How to Apply to Biology at the University of Western Australia: Biology-Related Majors in the Bachelor of Science, Plus the Bachelor of Biological Science and Bachelor of Molecular Sciences (ATAR 80), for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is in Perth. The 2026 Handbook has no single degree called “Biology”; biology study has three entry points: the biology-related degree-specific majors in the Bachelor of Science (BP004), the Bachelor of Biological Science (BP025) and the Bachelor of Molecular Sciences (BP028). Below is what UWA’s pages say, split by reader: Australian domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China, and transfer students.

1. The degrees and majors

• Bachelor of Science (BP004): 144 points (24 six-point units), three years full time, start-of-year and mid-year intakes, CRICOS 068914G, with UWA (Perth) and Albany listed as locations. The Handbook lists 28 degree-specific majors; the biology-related ones are Anatomy and Human Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Botany, Conservation Biology, Genetics, Marine Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience, Physiology and Zoology, with neighbouring majors such as Sport Science, Exercise and Health, and Marine and Coastal Processes. You can add a second major or up to two minors.
• Bachelor of Biological Science (BP025, BBioSc): administered by Biological Sciences, Perth campus only, CRICOS 107722K. The Handbook lists three degree-specific majors: Wildlife Conservation, Biodiversity and Evolutionary Development, and Plant Biology. The course rules are titled “Bachelor of Biological Science (Specialised)”.
• Bachelor of Molecular Sciences (BP028, BMolSc): administered by Molecular Sciences, Perth campus only, CRICOS 107482K. It has two degree-specific majors, Biochemistry of Nutrition and Molecular Life Sciences. UWA says completing the Molecular Life Sciences extended major lets you progress to a Master of Biotechnology.
• Accreditation and honours: the biology major pages read do not mention professional accreditation. The Microbiology and Immunology major page says expressly that it does not provide a pathway to honours; honours conditions for the other majors are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website.
• Outside this guide: the Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Sport and Exercise Sciences, nursing, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy are health degrees; see the UWA website.

2. Prerequisites and what you study

• Bachelor of Science: the course rules say no specific subject prerequisites; the ATAR is covered below.
• Bachelor of Biological Science (BP025): ATAR of at least 80, or an assured pathway offer, or a place in a relevant access program; the subject requirement is a final scaled score of at least 50, or a WACE school grade of C or better, in Mathematics Methods or Mathematics Applications ATAR, otherwise two first-year mathematics units.
• Bachelor of Molecular Sciences (BP028): ATAR of at least 80, or an assured pathway offer, or an access-program place; the same mathematics requirement (Methods or higher, or Applications with a first-year maths unit), plus Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or an additional chemistry unit in first year. UWA’s 2026 table shows fewer than five ATAR-based offers for each of these two degrees, so no scores are published.
• Mathematics at major level: the major pages for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Neuroscience, Zoology, Botany, Conservation Biology, Marine Biology, Anatomy and Human Biology, and Physiology each say Mathematics Methods ATAR (some add “or equivalent or higher”) or Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit in first year; students without ATAR mathematics take two first-year mathematics units. The major pages read do not list ATAR Biology as a prerequisite.
• Microbiology and Immunology: students without a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Chemistry or equivalent must complete CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry within the first 48 points.
• Year 1 examples: the Zoology major requires Frontiers in Biology (BIOL1130), Plant and Animal Biology (BIOL1131), Science, Society and Data Analysis (SCIE1104) and Communicating Science (SCOM1101), plus MATH1720, MATH1721 or SCIE1500 depending on your mathematics background. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology needs CHEM1001 and Molecular Biology of the Cell (SCIE1106), one of Introductory Cellular Biochemistry (BIOC1001) or CHEM1002, and one of SCIE1104, STAT1400 or a maths/chemistry bridging unit; it then has two BIOC units in year 2 and four in year 3.
• When you choose the major: the Handbook says a Bachelor of Science must include a degree-specific major but not how late you can choose it or whether places are limited; ask the school or Admissions. Whether BP025 and BP028 majors are chosen at entry is not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Labs, research projects, placements: the major pages list unit titles (for example Field Studies in Zoology) but do not describe a placement year or capstone project; not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website.

3. Australian domestic applicants

• How to apply: current Year 12 school leavers (including early-offer applications) apply through TISC; non-school-leavers and international Year 12 students create a profile in UWA Apply.
• ATAR: the Bachelor of Science course rules say an ATAR of at least 70 or an equivalent recognised by UWA, or an assured pathway offer, or a score of at least 100 in UWA’s experience-based entry assessment, or a place in a relevant access program. The entry-standards page separately says Australian Year 12 applicants need an ATAR of 75 or above. The two numbers differ and UWA does not explain why, so ask Admissions which applies to you.
• 2026 intake figures (entry-standards page, school leavers only): for the whole Bachelor of Science, lowest ATAR 55.95, median 84.10 and highest 99.85 before adjustment factors; the Selection Rank (ATAR plus adjustments) is 70.00 lowest, 86.25 median and 99.95 highest. These figures are for the whole degree, not for one major.
• Adjustments and equity pathways: UWA lists Broadway (automatic adjustment for WACE students at Broadway schools with an ATAR of 70 or above), First in Family (parents or guardians without a university degree, ATAR 70 or above) and UWay / the Educational Access Scheme. Check the website for the size of any adjustment.
• Early offers: applicants sitting WACE or the IB in Western Australia can apply for an early offer based on a predicted ATAR or IB score (TISC sets the predicted ATAR from Year 11 results); they must still complete WACE with four ATAR subjects and meet the English requirement.
• Dates: in the table on the international-applicants page, the “Domestic and onshore” row gives 19 February 2027 for Semester 1 and 16 July 2027 for Semester 2. UWA says dates can change and some courses have different deadlines.
• English: in Western Australia, a final school grade of C or a scaled mark of 50 in ATAR English, Literature or English as an Additional Language/Dialect.
• Fees: the course page lists the domestic fee type as Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP. Amounts are in UWA’s fee calculator and are not shown on the pages used for this guide.

4. International applicants

• How to apply: apply directly through UWA Apply or through a UWA agent. Prepare your academic results, English results, a passport copy and anything else the course requires. Direct and agent applications pay a non-refundable application fee of $150 (the page gives no currency, so check it), and the application is not processed until it is paid.
• Deadlines: the “All other countries” row on the international-applicants page gives 11 January 2027 for Semester 1 and 7 June 2027 for Semester 2. A separate list of 78 countries has earlier dates, 28 December 2026 and 24 May 2027; China is not on that list. UWA says dates can change and some courses differ, so check each course.
• English: the minimum standard is IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 82 (20 in Speaking and Writing, 17 in Listening and Reading), PTE Academic 64 with no band below 60, or Duolingo 125 (115 Speaking, 125 Writing, 115 Reading, 110 Listening). Some courses use a higher standard (IELTS 7.0 with 6.5, TOEFL 92, PTE 70). UWA also accepts, for example, A-level English at grade E, AP English Language or Literature at 3, US high school English at B, or ACT English 25 or SAT English 600. The pages used here do not say which level applies to the Bachelor of Science; ask Admissions.
• Pathways: the UWA Foundation Program run by UWA College; the WA Universities Foundation Program owned by the four public universities in Western Australia (a guaranteed place at UWA with the required score); the NCUK International Foundation Year; foundation programs from other Group of Eight universities; and the recognised International Foundation Courses UWA lists, which include two Beijing Foreign Studies University programs, the East China University of Political Science and Law program, INTO, Study Group and Kings. Applicants who need more English can study at UWA CELT.
• Fees: all international places are full-fee. Use UWA’s fee calculator for the annual charge by course and enrolment; fees are reviewed each year and the pages used here show no amounts. The compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) applies, and Overseas Student Health Cover is required for the whole student visa (UWA’s preferred provider is Medibank; you may choose another).
• Global Excellence Scholarship: for 2027 entry, open to students from all countries, with no separate application; Admissions assesses it automatically from final results. For undergraduates, an ATAR equivalent of 85 earns 10% off tuition and 90 earns 20%, for the normal full-time length of the course. UWA’s own conversions: about 72.5% in the Gaokao, IB 30, A-level BCC or an AP aggregate of 11 is roughly ATAR 85; about 76%, IB 32, A-level BBB or an AP aggregate of 13 is roughly ATAR 90. It cannot be held with another UWA tuition reduction or academic scholarship, has continuation criteria, and excludes the Assured Pathways to Medicine and Dental Medicine. UWA says it is in place for 2027–2029 intakes, so a 2027 award holder can defer to 2028.

5. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: UWA accepts it. Its conversion table (out of the province’s maximum, normally 750, Shanghai 660): about 65% (488–491 of 750) is roughly ATAR 70; 70% is 80; 72.5% is 85; 76% is 90; 82% is 94; 84% is 95; 86% is 96; 90% is 98.
• Subject equivalents: in UWA’s Gaokao subject table, Chemistry, Physics and Biology at 65% or higher correspond to WA Chemistry, Physics and Biology; Mathematics at 65% or higher corresponds to Mathematics Specialist and 50%–65% to Mathematics Applications; the Mathematics Methods row says “No equivalent”, and so does the English row. Most biology majors ask for “Methods or Applications ATAR”: on the table’s literal reading, Gaokao Mathematics at 50%–65% corresponds to Applications, 65% or higher to Specialist, and Methods has no equivalent. The Bachelor of Molecular Sciences and several major pages say “Methods or higher”, and UWA does not say whether a Gaokao student can meet that; ask Admissions. In the same table, Gaokao Biology and Chemistry at 65% or higher correspond to Biology and Chemistry.
• Senior secondary graduation certificate: UWA lists China’s 高中毕业证书 as a recognised school qualification for the SAT/ACT route and for AP; AP applicants need at least two College Board examined and certified AP subjects as well as a recognised school qualification.
• English: the Gaokao English row says “No equivalent”, and UWA does not say whether Gaokao English can meet the English requirement. Ask Admissions; the test scores above are the other route.
• Other China-related items: UWA’s recognised International Foundation Courses include programs at Beijing Foreign Studies University and the East China University of Political Science and Law (see above). Any interview or accreditation-body requirement specific to Chinese applicants is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website or ask Admissions.
• Other qualifications Chinese students often take: A-level (CDD = ATAR 70, CCC = 80, BCC = 85, BBB = 90, ABB = 92, AAB = 96, AAA = 98), IB (24 = 70, 27 = 80, 30 = 85, 32 = 90, 35 = 94, 36 = 95, 40 = 98; the full Diploma is required, minimum 24), AP (aggregate 6 = 70, 9 = 80, 11 = 85, 13 = 90, 15 = 94/95, 17 = 98; only grades of 3 or above count, minimum two subjects) and SAT/ACT (ATAR 70 is about SAT 1100 / ACT 20, 85 about 1220 / 25, 90 about 1270 / 27).

6. Transfer and credit

• Prior university study: at least one full-time semester (or equivalent) of AQF Level 7 or higher study at an Australian university with a GPA of at least 4.0 on a 7-point scale, plus the English requirement; one full-time year within the last two years at GPA 4.0 or above removes the need for separate English evidence. Higher education outside Australia must be equivalent to one semester of an AQF Level 7 qualification with a GPA comparable to 4.0, with separate English evidence; UWA judges equivalence with the Australian Government’s Country Education Profiles.
• Vocational education (VET): an AQF Level 5 qualification or above; study outside Australia must be equivalent to Level 5, with separate English evidence.
• Credit: you can ask for credit or advanced standing when you apply or after enrolling; UWA has pre-approved credit arrangements with some polytechnics and other institutions in architecture, business, engineering, computer science and life and physical sciences. See the website for details.
• Moving into the Bachelor of Science from another UWA course: the course rules say an enrolled UWA undergraduate may transfer if they have not started their final semester, apply within one of the two transfer windows each year, face no quota on the major or unit they want, have completed at least 24 points with a WAM of at least 50, and have met the subject prerequisites for the intended major.

Application checklist

Applicants from China:

• Bachelor of Science: ATAR 70 (about 65% in the Gaokao); Bachelor of Biological Science and Bachelor of Molecular Sciences: ATAR 80 (about 70% in the Gaokao); UWA also says Australian Year 12 applicants need 75, so confirm
• Mathematics requirement as above (the Gaokao has no Methods equivalent, so ask Admissions); Molecular Sciences also asks for chemistry, and Microbiology and Immunology looks at chemistry
• English evidence (for example IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each band); the $150 application fee; deadlines of 11 January 2027 (Semester 1) and 7 June 2027 (Semester 2), to be checked against your country and course; the Global Excellence Scholarship (ATAR equivalent 85 earns 10%, 90 earns 20%)

Domestic applicants: apply through TISC with WACE/ATAR and English; each major looks at mathematics (and Microbiology and Immunology and Molecular Sciences also at chemistry).

Transfer students: one full-time semester at AQF Level 7 with a GPA of 4.0 (7-point scale), or an AQF Level 5 or higher qualification; ask for a credit assessment when you apply.

Sources: The University of Western Australia, Bachelor of Science course rules (Handbook); Bachelor of Biological Science course rules (Handbook); Bachelor of Molecular Sciences course rules (Handbook); Undergraduate applicants; International applicants; Entry standards; International and overseas qualifications; International baccalaureate; English language requirements; International student pathways; International student fees; Global Excellence Scholarship; Undergraduate degree course structure. The information reflects the pages as read (degree and unit details come from the 2026 Handbook; dates are for 2027 entry). Check the UWA website for the latest.