Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)/Bachelor of Biomedical Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

RMIT University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) / Bachelor of Biomedical Science at RMIT University is a four-year double degree designed to connect molecular biology, biotechnology innovation, and human health in a practical, industry-focused way. It suits students who want to understand how living systems work at a molecular level and apply that knowledge to areas like disease treatment, diagnostics, drug development, and biotechnology research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build a strong foundation in core life sciences through subjects such as Human Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, and Immunology. Alongside Chemistry and introductory Statistics, students develop essential laboratory techniques and analytical skills that support all future biomedical and biotechnology learning.

Year 2

The second year focuses on deeper scientific understanding through core units like Biochemistry, Physiology, and Molecular Biology. Students begin to connect how cellular and system-level processes work together, while also strengthening practical laboratory skills used in biomedical research and biotechnology applications.

Year 3

In the third year, students move into more advanced study, exploring disease processes and applied biomedical science through subjects such as advanced Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Human Physiology. This stage also introduces more specialised laboratory work, helping students apply theory to real-world biomedical and health challenges.

Year 4

In the final year, students focus on advanced biotechnology and biomedical science applications, selecting electives or specialisations such as Medical Biotechnology or Clinical Health and Disease. Learning becomes highly applied, often involving advanced laboratory projects, research-style investigations, and problem-solving related to diagnostics, therapeutics, and biotechnology innovation.

Focus Areas (in a string):

Molecular biology, biotechnology applications, human physiology, disease mechanisms, biomedical research, immunology, microbiology, clinical science, genetic engineering, diagnostics, drug development

Learning Outcomes (in a string):

Understand biological systems from molecular to organism level, apply biotechnology and laboratory techniques, analyse disease mechanisms, interpret biomedical data, conduct scientific investigations, and develop practical solutions for health and biotechnology challenges

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program is grounded in strong scientific training with extensive laboratory experience and industry-aligned learning at RMIT University. This ensures graduates develop practical, workplace-ready skills relevant to biotechnology, biomedical research, healthcare science, and life sciences industries in Australia.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

RMIT University is internationally recognised for its applied learning model and strong industry connections, particularly in science, biotechnology, and health disciplines, supporting strong graduate employability outcomes and career readiness in global life science sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you join the Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) / Bachelor of Biomedical Science at RMIT University, you’ll be stepping into a program designed to build real, career-ready skills — not just theory. From your first year you'll dive into hands-on lab and biological science fundamentals, then gradually progress toward advanced molecular techniques. You’ll learn not only how biological systems work, but also how to apply that understanding in practical research, diagnostics, or biotech contexts. By graduation you’ll have actual lab experience — and a toolkit to contribute meaningfully to health, biotech or research fields.

Here’s how the program delivers real experiential learning opportunities:

In early years, you study foundational subjects like human biology, cell biology, genetics, microbiology and immunology — all through structured lab work that grounds your theoretical knowledge in practical experiments.
As you move into year 2 and beyond, you’ll learn biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology and developmental cell biology — building the kind of lab skills used in real biotech and biomedical research.
In third year, the program covers subjects like medical microbiology, cellular communication, immunology, bioinformatics, epidemiology and more — giving you exposure to techniques and concepts that directly map to real-world health science and biomedical research.
In final year, you master advanced laboratory techniques: gene transfer, microarrays, real-time DNA analysis — and learn how these are applied to real problems like pathogen detection, vaccine development, disease-resistant crops / livestock, fermentation and other biotech applications.
You also get two chances to do short research projects or work-experience placements, giving you a taste of real lab-based work environments before you graduate.
Elective options allow you to specialise further — for example in anatomy, neuroscience, cardiovascular biology, pharmaceutical science, industrial microbiology or applied biochemistry — tailoring the hands-on experience to your interests and career goals.
The program combines biotechnology and biomedical science, so you graduate with flexible knowledge — applicable to human health, animal health, agricultural biotech or industrial microbiology — depending on what you want to pursue.

Progression & Future Opportunities

If you choose to study the Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) / Bachelor of Biomedical Science at RMIT University, you’re positioning yourself for a career that genuinely makes a difference — and opens up a wide set of future paths. Graduates often go on to roles such as research scientist, medical-laboratory scientist, biotechnology researcher, or work in industry labs for diagnostics, pharmaceuticals or biomedical manufacturing.

Here’s what this means for you:

Strong industry-readiness and employer connections: RMIT emphasises practical, lab-based training — you’ll study core areas like molecular biology, physiology, microbiology and more, and get hands-on experience in well-equipped labs. This means when you graduate, you’re not just book smart — you’re job ready.
Clear pathways to meaningful jobs: Employers range from government research bodies and environmental/water-management agencies, to hospitals, medical research institutes, universities, and private biotech or pharmaceutical companies.
Flexibility if you change your mind later: Because of the dual nature of the degree, you can pivot between biomedical science and biotechnology career streams — whichever area appeals more to you as you gain more exposure.
Long-term value and credibility: The degree from RMIT is recognised and respected — whether you end up in a lab in Melbourne, an international pharmaceutical company, or doing research, the qualification holds weight. Plus, high-performing graduates often go on to further study or pursue advanced roles.

Further Academic Progression:
After this degree, you could upgrade your specialization or pursue deeper research by going into honours or postgraduate programmes, or enrol in advanced courses in biotechnology, biomedical research, or related areas. Many graduates also use this as a stepping stone toward professional health-science fields or research-based master’s degrees.