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CDU student Robyn Bennet
Undergraduate

Undergraduate Certificate Introduction to Biomedical Science

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This course is only available to Domestic students and your preference is currently set to International.

This course is only available to International students and your preference is currently set to Domestic.

Key details

Duration

Not available full-time
1 year/s part-time

Intake

Semester 1, Semester 2
Important Dates

Locations

Casuarina campus, Online
Not available to international students.

Credit points required

40

Course code

NBIOS1
SATAC codes
MyNextCourse

Overview

The Undergraduate Certificate Introduction to Biomedical Science is a one-year, part-time course that offers you the opportunity to upskill, reskill and retrain in biomedical science work. This course will equip you with core scientific knowledge and is a direct pathway into higher education courses in biomedical science, should you wish to continue studying. The course is designed to support your learning needs and develop your study skills.

On completing the Undergraduate Certificate Introduction to Biomedical Science, you'll be eligible to use the credits you've gained towards further study of a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science or a Bachelor of Biomedical Science.

You may also use the Undergraduate Certificate as a pathway for entry into a variety of other higher education courses. Credit may be granted for some or all of the subjects you successfully complete. If further study is your intention, be sure to check the requirements of your preferred undergraduate degree to determine how many credits you can transfer.

Career opportunities

The course provides you with the opportunity to upskill, retrain and reskill in medical laboratory work whilst providing pathways to pursue further study.

Fees

Commonwealth supported places

Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:

(a) be an Australian citizen, who will complete some of your course of study while resident in Australia; or

(b) a New Zealand citizen; or an Australian permanent visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; who studies the entire course while living in Australia.

Further information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.

Engineering student Johanna Luck

Why study a health course at CDU?

As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community. 

  • Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
  • Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
  • Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous health, tropical medicine and other issues of regional and national importance
Stephen Kho - Public Health Research

Why study a health course at CDU?

As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.

  • Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
  • Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous and Asia-Pacific health, tropical medicine and other issues of international importance
Engineering student Johanna Luck

Why study a health course at CDU?

As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community. 

  • Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
  • Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
  • Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous health, tropical medicine and other issues of regional and national importance
Stephen Kho - Public Health Research

Why study a health course at CDU?

As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.

  • Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
  • Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous and Asia-Pacific health, tropical medicine and other issues of international importance

What will I study?

This 40-credit point course consists of four (4) core units. This course consists of a combination of introductory and first-year degree subjects, designed to help you develop core knowledge and the necessary skills for successful university studies.

Course structure


A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 40 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.

Unit typeCredit PointsSpecific requirements
Core 
(3 units)
30cp

Compulsory Core units totalling 30 credit points as detailed below.

SBI161* Anatomy and Physiology 1 (replaces SBI171 and SBI172 from 2025 - see additional information below)
SBI162* Anatomy and Physiology 2 (replaces SBI171 and SBI172 from 2025 - see additional information below)
SBI150 Cellular Biology

The following units are no longer offered
SBI190 Microbiology for Healthcare Professionals OR SBI182 Microbiology

General Elective
(1 unit)
10cp

General elective totalling 10 credit points.

Students may choose an undergraduate unit from any available at the university, including units from the Bachelor of Biomedical Science.

For those commencing their tertiary studies a suggested general elective unit is:

LAL100 Language, Literacy, and Sustainability

40cpTotal Credit Points

Course changes - 2025

SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 and SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 have been replaced by SBI161 and SBI162 from Semester 1 2025.

  • Students who have completed BOTH SBI171 and SBI172 prior to 2025 do not need to complete SBI161 or SBI162.
  • Students who have NOT completed either SBI171 or SBI172 prior to 2025 should complete the two new units SBI161 and SBI162.
  • Students who have completed SBI171 only (and not SBI172) should complete SBI172 in 2025. Students should NOT complete the new unit SBI162.
  • Students who have completed SBI172 only (and not SBI171) should complete SBI171 in 2025. Students should NOT complete the new unit SBI161.

SBI171 and SBI172 will be offered for a final time in 2025 but will only be available to students who have completed either SBI171 or SBI172 prior to 2025.

SBI190 and SBI182 are no longer offered as part of this. Students who have completed either SBI190 OR SBI182 can use this unit as the General Elective.

Course Changes - 2024
SBI182 Microbiology added as an alternative core unit for SBI190.

Course Changes - 2022
MLS101 Heamatology 1 has been replaced by SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2.
SBI182 Microbiology and Immunology has been replaced by SBI190 Microbiology for Healthcare Professionals

Study plan


Students Commencing in Semester 1

The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a part time load.

Legend:CO = Core UnitGE = General Elective

Part-time Study Plan

Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
SBI161 Anatomy and Physiology 1 (replaces by SBI171 from 2025)COSBI162 Anatomy and Physiology 2 (replaces by SBI172 from 2025)CO
SBI150 Cellular BiologyCOGeneral ElectiveGE

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

Admission requirements are met by one of the following:

  • Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent).
  • Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
  • Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.
  • Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
  • Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 125 or higher.
  • Successful completion of a recognised tertiary preparation course.
  • Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience.

Essential requirements

English language requirements

DOMESTIC STUDENTS

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the standard English language proficiency requirements for Higher Education courses at Charles Darwin University (CDU) and provide evidence as part of their application.

You can meet the minimum English language requirement by providing evidence of one of following:

Previous study in English
  • Successful completion of Australian secondary schooling year 12.
  • Successful completion of secondary schooling from a recognised English-speaking country*.
  • Successful completion of a program equivalent to a Charles Darwin University enabling program, of at least six months duration full-time equivalent (0.5 FTE or 40 credit points (CP)).
  • Successful completion of a TAFE qualification at a recognised institution from a recognised English-speaking country* at a Certificate III level or higher.
  • Successful completion of six months full-time equivalent (0.5 FTE or 40 credit points (CP)) higher education study (HE Diploma level or higher) at a recognised institution from a recognised English-speaking country*.
AHPRA RegistrationCurrent registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
English Test^Completion of an approved English Test within two years of commencement, with the minimum scores shown below.
Primary language pathwayCompletion of six years of primary and/or secondary schooling in a recognised English-speaking country*, including at least two years between years 7-12.

Additional information about accepted tests and the evidence requirements is available on the English language proficiency requirements page.

^English tests - approved tests and minimum scores

Undergraduate and postgraduate pathway program requirementPostgraduate requirement (HDR and coursework)
CDU ELICOS - English for Academic PurposesSuccessful completion of EAP003Successful completion of EAP004
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic testOverall minimum: 6.0
No band below: 6.0
Overall minimum: 6.5
No band below 6.0
Pearson Test of English (PTE) AcademicOverall minimum: 50
No score below: 50
Overall minimum: 58
No score below: 50
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)Overall minimum: 60
Minimum writing score: 21
Overall minimum: 79
Minimum writing score: 21
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)Overall minimum: 169
No skill below: 169
Overall minimum: 176
No skill below: 169

Information about test validity, accepted combined test results, IELTS One Skill Retake and evidence requirements is available on the English language proficiency requirements page.

*Recognised English-speaking countries:

Standard ListAntigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America.
Extended ListBermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

All previous studies must have been delivered in English (medium of instruction was English). Applicants who have studied at an institution from a coutnry on the extended list must provide confirmation that their study was completed within the last five years.

For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.

I've had the unique opportunity to explore tropical and rural health, which I may not have had the exposure to had I studied elsewhere.

Katie

CDU student

Nursing student on campus with laptop

My advice for anyone who is considering studying a health or science degree at CDU is if you are thinking about it, just do it.

Nishat

CDU student

Nishat studying

I've had the unique opportunity to explore tropical and rural health, which I may not have had the exposure to had I studied elsewhere.

Katie

CDU student

Nursing student on campus with laptop

My advice for anyone who is considering studying a health or science degree at CDU is if you are thinking about it, just do it.

Nishat

CDU student

Nishat studying

Course details

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.

Additional information

Can offers be deferred?
Yes
Award
Undergraduate Certificate (Biomedical Science)
Faculty/College
Faculty of Health
Sector
HE
Area of study
Health, Science, Environmental Science and Management

Contact details

For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:

Email:Student.Central@cdu.edu.auPhone:1800 061 963 (free call)

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

You make CDU

Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

You make CDU

Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.

How to apply

There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.

Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.

SATAC

SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.

MyNextCourse

Direct applications are available to students who have completed a CDU or BIITE course at a Certificate III level or higher. Most CDU and BIITE enabling programs are also accepted through this process.

If you do not meet any of the criteria above please visit Pathways to study to view the options available to you.

SATAC codes

Location
SATAC Code
Casuarina campus (CSP)
108011
Online (CSP)
108011
* CSP = Commonwealth supported place
FF = Full fee

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