How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine at the University of Queensland: Science, Biotechnology, Pharmacy (Honours) and the Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine Pathway, with Entry Routes for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The University of Queensland (UQ) teaches life sciences and medicine across the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. This guide covers the programs for which UQ has clear pages for 2027 entry: the Bachelor of Science (biology majors), the Bachelor of Biotechnology, the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) and the six-year Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine. It is written for domestic students, international students (including applicants from China) and transfer students.

1. The programs

• Bachelor of Science: three years, program code 2461, QTAC code 731001, CRICOS code 001961J, St Lucia, with Semester 1 and Semester 2 2027 start dates. UQ says first-year students can mix science and non-science courses and lists 16 extended majors, 26 majors and 35 minors. Life-science majors it lists include Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedical Science, Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Microbiology, Infection and Immunity (extended), Marine Biology, Zoology, Plant Science, Ecology and Conservation Biology and Bioinformatics; minors include Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Immunology, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Developmental Biology and Entomology. The Biomedical Science major is described as covering anatomy, developmental biology, human genetics, immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, pharmacology and physiology, with research placements alongside researchers and healthcare professionals. Field locations named include Heron Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef, Moreton Bay Research Station, Hidden Vale Wildlife Research Station and K’gari. An elective placement course of up to 160 hours of Work Integrated Learning is available.
• Bachelor of Biotechnology: three years, program code 2456, QTAC code 731101, CRICOS code 102786A, St Lucia. UQ lists five biotechnology specialist areas (extended majors): Agricultural, Chemical and Nano, Medical, Molecular and Microbial, and Synthetic and Industrial, with optional minors in Bioinformatics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Science Communication. The page describes an industry placement or internship option and a Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) as a route to postgraduate study.
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours): program code 2373, QTAC code 725002, CRICOS code 082626J, AQF Level 8, at the Dutton Park campus; 4 years for a Semester 1 start and 3.5 years for Semester 2. UQ says it includes over 500 hours of supervised clinical practice (hospital and community pharmacies, including two 6-week placements), is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council and is approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia as a qualification leading to registration as a pharmacist; after graduating you must still meet the Board’s registration standards, which include a pre-registration year (see UQ for details).
• Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours): four years, program code 2516, CRICOS code 079390F, AQF Level 8, with a full-year research project; UQ says you can choose from 25 majors and more than 30 minors.
• Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine: six years, program code 2578, QTAC code 721502, CRICOS codes 121168C (Bachelor of Medical Science) and 080921G (Doctor of Medicine), AQF Level 9, at clinical units, teaching hospitals and St Lucia, with Semester 1 (February 2027) entry only. The first two years are 32 units of tailored pre-medicine study (eight core courses in year 1; five core courses and three electives in year 2, covering science and biomedical science, public health, humanities and computer science/IT), followed directly by the four-year Doctor of Medicine; UQ says clinical practice starts in the second year of the MD and students take on clinical responsibilities in the third and fourth years.
• The Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences faculty page also lists nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition and exercise science degrees. Information on a stand-alone Bachelor of Biomedical Science is not given on the pages used for this guide, so check UQ’s website (the Bachelor of Science has a Biomedical Science major, and a Biomedical Science / Science dual degree is listed). Biomedical engineering is outside this guide.

2. Prerequisites and reference entry scores

• Bachelor of Science: Queensland Year 12 General English (Units 3 and 4, C), Mathematical Methods (C), and one of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science or Physics (C); Earth and Environmental Science will no longer be accepted from Semester 1, 2028.
• Bachelor of Biotechnology: English, Mathematical Methods and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (C).
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours): English (C); General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (C); and Chemistry (C). Biology is recommended.
• Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours): English, Mathematical Methods and two of Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Specialist Mathematics or Physics, at least one of which must be Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
• Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine (the direct entry pathway UQ describes for students in Year 12): an adjusted ATAR of 95 (or equivalent), Year 12 English and Mathematical Methods (C), a competitive UCAT ANZ aggregate score from the year you apply, and a multiple mini-interview (MMI). Chemistry and/or biology are recommended but not required. How international applicants sit the UCAT or interview, and whether places are separate from domestic places, are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask UQ admissions.
• Lowest adjusted scores offered for Semester 1, 2026 (updated each April; meeting them does not guarantee admission): Science ATAR 80, IB 30.25; Biotechnology ATAR 81, IB 30.75; Pharmacy (Honours) ATAR 80, IB 30.25; Advanced Science (Honours) ATAR 92, IB 36.5. The Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine page gives the adjusted ATAR 95 requirement above and says entry scores are reviewed each year.
• Semester 1, 2026 intakes: Science 515 students, 165 international (32.0%); Biotechnology 62, 31 international (50.0%); Pharmacy (Honours) 278, 45 international (16.2%); Advanced Science (Honours) 158, 6 international (3.8%). The international intake for Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine is not given on the pages used for this guide.

UQ states prerequisites as Queensland Year 12 subjects (Units 3 and 4, grade C or higher); students from overseas schools can meet them with equivalent subjects, which UQ lists in a prerequisite equivalents table. Programs such as pharmacy and medicine also have inherent requirements (core abilities needed to graduate); read UQ’s inherent requirements pages before applying.

Australian domestic applicants

• How to apply: all undergraduate applications go through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). You can list up to 6 preferences and receive one offer per round, for your highest eligible preference.
• How places are allocated: after you meet the subject prerequisites, places are allocated in order of entry score (ATAR or selection rank) until the program is full; the score of the last person offered a place becomes the entry score threshold, including adjustments from admission schemes. The schemes UQ lists are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Educational Access, Rural Access, School Opportunity, Subject Incentive and Undergraduate Law admission schemes, plus the Guaranteed ATAR; check UQ’s pages for eligibility and adjustments.
• Semester 1, 2027 dates: QTAC applications open 4 August 2026 and close for the major offer round on 7 December 2026; UQ releases offers between 1 October 2026 and 16 February 2027; the QTAC major offer round is 14 January 2027. Some programs have earlier fixed closing dates (see QTAC).
• Fees: domestic commencing undergraduate places are Commonwealth supported, so you pay a student contribution amount, which eligible students can defer with a HECS-HELP loan. The indicative annual fee for each program is given in the program sections below; UQ notes that 2027 fees are not yet available for some programs and the page then shows 2026 figures. A Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) also applies, at most AUD 373 a year for 2026.

International applicants

• How to apply: if your senior schooling is outside Australia, apply directly to UQ through UQ applications, or through an approved UQ agent. UQ says it can consider applications up to two years in advance and that some programs have limited places, so leave time for processing and your student visa. International students currently completing Australian Year 12 (in Australia or another country) or the IB in Australia apply through QTAC instead.
• Closing dates (direct applications to UQ): 30 November 2026 for Semester 1 2027 entry and 31 May 2027 for Semester 2 (UQ words these as “30 November of the previous year” and “31 May of the year of commencement”; a few programs such as the medical pathway differ, see below).
• Student visa: international students accepted into full-time study can apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500), which has conditions including the Genuine Student requirement. UQ notes that processing times vary and advises accepting your offer as early as possible.
• International tuition: see the program sections; amounts are indicative annual fees for 2027 (16 units), and UQ says fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
• Scholarships: each program page says you may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships. Names, amounts and closing dates for international scholarships are on UQ’s scholarships website; the pages used for this guide do not list them one by one, so check there.

The Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine has a different direct-application closing date: UQ gives “30 September of the previous year” for Semester 1, which is 30 September 2026 and has already passed. Whether applications for 2027 entry are still open, or the timetable for 2028 entry, is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask UQ admissions.

Applicants from China

• Prerequisites: the Gaokao is mapped. UQ’s overseas-school prerequisite equivalents page lists GaoKao (China) with a minimum pass of 60%: Gaokao Mathematics corresponds to Queensland Mathematical Methods, and Gaokao Chemistry, Physics and Biology (or Combined Science) correspond to the subjects of the same name. The Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biotechnology need Mathematical Methods plus a science subject and Pharmacy needs Chemistry: Gaokao Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology (or Combined Science) at 60% map to Mathematical Methods, Chemistry, Physics and Biology respectively. The UCAT ANZ and interview required for the medical pathway cannot be replaced by Gaokao results; how international applicants sit them is not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Entry scores are converted by country. UQ says that students finishing school overseas must reach the equivalent of the program’s entry score; the program page shows the score once you select your country and qualification. The pages used for this guide do not contain the China conversion table (Gaokao percentage, A-level aggregate and so on), so check it on the program page by selecting China, or ask UQ admissions.
• IB, A-level or AP students: IB scores have thresholds on UQ’s pages (see each program section). For A-levels, prerequisite equivalents are: Mathematics (A or AS Level) for Mathematical Methods, Mathematics (A Level) for Specialist Mathematics, and Physics, Chemistry or Biology (A or AS Level) for the same-named subjects (grade D for A Level, C for AS Level). US high school diplomas (AP minimum grade 3, SAT/ACT) are also mapped; see UQ’s equivalents page.
• How to apply: if your senior schooling is outside Australia, apply directly to UQ or through an approved UQ agent. UQ says applicants from certain countries must apply through an agent and the online system will tell you. Which countries are covered is not given on the pages used for this guide; check in the application system or ask UQ.
• Documents: certified copies of complete transcripts and certificates for all non-UQ study, a passport or national ID copy and evidence of English, uploaded as PDFs. UQ’s exact requirements for Chinese high school transcripts and provincial exam records are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask UQ admissions.
• If your score or prerequisites fall short, see the pathway section on UQ College programs.

English language requirements

• Standard requirement for most undergraduate programs: IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each sub-band; TOEFL iBT 87 (listening 19, reading 19, writing 21, speaking 19); PTE Academic 64 with at least 60 in all sub-bands; Bridging English (BE) overall grade 4 with at least C in all macro skills; CES overall 176 and at least 169 in all sub-bands. OET is not accepted.
• Other ways to meet the requirement include completing senior secondary school in a designated country listed in UQ’s PDF, a recognised bachelor’s or master’s degree, one year of full-time post-secondary study in a designated country, two years of study at a recognised institution, or at least three years of work experience in an English-speaking professional environment. See UQ’s English language requirements page for the lists and conditions.
• Test results must be no more than two years old at commencement. UQ does not recognise IELTS Online, PTE Academic Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL ITP.
• If you are slightly short, you may be eligible for a package offer: an English course at UQ College (Bridging English, 10 to 30 weeks, or Integrated English, 5 to 45 weeks) plus a conditional offer to the UQ program. Tick the package offer on your UQ application rather than applying to UQ College directly.

The program pages for the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Biotechnology and Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) give the standard requirement above (IELTS 6.5, 6.0 in each band). The Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine requirement is higher: IELTS 7 overall and 7 in each band; TOEFL iBT 100 (listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23); PTE Academic 72 with at least 72 in all sub-bands; CES 185 with at least 185 in all sub-bands; OET at least B in each skill; Bridging English is not accepted.

Transfer students and credit

• Applying with university results: UQ says that if you have completed two years of full-time (or equivalent) bachelor-level or higher study, your selection rank is based on that study only. After one full-time year you can receive a higher selection rank from your GPA; with under two years, UQ uses the higher of your previous study (for example an ATAR) or your GPA; with more than two years, it uses your GPA only. UQ also says that if you fail to progress in a program, you cannot reapply to that program using your ATAR or rank.
• Credit and exemptions: UQ has specified credit, unspecified credit and exemptions, and a credit precedent database of courses it has assessed from other universities. You can apply for credit only after you accept a UQ offer. The TAFE credit tables on UQ’s page cover nursing, midwifery and social work programs.
• IB credit: IB subjects can earn up to one semester (8 units) of credit or exemptions, depending on the subject, grade and program structure. Examples from UQ’s table: Mathematics Analysis & Approaches HL at 4 gives exemption from MATH1040 and MATH1050; Physics SL or HL at 6 gives exemption from PHYS1001; Chemistry HL at 6 gives specified credit for CHEM1100; Biology HL at 6 gives specified credit for BIOL1020; Economics HL at 6 gives exemption from ECON1011 (or ECON1010 and ECON1020). Whether they apply to your program is decided after you are admitted.
• GPA thresholds and places for transfers into individual programs are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask UQ admissions.

For life sciences, UQ’s IB credit table gives specified credit for BIOL1020 for Biology HL at 6 and for CHEM1100 for Chemistry HL at 6 (Chemistry HL at 5 gives exemption from CHEM1004).

Pathways if your score or prerequisites fall short

• Bridging courses: UQ College runs intensive 4-week face-to-face courses each November and December in Mathematical Methods, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and self-paced online courses in Pure Mathematics (Mathematical Methods) and General Mathematics that start year-round. Bridging courses cannot be used to gain a selection rank.
• Tertiary Preparation Program: a 30-week UQ College program at St Lucia that meets prerequisites and gives a selection rank, up to 93 according to UQ.
• Tertiary studies pathway: study another program at UQ or elsewhere and use your GPA to gain a higher selection rank or meet prerequisites.

Fees

• International tuition for 2027 (per year, 16 units): about AUD 56,800 for the Bachelor of Science, and about AUD 60,952 for the Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) and Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours). For Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine, about AUD 60,952 a year for the Bachelor of Medical Science years (1 and 2), and UQ expects Doctor of Medicine tuition (years 3 to 6) to be approximately AUD 110,000 per year. Fees are indicative, reviewed each year and may increase.
• Additional costs: the Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine page lists a CPR course (about AUD 65 a year), a police check (AUD 45), vaccination and serology costs, and travel and living costs for placements; the pharmacy page also says travel and living costs for placements are the student’s responsibility; some Science majors include field-trip courses that may cost extra.
• Indicative annual fee for domestic students (UQ says 2027 fees are not yet available for some programs; figures marked 2026 are 2026 data): Science AUD 9,690 (2026); Biotechnology AUD 9,930 (2026); Pharmacy (Honours) AUD 9,540 (2026); Advanced Science (Honours) AUD 9,690 (2026); the pre-medicine part of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine AUD 11,920 (2027).

Checklist

Australian domestic applicants: English, Mathematical Methods and one science subject (C) for Science and Biotechnology, Chemistry (C) for Pharmacy; apply through QTAC by 7 December 2026; the medical pathway needs an adjusted ATAR of 95, the UCAT ANZ and an interview.

International applicants: apply directly to UQ by 30 November 2026 for February 2027 (the medical pathway has a different closing date, see above); IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band), or IELTS 7 (7 in each band) for the medical pathway; certified transcripts, passport and English evidence; tuition AUD 56,800 or 60,952 a year.

Applicants from China: Gaokao Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology at 60% map to the prerequisites; check the entry score by selecting China on the program page.

Transfer students: two years of university study means you are assessed on that study; apply for credit after accepting an offer.

Sources: The University of Queensland, Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours); Bachelor of Biotechnology; Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours); Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine; Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences study page; Entry requirements; Prerequisite equivalents; Submit your application; Credit eligibility; Pathway options; Fees; English language requirements. Information is for 2027 entry; entry scores are from the Semester 1 2026 intake. Check UQ for the latest figures.