How to Apply to Chemistry at the Australian National University: Chemistry as a Major, Minor and Advanced Specialisation Within the Bachelor of Science and Related Degrees, a Chemistry Honours Year and a February Bridging Course, with Admission and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The Australian National University (ANU) is in Canberra. Chemistry is taught at undergraduate level by the Research School of Chemistry (RSC) within the College of Science and Medicine. The website shows no stand-alone "Bachelor of Chemistry": chemistry is a Major, Minor and Specialisation inside science degrees. This guide sets out the main points for 2027 entry for domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and options

• Bachelor of Science: described as the "most flexible science degree"; three years full-time with Semester 1 and Semester 2 intakes. The degree page does not list majors; chemistry majors are described on the RSC pages. It can be combined with a selected coursework masters in a Vertical Double Degree, which the website says can mostly be completed in 4 years. See the Bachelor of Science page.
• Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours): four years full-time with Semester 1 and 2 intakes; the first three years are coursework with embedded Honours pathway courses and the fourth year is a research-intensive Honours year; up to a third of courses can come from other areas of the university. The RSC page also lists this degree. See the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) page.
• Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours): the RSC page lists it among the degrees through which chemistry can be studied, and describes undergraduate research with one-to-one mentoring. This guide read only its summary; check the website for admission details.
• Three forms of chemistry (RSC majors, minors and specialisations page): (1) the Chemistry Major, 48 units, of which 24 are compulsory and 24 chosen from a defined group of electives; a double Chemistry Major is also mentioned; (2) the Chemistry Minor, 24 units, 12 compulsory and 12 elective; (3) the Advanced Chemistry Specialisation, 24 units, with CHEM3060 (6 units) compulsory and 18 units from defined electives, for students taking the equivalent of a chemistry major; it expects at least one independent research project, which the website says matters for students considering Honours. The page says a chemistry major combined with a biology major is an ideal background for biological or medicinal research.
• Honours in Chemistry (course code CHEM4005): see section 6.
• Outside the scope of this guide: biology, physics and earth science majors, and health science and medicine degrees. See the degree pages on the website.

2. Admission and prerequisites

• How you enter chemistry: you apply to the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) and take chemistry as a major during the degree. The pages used for this guide do not state the last date for choosing a major; ask the college.
• Entry to first-year chemistry: the RSC bridging-course page says the minimum requirement for enrolling in first-year chemistry at ANU is completion of a major in chemistry in the ACT, or Year 12 chemistry in other states and territories. Students who have not met this can still enrol in first-year chemistry after successfully completing the bridging course. The page also says a full year of first-year chemistry is a prerequisite for all later-year chemistry courses and for most biology majors, including the Medical Science degree, and that first-year chemistry is highly recommended for most other courses in the science degree. How Chinese high-school, IB or A-Level chemistry counts as equivalent is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions office.
• Bridging course: for students with weak or little high-school chemistry. For 2027 the course runs 3 to 12 February (excluding the weekend) in Canberra: eight days of lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions, with no examination but full attendance required. Topics include atomic structure and periodicity, bonding, nomenclature, acids and bases, oxidation and reduction, the mole and stoichiometry, equation writing and simple organic compounds, plus basic laboratory skills. The cost shown is $600; 2027 enrolments open in October 2026, registration closes on 2 February 2027, and written cancellation by 29 January 2027 is needed for a refund. The page says to use the 2026 schedule as a guide for 2027.
• Minimum selection rank for each degree: ANU first computes an ANU Selection Rank out of 99.95. The minimum rank for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Advanced), and degree-level prerequisite details, are published on the university's Programs and Courses site; not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website. The website says admission is competitive and meeting the minimum does not guarantee entry.
• Additional selection criteria: the "additional selection criteria" page lists Health Science, Music, Design and Visual Arts; it does not mention the Bachelor of Science.

3. How international students apply

• How to apply (international applications page): through the ANU online application portal, with an AUD 150 application fee per application; up to three preferences, with an offer to the highest eligible one (the website suggests not listing three preferences with the same entry requirements). Conditional offers may be considered if documents are missing. International students completing the Australian Year 12, the International Baccalaureate or the New Zealand NCEA apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC); others apply directly to ANU, optionally through an education agent.
• Dates for 2027 entry: Semester 1, 2027 applications close on 15 December 2026, with an acceptance deadline of 15 January if overseas or 31 January if in Australia; Semester 2, 2027 applications close on 15 May 2027, with acceptance by 30 June if overseas or 10 July if in Australia. Degrees with additional selection criteria may have different deadlines. Most applications are assessed within ten business days; acceptance extensions can be requested.
• Predicted results (assessment page): students currently completing A-Levels, the IB or the Hong Kong Diploma can apply directly with predicted results, for Semester 2 (July) entry only and only for degrees with a minimum requirement of 94 or below; predicted results must be on official school letterhead in the same format as final results, signed by the principal or registrar, and final results must be used once available. Whether this applies to the Bachelor of Science is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions office.
• Documents (documentation requirements page): proof of English proficiency, academic records with a grading scale (a transcript showing completed secondary studies for undergraduate applicants) and any degree-specific documents; official ID may be provided at application and is required if you receive an offer. Documents must not be altered and must be in colour and not resized. Translations must come from NAATI-accredited translators, Multicultural NSW, Australian diplomatic missions or other listed bodies; the page also lists "a government or other recognised translation authority, e.g. a Notary Office in China", and says to contact the Admissions Office to confirm whether an authority is approved. Self-translations are not accepted.
• Genuine Student requirement: all applicants must be assessed as Genuine Students before a Confirmation of Enrolment is issued; ANU contacts you if more information is needed.
• English (English language requirements page): required of domestic and international students alike. You can show it through prior secondary or tertiary study in English, an accepted test (popular ones are IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced and PTE Academic), or citizenship of certain English-speaking countries with education there. The score levels are in the university's English language policy; not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website. Some degrees add further requirements.

4. Chinese applicants

• Gaokao: ANU has a dedicated China gaokao page that converts the ANU selection rank a degree requires into a gaokao score. It applies to tests taken from 2017 onwards; for Yunnan and Jiangsu tests from 2021 with a 750 total, the "Other provinces" column applies; students who sat the gaokao earlier with different totals (Shanghai 600, Zhejiang 810) are assessed under the university's previous requirements, so contact the Admissions Office. The page also says all applicants must meet degree-specific and English requirements, and that meeting the score does not guarantee entry.
• Conversion table (extract): the figures below are from the "Other provinces", "Shanghai 2017 onwards" and "Hainan" columns; the page also has Jiangsu (before 2021), Yunnan (before 2017) and Zhejiang (before 2017).

• What rank the Bachelor of Science needs: see section 2; not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website and then use the table above.
• Other Chinese qualifications: A-Level, IB and AP each have their own pages, and IB and Australian Year 12 international students apply through UAC. The "tertiary preparatory and foundation programs" section also has an international page listing approved Chinese Pre-Bachelor Programs with their own conversion table; this guide does not reproduce it, so see the page.
• College partner institutions: the College of Science and Medicine lists Chinese institutions with articulation arrangements: Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing University of Technology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Shanghai Normal University and Southwest University. Students from these may receive credit or admission pathways; see the college partnership page.

5. Australian domestic applicants

• How to apply (domestic applications page): domestic Year 12 and IB applicants apply through UAC, and ANU releases offers in several UAC rounds. The date block on that page shows 2023 and 2024 dates, which cannot be used for 2027 entry; check the UAC website.
• Adjustment factors (ANU adjustment factors page): added to your ATAR (or equivalent) to form the selection rank for a particular preference, to a maximum of 15 in total; you need a rank of at least 70 before adjustment; they do not change your school results and do not guarantee a place. Under the Subject Adjustment Scheme for study commencing in 2027, Year 12 Chemistry (NSW HSC Band 5) earns 2 factors, Physics 2, English (except ESL) and languages other than English 3 each, and Mathematics Extension 1 3; up to 3 subject factors can be received for 2027 entry, within a combined cap of 5 with the Elite Athlete scheme. The scheme is applied automatically and the page says it will be discontinued from 2028 entry. For other states' subject equivalents see the UAC website.
• Domestic minimum rank and fees: the minimum rank for the Bachelor of Science is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website. Fees are in section 7.

6. Honours year and transfers

• Honours in Chemistry (Honours in Chemistry, CHEM4005): the website says Honours combines coursework with a research project worth at least 50% of the final assessment; students complete four chemistry courses (organic, inorganic and physical, about eight lectures each), the best three of which count for 30% of the final mark; courses available vary by year. It is offered full-time (CHEM4005F) or part-time (CHEM4005P).
• Entry to Honours: a completed three-year degree (144 points); a Chemistry Major or Biochemistry Major (the page notes exceptions); an average of at least 70% over your six highest CHEM2000 and CHEM3000 level courses; and an RSC group leader who agrees to supervise. The page says a Chemistry minor alone may still qualify. Honours can start in late January or in July, places are limited, and the page gives deadlines of 15 December (January start) and 31 May (July start) without printing a year, so check whether they apply to 2027. Applications go through the College of Science and Medicine, and the page asks you to contact at least three group leaders and give three ranked choices.
• Transferring in from another university: the international page says undergraduate applicants may qualify with one year of an Australian bachelor degree or an equivalent qualification accepted by ANU; the domestic page says people who completed a bachelor degree at another university, including overseas, can transfer to ANU for the final Honours year, at the discretion of the responsible college. Credit rules and requirements for transferring into the degree are not given on the pages used for this guide; see the university's course credit page or email student@anu.edu.au.

7. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the university's 2027 schedule of tuition fees lists bands by broad discipline. "Natural and Physical Sciences" undergraduate is international band 4, which is $57,640 per 48 units (one full-time year) in the table, and domestic band C, which is $40,300 per 48 units in the domestic (DTF) table; whether the domestic rate applies to you, and the student contribution for Commonwealth supported places, are on the university's domestic fee pages. Which discipline code the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science (Advanced) is charged under, and the indicative fee per degree, are on the Programs and Courses site; not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website. The website says fees are reviewed and indexed annually, and international students also pay the Services and Amenities Fee; see the international tuition fees page.
• International scholarships: (1) the ANU International Achievement Award (undergraduate 20%, South East Asia 25%, Pacific 50%) requires a selection rank of 85 or above and is considered automatically with no separate application; residents of China (including Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR), Japan, Mongolia and Korea are excluded and instead fall under (2) the ANU Vice-Chancellor's International Achievement Award, which also requires a selection rank of 85 or above and is automatic; the scholarships overview describes it as 20% off first-year tuition. (3) The College's Dean's International Science Excellence Scholarship is for international students from the College's articulation partners, a one-off $5,000, and the page says it is currently not being offered.

Checklist

• ANU has no stand-alone chemistry bachelor; apply to the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) and take chemistry as a major.
• First-year chemistry needs Year 12 chemistry (or a chemistry major in the ACT); otherwise consider the February bridging course (3 to 12 February 2027).
• International applications for February 2027 close on 15 December 2026; Chinese applicants use the gaokao conversion table, after finding the rank the degree requires on the website.
• Each degree's minimum rank and prerequisite details are on the university's Programs and Courses site; check the website. Everything above is subject to the latest website.

Sources: ANU website: Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Science (Advanced); Research School of Chemistry degrees; chemistry bridging course; international applications; domestic applications; scholarships.