How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine at the Australian National University: Bachelors of Biotechnology, Genetics, Medical Science and Health Science in the College of Science and Medicine, the Health Science Supplementary Form and the Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The Australian National University (ANU) is in Canberra, Australia’s capital. Undergraduate life sciences and medicine programs are mainly offered by the College of Science and Medicine, including the Bachelors of Biotechnology, Genetics, Medical Science and Health Science, and the Bachelor of Science. ANU’s Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) is a postgraduate degree, not an undergraduate entry program. This guide sets out the main points for 2027 entry from ANU’s website, for Australian domestic applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer students.

1. Degrees

• Bachelor of Biotechnology: three years full-time with Semester 1 (February) entry only. It teaches the foundations of biology from genes to ecology alongside ethics and intellectual property; you do not choose a major or minor, and can explore biology, chemistry and neuroscience; you can apply for an honours year towards the end of third year.
• Bachelor of Genetics: three years full-time, Semester 1 entry only, available as part of a flexible double degree. Courses cover classical, molecular and population genetics and bioinformatics, with exposure to research at the Research School of Biology and the John Curtin School of Medical Research; an honours year is an option.
• Bachelor of Medical Science: three years full-time, Semester 1 entry only, and ANU’s key facts list a “Chemistry prerequisite”; the specific subject and grade are not given on the pages used for this guide. It combines genetics, immunology, nutrition, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry and anatomy; ANU describes it as a platform for further study in medicine, pharmacology, physiotherapy, nutrition, dietetics or forensic science, with the option of a research project in third year. It is a named degree, so no major or minor is chosen, and an honours year is an option.
• Bachelor of Health Science: three years full-time, Semester 1 entry only, with two options, a pre-medicine pathway and an applications of health pathway. Courses cover biology, chemistry, research methods, population health, physiology, pharmacology and human disease. ANU says it offers a pathway to the ANU Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) without having to sit the GAMSAT.
• Bachelor of Philosophy, Neuroscience and Psychology: ANU’s page on additional selection criteria says there are approximately 50 places in each intake, and entry requires the minimum selection rank plus a compulsory supplementary form.
• Bachelor of Science: three years full-time with Semester 1 and 2 intakes, where you can follow biology and other areas; the College also lists the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (four years including honours), the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours). Pharmacy and nursing do not appear in the College’s bachelor degree list used for this guide; biomedical engineering is an engineering matter and is not covered here.

2. The Bachelor of Health Science and the MChD

• The supplementary form is compulsory: ANU says entry to the Bachelor of Health Science depends on the minimum selection rank and an assessment of suitability based on a supplementary form that every applicant must submit. For international applicants, ANU says to confirm deadlines on the supplementary form, whether you apply directly or through UAC.
• Arrangements for domestic applicants: ANU says 30% of offers to domestic students are reserved for students from rural backgrounds, and domestic direct applications close in May, are assessed on Year 11 results and receive offers in the September round only. How places and assessment work for international applicants is not given on the pages used for this guide; check with the College.
• Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD): this is a postgraduate degree. Whether and how international students can move into it from the Bachelor of Health Science, and how many places there are, are not given on the pages used for this guide; check with the College. ANU’s 2027 fee schedule lists the MChD international fee as AUD 102,340 per 48 units (domestic AUD 81,872); the Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award and the International Achievement Award do not apply to it.

3. Prerequisites

• Selection Rank and school subjects: each degree’s required rank and school biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics requirements are in the program catalogue and are not given on the pages used for this guide; only the Bachelor of Medical Science is marked with a chemistry prerequisite. Check the catalogue. ANU’s pages do not mention an admissions test (the Health Science supplementary form is the extra step).
• Clinical placements and internships: the College’s pages say students can do internships for credit and join field trips; clinical arrangements for the Bachelor of Health Science, and whether they are restricted for international students, are not given on the pages used for this guide.

• College scholarship for international students: the Dean’s International Science Excellence Scholarship is for international students from the College’s partner institutions who are enrolling for the first time in a College undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program, with a one-off AUD 5,000. ANU’s page currently says it is not being offered; check the site.

Australian domestic applicants (Year 12 graduates)

• How to apply: ANU says students completing the Australian Year 12 (or an IB finishing in November) apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), and ANU makes offers in UAC rounds. Other applicants use ANU’s direct application or UAC, as set out in the pathway finder on the ANU site. ANU also runs an Early Offer application for school leavers (based on Year 11 results). The key-dates table on the page used for this guide is labelled 2024, so check ANU and UAC for 2027 entry dates.
• Selection Rank and adjustment factors: ANU converts results into a Selection Rank. Adjustment factors can be added to the rank for a particular preference but do not change your ATAR. Your rank before adjustment must be 70 or above, you can receive up to 15 in total, and the Elite Athlete and Subject schemes share a combined cap of 5. Subject adjustments are assessed automatically after Year 12 and the Diversity Scheme automatically if you are eligible; the Education Access Scheme and similar schemes need an application and documents.
• Cut-offs and prerequisites: each degree’s required rank and prerequisites are published in ANU’s Programs and Courses catalogue. The pages used for this guide do not give each degree’s specific scores, so check the catalogue.
• Domestic tuition: Commonwealth Supported Place fees are not given on the pages used for this guide; check ANU’s domestic undergraduate fees page.

International applicants

• How to apply: international students completing the Australian Year 12 (in or outside Australia), the IB Diploma or the New Zealand NCEA apply through UAC International; other international applicants apply directly to ANU, optionally through an ANU-approved education agent.
• Assessment: ANU converts your qualification into an ANU Selection Rank out of 99.95 and compares it with your chosen degree. ANU stresses that entry is competitive and meeting the minimum does not guarantee an offer.
• Preferences and fee: direct applicants list up to three preferences and receive one offer for the highest eligible preference; ANU suggests not listing three programs with the same requirements. The direct application fee is AUD 150 per application. ANU says most applications are assessed within ten business days.
• Predicted results: if you are still completing A-levels, the IB or the HKDSE, you can apply directly with predicted results, but only for Semester 2 (July) entry and only for programs requiring 94 or below; predicted results must be on school letterhead and signed by the principal or registrar. If you have already completed the IB, ANU recommends applying through UAC, because adjustment factors are considered only there.
• Documents: proof of English, and academic records with a grading scale. ANU says documents must be scanned in colour and unaltered, and non-English documents need an English translation from an organisation ANU accepts (such as a NAATI-accredited translator).
• English: ANU lists prior secondary or tertiary study in English, IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, PTE Academic, or citizenship of a “Group A” country with education there. The English requirements page gives no specific scores; the scores required depend on your degree, so check ANU’s English language policy and the program catalogue. ANU may issue a conditional offer if your English is not yet at the required level.
• Genuine Student requirement and visa: ANU says every applicant must be assessed as a Genuine Student before a Confirmation of Enrolment is issued, and may ask for financial evidence or a personal statement at any time; an offer letter may require you to return an ANU GS assessment form before accepting or paying a deposit. A student visa and Overseas Student Health Cover are also steps in the process.
• Accommodation: ANU says it guarantees an on-campus accommodation offer to international undergraduates starting in Semester 1 of their first year.

Applicants from China

• Gaokao: ANU publishes a dedicated Gaokao conversion table for tests taken from 2017 onwards. For “other provinces” (750 total): Selection Rank 80 needs 525, 85 needs 544, 90 needs 570 and 95 needs 630. Shanghai (from 2017) needs 462, 479, 502 and 554; Hainan needs 630, 653, 684 and 756. From 2021, Jiangsu and Yunnan tests with a total of 750 use the “other provinces” schedule. This is only the minimum reference for entry to ANU; each degree sets its own rank and prerequisites.
• AP: students completing a Chinese or US high school diploma can apply with 3 to 4 AP exams; only scores of 3, 4 or 5 count (A/A+ = 5, A-/B+/B = 4, B-/C+/C- = 3). A 4-subject aggregate of 14 equals rank 80, 15 equals 85 and 17 equals 90; a 3-subject aggregate of 10 equals 80, 11 equals 85 and 13 equals 94. Results must be sent directly from the College Board.
• A-level and IB: ANU publishes separate conversion tables for A-levels and the IB, in the paged list on its indicative entry requirements page; check the ANU site.
• Pre-bachelor programs: ANU has an International Tertiary Preparatory Programs page listing accepted Chinese Pre-Bachelor programs and a score conversion; applicants using these programs cannot apply for some degrees. ANU also lists recognised Australian Foundation programs. See the pages for the lists and conversions.
• Anything further for Chinese applicants: beyond the Gaokao, AP and pre-bachelor pages, the pages used for this guide give no separate interview or accreditation requirement for applicants from China; confirm with the ANU admissions office.

Transfer and credit

• ANU’s assessment page says you can meet the minimum requirement for an undergraduate degree with one completed year of an Australian bachelor degree or another qualification ANU accepts as comparable. After you accept an offer, you apply for credit at enrolment; the College responsible for the degree decides, and ANU does not promise that every course will be credited.
• If you have completed a bachelor degree elsewhere, ANU says you can transfer in for the final Honours year; admission is at the discretion of the College responsible for your field.

Timeline (2027 entry)

• Semester 1 (February 2027): direct applications close on 15 December 2026; the offer acceptance deadline is 15 January if you are overseas and 31 January if you are in Australia.
• Semester 2 (July 2027): direct applications close on 15 May 2027; the acceptance deadline is 30 June if you are overseas and 10 July if you are in Australia.
• Degrees with additional selection criteria may have different deadlines; for UAC applications, follow the dates UAC publishes.

Fees and scholarships

• International tuition (2027): ANU’s 2027 schedule sets tuition by broad discipline in bands. Per 48 units (a full-time year) the international rates are AUD 47,940 for Band 1, AUD 57,640 for Band 4 and AUD 64,130 for Band 6. In the schedule, “Natural & Physical Sciences” and “Health” (excluding 0601) undergraduate are Band 4 (AUD 57,640), and “Medical Studies/Medical Science” (0601, 019901) undergraduate is Band 6 (AUD 64,130). The pages used for this guide do not say which field and band a given degree falls in; check the indicative fee in the program catalogue.International students also pay the Services and Amenities Fee (stated by ANU, with no amount on that page). Fees are reviewed and indexed each year and may rise during your studies.
• Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award: for international students with residential status in China (including Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR), Japan, Mongolia or Korea, with an undergraduate Selection Rank of 85 or above, 20% off first-year tuition. No separate application is needed; you are considered automatically when you apply. It is offered once per level of study and is not available alongside external sponsorship that covers tuition.
• International Achievement Award: for international students with residential status elsewhere, undergraduate Selection Rank 85 or above, with values of 20%, 25% or 50% listed by ANU, for up to 4 years, also assessed automatically.

Sources: The Australian National University, International applications; Assessment; Undergraduate indicative entry requirements; China Gao Kao; Advanced Placement; Tertiary preparatory and foundation programs; International tertiary preparatory programs; English language requirements; Documentation requirements; Domestic undergraduate; Adjustment factors; International tuition fees; Schedule of Tuition Fees 2027; Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award; International Achievement Award; Bachelor of Biotechnology; Bachelor of Genetics; Bachelor of Medical Science; Bachelor of Health Science; Bachelor of Science; Programs with additional selection criteria; Dean’s International Science Excellence Scholarship; Bachelor degrees (College of Science and Medicine). Information is for 2027 entry. Check ANU for the latest details.