Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: February
Fees
$8,021.00+
+estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
4 years full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
ATAR 69.15
English (Units 3/4,C), Mathematical Methods (Units 3/4,C), Chemistry (Units 3/4,C)
Recommended Knowledge
One of Biology, Health, Physical Education or Physics (Units 3/4,C)
QTAC Codes
- 317291
Course detail
Learn the principles of medicine, chemistry, biology and experimental science and become an expert in scientific enquiry. In the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the methods and tools of medical science as well as the process of enquiry and discovery in a clinical investigative context. Your knowledge and skills will equip you to support and advance medical research, with a strong emphasis on the needs of tropical, rural and remote communities.
In your first and second year, your studies will give you a solid foundation in the core principles and knowledgebase of clinical sciences. In your third year, you will choose from specialised electives that spark your passion. From genes, genomes and development to clinical microbiology and pathobiology, the topics you pursue will influence the trajectory of your future career in clinical and medical science. In your final year, you’ll put your knowledge to the test as you work directly with real-world patients in both urban and rural practical placements.
Clinical Sciences graduates are flexible, uniquely equipped professionals who make valuable contributions to both healthcare teams and scientific discovery. You can also use this degree as a stepping stone into pursuing medical qualifications and practice or advanced clinical research.
View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects, including pre-placement requirements.
About JCU's Bachelor of Clinical Science
Combine your passion for working with patients with your inquiring, scientific mind. Receive the foundation you need to follow both these passions and become an agent for positive change with a Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours) at JCU.
Study a Broad Perspective of Clinical Science
Develop a range of skills through generalist clinical training that equip you to work anywhere in clinical science. Take advantage of the unique location of JCU and access to rural, remote and urban communities. Gain an understanding of the differences and the needs of urban clinics in comparison to remote communities or rural settings.
Your clinical science degree at JCU gives you access to world-class educators and cutting-edge scientific laboratories. You will be involved in research that makes a difference to the future of medicine.
Be part of a clinical laboratory scientist program that feeds your passion to learn and innovate. JCU graduates have a solid background in biology, experimental science, chemistry, and the principles of medicine. You will also develop the critical thinking and communication skills you need to be an effective collaborator and make a difference in the lives of patients.
Clinical Lab Scientist Programs To Get You Ready for the Jobs of the Future
Clinical lab scientist programs will prepare you for work in any setting, and your degree from JCU opens up opportunities for you in a diverse range of settings. Be equipped to offer flexible services in the most remote rural clinics and in cutting-edge private hospitals. You will be qualified to work in large urban areas in laboratories or alongside peers in tropical research stations.
You may prefer to be part of a larger healthcare team, providing clinical measurements required by other health professionals including General Practitioners, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. You will even have the skills necessary to start your own business, providing doctors in remote areas with the information and diagnostics they need to effectively care for patients.
Be at the forefront of new scientific discoveries, or work daily with patients to improve health outcomes. No matter where you want to go, your clinical science degree from JCU will prepare you for a successful career.
Gain Practical Experience with JCU's Clinical Science Degree
Work alongside esteemed professionals in the field, supported by world-class educators with JCU’s Bachelor of Clinical Science (Honours). Experience guest lectures from leaders in the industry and build the extensive network of professional connections to help you progress your career.
Study in state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities while building hands-on experience working in clinical and professional placements within the community.
Be equipped to make a difference in marginalised communities and work effectively in a cross-cultural, urban environment. Learn how to communicate and collaborate with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Make a Difference With Your Clinical Science Degree
Take the first steps on the path to a rewarding and successful career. Be poised to make a meaningful difference whichever career path you take with your JCU clinical laboratory scientist program.
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Requirements
You'll require Hepatitis B immunisation, current Queensland First Aid and CPR certificates, a Suitability to Work with Children (Blue Card) and an Australian Federal Police check before undertaking placements.
Flexible Entry
JCU offers flexible entry into this sought-after degree. So if you hold level 1-3 in the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, or you have relevant experience in medical technology, you're welcome to apply. JCU will make every effort to accommodate you in the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours).
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours).
Honours
The Honours component of this degree is embedded into the course.
JCU Clinical Sciences (Honours) graduates are multi-skilled and find employment in a large range of private and public health clinics. Many go on to higher research studies or postgraduate study in other health sciences.
Graduates pursue careers in various areas including private or public health care, education, or research.
You could find employment as a clinical measurement scientist in cardiac, respiratory, and sleep investigation units of hospitals, or as a neuro or renal physiologist.
Clinical Sciences (Honours) graduates may also choose to apply for graduate entry into medicine, veterinary science, physiotherapy, dentistry, or other health sciences.
Entry score threshold
These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Semester 1, 2022 . Entry scores are based on the most recent Semester 1 intake and are updated in June each year. Meeting the threshold doesn't guarantee admission.
ATAR/Selection Rank: 69.15
Entry score range
This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours) for Semester 1, 2022. The table includes offers deferred to Semester 1, 2022 which may have been assessed using the entry score threshold of an earlier year.
JCU Townsville
Without adjustments | With adjustments* | |
|---|---|---|
Highest | 95.9 | 99.95 |
Median | 84.95 | 90.95 |
Lowest | 73.85 | 80.85 |
Notes:
<5 – indicates less than 5 OP/ATAR-based offers made.
* Refer to Adjustment Factors
Find out more about who you might study with by viewing this course’s student profile.
Adjustment factors
James Cook University applies bonus ranks under the Regional Preference Scheme and QTAC’s Educational Access Scheme (EAS). Learn more about JCU’s adjustment factors.
Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours) [Embedded]
Handbook year | 2022 |
Course code | 115309 |
Course type | Bachelor with Honours (AQF level 8) |
Owner | Division of Tropical Health and Medicine |
College | Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | English (Units 3/4,C); Mathematical Methods (Units 3/4,C); Chemistry (Units 3/4,C) Recommended: one of Biology, Health, Physical Education or Physics (Units 3/4,C) |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
Additional selection requirements | Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria. |
Post admission | This course may have specific admission requirements such as immunisation, a Suitability to Work with Children Card, a federal police check and/or other conditions that students must comply with. Students must complete all professional experience placement requirements by the prescribed deadlines and maintain currency of these requirements in order to stay admitted in the course. You will find your course requirements here: https://www.jcu.edu.au/professional-experience-placement/preparation-checklists A candidate admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours) at this university will be permitted to continue to the fourth year of study if that candidate has achieved an overall minimum grade point average of 5.0 (ie. credit average) across level 3. In addition, admission to fourth year is dependent on successful application and interview with Clinical Placement Supervisors, placement availability and at the discretion of the Course Co-ordinator. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 96 credit points as per course structure |
Course learning outcomes | On successful completion of Bachelor of Clinical Sciences, graduates will be able to: - Demonstrate advanced integrated theoretical and technical knowledge and skills, with depth in the underlying concepts and principles in chosen disciplines of medical science - Critically review, analyse, synthesise and apply scientific evidence and process to a range of social and economic contexts - Apply recognized methods and tools of medical science to the process of enquiry and discovery, particularly in a clinical/medical investigative context - Communicate scientific information and philosophies clearly and coherently through well-developed English language and numeracy proficiency, to a range of audiences for a range of purposes using a variety of modes - Demonstrate personal and social responsibility and accountability through an awareness of ethical frameworks, by working safely and responsibly in individual and team environments - Critically reflect upon the role of medical scientific investigation and medical research in tropical, rural and remote and indigenous communities. |
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours) [Embedded]. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
Level 1
Teaching Period 1
BM1000:03 Introductory Biochemistry and Microbiology
BM1001:03 Introduction to Biomedicine
BM1002:03 Anatomy: Principles and Systems
CH1001:03 Chemistry: A Central Science
Teaching Period 2
BM1003:03 Biomedicine in the Tropics
BM1004:03 Anatomy and Physiology 2
CH1002:03 Chemistry: Principles and Applications
HS1401:03 Health and Health Care in Australia
Level 2
Teaching Period 1
BC2013:03 Principles of Biochemistry
HS2402:03 Health Professional Research 1
MI2011:03 Microbial Diversity
PP2101:03 Medical Physiology 1
Teaching Period 2
BC2023:03 Molecular Genetics
PP2150:03 Introduction to Medical Pharmacology or BC2024:03 Principles of Molecular Cell Biology
MI2021:03 Introductory Infectious Diseases and Immunobiology
PP2201:03 Medical Physiology 2
Level 3
Teaching Period 1
BC3101:03 Genes, Genomes and Development
MI3021:03 Clinical Microbiology
PP3101:03 Advanced and Integrated Physiology
PP3151:03 General Pathobiology
Teaching Period 2
BM3000:03 Advanced Projects in Biomedicine
PP3251:03 Systemic Pathophysiology and Therapeutics
PLUS
OPTIONS
Select 6 credit points of specified elective subjects from List 1
List 1
AT3001:03 Advanced Anatomy by Dissection
BC3201:03 Bioengineering
MI3031:03 Diagnosis of Viral Disease in Aquaculture
MI3051:03 Mechanisms of Infectious Diseases
MI3071: 03 Molecular Analysis of Tropical Microbes
PP3252:03 Neuropharmacology
Level 4
Teaching Period 1
BM5001:06 Professional Placement 1
BM5003:06 Clinical Measurements 1
Teaching Period 2
BM5002:06 Professional Placement 2
BM5004:06 Clinical Measurements 2
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Townsville |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time |
Maximum time to complete | 11 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 3 years |
Progression
Course progression | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | Clinical placement/professional practice: This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense (Note: health professional courses generally involve extensive professional or clinical placements). Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Procedure. |
Special assessment | Nil |
Professional accreditation | Nil |
Supplementary exam for | Not applicable |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure |
Maximum allowed | 63 credit points |
Currency | Credit will be granted only for subjects completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course |
Expiry | Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 21 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course |
Other restrictions | A maximum of 18 credit points of credit may be granted at level 3 or 4 |
Award Details
Award title | BACHELOR OF CLINICAL SCIENCES (HONOURS) |
Approved abbreviation | BClinSc(Hons) |
Exit with lesser award | Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies. Students who have completed 48 credit points of their professional course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Associate Degree of Health Sciences. Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have successfully completed 72 credit points of appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Physiology and Pharmacology) |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD8,021.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
An ATAR is the score required for entry into most undergraduate courses. If you are not a Year 12 school leaver or do not have an ATAR, you can be assigned an equivalent score. Scores are calculated from previous study that you might have completed, either secondary, tertiary or vocational, or previous paid employment experience.
JCU offers pathway courses to help you move into a degree. Pathway courses provide you with an individualised study plan and specialised support as you transition to university.
Contact us to find out more.
Note the course QTAC code for the location you've chosen. You'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
ATAR score is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.
Real stories
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Student
Justin Jones
Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours)
The biomedicine program is really great because, in the first two years, there’s a lot of flexibility. You can learn about Medical Laboratory Sciences, Biomedicine and Clinical Science. I really like physiology; that was my passion, so it drew me towards Clinical Sciences.
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Alumni
Allysha Barry
Bachelor of Clinical Sciences
The highlight of the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences was the hands-on experience to aid in learning and developing new concepts in the field. This allowed me to grow the skills required as a Clinical Measurement Scientist. The support provided by all JCU staff throughout the degree set up me up for success as a job-ready
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Lecturer
Suzy Munns
Biomedicine
It is very rewarding to teach and guide students on the journey to making a difference in the clinical sciences. Our students have up-to-date and workplace-relevant learning experiences because they learn from active researchers and in partnership with clinical scientists from The Townsville Hospital.
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Employer
Megan Harbourne
Statewide Clinical Education Program Manager, Department of Health, QLD
JCU graduates have a really strong focus on the patient journey, probably because they have developed interpretation and analysis skills across multiple sciences. They are great at understanding the pathophysiology of the various chronic diseases that impact our patients.