Specialisation selection is an important consideration for the Bachelor of Medical Science course. Students wishing to undertake studies in Pathology should select either the four-year AIMS accredited CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours course or choose the CG93 Bachelor of Medical Science Biotechnology and Diagnostic Pathology Specialisation with the opportunity to then upgrade to the final year of the CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours.

The Nutrition Specialisation will not be taking any new enrolments from 2025 onwards. If you are interested to study nutrition or dietetics, it is recommended that you consider applying for our CQUniversity Bachelor of Nutrition or combined Bachelor of Nutrition/Master of Dietetics courses. 

Please note that the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Specialisation) has the following locations of offering for each specialisation and minors:

• Clinical Physiology: Rockhampton, Bundaberg or Online
• Biotechnology and Diagnostic Pathology: Rockhampton or Online
• Biotechnology (Food Technology Minor): Rockhampton, Bundaberg or Online
• Biotechnology (all minors): Rockhampton or Online
• Pathology (as an exit award for CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours)

The Bachelor of Medical Science has eight compulsory units. Seven of the compulsory units are studied in the first year of the course; the eighth compulsory unit is studied in the final year of the course.

Course Structure

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Medical Science (Biotechnology) can select one 8-unit minor or two 4-unit minors. The units for the minors can be found within the minor selections below.

Students will only be allowed to enrol in units as per their admission location. Online enrolments will require compulsory residential schools. 

The Biotechnology Specialisation is available to students studying the Bachelor of Medical Science course. It contains 8 units (48 credit points). Students must also choose one 8-unit minor (Food Technology or Pathway to Teaching (Secondary)) or two 4-unit minors from the below list.

The Pathway to Teaching (Secondary) Minor, once completed, will allow for potential eligibility to the Master of Education course as a vertically integrated Masters if a GPA of 4.0 and other admissions criteria are met.

The Food Technology Minor provides you with the opportunity to combine industry relevant experience which translates across Human Health, Nutrition, Agriculture and Food Technology industries.

The list of available minors are as follows:

• Food Technology - 8 units, 48 credits
• Pathway to Teaching (Secondary) - 8 units, 48 credits
• Research - 4 units, 24 credits
• Chemistry - 4 units, 24 credits
• Entrepreneurship - 4 units, 24 credits
• Liberal Studies - 4 units, 24 credits

The Bachelor of Medical Science Biotechnology and Diagnostic Pathology is offered at the Rockhampton campus or through our online study option. Students will only be allowed to enrol in units as per their admission location. Online enrolments will require compulsory residential schools in some units. 

The Biotechnology and Diagnostic Pathology Specialisation is available to students studying the Bachelor of Medical Science course. It contains 16 units. There are no optional minors within this structure. 

This specialisation can also be used to articulate into the 4th year of CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours) course.

Please note that the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Clinical Physiology) is offered at the Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses, or through our Online study option. Students will only be allowed to enrol in units as per their admission location. Online enrolments will require compulsory residential schools. 

Students have a choice of studying two four-unit minors in the following areas

• Biomedical Minor - 4 units, 24 credits
• Research Minor - 4 units, 24 credits
• Entrepreneurship Minor - 4 units, 24 credits
• Indigenous Health Minor - 4 units, 24 credits
• Liberal Studies Minor - 4 units, 24 credits

The Biomedical Minor is highly recommended for students who choose to practice as a Clinical Physiologist/Scientist because the 4 units of study within this minor are essential to the knowledge required for a Clinical Physiologist to practice safely in a work environment.  The Biomedical and Research Minors taken together, form an ideal recommended undergraduate degree for those students who plan to apply for future Graduate Medical studies.

The Clinical Physiology Specialisation is available to students studying the Bachelor of Medical Science course. It contains 7 units (48 credit points). Students must undertake two minors, from the below list:

• Biomedical Minor - 4 units, 24 credits (highly recommended if opting to pursue a career pathway to practice as a Clinical Physiologist/Scientist and/or foundational Units for those interested in studying UQ Graduate Medicine (MD Design) or other Graduate Medicine programs; this minor should ideally be studied with the Research Minor (listed below) as an ideal preparatory undergraduate degree for those interested in applying to the UQ Graduate Medicine (MD Design) or any other Graduate Medical Programs
• Research Minor - 4 units, 24 credits
• Entrepreneurship Minor - 4 units, 24 credits
• Indigenous Health Minor - 4 units, 24 credits
• Liberal Studies Minor - 4 units, 24 credits

The Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Pathology) is only offered as an exit award for the AIMS accredited CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science course.

The CG93 Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathology) Specialisation exists as a 3-year exit award for the CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours) course.  There are no optional majors or minors within this structure.  No students can enrol in this Specialisation.

The Biomedical Minor is highly recommended for students who opt to study the Clinical Physiology Specialisation because the 4 units of study within this minor support the delivery of knowledge required for a Clinical Physiologist/Scientist to practice safely in a work environment.  This minor also contains key units which are recommended for any students wishing to pursue post graduate medical programs (recommended to complete both the Biomedical and Research Minors for this option).

The Chemistry Minor enables students to compile a minor consistent within an area of interest and/or career/professional pathways not already covered in the existing Specialisation.

The Entrepreneurship Minor enables students to compile a minor consistent within an area of interest and/or career/professional pathways not already covered in the existing Specialisation. 

The Food Technology Minor is only available for selection if you are enrolled in the Bachelor of Medical Science Biotechnology Specialisation.

The Food Technology Minor (8 units) will provide you with the skills and training to transition across industries which link Biotechnology, Nutrition, Food Production, Food Science, Agriculture and Human Health.  By combining a Medical Science Biotechnology Specialisation with the Food Technology Minor you will be uniquely placed to build on the University's strength areas of Agriculture and Medical Science and provide your skills to one of Australia's largest regional industries.  

The Indigenous Health Minor enables students to compile a minor consistent within an area of interest and/or career/professional pathways not already covered in the existing Specialisation. 

This minor has been designed to support credit, articulation agreements and transition arrangements. Students cannot opt-in to complete the Liberal Studies Minor. Please contact Course Management for further information.

The Pathway to Teaching (Secondary) Minor is only available for selection if you are enrolled in the Bachelor of Medical Science Biotechnology Specialisation.

The Pathway to Teaching (Secondary) Minor (8 units) is designed to fast-track students to the Master of Teaching (Secondary) after completion of the Bachelor of Medical Science Biotechnology Specialisation. The Pathway to Teaching (Secondary) will commence your post graduate studies to prepare you for a career as a secondary school teacher in State, Catholic and Independent Schools in Australia. Selection of this minor does not guarantee entry into the Master of Teaching (Secondary) course. You must still apply and be accepted into the Master of Teaching (Secondary) as per normal processes using academic and non-academic entry requirements. Once accepted into the Master of Teaching (Secondary), you can apply for credit from the Pathway to Teaching (Secondary) Minor that are directly from the Master of Teaching (Secondary). Your potential teaching strength areas will be Mathematics. Completion of this course of study alone does not meet eligibility requirements for teacher registration. This pathway is suited to students who wish to obtain a CG93 Bachelor of Medical Science Biotechnology Specialisation and then go on to study a Master of Teaching (Secondary) qualification as their pathway to an accredited teaching qualification.

The Research Minor enables students to complete a minor consistent within an area of interest and/or career/professional pathways not already covered in the existing Specialisation.