The University of New South Wales

go to UNSW home page

Handbook Home

PRINT THIS PAGE
Science (International) - 3987

Program Summary

   
   
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Typical Duration: 4 Years
 
 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
 
 
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC For Award: 192
 
 
Award(s):
 
 
Bachelor of Science (International) (Major)
 
  

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science (International) recognises that science involves a global network, which is faced with and addresses global issues and often operates within companies and agencies that have an international focus. The BSc (International) is thus aimed at providing for the needs of students by preparing them for an increasingly globalised work environment.

The program is designed for students wishing to obtain a strong and highly regarded Science program coupled with specific emphasis on cross-cultural skills, knowledge and understanding. The program also provides the knowledge and skills essential for understanding and working in the rapidly changing global environment. It will provide a wide range of career opportunities in global scientific organisations and companies, international government and non-government agencies and in scientific research. The program requires students to undertake a coherent scientific program, achieved by completing a science-based major and adds a series of directed electives to provide a suite of attributes associated with ‘global education’. The program also places emphasis on cross cultural understanding, competencies in languages and incorporates a period of overseas study. The Faculty provides a contribution to the expenses of this exchange.

The program normally consists of 192 Units of Credit (UoC) in approved courses to be completed over a period of four academic years. The program includes completion of a Major in Science, language courses totalling at least 36 UoC, 24 UoC of Directed Electives and 48 UoC of International Exchange normally undertaken over two sessions during the third and fourth years of study. The International exchange must be undertaken at an approved partner institution. To proceed on the International Exchange students must have achieved satisfactory academic progress in their first and second years of study and must fulfil the requirements of the University’s Exchange Program. Students who fulfil these requirements will be eligible for a Faculty of Science Travel Bursary.

Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The objectives of the program are:
  • To graduate scientists with both a breadth and depth of scientific knowledge and professional skills;
  • To develop the capacity for critical thinking and independent learning;
  • To provide training in the practice and management of research and instil a research ethos;
  • To expose students to the social context of science, to the globalization of science, the global issues in science and provide a greater appreciation and sensitivity to the cultural context of knowledge and learning in science;
  • To foster greater cross cultural understanding and the development of international professional networks.

Program Structure

To qualify for the award of the degree, a student must obtain, normally over four years of study, a minimum of 192 units of credit (UoC) in approved courses including:

1. A student must complete 192 Units of Credit (UoC). UNSW General Education requirements are fulfilled within this Program: students should not take GEN courses.
2. The degree must contain a Major sequence of study, defined in Table 1 and consisting of at least 42 UoC at Level II and III in a single disipline area of study, including at least 18 UoC at Level III. Students should be aware that not all Majors available in Program 3970 are available in this program.
3. Students should not take more than 72 UoC of Stage 1 courses across the entire program.

4. The following rules relate to the Science component of this Program:

    4.1 A student must complete at least 24 UoC and no more than 60 UoC in level I courses from at least three Science course codes see (Table 2);
    4.2 No more than 18 level I UoC in any one subject may be counted towards the completion of the degree;
    4.3 Students must declare their Major sequence of study before enrolling in Level II courses;
    4.4 No student may commence Level II courses until 18 UoC Level I units have been successfully completed;
    4.5 A student must complete a minimum of 84 UoC from 'Science Schools" as defined in Table 2. Courses that form a component of this Program but are offered by faculties other than Science do not count towards the 84 UoC Science requirement;
    4.6 In the case where a student chooses a second Major, and the Majors are in two cognate areas that have courses in common, a student may be permitted to have up to 18 UoC counted towards each major sequence but only 6 UoC may be at Level III.

5. A student must complete the following 'international ' components of the BSc (International):

    5.1 International Exchange of 48 UoC at an approved overseas partner university over two sessions. Visit www.international exchange.unsw.edu.au;
    5.2 To proceed on the International Exchange students must have achieved satisfactory academic progress in their first and second years of study and must fulfil the requirements of the University's Exchange Program;
    5.3 Students must complete at least 144 UoC before they can go on the International Exchange. Students should note that they must apply to go on exchange 9 months in advance - for further information please contact the Global Education and Student Exchange Office;
    5.4 A language component of at least 36 UoC (up to 12 UoC can be undertaken overseas) which may include contextual courses;
    5.5 A student must complete at least 24 UoC from the Elective List in Table 3.


6. Students who undertake the International Exchange of 48 UoC will be eligable for a Faculty of Science Travel Bursary.
7. The Faculty of Science may award a Pass degree with Distinction to students who obtain a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% in all courses completed since enrolment at UNSW which are credited towards the degree.


Table 1: Available Majors in the BSc International program
 
Anatomy Medical Microbiology and Immunology 
Biochemistry Microbiology
Biological Science Molecular Biology
Biotechnology Neuroscience
Chemistry
Pharmacology 
Ecology Physical Oceanography 
 
Environmental Earth Science  Physics 
Genetics  Physiology
Geography  Psychology 
Geology Safety Science 
Marine Science (Marine Biology)  Spatial Information Systems
Marine Science (Marine Geology)  Statistics 
Marine Science (Physical Oceanography) Toxicology 
Materials Science Vision Science 
Mathematics

These Majors are defined in Table A of program 3970. Please refer to this link to Table A (Majors) in program 3970. Please note that only Science-based majors are available in the BSc (International) Program.


TABLE 2. The definition of' 'Science Schools'. Courses offered by the following Schools and Departments can be counted towards the 84 UoC of Science required in the BSc (Intl).
 
 School or Department                                               Course Prefixes
 Aviation AVIA
 Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences
BIOS, BEES, GEOS, MSCI        
 Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences BABS, BIOC, BIOT, MICR
 Chemistry CHEM
 Computer Sciences
COMP
 Food Science FOOD
 Materials Science and Engineering MATS
 Mathematics and Statistics MATH,MSCI
 Medical Science ANAT, NEUR, PATH, PHAR & PHSL
 Psychology PSYC
 Physics PHYS
 Optometery and Vision Science VISN
 Risk and Safety Sciences SESC
Science Communication SCOM
 Science SCIF

TABLE 3 Approved Elective List *^

Notes:
* students must complete 24 UoC of these electives during the course of their Program.

^ students may apply for additional courses to be considered for this list through the Science Student Centre. Courses will be considered by the Program Authority if they fulfill the objectives of the BSc (International) Program.


Stage 1 **
**Note: Students should complete a maximum of 72 UoC from Stage 1 courses across the BSc (Intl) Program.


Upper Level Courses ***
***Note:
Students should be aware that they need to fulfill pre-requisites for some of the courses.


Progression Rule
Progression to Stages 2, 3 and 4 is subject to satisfactory progress. Students who do not meet a minimum WAM of 65% at the end of Stage 2 will be required to transfer to program 3970 (Bachelor of Science). To proceed to the Overseas Program students must have achieved satisfactory academic progress in a minimum of 144 UoC of study and must fulfil the requirements of the University's Exchange program.

Graduation
In order to graduate, students must satisfy the requirements for the award by passing all courses and the requirements specified for the program. Students who successfully complete the program and obtain a minimum of 75 WAM will be eligable for a Pass Degree with Distinction.

The award will appear on the testamur as:
Bachelor of Science (International) in Major

Academic Rules

Please refer to the above Program Structure above.

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html


Area(s) of Specialisation

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.