How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine at Curtin University: Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacy (Honours) and the Five-Year MBBS, With Different Entry Scores and Prerequisites, for Domestic, International (Including China) and Transfer Students

Curtin University's main campus is in Perth, Western Australia (Bentley). Its life sciences and medicine undergraduate degrees sit mainly in the Faculty of Health Sciences; the Bachelor of Science (in the Faculty of Science and Engineering) also has a Biochemistry major, mentioned only briefly here. This guide covers the degrees named on the Curtin pages - the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Laboratory Medicine), Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) and the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) - and then the shared 2027 entry points for Australian domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. The health study-area page also lists degrees in nutrition, exercise and sport science, health sciences, medical radiation science, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, oral health therapy, paramedicine, physiotherapy and speech pathology, which are not covered here; see the study-area page.

1. The degrees at a glance

• Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (B-BIOMED): three years full-time at Curtin Perth, CRICOS 102738J, Semester 1 intake. Curtin says it explores the biology of human health and disease. In first year you study human biology, genetics, cell biology, microbiology and immunology, plus biostatistics, chemistry and science communication; you then choose one or two majors plus specialisations and electives, with high-growth areas named as Human Biomedicine, Molecular Genetics, Microbiology and Pharmacology. There is a Physical Containment Level 2 laboratory where students analyse samples and report results as in an industry pathology lab, and optional units include reproductive technologies, bioinformatics, forensics and psychology.
• Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) (BH-ADVBSC): four years at Curtin Perth, CRICOS 102739H, Semester 1 intake. It is for high-ATAR students aiming at biomedical research; you choose a major in either Discovery Bioscience or Clinical Medical Science and finish with a research project. The course page says you must keep a course-weighted average (CWA) of 70 or higher or switch to the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences or another relevant health sciences course, and applicants should read the Clinical Health Sciences and police clearance requirements.
• Bachelor of Science (Laboratory Medicine) (B-LABMED): four years at Curtin Perth, CRICOS 064464E, Semester 1 intake. You study the origin, nature, course and diagnosis of disease to become a medical laboratory scientist. International students on student visas in Australia cannot study part-time. Entry outside Semester 1 (that is, Semester 2) is open only to students who have completed the previous semester's units; you submit a credit application (CRL) with your application, and the page lists the first-semester unit codes required.
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (BH-PHARMA): the course page gives the length as 3 years 9 months (six semesters plus two trimesters in the fourth year), at Curtin Perth, CRICOS 120916B, Semester 1 intake. You study pharmacy practice alongside pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, human biology and pathophysiology from the first semester. Graduates can begin an internship towards registration or continue to the Doctor of Pharmacy (four more trimesters). The course has been granted "accreditation with conditions" by the Australian Pharmacy Council and is approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia as a qualification leading to registration. Curtin warns the course can be physically and mentally demanding and asks applicants to read the inherent requirements.
• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (B-MBBS): a five-year direct-entry degree at Curtin Perth, CRICOS 105741A, Semester 1 intake. See section 3.
• A related Science major: the Bachelor of Science (three years, ATAR 70) has a Biochemistry major; the international view lists no essential subjects, while the domestic view lists Mathematics Applications and Chemistry as essential, with Mathematics Methods desirable.

2. Prerequisites and academic thresholds

• Biomedical Sciences: minimum ATAR 70. International view, essential: Mathematics. Domestic view: Mathematics Applications ATAR essential, with Chemistry ATAR plus Human Biology or Biology ATAR desirable.
• Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours): ATAR 90; international view, essential: Chemistry and Mathematics including calculus.
• Laboratory Medicine: ATAR 70; the international view lists essential and desirable subjects as "None".
• Pharmacy (Honours): ATAR 80; essential: Chemistry and Mathematics Applications; desirable: Biology or Human Biology.
• MBBS: ATAR 95; essential: Chemistry.
• International qualification equivalents (from the course pages; A-Level/STPM best three, Hong Kong DSE, IB Diploma, Canadian provincial diploma): Biomedical Sciences and Laboratory Medicine (ATAR 70): 5, 15, 24, 60%; Pharmacy (ATAR 80): 8, 18, 30, 70%; Advanced Biomedical Sciences (ATAR 90): 12, 23, 35, 80%; MBBS (ATAR 95): 14, 25, 39, 90%. Equivalents for Indian CBSE/ISC and HSC and the WAUFP are on the course pages.
• Rules for AP or IB credit are not given on the pages used for this guide; only the MBBS page spells out the hours or grades needed for the chemistry prerequisite (below).

3. MBBS: a direct-entry five-year degree

• International places and timing: Curtin Medical School's 2027 international admissions guide (PDF) says there are 10 to 15 international full-fee places for the 2027 intake across the school-leaver and non-school-leaver pathways. The application closing date in that guide is 20 June 2026, which has passed; the opening and closing dates for the next intake are not given on the pages used, and the course page in the international view shows no open intake, so check the Curtin Medical School website. The guide gives orientation on 8 to 12 February 2027 and the start of Semester 1 on 15 February 2027.
• Academic scores and chemistry: minimum scores are Australian Year 12 ATAR 95, Canadian provincial diploma 90%, A-Level 14, Hong Kong DSE 25, India HSC 94%, IB 39 and Malaysian STPM 14; Curtin may accept other overseas qualifications, so ask. Chemistry is essential and must be shown through about 220 hours of study via one of several routes, including Chemistry ATAR with a scaled score of 50 or more, IB Chemistry HL/SL grade 4 or higher, A-Level Chemistry grade E or above, or two first-year university chemistry units each passed with 60 or higher (bridging units are not accepted). A mathematics ATAR course and Human Biology or Biology ATAR are desirable.
• English: IELTS Academic overall 7.0 with 7.0 in every band; TOEFL iBT total 99 (minimum 24 in reading and listening, 23 in speaking, 27 in writing); PTE Academic overall 76 with 76 in each skill; Cambridge English: Advanced 185 overall and in each skill.
• Selection: applicants who meet the minimum are ranked and shortlisted for an interview, which can be held online (Microsoft Teams, up to an hour). Offers are ranked on academic merit (actual ATAR or equivalent) and interview performance in the ratio of 40:60. The guide says personal statements, references, awards and certificates are not part of the selection criteria. No UCAT or other written test is mentioned on the pages used.
• Who can apply: mainly school leavers who have completed Year 12 or equivalent and have no higher degree record; there is also a non-school-leaver (graduate) route requiring a minimum notional ATAR of 92, and a Curtin course-switcher route requiring a course-weighted average of at least 80. International places are not open to Australian or New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents or humanitarian visa holders.
• Fees: the course page shows an indicative 2027 international first-year fee of A$100,782 (A$503,910 for the course); the guide says the fee may rise by up to 5 per cent a year. MBBS is not among the eligible courses for Curtin's three international scholarships.
• Accreditation and after graduation: the course is accredited by the Australian Medical Council, but Curtin warns that completing it may not automatically qualify you to practise or register in your home country, so check with the relevant bodies there. Graduates apply for graduate registration with Ahpra and complete a 12-month internship; international students are not guaranteed an intern position in Australia.
• Clinical and mandatory requirements: every unit includes fieldwork and clinical placements, with hospitals including Armadale, Fiona Stanley and Joondalup. Students must complete a police certificate, first aid, mental health first aid, immunisation and health screening, among other items.

4. How admission works: apply for the specific degree

• Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacy and MBBS are specific degrees you apply for directly; the pages describe no shared first year with later streaming, except that Biomedical Sciences has a common first year before you choose one or two majors.
• No interview or extra written test is mentioned for Pharmacy, Laboratory Medicine or Biomedical Sciences; MBBS requires an interview (above).
• For international closing dates, the course pages show Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Biomedical Sciences and Laboratory Medicine closing on 28 January 2027 for Semester 1 2027. The Pharmacy course page shows no international intake; check with Curtin. (The course-specific list on the deadlines page, which was displayed in the domestic view, gives 20 January 2027 for Pharmacy (Honours); whether international applicants have the same date is not given.)

5. English and fees

• English (IELTS Academic, course pages): Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory Medicine - overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0; Pharmacy - overall and every band 7.0; MBBS - overall and every band 7.0. Domestic applicants can use a scaled score of 50 or more in an ATAR English subject.
• Indicative 2027 international fees (based on 200 credits in the first year): Biomedical Sciences A$47,116 (A$141,348 for the course); Advanced Biomedical Sciences A$48,022 (A$192,088); Laboratory Medicine A$46,412 (A$185,648); Pharmacy A$46,260 (A$185,040); MBBS A$100,782 (A$503,910). Fees are reviewed each year and exclude administrative fees and textbooks.

7. Australian domestic applicants

• How to apply: Curtin says Year 12 students and recent school leavers apply through the Western Australian admissions centre, TISC; other applicants (for example people with earlier study or work experience, or those switching courses) can apply directly to Curtin. ATAR, STAT and prerequisite rules for each course are given above.
• Adjustment factors: Curtin says equity ATAR adjustment factors, which recognise where you live, the school you attended or your background, can lift your selection rank above your ATAR and are applied automatically through TISC. How many points they add is not given on the course pages; check TISC and Curtin.
• Fees: Curtin says Australian undergraduates are automatically awarded a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) and can defer the student contribution through HECS-HELP. Among the course pages read, the Bachelor of Science page gave a domestic estimate of about A$10,000 for the first year in 2026 (2027 not given); for the courses in this guide, check the domestic fee on the course page.

8. International applicants

• How to apply: you can apply through a registered Curtin agent or, where your country allows it, directly online. You can list up to five course preferences, but only your first preference is assessed unless you do not meet its requirements. For a student visa you must choose the full-time internal study mode. Upload certified copies of your qualifications and a passport photo page; documents not in English need translation by a recognised translation service.
• English: you must give a score from a recognised test; the application page names IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Cambridge CAE and OET. The IELTS level for each course is listed above. If your English is below the requirement you can agree to be considered for a Curtin English pathway and receive a packaged offer. The pages used for this guide do not list countries exempt from the English test, so check with Curtin.
• Application fee: not given on the pages used for this guide; check with Curtin International Admissions.
• Deadlines: the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce pages show Semester 1 2027 closing on 28 January 2027 and Semester 2 2027 closing on 1 July 2027; the dates for the other courses are given above. Curtin notes that deadlines may be affected by visa processing times and by packaging with Curtin English, and can differ by course, so check the course page.
• Scholarships (for self-funded, non-sponsored international students studying at a Western Australian campus; the scholarship pages show 2027 or 2028 commencement): the John Curtin Global Excellence Scholarship takes 40% off tuition and asks for a course-weighted average (CWA) of 95% or equivalent; the Global Merit Scholarship takes 20% off and asks for Distinction status; the Global Future Leaders Scholarship is a one-off A$10,000 tuition credit and asks for Credit status and at least 1.5 years (300 credits) at the Western Australian campus. All three are assessed automatically with the course application, with no separate form. Curtin also lists a Curtin English credit of up to A$7,496 and a A$15,000 credit for the Global Scholars Program (two Curtin campuses). The eligible-course list excludes the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Medical Radiation Science, Advanced Nursing, Paramedicine and Oral Health Therapy. The criteria refer to your latest academic results; how they apply to school leavers is not given, so ask Curtin.

9. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: Curtin's list of recognised overseas qualifications (PDF, 2026 edition) says a Gaokao aggregate in the required subjects equal to 67% of the maximum (503/750, 402/600, 322/480, 543/810 or 603/900) meets the minimum entry requirement for undergraduate courses that require an ATAR of 70. The list warns that these minimums may not be enough for courses with higher admission requirements; see the admission criteria on each course page. Biomedical Sciences and Laboratory Medicine require ATAR 70, so this Gaokao figure is their entry threshold; Pharmacy (ATAR 80), Advanced Biomedical Sciences (ATAR 90) and MBBS (ATAR 95) are not covered by it, and the MBBS guide does not list a Gaokao score.
• Country lookup on the course pages: each course page has a tool that converts scores for a chosen country, including China. It is loaded by page script and is not in the static page, so Gaokao scores for other ATAR levels are not given on the pages used for this guide; use the tool on the course page or ask Curtin International Admissions.
• High school transcripts, school-leaving exam records, interviews, verification bodies: no China-specific requirements were found on the pages used for this guide. Applicants submit transcripts, graduation certificates and certified documents, with translation by a recognised service where they are not in English.
• Pathway: a Curtin College diploma is equivalent to the first year of the matching Curtin bachelor degree, takes 8 to 24 months, and students usually go straight into Year 2; it is meant for students who do not immediately meet Curtin University's minimum entry requirements. How Chinese applicants enter it is not given on the pages used; check with Curtin.

10. Transfer students and credit

• Credit for recognised learning (CRL, also called advanced standing): Curtin says you can claim credit for earlier university study, TAFE or vocational diplomas, professional certification or work experience, which can shorten the course. You must first apply for the course; CRL is then assessed against it. International applicants may opt out of CRL when applying; those already applying who want to add CRL should contact International Admissions. A separate CRL application for units in an upcoming study period must be made by the Friday of week 1.
• Documents: unit outlines or course descriptions, academic transcripts and completion certificates. For international applicants, unit outlines must be issued by the institution and show unit code, title, year, learning outcomes, topics, assessments and credit or contact hours; Word documents copied from websites are not accepted.
• Switching courses or institutions: the course pages list separate routes for switching from another Curtin course and from another higher-education provider; the pages say Curtin's general admission criteria apply, plus the essential subject prerequisites. How credit is counted is set out in each course's Handbook. Course-level transfer rules for international students are not given on the pages used; check with International Admissions.
• Overseas bachelor study: Curtin's overseas qualifications list says that if your overseas school-leaving qualification is not listed but you have completed at least one year of full-time bachelor study at a recognised overseas institution, you may still be eligible.

Checklist

• Domestic: ATAR 70 for Biomedical Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, 80 for Pharmacy, 90 for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, 95 for MBBS; prerequisites as above; Year 12 students and MBBS applicants apply through TISC
• International: match ATAR and prerequisites to the degree; IELTS 6.5 or 7.0; the Biomedical Sciences group closes 28 January 2027 for Semester 1 2027; MBBS closed on 20 June 2026 for 2027 entry
• China: 67% of the Gaokao maximum meets the ATAR 70 minimum (Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory Medicine); for Pharmacy, Advanced Biomedical Sciences and MBBS, use the course-page tool or ask Curtin
• Transfer: submit transcripts and institution-issued unit outlines for credit; MBBS has a separate course-switcher route

Sources: Curtin University, Health study area; Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences; Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours); Bachelor of Science (Laboratory Medicine); Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours); Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery; MBBS international admissions guide (PDF); Bachelor of Science; International applications; Application deadlines; Overseas qualifications; Recognised overseas qualifications (PDF); Credit for recognised learning; Curtin College; International scholarships; John Curtin Global Excellence Scholarship; Global Merit Scholarship; Global Future Leaders Scholarship. Information is for 2027 entry. Check Curtin for the latest details.