a choice of sub-majors in Mathematics, Physics, Biotechnology, Environmental Science or Medical Science. They emerge with depth of experience and breadth of expertise, ready to make their mark in a range of careers.
• Mathematics: This highly applied major challenges students to translate their mathematical knowledge into real-life applications. Learning in this major spans linear algebra, optimisation, statistics, complex analysis, programming foundations and regression, along with a choice of sub-major in Mathematics (Extension), Physics, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Medical Science or Chemistry. The content inspires students to get hands-on with real-world challenges in statistics, modelling and industrial optimisation; gain the skills to tackle unstructured datasets; and prepare for a vast range of professional opportunities in post-graduation life.
• Physics: The Physics major is focused on the fundamental phenomena that make up the universe. With an emphasis on materials and fabrication, this major introduces students to the theories that underpin transformational technologies like optical fibre and satellite communications, solar energy, battery technology, green energy and more. Students can tailor their qualification with a choice of three sub-major in Mathematics, Chemistry or Engineering and work on real-world research projects in professional science laboratories, including the world-standard Microstructural Analysis Unit.
• Flexible: This major gives students massive scope to design their own science degree. They can choose subjects from across the Mathematical and Physical Sciences domain, indulging their interests with a broad selection or building deep expertise in a particular discipline area. This major is a great option for students who aren't quite sure which areas of science to focus on, as well as for those who have a career in mind that requires specific prerequisite knowledge. What's more, by enrolling in Summer School subjects, students can fast-track their completion and kickstart their science career ahead of schedule.

Life Sciences

• Biotechnology: This highly customisable major combines subjects in medical and environmental biotechnology, preparing students to drive new innovations in human and planetary health. Using their extensive subject choice options, they can build deep expertise in their chosen discipline or build a broad knowledge base that spans the breadth of the biotech field. As well as getting hands-on with emerging technology, students engage with course content that goes beyond scientific and technical skills development with subjects in biobusiness and intellectual property commercialisation.
• Environmental Sciences: This major combines terrestrial, marine and urban biology subjects, equipping students with a broad skill set that prepares them to respond to pressing environmental challenges. Course content combines theoretical learning and lab-based pracs with extensive fieldwork opportunities in locations such as the Blue Mountains, Manly Dam and Royal National Park. Students develop a strong focus on ecosystem preservation, with subjects that emphasise urban resilience, Australian wildlife conservation, environmental protection and management, and molecular biology - an emerging priority area in environmental conservation.
• Medical Science: Students can explore their interests in pathology and medical and health-related sciences with this broad-based major. Pathology subjects are focused on understanding, detecting and treating disease and infection, while medical and health-related content introduces students to the human side of health care. The curriculum spans pharmacology, immunology, haematology and pathophysiology to immunology, microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, as well as chemistry and biotech. With an extensive choice of options available, students can design a study plan that reflects their future goals.
• Flexible: This major gives students massive scope to design their dream science degree. They can choose subjects from across the Life Sciences domain, indulging their interests with a broad selection or building deep expertise in a particular discipline area. This major is a great option for students who aren't quite sure which areas of science to focus on, as well as for those who have a career in mind that requires specific prerequisite knowledge. What's more, by enrolling in Summer School subjects, students can fast-track their completion and kickstart their science career ahead of schedule.

Students must complete a total of 144 credit points to graduate. Subjects offered by the University have been classified as introductory (normally taken in stages 1 and 2), intermediate (stages 3 and 4) and advanced (stages 5 and 6 or later). In the Bachelor of Science, students are required to complete one introductory foundation stream. Upon the successful completion of first year, they may choose one of the majors that follow from that stream. The chosen major specifies a series of intermediate and advanced subjects that, if taken, result in award of a Bachelor of Science in that major.

Alternatively, students may choose not to take a specific major but a flexible mix of subjects of interest and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree without a specified major. If so, they must complete 36 credit points of intermediate and 36 credit points of advanced science subjects. In doing so, students must ensure that they have completed the required prerequisite subjects at each stage. It cannot be guaranteed that all subjects that students in a flexible program wish to take together can be timetabled without clashes and so students need to check timetable constraints before final subject choice each session.

The Bachelor of Science also contains up to 24 credit points of free elective subjects that enable students to increase their expertise in other areas of science or other disciplines in the University. This can be in the form of a specialised 24-credit-point sub-major or by a varied selection of subjects.

Students must satisfactorily complete 120 credit points of specified major or flexible science subjects and, in addition, 24 credit points of elective/sub-major subjects for award of the degree.

Changing majors

Students may change majors in certain circumstances. Students wanting to change majors within the Bachelor of Science are required to raise an e-request via Ask UTS.

Students studying this course have an opportunity to undertake an internship subject and receive academic credit for their placement off campus (an external business or research institute) or on campus (UTS research institutes or departments), in a capacity relevant to their academic studies.