How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine at Adelaide University: Biological Science Majors, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Science, Nursing and the Three-Year Bachelor of Medical Studies, with Admission and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

For 2027 entry, undergraduate life science and medicine in Adelaide is offered by Adelaide University; its glossary names the University of South Australia and the former University of Adelaide as its Foundation Universities. The degrees sit in the School of Biological Sciences (College of Science) and in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing and Midwifery (College of Health), mainly at the Adelaide City Campus. This guide covers the main points for 2027 entry for domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer students. The degree pages used here are the international versions.

1. The degrees

• Bachelor of Science with a biological-science major (code BSCIE): the School of Biological Sciences lists majors including Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Marine and Wildlife Conservation, Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, and Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology; all majors are also available through the Bachelor of Science (Honours). The Bachelor of Science is three years full-time, 144 units (42 to 54 units of core courses, plus 78 to 102 units for one major or 54 units of discipline courses, and 0 to 48 units of electives). The Biochemistry and Genetics pages both mention up to 180 hours of laboratory practicals and a final-year laboratory placement or research project. Biochemistry covers molecular and cellular biology, metabolism and the molecular basis of cancer; Genetics covers the structure, function, transmission and evolution of genes. Only the Biochemistry and Genetics pages were read in full; check the other majors on their own pages.
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) (code HSCIE): four years full-time with a fourth-year research project. Students need a GPA of 5.0 at the end of 144 units to progress to fourth year (exceptions can be requested through the Honours Coordinator); those who do not qualify transfer to the three-year Bachelor of Science, and students planning a fourth year must move into their chosen major before the end of third year. The pages also say you can fast-track into a Master of Research with 1 to 1.25 years of extra study.
• Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences (code BBIOM): three years full-time, 144 units (42 units of core courses, 60 units for one major, plus electives across the three years). There are eight majors: Biochemistry, Clinical Trials, Genetics, Medical Science, Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience, Public Health, and Reproductive and Childhood Health. The page mentions dedicated anatomy labs with real human specimens and a final-year research or industry placement.
• Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science (code BPHSC): three years full-time, 144 units; the page stresses developing and commercialising pharmaceutical products and includes an 80-hour industry project or placement, with possible overseas study in third year. The School's page also mentions a packaged bachelor and master option towards registration as a pharmacist; details are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the School's page. The School also lists a Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (Honours), which was not read.
• Bachelor of Nursing (code BNURS): three years full-time with 880 placement hours; the page says it prepares you for registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and is accredited by ANMAC. Students must be registered as a student with the NMBA, declare Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements on entry, and provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. The page says the program can also be studied at the regional campuses in Mount Gambier and Whyalla; the international page does not say whether international students can use them, so ask the admissions office. The Bachelor of Midwifery was not read.
• Bachelor of Medical Studies (code BMSTU): three years full-time only (no part-time option), the first three years of the University's six-year integrated medicine program; on completion you gain direct entry to the Doctor of Medicine, and together the degrees qualify you to practise as an intern anywhere in Australia and throughout most of the world. The program is aligned with the Australian Medical Council accreditation standards. The Doctor of Medicine is a postgraduate degree and is not covered here.

2. Prerequisites and how admission works

• Bachelor of Science (biological majors): prerequisite "None", assumed knowledge "None".
• Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences: prerequisite and assumed knowledge both "None".
• Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science: the prerequisite is SACE Stage 2 Biology, Chemistry or Physics (any one, or equivalent); assumed knowledge is "None".
• Bachelor of Nursing: prerequisite and assumed knowledge "None"; before admission applicants must meet NMBA registration requirements, including the English Language Skills standard, by completing a declaration; in some cases English test results may be needed.
• Bachelor of Medical Studies: the prerequisite is any one of SACE Stage 2 Biology, Chemistry or Mathematical Methods (or equivalent), and the page assumes a high proficiency in written and spoken English. Entry is competitive: applicants must meet one of the minimum entry requirements below, meet the prerequisite, sit the UCAT ANZ and attend an interview if invited. Applicants who meet the academic minimum are selected for interview on UCAT ANZ results, and are finally ranked on a combination of UCAT ANZ, interview and academic results. The international page does not state any quota or restriction on international places; not given on the pages used for this guide, ask the admissions office. The page also says a student who exits with the Bachelor of Medical Studies conferred cannot re-enter the Doctor of Medicine.
• "Equivalent" subjects: the pages do not say which Chinese high-school courses, IB or A-Level subjects count as equivalent; ask the admissions office.

3. Minimum scores by qualification

These are the scores in the "international admissions by country" table (2027 entry). Meeting a minimum does not guarantee a place; where places are limited, applicants are ranked on the entry criteria.

Qualification	Bachelor of Science (biological majors)	Nursing	Pharmaceutical Science	Biomedical and Health Sciences	Science (Honours)	Medical Studies
Gaokao (China)	60%	60%	65%	70%	75%	80%
Australia ATAR	70	70	75	80	85	90
IB Diploma	25	25	26	28	30	33
GCE A-Levels (UK/global)	7	7	8	9	10	12
Singapore GCE A-Levels	7	7	8	9	10	12
Hong Kong HKDSE	16	16	17	18	19	21
Ontario OSSD (Canada)	65%	65%	70%	75%	80%	85%
AP (USA/global)	7	7	8	9	10	12
ACT	21	21	22	24	26	29
SAT	1100	1100	1130	1170	1220	1280

For Year 12 applicants the Bachelor of Medical Studies page states the academic threshold as an adjusted ATAR-equivalent selection rank of 90.00 or higher. The country PDF gives a general gaokao minimum of "Minimum 60% Gaokao result"; where a degree page is higher, follow the degree page.

Application process and timing

• Intakes: the degree pages used for this guide give the start months as February and July; exact dates are on the academic calendar.
• Two ways for international students to apply: most students apply directly through the University's International Application System. Students from the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), the Philippines and Latin America must apply through an authorised Education Agent. Mainland China is not on that list, so Chinese applicants can apply directly or through an authorised agent; the agent list is on the Find an Education Agent page.
• Application fee: a non-refundable AUD 150 per application (not charged for research degrees, 100% online programs and non-award programs).
• Documents: academic certificates and transcripts, graduation certificates for secondary and any tertiary study, proof of English proficiency and proof of identity (such as a passport); some programs ask for a personal statement, portfolio or supplementary form. Documents not in English need an official translation with certified copies.
• Closing dates: the international how-to-apply page only says to check the closing date for your degree because deadlines differ; the degree pages used here do not print a date. Not given on the pages used for this guide; check the degree page or the international how-to-apply page for the February and July 2027 closing dates.
• Assessment time: the University says that, because of high volumes, assessment may take up to two weeks, and up to about three weeks if a credit assessment is needed. The result is an unconditional or conditional Offer of Admission; conditions must be met before you can accept.
• After you accept: pay the first tuition payment, arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), update your passport details so that the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) can be issued, then apply for a student visa. An agent can lodge the visa application for you; direct applicants apply on the Department of Home Affairs website.

General requirements for international students

• Four tests: the University groups its international requirements into academic entry, English language, the Genuine Student (GS) requirement and financial capacity. The GS requirement is an Australian Government integrity measure for all student visa applicants; your offer may carry a condition about it, the University may run further checks and you may be asked to complete an interview. On finances, the University must be satisfied that you can pay tuition and living costs (and those of accompanying dependants); it will not waive tuition or pay your costs in Australia.
• Academic entry is set by country and qualification: undergraduate applicants must reach the minimum score for their country's qualification and meet any prerequisites and degree-specific requirements; where there are more eligible applicants than places, they are ranked on the entry criteria. A separate PDF, Undergraduate admission by country, lists general minimums; it prints no year, so check that it applies to 2027 entry.
• English: the University's general undergraduate minimum is IELTS Academic 6.0 overall or equivalent, but English requirements are set by degree and the degree pages below ask for more. Accepted tests are IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, and OET for some degrees; results are generally valid for two years, with a shorter period for some degrees (check the degree page). In the University's equivalence table, IELTS 6.5 corresponds to TOEFL iBT 79 and PTE 64, and IELTS 7.0 to TOEFL iBT 94 and PTE 72. If you meet the academic requirements but not the English requirement, the University can issue a conditional offer packaged with a preparatory program from its English Language Centre.
• If you do not meet direct entry: the University lists preparatory pathways through Eynesbury College, Kaplan International College Adelaide and TAFE SA; see its Pathway providers page.

English requirements by degree: the Bachelor of Science (biological majors), Biomedical and Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Science and Science (Honours) need IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band; Nursing and Medical Studies need 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each band.

Applicants from China

• The gaokao is the Chinese qualification the University lists: in the "international admissions by country" table on each degree page, the China row is the Gaokao with a percentage that differs by degree (see the score tables above). The country PDF says "Minimum 60% Gaokao result". Whether the percentage is of the total score or of single subjects, and whether it is converted from province-specific full marks, is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions office.
• Only the gaokao is listed for China: the country table has one China row. For students on international curricula the pages list minimums for IB, A-Levels, SAT, ACT and AP (see the score tables). How a Chinese high school diploma plus a foundation program is treated is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions office.
• Documents: the University only publishes the general international list (transcripts, graduation certificates, English results, passport; non-English documents need an official translation with certified copies). It does not publish a separate document list, interview or certification-body requirement for mainland China, and says to contact it about certification.
• If you fall short: consider the preparatory routes the University lists (Eynesbury College, Kaplan International College Adelaide, TAFE SA, English Language Centre). The Bachelor of Medical Studies requires the UCAT ANZ and an interview; how Chinese applicants take part is not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask the admissions office.

Australian domestic applicants

• Where to apply: the University says applications for 2027 undergraduate entry are open and, for most degrees, are made through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). SATAC is a third-party platform; check its website for key dates, fees and offer rounds.
• Preferences: a SATAC application lists up to six preferences; offers go to the highest preference for which you are eligible, and you can change preferences before the cut-off for your offer round. SATAC runs several smaller offer rounds, one main round, and further offers before the start of the study period. You do not reply to an offer, as SATAC accepts on your behalf; to defer you change your response in your SATAC account.
• Entry routes: SACE or an equivalent Year 12 qualification (including the IB Diploma), competing on Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors); for most undergraduate degrees you must not have completed more than two years' full-time university study (48 units) to use Year 12 results. For most undergraduate degrees the University also offers Guaranteed Entry with no separate application: list the degree as your highest preference and you are considered automatically, either by reaching the degree's ATAR threshold or by subject results (SACE or equivalent, an ATAR of at least 50 without adjustment factors, and your best three grades from 20-credit subjects). If you do not reach it you are still considered competitively. Other routes include the STAT test, higher-education GPA, internal transfer and a VET Certificate IV or higher.
• Domestic ATAR cut-offs, Guaranteed Entry scores and fees: the University shows these on the Australian-student view of each degree page. The pages used for this guide are the international view, so these figures are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the Australian-student view of the degree page and SATAC.

The Bachelor of Medical Studies also has a "higher education study" route: the page says it is for applicants who have completed one to two years of full-time study in a bachelor or bachelor honours degree and whose only tertiary record is from Adelaide University or its antecedent institutions (the former University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia); a record from any other Australian or overseas university makes you ineligible. First- and second-year students must have the stated unit counts and a GPA of 5.0 or more. Students who have completed more than two years of undergraduate study (or any third-year courses) are not eligible for this degree and should consider graduate medicine pathways.

Transfer students and credit

• Applying with university results: applicants who have completed at least six months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) study in a higher education award program can apply on that basis. For some honours degrees the University requires a GPA equivalent to an Adelaide University 5.0 on a 7-point scale for this route, and a few degrees (such as the Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences) ask for an undergraduate diploma (AQF level 5) or higher. See the "Higher education study" line on each degree page. For the Honours degree the University asks for a GPA equivalent to an Adelaide University 5.0 on a 7-point scale; the Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences page asks for an undergraduate diploma (AQF level 5) or higher; the Bachelor of Medical Studies has its own rules, described above.
• Credit (Recognition of Prior Learning): past study or work can count as credit and shorten the degree. Prior study must have been passed with a good grade at a recognised university or higher-education provider in Australia or overseas, or at a registered private or training provider. International students can request a credit assessment as part of the application and the outcome is included in the offer; there is also an online Credit Assessor tool linked from the degree pages; see the Credit for previous study page. Documents not in English need a translation by a NAATI-accredited translator. If credit shortens your degree, the University issues a new CoE, which affects your visa.
• Internal transfer: current students can apply to move to another Adelaide University degree using their GPA, but not every degree accepts internal transfers; confirm with the admissions team.

Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry, Genetics) and the Honours degree show AUD 55,400; Biomedical and Health Sciences and Pharmaceutical Science AUD 52,500; Nursing AUD 48,600; and the Bachelor of Medical Studies AUD 103,000 (the pages show "$"; 2027 international versions). The CRICOS codes shown on the pages are 115679H (Biomedical and Health Sciences), 115742F (Pharmaceutical Science), 115738B (Nursing), 115733G (Medical Studies), 115753C (Science (Honours)) and 115751E (Bachelor of Science). The University says fees change each year and are based on the full-time annual load; it also has a non-tuition fees page. Domestic (Commonwealth-supported) fees are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the Australian-student view of the degree page.
• International scholarships: the international scholarships page says the University offers scholarships of up to 50% of tuition. Most are assessed automatically when you apply for an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate degree, but some need a separate application or exclude certain programs. Listed are: the Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship (50%, limited places for a high distinction average, application form required); the Adelaide Emerging Leaders Award (25%, distinction average, automatic); the Adelaide Merit Scholarship (15%, credit average, automatic); the Sibling Award (10%), Global Alumni Scholarship (10%) and Partner Award (10%). Check each scholarship page for the grade basis and whether your degree is eligible.

Checklist

• Check the page of the exact degree you want for scores, prerequisites and English; Nursing and Medical Studies ask for a higher IELTS than the others.
• For the Bachelor of Medical Studies, plan for the UCAT ANZ and an interview, and ask the admissions office about international places and how Chinese applicants sit the test.
• Check the closing date for February or July 2027 on the degree page; international students apply through the International Application System or an authorised agent.
• All of the above comes from the 2027 international versions of the pages; fees and scores can change, so check Adelaide University for the latest.

Sources: Adelaide University, Bachelor of Science majoring in Biochemistry; Bachelor of Science majoring in Genetics; Bachelor of Science (Honours); Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Sciences; Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science; Bachelor of Nursing; Bachelor of Medical Studies; School of Biological Sciences study areas; School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science study areas; School of Medicine study areas; international how to apply; international entry requirements; English language proficiency; admission by country (PDF); domestic how to apply; entry pathways; credit; pathway providers; international scholarships. Degree pages are the 2027 international versions; fees are indicative annual fees. Check Adelaide University for the latest details.