Undergraduate

Botany

Botanists investigate plant evolution and diversity as well as the effects of environmental and biological factors on the structure, functioning and ecology of plants.
3
Years Full Time

Contact us

Address

Student Central

The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009

Telephone

131 UWA (131 892)

International

(+61 8) 6488 1000

Hours

8.30am - 5pm AWST, Monday - Friday

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Careers and further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

Botany graduates are highly sought after and may have the opportunity to be employed by some international, Australian and WA-based companies such as environmental consultants, resource industries, government departments (such as Agriculture and Food, Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and the Department of Water), botanic gardens (Kings Park) and research agencies (CSIRO) that either work in, or are interested in, the environment, conservation, restoration and horticulture.

Botany graduates are highly sought after and may have the opportunity to be employed by some international, Australian and WA-based companies such as environmental consultants, resource industries, government departments (such as Agriculture and Food, Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and the Department of Water), botanic gardens (Kings Park) and research agencies (CSIRO) that either work in, or are interested in, the environment, conservation, restoration and horticulture.

Further Study

Plants underpin life on Earth. Honours in Botany allows you to conduct rigorous scientific research on various aspects of the taxonomy, biology or functioning of plants. Your research could investigate the exciting diversity and uniqueness of Australian flora or focus on how plants function and interact over all levels of biological organisation, from the plant cell to the role of vegetation in the functioning of ecosystems. Other research may focus on the ways plants adapt to environments ranging from the Antarctic oceans to deserts of the inland. You might also study how we can overcome problems of environmental degradation such as those derived from mining and salinity. If you’re enthusiastic about plants across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, this honours specialisation is for you. Honours in Botany can lead to many careers including ecologist, conservation biologist, plant physiologist, plant taxonomist, agricultural scientist, forester, environmental impact assessor, flora resource manager, government policy writer and consultant, consultant risk assessor involved in predicting and identifying algal blooms, consultant for aquaculture, marine biologist, evolutionary biologist, science journalist, laboratory technician, field research officer, plant pathologist or forensic scientist.
Plants underpin life on Earth. Honours in Botany allows you to conduct rigorous scientific research on various aspects of the taxonomy, biology or functioning of plants. Your research could investigate the exciting diversity and uniqueness of Australian flora or focus on how plants function and interact over all levels of biological organisation, from the plant cell to the role of vegetation in the functioning of ecosystems. Other research may focus on the ways plants adapt to environments ranging from the Antarctic oceans to deserts of the inland. You might also study how we can overcome problems of environmental degradation such as those derived from mining and salinity. If you’re enthusiastic about plants across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, this honours specialisation is for you. Honours in Botany can lead to many careers including ecologist, conservation biologist, plant physiologist, plant taxonomist, agricultural scientist, forester, environmental impact assessor, flora resource manager, government policy writer and consultant, consultant risk assessor involved in predicting and identifying algal blooms, consultant for aquaculture, marine biologist, evolutionary biologist, science journalist, laboratory technician, field research officer, plant pathologist or forensic scientist.

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 Student Fees

Indicative annual course fee
2025
Commonwealth Supported Place $10,248.76

Eligible Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) students can use the HECS-HELP loan program to pay their tuition fees. For Full-Fee Paying (FFP) places, students are charged an annual course fee.

Find out more information about tuition fees, or visit the fee calculator for a more accurate cost.

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.

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.

International Student Fees

Indicative first year fee
2024
$46,800.00
2025
$49,400.00

Find out more about tuition fees or visit the fee calculator for the estimated total course fee.

Note, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are subject to increase up to 7.5 per cent per annum.

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.

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.

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying this major, find out the admission details below.

Minimum entry requirements

Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

Admission requirements

For applicants with recent secondary education, information on admission criteria is available on our entry requirements page or on the UWA Handbook for course specific requirements and prerequisites.

Mathematics requirement

This major requires a certain level of Mathematics. If you do not meet this level, you can take additional Mathematics units in your first year to satisfy this requirement.

WACE prerequisite: Mathematics Methods ATAR

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

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.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

How to apply

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Find out how to apply through our simple online application process. 

We'll guide you through our entry requirements, admission pathways available to you and application deadlines for your chosen course. 

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Course details

Botanists study how plants evolve and adapt to changing climates and environments and have a proactive role in mitigating the loss of biodiversity. Botany is an ideal major if you are enthusiastic about Western Australia's unique native flora or agricultural crops, and are interested in addressing current and future threats to plant conservation and sustainability.

About the course

Botany is the scientific study of plants – from their structure and function to their indispensable roles in ecosystems and the intricacies of their cell function.
Botany

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
  • Albany (Regional campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • 12 hours per unit which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-BOTNY
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years (BSc), 4 years (BSc[Hons])
Botany
Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
  • Albany (Regional campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • 12 hours per unit which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-BOTNY
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years (BSc), 4 years (BSc[Hons])
Honours Available
  • Yes
Degrees course is available in
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Thomas Windsor

Thomas Windsor

Course Structure

Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.

Popular combinations

Why study this course

  • Botany is an ideal major if you are enthusiastic about Western Australia's unique native flora or agricultural crops, and are interested in addressing current and future threats to plant conservation and sustainability
  • In this major, there will be up to three overnight field trips, the cost of which is to be paid for by the student (up to $500 to cover food and accommodation for around 10 nights)

You'll learn to

  • understand plant structure, functioning, adaptation, diversity and evolution 
  • appreciate the critical relationships between plants and their environments
  • demonstrate a knowledge of basic plant processes at different levels of an organism from the molecular to whole plant scale through to populations,  communities and ecosystems
  • be conversant in the terminology, issues and practice of the core principles of plant science, including their diversity, ecology, genetics and evolution, and physiology and adaptation to their environments
Richer student experiences

Student Exchange & Study Abroad

Visit Global Studio
Ranked 1st in Australia and 32nd in the world for Biological Sciences (gras 2023)

Fieldwork in Science

Students on a boat in Elizabeth Quay

Your degree options

This major is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for these degrees. It is also offered as a second major in our other bachelor's degrees.