Postgraduate

Master of Biological Science

Western Australia (WA) is a marine and terrestrial biodiversity hot spot. Up to 80 per cent of the region's plants, marine fish and invertebrates are unique to the area. This makes WA the ideal living laboratory for studies in biological science.
1.5-2
Years Full Time
Course Details Careers & further study Fees & Scholarships Admission requirements How to apply Contact us
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Careers and further study

Take your studies to a new level and discover what career opportunities lie ahead.

Career Pathways

Biologist, Botanist, Conservation Biologist, Conservation Officer, Consultant, Ecologist, Enviornmental Manager, Environmental Scientist, Marine Biologist, Parks Officer, Quarantine Officer, Research Scientist, Research Technician, Rehabilitation Manager, Science Communicator, Wildlife Officer, Zoologist.
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Career Pathways

Biologist, Botanist, Conservation Biologist, Conservation Officer, Consultant, Ecologist, Enviornmental Manager, Environmental Scientist, Marine Biologist, Parks Officer, Quarantine Officer, Research Scientist, Research Technician, Rehabilitation Manager, Science Communicator, Wildlife Officer, Zoologist.
This course could lead to these

Career Opportunities

Alt content Biologist Alt content Botanist Alt content Conservation Officer Alt content Marine Biologist
More career opportunities
This course could lead to these

Career Opportunities

Biologist

Examine anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of living organisms to reveal how they function and interact in the environment.

Botanist

Study plants and their interactions with their environment in order to conserve biodiversity and benefit the natural environment, agriculture, forestry, horticulture, medicine and biotechnology.

Conservation Officer

Develop and implement programs and regulations to protect natural resources.

Marine Biologist

Examine structures, functions, behaviours, interactions and environmental affects of organisms that live in the sea.

Zoologist

Examine animal characteristics, functions, ecology and environments for wildlife management, conservation, agricultural and medical applications.

Ecologist

Examine relationships and interactions between microbes, plants, animals and their environments.

Environmental Scientist

Develop modes of environmental conservation and decrease human impact through close examination of the environment.

Environmental Consultant

Advise on policies to determine design, implementation and modification of government or commercial environmental operations.

Environmental Manager

Develop and apply an organisation's environmental management system to identify, solve and alleviate environmental issues for sustainable development.

Academic

Conduct research and teach university students in an area of specialisation.

Animal Scientist

Animal technicians are responsible for the care and welfare of laboratory animals used in scientific and medical research.

Conservation Biologist

As a conservation biologist, you focus on how to protect and restore biodiversity, particularly understanding and minimizing human impacts on the natural world.

Conservationist

As a conservationist, you'll work to protect, manage and enhance the local environment.

Fisheries Officer

Fisheries officers are responsible for the management, conservation and preservation of state and territory fisheries resources.

Geneticist

Unravel the mysteries of DNA and genetics.

Natural Resource Manager

Natural resource managers develop conservation plans for nature reserves, land and other natural resources, so that people can use these resources in an ecologically sustainable way.

Plant Breeder

As a plant breeder you will work on improving the quality and performance of existing agricultural and horticultural crops and create new varieties of plants.

Wildlife Consultant

A wildlife consultant is a scientist who provides hands-on wildlife management assistance on an independent consultation basis.

Wildlife Biologist

Wildlife Biologists are scientists that observe and study the behaviors of animals.

Wildlife Manager

Wildlife managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of wildlife conservation and management in a designated territory.

Further Study

Students completing this degree may have the option to pursue further studies in research.
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Further Study

Students completing this degree may have the option to pursue further studies in research.

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course. For fee type definitions and further assistance, see the Fee Calculator Help page. You can also search our database for scholarships that are relevant to you or this course.

Domestic Fees

Postgraduate – Commonwealth supported students

The Annual Fee is an estimate only based on a standard annual study load of 48 points.


For Commonwealth Supported Places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit. For an accurate fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”.

For Full Fee Paying places, students are charged an annual course fee. Visit the Fee Calculator and select your course to see the annual and total course fees.

Course Credit Points
96
Average Annual Fee - 2021
$8,747.06
Typical Fee Range - 2021
$3,950.00 - $14,500.00

Eligible Commonwealth-supported students can use the HECS-HELP loan scheme to pay their tuition fees.

Fee calculator

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

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Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Cost of living

International Fees

Postgraduate – onshore students

Annual course fees are calculated based on a standard annual study load of 48 credit points.

Course Credit Points
96
Total Course Fee - 2020
$80,200.00
Total Course Fee - 2021
$83,400.00
Fee calculator

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Search Scholarships

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Cost of living

Admission requirements

If you’re interested in furthering your career by studying this postgraduate degree, find out the admission details below.

Admission Requirements

(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Bachelor of Science, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;
and
(c) met the prerequisite for the chosen specialisation
(2) For the Conservation Biology specialisation an applicant must have successfully completed prior studies at a tertiary level in biology (excluding human biology); or in a related cognate discipline, as recognised by UWA
(3) For the Marine Biology specialisations an applicant must have successfully completed prior studies at a tertiary level in either marine science or biology (excluding human biology); or in a related cognate discipline, as recognised by UWA
(4) For the Zoology specialisation an applicant must have successfully completed prior studies at a tertiary level in animal science; or in a related cognate discipline, as recognised by UWA
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Admission Requirements

(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Bachelor of Science, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;
and
(c) met the prerequisite for the chosen specialisation
(2) For the Conservation Biology specialisation an applicant must have successfully completed prior studies at a tertiary level in biology (excluding human biology); or in a related cognate discipline, as recognised by UWA
(3) For the Marine Biology specialisations an applicant must have successfully completed prior studies at a tertiary level in either marine science or biology (excluding human biology); or in a related cognate discipline, as recognised by UWA
(4) For the Zoology specialisation an applicant must have successfully completed prior studies at a tertiary level in animal science; or in a related cognate discipline, as recognised by UWA

Ranking and Selection Process

Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
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Ranking and Selection Process

Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

English competency

How to apply

Ready to apply for this postgraduate course? Follow the steps and you’ll be on your way to joining us at UWA.

Course details

The Master of Biological Science will give you an understanding of the molecular evolution, structure, physiology, reproduction, behaviour and ecology of organisms, and the skills to apply this knowledge to the management of natural systems and the species they support.

About the course

Western Australia (WA) is a marine and terrestrial biodiversity hot-spot. Up to 80 per cent of the region's plants, marine fish and invertebrates are unique to the area. This makes WA the ideal living laboratory for studies in biological science. You'll gain an understanding of the molecular evolution, structure, physiology, reproduction, behaviour and ecology of organisms, and the skills to apply this knowledge to the management of natural systems and the species they support.
View full details

About the course

Western Australia (WA) is a marine and terrestrial biodiversity hot-spot. Up to 80 per cent of the region's plants, marine fish and invertebrates are unique to the area. This makes WA the ideal living laboratory for studies in biological science. You'll gain an understanding of the molecular evolution, structure, physiology, reproduction, behaviour and ecology of organisms, and the skills to apply this knowledge to the management of natural systems and the species they support.

When you graduate from the Master of Biological Science you will have the ability to integrate advanced knowledge of species biology and ecology to assess their vulnerability to environmental change, as well as have the ability to design, execute, analyse and report on field and/or laboratory projects.

You’ll possess communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences. You’ll become a broad thinker who can critically assess advanced research in your discipline and integrate this into practical solutions for preserving biodiversity. You’ll contribute to group and/or individual research projects, as well as work independently to plan and execute a substantial research project and/or piece of scholarship.


Master of Biological Science

Quick details

Status
  • Available 2021
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • Please refer to the UWA Handbook
Level of study
  • Postgraduate
Course Code
  • 72520
CRICOS code
  • 074948B
View full details
Master of Biological Science

Quick details

Status
  • Available 2021
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • Please refer to the UWA Handbook
Level of study
  • Postgraduate
Course Code
  • 72520
CRICOS code
  • 074948B
Full time/part time duration
  • 1.5-2 years
Degrees course is available in
  • Master of Biological Science

Course structure

Postgraduate coursework degrees and combined (coursework and research) degrees comprise a number of units. Refer to the course structure for more information.

Course structure details

Course structure details

Core
Take all units (12 points):
Option
Students in course by coursework only, take all units in this group (12 points):
Option
Students in course by coursework and dissertation, take all units in this group (36 points):
Conservation Biology specialisation
Students may be required to take conversion units up to a value of 24 points based on an assessment of prior learning by the Faculty.
Take all units (24 points):
Students in course by coursework only, take units to the value of 24 points from Group A and/or Group B.
Students in course by coursework only, take unit(s) according to the rule for Group A:
Marine Biology specialisation
Students may be required to take conversion units up to a value of 24 points based on an assessment of prior learning by the Faculty.
Take all units (24 points):
Students in course by coursework only, take units to the value of 24 points from Group A and/or Group B, of which 6 points must be at Level 5:
Students in course by coursework only, take unit(s) according to the rule for Group A:
Zoology specialisation
Students may be required to take conversion units including GENE4002 Integrated Topics in Genetics I, up to a value of 24 points, based on an assessment of prior learning by the Faculty.
Take all units (24 points):
Students in course by coursework only, take units to the value of 24 points from Group A and/or Group B, of which 12 points must be at Level 5:
Students in course by coursework only, take unit(s) according to the rule for Group A:

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