How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medical Science at the University of Wollongong: The Bachelor of Science with Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical and Health Sciences, Pre-Medicine, Science and Health, and Marine Science, and Entry Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is in Wollongong, New South Wales. Life sciences and medical science are spread across several degrees. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on UOW's official information, for domestic students, international students (including applicants from China) and transfer students. Nursing, nutrition and dietetics, exercise science, psychology and biomedical engineering have their own pages and are not covered here.

1. Degrees and options

• Bachelor of Science: three years, UOW code 742, CRICOS 003283D, on campus; international students can start in Autumn 2027 only. UOW says you complete 24 subjects, some counting towards a major, and you can start your major immediately or after first-year foundation subjects. The course page lists three majors: Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry and Ecology and Conservation Biology, while the Environmental and Biological Sciences study area page lists those plus Earth Sciences; confirm with UOW. The Cell and Molecular Biology major covers DNA, RNA, proteins and cell function, leading to biomedical science and biotechnology, with an original research project in final year; graduates can apply for membership of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Australian Society for Microbiology. High performers can consider a one-year Bachelor of Science (Honours). Practical classes are held in the new Sciences Teaching Facility.
• Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences: three years, UOW code 1830, CRICOS 068533J, at Wollongong or Liverpool, with Autumn and Spring 2027 starts. UOW describes the scientific basis of human structure, function and health: first year covers core sciences, and in second year you choose electives such as pathophysiology, exercise and cardio-respiratory physiology, genetics, molecular biology, immunology and public health. A one-year honours program follows. UOW says its health and medicine degrees are recognised by professional associations in Australia and overseas; see individual course descriptions.
• Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health: three years, UOW code 363, CRICOS 086246M, at Wollongong or Liverpool, with an Autumn 2027 start only. UOW says it gives a strong foundation for students aspiring to medicine or other health and science fields, with anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, public health and medical ethics. The course page lists the majors Biomolecular Medicine and Medical Physiology, while the Medical Science study area page lists Biomedical Research, Medical Science, Molecular Medicine, Exercise Science and Nutrition; confirm with UOW. The page describes an entry pathway to UOW's Doctor of Medicine: applicants must meet all minimum requirements and list UOW as first preference in GEMSAS; students are ranked on "Cas per" scores (the page's wording) and the top 15 in each of the Rural and General entry pathways are guaranteed an interview. Whether admission is guaranteed and whether international students can use this pathway is not stated on this course page; ask UOW.
• Bachelor of Marine Science: three years, UOW code 789, CRICOS 039553A, Wollongong campus, Autumn 2027 start only for international students. Besides marine biology it covers the physical, chemical and ecological processes of marine environments, with embedded practical work such as plankton sampling from a boat, rocky shore surveys, GIS and spatial analysis, and fisheries and aquaculture field trips.
• Other: the study area pages also list the Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours), Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) and Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours), which this guide does not cover. The Medical Science page mentions a human anatomy laboratory with real human cadavers, clinical learning labs and professional health placements; the Environmental and Biological Sciences page says about half the course hours are in laboratories or the field. The pages used do not show an undergraduate-entry medical degree (MBBS or MD).

2. Prerequisites and admissions profile

• Prerequisites: the course pages of all four degrees only require a qualification equivalent to 13 years of schooling in Australia with the required score, and say you should have completed relevant senior high school subjects. They do not list specific biology, chemistry or mathematics subjects or grades. The subjects needed are not given on the pages used for this guide; check UOW's entry requirements page or ask the Future Students team.
• Entry group: the international entry requirements page lists "Science" and "Medical and Health Sciences" in Group 1 and "Pre-Medicine" in Group 3. Marine Science is not listed separately; ask UOW which group applies.
• ATAR-SR (selection rank for Australian applicants): Bachelor of Science 70; Medical and Health Sciences 75; Pre-Medicine, Science and Health 90; Marine Science 70.
• 2025 intake: Bachelor of Science (the major shown by default): 138 students, 64 (46%) with higher education study; among ATAR-based offers the ATAR was 96.95 (highest), 72.70 (median) and 60.05 (lowest), with selection ranks of 99.95, 77.25 and 65.05. (The Marine Science course page shows exactly the same figures, which may be shared data; check the website.) Medical and Health Sciences: 128 students, 15 (12%) international and 42 (33%) with higher education study; ATAR 99.50, 77.10 and 65.05, selection ranks 99.95, 80.85 and 70.05. Pre-Medicine, Science and Health: 104 students, 15 (14%) with higher education study; ATAR 99.90, 92.90 and 79.10, selection ranks 99.95, 97.45 and 85.10.

Domestic students (Australian Year 12)

• Domestic closing dates (2027 entry): Autumn session: UAC Early Bird 30 September 2026 and UAC final round 28 January 2027; the Bachelor of Science, Medical and Health Sciences and Marine Science also list direct applications on 31 December 2026. Domestic applicants must apply for Pre-Medicine, Science and Health through UAC. Spring session (Medical and Health Sciences only): direct 31 May 2027, UAC final round 1 July 2027.
• How to apply: recent school leavers (HSC, IB or an interstate equivalent) can apply through UOW Early Admission (the website says usually around June to August) or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Non-school leavers (for example, with an earlier Year 12 or a TAFE qualification) can apply directly to UOW. The pages used do not list admission centres of other states.
• ATAR and adjustment factors: the ATAR-SR on each course page is the selection rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors). UOW also has non-ATAR entry options, described on its ATAR-based admission page, which this guide does not detail.
• Domestic fees: Commonwealth supported place (CSP) fees are not on the pages used for this guide; switch the course page to "Domestic" to see them.

International students: applicants from China

UOW's international entry requirements page splits undergraduate degrees into three groups. Group 1 includes Mathematics, Science, Medical and Health Sciences and Business; Group 2 includes Economics and Finance and Social Work; Group 3 includes Pre-Medicine, Laws and Psychology (Honours), and the page also lists "Dean's Scholar and Scholar degrees" and "Advanced Degrees" under Group 3. The degrees in this guide fall in Group 1 (Bachelor of Science and Medical and Health Sciences; Marine Science to be confirmed) and Group 3 (Pre-Medicine, Science and Health). Mainland China high school qualifications may be considered for undergraduate entry, assessed on completion of senior secondary education and, where applicable, approved external examinations.

• Gaokao: 60% for Group 1, 70% for Group 2 and 75% for Group 3. The page does not say how a provincial Gaokao total is converted into a percentage or whether provinces differ; ask the UOW Future Students team.
• Senior High School Year 3 average: 80% (Group 1), 85% (Group 2), 90% (Group 3). Foundation Studies (2 sessions) and the 3-session Diploma need 60%, and the 2-session Diploma 65%. With Year 2 only, a 70% average may be considered for Foundation Studies.
• Maple Leaf World School Program Grade 12 Diploma: based on the best five Grade 12 academic subjects. The page lists only Group 1 (73%), plus the two core courses (Personal and Global Leadership 12 and Creative Thinking & Problem Solving 12). It also states that engineering and physical sciences need Calculus 12 of at least 73% and relevant Physics 12 and/or Chemistry 12 of at least 73%, and information technology and computer science need Pre-Calculus 12 of at least 73%. It does not map these subject conditions to individual degrees, so confirm with UOW.
• Documents: academic records and transcripts showing all subjects, grades (including fails) and stages reached; documents not in English need an official translation by a professional service or the issuing institution. Whether provincial academic proficiency (huikao) records are separately required, and whether there is an interview, is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website or ask UOW.
• How to apply: through an authorised UOW agent (UOW says this is offered at no cost to students) or directly through UOW Apply.

In practice: for the Bachelor of Science or Medical and Health Sciences you need Gaokao 60% (Senior High Year 3 average 80%, A-levels 8, IB 25); for Pre-Medicine, Science and Health, Gaokao 75% (90%, A-levels 13, IB 32). The Maple Leaf row on the page lists only Group 1.

International students: other qualifications, English and visa

• A-levels: aggregate of 3 subjects out of 18 (A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1): 8 for Group 1, 11 for Group 2, 13 for Group 3.
• IB Diploma: 25 (Group 1), 28 (Group 2), 32 (Group 3), including up to 3 points for the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge.
• US SAT/ACT, with evidence of high school completion: SAT 1090 / 1170 / 1220 and ACT 22 / 25 / 30 for Groups 1 / 2 / 3. The GED is not accepted.
• Canada: the Americas section of the entry requirements page lists only Brazil, Mexico and the USA, so UOW does not publish equivalents for Canadian provincial diplomas on that page. Apply for assessment or contact the Future Students team.
• English: IELTS Academic (including UKVI), TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency and LanguageCert Academic are accepted; Duolingo only for coursework programs; OET only for selected health-related courses. IELTS Indicator/Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and PTE Academic Online are not accepted. Tests must be taken within two years of the course start, and official scores must be submitted before a valid offer is issued. UOW College's English for Tertiary Studies is another route. Course-specific scores are below.
• Student visa English: the Australian Department of Home Affairs sets separate English requirements for a student visa; UOW points to its SSVF screening page and the Department's document checklist tool.
• Timing: UOW recommends applying at least 4 months before your intake to allow time for assessment, acceptance and the visa; some courses have fixed closing dates. For international applicants the course pages say to see the International students page for key cut-off dates; the exact 2027 dates are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website. Applications must include all documents to be complete; the 2027 course pages say applications after the closing date are still accepted and UOW will try to process them in time, without a guarantee.

3. English requirements (course pages)

• Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Marine Science: IELTS Academic overall 6.0, with 6.0 in each skill.
• Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences: overall 6.5, with 6.0 in each skill. Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health: overall 6.5, with 6.5 in each skill.
• UOW College's English for Tertiary Studies is another route: Pass (weighted average 50, at least 50 in Academic Reading and Writing) for the Bachelor of Science; Credit (weighted average 65, at least 50 in Academic Reading and Writing) on the Medical and Health Sciences, Pre-Medicine and Marine Science course pages. Other qualifications may be considered; see the English requirements page.

4. Start dates and fees (2027)

• Start dates: Autumn starts on 1 March 2027; Spring starts on 26 July 2027 and is offered only for the Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences.
• International tuition (Wollongong, on campus; per session / indicative course fee): Bachelor of Science AUD 22,656 / 135,936; Medical and Health Sciences AUD 22,776 / 136,656; Pre-Medicine, Science and Health AUD 23,136 / 138,816; Marine Science AUD 21,744 / 130,464. UOW says fees are reviewed annually, depend on the year of commencement and may rise during study; the totals are indicative for normal progression. Overseas Student Health Cover and the Student Services and Amenities Fee are extra.
• Whether clinical or health placements are restricted for international students is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask UOW.

Transfer students and credit

• Applying with university or diploma results: per the post-secondary table on the international entry requirements page, an associate degree or higher needs at least 0.5 FTE completed (UOW's example: if a full-time year is 8 subjects, 0.5 FTE is 4 subjects); qualifications below associate degree level (Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma) must be fully completed. The pages do not state extra transfer conditions for life science degrees or which biology and chemistry subjects must already be completed.
• Indicative marks (Groups 1 / 2 / 3): AQF bachelor's degree and associate degree 50% / 62% / 75%; completed Advanced Diploma 57% (graded) / 68% / 75%; completed Diploma 57% (graded) / 71% / 78%; Australian university foundation programs 60–65% for Group 1. These are indicative only, assessed case by case, and do not guarantee admission; different pass marks are converted to the Australian scale.
• Credit for Prior Learning: completed study or relevant work experience can earn credit or exemptions, shortening the course and reducing cost. Request it at Step 5 of the online application; for study completed elsewhere provide an official transcript and subject outlines (not needed under a formal articulation agreement), with certified English translations if needed. UOW has arrangements with many overseas institutions, but not all courses are eligible; check the course page. Domestic applicants applying through UAC follow a different credit process described by UOW.
• UOW College pathways: UOW College offers Foundation Studies, Diplomas and the University Preparation Program leading to first or second year of UOW bachelor's degrees; check UOW College for which degrees each pathway leads to.

Scholarships for international students

• University Excellence Scholarship (UES): a 30% tuition fee reduction for the minimum duration of an eligible course, for 2027 commencement; no application, assessed automatically, unlimited number. It requires full-time study in an undergraduate course at an Australian campus, no other UOW tuition scholarship or discount for the same course, and a cumulative WAM of 50. From high school results you need the Group 3 score for your qualification (for example Gaokao 75%, Senior High Year 3 90%, A-levels 13 or IB 32); Australian university foundation programs need 85% overall, and post-secondary study needs the Group 3 threshold. Students who change course are reassessed. The scholarship page mentions both enrolment in "2026" and "2027" commencement, and says it is issued with offers from 12 June 2026 for students starting in 2027 and beyond; check the page. Pre-Medicine, Science and Health is a Group 3 degree and is not on the list of ineligible degrees.
• The international scholarships page also lists scholarships that need a separate application, such as the UOW Future Leaders Scholarship, Country Scholarship and Offshore transfer discount; their conditions are not detailed on the pages used here, so check the website.

Checklist

• Choose the degree: Bachelor of Science (ATAR-SR 70), Medical and Health Sciences (75), Pre-Medicine, Science and Health (90, Group 3) or Marine Science (70)
• Applicants from China: the first two need Gaokao 60% or Senior High Year 3 average 80%, A-levels 8, IB 25; Pre-Medicine needs Gaokao 75% or 90%, A-levels 13, IB 32
• The required high school biology, chemistry and mathematics subjects are not published; confirm with UOW before applying
• IELTS Academic: 6.0 for Science and Marine Science; 6.5 overall (6.0 each skill) for Medical and Health Sciences; 6.5 (6.5 each skill) for Pre-Medicine
• Apply at least 4 months before your intake with complete documents; Science, Marine Science and Pre-Medicine have only an Autumn 2027 start
• UOW does not publish Canadian diploma equivalents, so apply for assessment; transfer students request credit at Step 5

Sources: University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Science (Cell and Molecular Biology major; international, 2027); Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences; Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health; Bachelor of Marine Science; Medical Science study area; Environmental and Biological Sciences study area; International entry requirements; English language requirements; International applications; University Excellence Scholarships; International scholarships; Credit for prior learning. Information is for 2027 entry; admission data are from the 2025 intake. Check UOW for the latest details.