Bachelor of Science (Environmental Sciences)

Admissions information

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• Course description arrow_forward_ios

  This course is tailored for aspiring scientists eager to address global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and antibiotic resistance. Choose the UTS Bachelor of Science to become a leader in creating a resilient future for humanity and the planet.

  The course offers unparalleled flexibility, with eight majors and a variety of electives allowing you to customise your educational journey. Starting with a foundational 'scientist's toolkit', you'll learn to critically apply scientific solutions to worldwide issues.

  What sets this course apart is the blend of theory and hands-on experience. You'll work in top-tier facilities, using industry-grade equipment, and engage in real-world applications through internships, fieldwork, and global exchanges.

  You'll gain not only scientific expertise but also vital professional skills such as inquiry, innovation, and communication, equipping you for a dynamic career.

  Learning is interactive and practical. Expect to engage in laboratory work, field studies, and professional placements that translate academic concepts into tangible skills, preparing you for the scientific workforce.

  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.

• Important dates arrow_forward_ios

  Find out more about application dates relating to this course

• Year 12 adjustment factor scheme arrow_forward_ios

  If you perform highly in your Year 12 subjects, your selection rank may be boosted by the Year 12 subject scheme.

  The scheme, which is automatically applied, awards selection rank adjustments to your application based on your marks in subjects that are relevant to the courses you have applied to.

• ATAR and selection ranks arrow_forward_ios

  Your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a score between 0.00 and 99.95. It shows you how you rank compared to all the students in your year group in New South Wales. A selection rank combines your ATAR with any other adjustment points that make up your overall university entrance score. Your selection rank may differ from university to university, depending on the adjustment points granted to you at each institution.

• Scholarships and prizes arrow_forward_ios

  Discover our scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Our scholarships celebrate diversity and academic excellence. Use the scholarship search tool to find the right scholarship for you.

  Scholarships for domestic students

  Scholarships for international students

• Transdisciplinary Electives at UTS arrow_forward_ios

  Employers tell us the skills our graduates acquire from undertaking a Transdisciplinary Elective sets them apart from the crowd. That’s why we have embedded this program into every undergraduate degree.

  All you need to do is choose the Elective that inspires you the most.

  Transdisciplinary Electives integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines, allowing you to approach complex problems from a range of perspectives.

  By combining methods and insights from various disciplines, transdisciplinary learning often leads to breakthrough ideas and creative innovations that may not be possible within the confines of a single discipline.

  If you find yourself rapt by the world of innovation – you can pair your core degree with a Diploma in Innovation, graduating with two qualifications in the same timeframe. 

  In both instances, you’ll work on a real-world challenge presented by an industry partner organisation – partners who often create career pathways for our graduates.

  * Excludes students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation.

• Course duration arrow_forward_ios

  Students can complete the course in three years of full-time or six years of part-time study. Part-time students are required to attend some classes in daytime hours. Students who choose the Medical Science major have the option to complete the course in an accelerated mode over two years.

• Admission requirements arrow_forward_ios

  Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.

  Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

• Inherent requirements arrow_forward_ios

  Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential for successfully completing a course at UTS. You can find the inherent requirements for your course via the inherent requirements directory.

• Assumed knowledge arrow_forward_ios

  Mathematics; any two units of English.

  At least two units of science relevant to the individual discipline chosen is recommended; HSC Mathematics Extension 1 is recommended for those majoring in mathematics.