How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medical Science at Murdoch University: The Perth Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Six Majors and the Four-Year Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine Accredited by AIMS, Admitting at ATAR 70 or Equivalent, and Entry and Prerequisite Requirements for Australian, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Murdoch University (Murdoch) is in Perth, Western Australia. Its website places its life science and medical science degrees in the “Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences” study area, and both main course pages stress that the campus sits in the Murdoch Health and Knowledge Precinct, which has three hospitals and several medical research centres. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on Murdoch’s official information, for Australian applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. This guide focuses on the Bachelor of Biomedical Science and the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine.

1. Degrees and majors

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science: three years full time (part time is listed, but international students study full time), AQF level 7, Murdoch code B1419, CRICOS code 117500H, starting Semester 1 and Semester 2, 2027, at the Murdoch (Perth) campus. The course page lists six majors: Biochemistry and Nutrition, Biomedicine, Clinical Laboratory Science, Genetics and Biotechnology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, with the option of a double major. Murdoch says the degree can be a pathway to further study in areas such as medicine, allied health or specialised research; it does not describe any reserved or guaranteed medical school places.
• Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine: four years full time (part time is listed, but international students study full time), AQF level 7, Murdoch code B1374, CRICOS code printed on the course page as 0101823 (please verify on the website), with Semester 1 starts only in 2027 and 2028, so there is no Semester 2 intake. Murdoch says the degree is accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS) and that graduates of AIMS-accredited courses are preferentially employed by the diagnostic pathology sector; it covers biochemistry, haematology, immunology, microbiology, histopathology, diagnostic genomics and transfusion science, with practical training and placements in diagnostic pathology laboratories.
• Other related degrees on the study-area page: Forensic Science, Food Science and Nutrition, the combined Bachelor of Biomedical Science / Master of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Forensic Science / Master of Forensic Science, Food Science and Nutrition / Master of Food Science, and double degrees with Laws or Criminology. The page lists a selection rank of 70 for most of these degrees and 90 for the combined master’s programs and the Laws / Forensic Science double degree. The Bachelor of Science (Environmental and Conservation Sciences) (B1399) and the Bachelor of Science Honours (H1257) also appear on the study-area page or the fee table. These are listed only for orientation; their course pages are not among the pages used; details on biology streams such as marine or conservation biology are not given on the pages used.
• Medicine and veterinary: no direct-entry medical degree (MBBS/MD) was seen in the pages used. Veterinary science has a combined Bachelor of Science / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (B1402); Murdoch says veterinary science applications must go through TISC and cannot receive an early offer, and its international policy is not covered on the pages used. Nursing and allied health sit in other study areas and are not covered here.

2. How admission works: straight into the degree, or choosing later

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science: you apply directly to the degree (B1419) and choose among the six majors within it; when you choose, whether you can change, and how a double major is built are in the course structure section, which is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the Course structure section of the course page and the Course Handbook.
• Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine: you apply directly to the degree (B1374). The course page states that Experience Based Entry is not available for the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine.
• Admission is by selection rank or equivalent: both course pages list ATAR 70, and the end of each admission section says “ATAR of 70 or equivalent”. Limits on places and transfer into the degree are not described in the pages used. No admission test or interview is mentioned (the Mature Age Pathway is an interview plus portfolio).

3. Prerequisites

• The admission sections of both course pages give selection ranks, minimum results by qualification and English requirements, but do not list specific high school biology, chemistry or mathematics prerequisites in the pages used; unit prerequisites are in the Course Handbook, so ask Murdoch.
• Mathematics placement tests and IB/A-Level credit towards core units are not covered in the pages used.
• Laboratory Medicine includes placements in diagnostic pathology laboratories; any pre-placement conditions such as immunisation or background checks are not described in the pages used, so ask Murdoch.

4. Australian applicants

• Selection rank: the course page lists ATAR 70 (a minimum selection rank of 70 for WA, ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS and VIC results); for the Queensland QCE it lists an Overall Position (OP) of 13 or lower (a lower number is better) plus Sound Achievement (4) or better in an approved English subject. The Laboratory Medicine page also lists ATAR 70.
• Other routes: Western Australian Universities Foundation Program (WAUFP) CPS 54 with 50% in English Language and Australian Cultural Studies; Murdoch College preparation courses (50% or higher in all subjects); enabling programs taken in Year 12 (FlexiTrack High, TLC Learning for Tomorrow and others); a VET Certificate IV or higher studied at school; STAT multiple choice 135 plus Written English 140; the Mature Age Pathway (an interview and a portfolio, based on work and life experience); and case-by-case assessment for extenuating circumstances.
• Murdoch RISE adjustment: for students from regional, Indigenous and low socio-economic backgrounds with an ATAR of 60.00–89.95, up to 10 points can be added, to a maximum selection rank of 90.00; there is no application, and the adjustment is added automatically if you are eligible.
• How to apply: Year 12 students applying for Semester 1 apply through TISC (Western Australia) with up to six preferences, assessed on selection rank, and receive one offer only; the TISC page says applications opened on 2 June 2026 and points to the TISC website for key dates. Semester 2 applicants and non-school-leavers apply directly to Murdoch through MyAdmission.
• Early offer: Year 12 students in Australia graduating in 2026 can apply for a conditional offer using end-of-Year-11 or mid-Year-12 ATAR or IB results, or a recognised non-ATAR pathway; only first preferences are assessed, offers are made from 5 October 2026, and applications close at 5:00pm on 2 December 2026. After that you can use the TISC main or second round; the final date is listed as “to be confirmed”.
• Domestic fees: indicative Commonwealth-supported fees for 2027 are AUD 9,812 for the first year of the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (AUD 29,435 for the course) and AUD 9,724 for the first year of the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (AUD 38,898 for the course), based on 24 credit points in the first year, tuition only, before any scholarships.

5. International applicants

• Results: the course page shows requirements by country of study in a country selector, and country-level cut-offs are not given on the pages used for this guide. Qualifications listed for everyone: IB Diploma total of 24 or higher (the same entry also lists Higher Level 3 or better and Standard Level 4 or better); A-Levels: 6 points from the best 2 or 3 subjects (AS-Levels count at half points, for example A=2.5, B=2), plus a D at A-Level (C at AS) in English Language, English Literature or Knowledge and Inquiry; for other local or overseas qualifications, ask admissions to confirm equivalency.
• English (differs by degree): Bachelor of Biomedical Science: the English page’s “higher requirements” list for Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences names the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine and the combined Forensic Science, Biomedical Science / infectious disease, and Food Science programs, but does not name the stand-alone Bachelor of Biomedical Science (B1419), which by the page falls under the standard undergraduate requirement: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall and 6.0 in each band; TOEFL iBT 60 (Reading 13, Writing 21, Speaking 18, Listening 12), not accepted if taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024; PTE 50 (Reading 53, Writing 54, Speaking 50, Listening 50); Duolingo 115 (Reading 110, Writing 110, Speaking 110, Listening 105); Cambridge C1 Advanced 169; LanguageCert Academic 65 (at an approved test centre); STAT Written English 140; confirm with admissions. Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine: the higher Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences requirement applies: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall and 6.5 in each band; TOEFL iBT 79 (Reading 19, Writing 24, Speaking 20, Listening 20), not accepted if taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024; PTE 58 (Reading 60, Writing 58, Speaking 53, Listening 56); Duolingo 120 (Reading 120, Writing 130, Speaking 120, Listening 115); Cambridge C1 Advanced 176; LanguageCert Academic 70 (Reading 65, Writing 71, Speaking 76, Listening 62); OET two Bs and two Cs.
• English exemptions and alternatives: STAT Written English 140, university preparation courses, English language courses, previous tertiary study and vocational education are accepted as English evidence. Previous tertiary study in English counts only if it was university level (AQF level 7 or higher) and completed within five years before you start; foundation results should normally be completed within two years before you start (the page lists exceptions for applicants who meet Murdoch’s English requirement and can show they used English as their main language in the meantime). The previous-study page says bachelor degrees from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States can meet the undergraduate English requirement with at least two university units at AQF level 7, or 8 months to 1 year of a university-level diploma, and it lists other countries with their own conditions.
• Genuine Student (GS) requirement: applicants who need a student visa are assessed against the Australian Government’s GS requirement during admission; Murdoch may ask for more information or an interview, but not every applicant is asked. The page lists countries whose citizens must apply through an agent; China (and Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau) is not on that list. Applicants from countries not listed may apply directly to Murdoch or through an agent, as they choose.
• Documents (international, from the course page checklist): official transcripts and certificates of your highest study (original and English translation), proof of English proficiency, and GS documents (GS Form 2, personal statement, up-to-date CV, passport copy, if applicable). Recommended: visa documents, past visa refusals, packaged offer letter, sponsorship documents and unit outlines for advanced standing. Direct applications go through MyAdmission with scanned documents (scans are accepted, e-transcripts are not; keep the originals or certified copies). The course page does not mention additional essays, recommendation letters or interviews (an interview may be requested during the GS assessment), and the application fee is not stated; check with international admissions (+61 8 9360 6063).
• 2027 international tuition (indicative, based on 24 credit points in the first year, tuition only): AUD 44,040 for the first year of the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (AUD 132,120 for the three-year course) and AUD 43,200 for the first year of the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (AUD 172,800 for the four-year course). The 2026 first-year fees were AUD 41,990 and AUD 41,160. Murdoch says fees are indexed annually and indexation may apply from the second year for international students. No laboratory or clinical placement surcharge is mentioned.
• Scholarships: Murdoch’s scholarships page says it awards over AUD 2.5 million in scholarships every year to domestic and international students, and describes Scholarships for Good, worth AUD 12,000 across a degree for students making a positive impact on the world around them outside their studies. The international scholarships page says scholarships are offered for international students, students facing financial hardship, high achievers and students in specific courses, and that most are not intended to pay tuition fees but to help with books, living expenses and transport; it also mentions Australia Awards Scholarships funded by the Australian Government for students from participating countries. Amounts and eligibility for individual scholarships are in the scholarship finder, which is not covered by the pages used for this guide; scholarships specific to this degree are not described on the pages used for this guide, so check Murdoch’s scholarships page.

6. Applicants from China

• The course page’s “Overseas Year 12” row only says to refer to the information for your country of study. The country-specific requirements (whether the Gaokao is used and how school marks are assessed) appear in the country selector on the course page and are not given on the pages used for this guide; select China under “I have completed studies in” on the course page or contact international admissions (+61 8 9360 6063).
• A pathway after Chinese high school: Murdoch College’s Murdoch University Preparation Course (MUPC), MUPC (Accelerated Entry) and Foundation Studies, with a final mark of 50% or higher in all subjects; these also meet the English requirement, as does English for Academic Purposes with a final mark of 65%. The preparation-courses page lists other institutions’ foundation courses with their own English thresholds (for example the Western Australian Universities Foundation Program needs 60% in English).
• Whether Chinese transcripts must be verified by an accreditation body is not stated; check with admissions. No China-specific country page and no interview requirement were seen.
• Laboratory Medicine has a higher English requirement than the standard; whether the preparation courses above meet that higher level was not checked item by item, so rely on the course page and admissions.

7. Transfers, credit and pathways

• Previous university study: the course page’s “University study” entry says successful completion of 2 units at an Australian university or Open Universities Australia (OUA) meets both the academic and English requirement.
• Vocational education: completing a Diploma or Advanced Diploma (AQF levels 5–6) meets the academic requirement; a Certificate IV (AQF level 4) needs separate English evidence (for example STAT Written English 140, or completing Years 11 and 12 in Australia, which is for domestic applicants only).
• Enabling courses: OnTrack Flex, OnTrack Sprint, K-Track, or an enabling or bridging course at another Australian university; completion meets the requirement. The TISC page says that after OnTrack Flex or OnTrack Sprint you can apply directly to any course with a minimum selection rank of 70.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): prior formal or informal learning can earn credit and shorten the degree. You send your official transcript and award certificate, detailed unit outlines and the RPL form to RPL@murdoch.edu.au; there is an RPL calculator. International students must formally accept any RPL offered; if it changes the course duration Murdoch issues a new Confirmation of Enrolment. Credit based on work experience applies only to core units or specified electives. Detailed credit-transfer rules for study at overseas universities are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• The Laboratory Medicine course page notes that Experience Based Entry is not available.

8. Placements and clinical arrangements

• Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine: Murdoch describes practical laboratory training and placements in diagnostic pathology laboratories in real clinical environments; the total placement hours and sites are not stated in the pages used.
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science: the overview stresses hands-on work with modern laboratories and health facilities; the course page does not state a required placement period.
• Whether international students face any restriction on placement or clinical components is not given on the pages used; check with Murdoch.

9. 2027 timeline

• Start: Bachelor of Biomedical Science: Semester 1 and Semester 2, 2027; Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine: Semester 1, 2027 only (the course page also lists Semester 1, 2028).
• Australian school leavers: TISC opened on 2 June 2026; early conditional offers are made from 5 October 2026 and early-offer applications close at 5:00pm on 2 December 2026; main and second round dates are on the TISC website (the final application date is listed as “to be confirmed”).
• International applicants: apply directly through MyAdmission or through an agent; the course pages and international pages do not give an international closing date, so check with international admissions.

Checklist

Australian applicants:

• Check ATAR (selection rank) 70; see Murdoch RISE if you are eligible
• Year 12 students apply through TISC and may apply for the early offer; Semester 2 (Biomedical Science only) and non-school-leavers use MyAdmission

International applicants:

• Prepare English results: IELTS 6.0 (6.0 each band) for Biomedical Science as listed, IELTS 6.5 (6.5 each band) for Laboratory Medicine
• Prepare transcripts (original and English translation) and GS documents; apply through MyAdmission or an agent
• Ask admissions about biology and chemistry prerequisites and any placement conditions

Applicants from China:

• Select China on the course page for the Gaokao and school-mark requirements; China is not on the list of countries that must apply through an agent
• Consider the MUPC or Foundation Studies route (50% or higher in all subjects), checking the English level needed for Laboratory Medicine

Transfer students:

• Check the entry route for 2 completed Australian university units or a diploma; apply for RPL to shorten your degree (Experience Based Entry is not available for Laboratory Medicine)

Sources: Murdoch University, Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences; Bachelor of Biomedical Science; Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine; 2027 international fees; Entry requirements; English proficiency tests; Previous tertiary study; University preparation courses; Genuine Student requirements; Apply directly; Apply through TISC; Early offer; Recognition of Prior Learning; Scholarships; International scholarships. Information is for 2027 entry. Check Murdoch University for the latest details.