Undergraduate

Microbiology and Immunology

Microbiology and Immunology together form the basis of our understanding of human health and disease.
75
ATAR
Course Details Careers & further study Fees & Scholarships Admission requirements How to apply Contact us Enquire Apply

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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

Email

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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

Career opportunities for graduates exist in a wide range of areas. These include the health care industry, pharmaceutical industry, hospitals and biomedical research institutes, environmental science, the mining industry, biotechnology companies, private laboratories and the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. Other options include further studies and employment in both research and clinical positions in public health, agricultural, veterinary and university laboratories and the CSIRO.
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Career Pathways

Career opportunities for graduates exist in a wide range of areas. These include the health care industry, pharmaceutical industry, hospitals and biomedical research institutes, environmental science, the mining industry, biotechnology companies, private laboratories and the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. Other options include further studies and employment in both research and clinical positions in public health, agricultural, veterinary and university laboratories and the CSIRO.

Further Study

Students with a Microbiology and Immunology major can pursue further studies at postgraduate level. Further study options include the Graduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases, Master of Infectious Diseases (coursework and dissertation) or the Master of Science Communication.
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Further Study

Students with a Microbiology and Immunology major can pursue further studies at postgraduate level. Further study options include the Graduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases, Master of Infectious Diseases (coursework and dissertation) or the Master of Science Communication.

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
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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

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Health Students' Society

The Health Students' Society (HSS) is a student-run, not-for-profit organisation for undergraduates completing health-related majors at UWA. HSS provides social and education opportunities and encourages students to make the most of their time on campus and of university life. HSS offers a support network for members during their degrees and aims to enhance the university experience and raise the profile of graduates to prospective employees.

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Health Students' Society

International Student Fees

Indicative first year fee
2024
$43,900.00
2025
$46,300.00

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.

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

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

Minimum entry requirements

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

Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65
  • 75.5
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 254
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 324
Trinity College Foundation
  • 280
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 61
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 56
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 75
Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).
Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65
  • 75.5
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 254
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 324
Trinity College Foundation
  • 280
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 61
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 56
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 75
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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.

Admission requirements

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

English competency

Chemistry / biology requirement

Applicants are recommended to have completed Chemistry ATAR and Biology ATAR / Human Biology ATAR.

International students commencing in semester 2 must have completed Biology ATAR and Chemistry ATAR or equivalent to be admitted.

Chemistry / biology 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

Microbiology explores the hidden world of microorganisms and how they shape our health and ecosystems. Immunology is the study of our immune system and how this interacts with the environment to create healthy or disease syndromes. Your studies can be applied in areas as diverse as medicine, food spoilage, control of environmental pollution and space science. You'll receive a thorough grounding in the scientific basis of the discipline and its applications in the real world.

About the course

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms and how they interact with the macro-world to influence health and disease of all life forms on earth. Microbes are organisms too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope and include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae and parasites. Immunology studies the role of the immune system in maintaining health by defending against infectious diseases or causing disease such as allergies when it becomes dysregulated.
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About the course

Information in this major covers basic immunology including allergic diseases and microbiology including microbial ecology, physiology and genetics of microbes. This knowledge can be applied in many diverse careers including but not limited to medicine, public health and industrial activities such as environmental testing, food production and patent law.

The Microbiology and Immunology major is distinguished by the embedding of the discipline's research strengths in virology, bacteriology and immunology. You'll be taught by the people conducting this cutting-edge research and you will discuss, apply and expand on the theoretical content of your unit in weekly practical laboratory classes and structured tutorials.

You will develop skills in fundamental techniques such as culturing techniques for the isolation and characterisation of bacteria, the use of microscopy for the identification of microbes, and data recording. A strong emphasis is placed on applications in biomedicine and biotechnology.

Microbiology and Immunology

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • 16-25 hours teaching time, plus study time
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-MCBIM
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years (BBiomedSc), 3 years (BSc), 4 years (BBiomedSc[Hons])
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Microbiology and Immunology

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • 16-25 hours teaching time, plus study time
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-MCBIM
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years (BBiomedSc), 3 years (BSc), 4 years (BBiomedSc[Hons])
Degrees course is available in
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Biomedical Science

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Rainbow Teo

Rainbow Teo

UWA’s science prospects are broad and enable students to be able to experience many different fields, even when most students are still not sure about their career pathway. The lab aspects of my course are exceptional and focus on the student’s expertise and skills in a lab, prepping us for future careers in the same field. They can be quite exciting and serious, as you are treated as a real scientist. There are many devices to work with in a lab including different specimens to analyse. The opportunities are endless.

UWA has opened up an infinite amount of resources for its students, making studying easy and being able to find articles and research papers at a click of a button. With six libraries on and off campus there are plenty of areas to study, be it in a group setting or in a quiet space.

 

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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

Anatomy and Human Biology Anatomy and Human Biology Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Genetics Genetics

Course structure details

Take all units in level 1. There is no exception for prior ATAR level study in Biology or Human Biology.
Level 1
For the following co-majors, take the following level 1 core units. Students undertaking MJD-BCHMB are advised to complete BIOC1001, CHEM1001 and SCIE1104. Students undertaking MJD-PHARY are advised to take BIOC1001. Students undertaking MJD-PLMED are advised to take ANHB1102. IMED1001 and IMED1002 is only available to students enrolled in the MJD-MEDSI, MJD-IMSCP, MJD-EBMEG, MJD-PHMSC and MJD-DENTS. MICR1101 is an elective unit for those interested in the principles of scientific discovery in microbiology.

Core

Take all units (12 points):

Bridging

Take units if applicable:
Level 2

Core

Take all units (12 points):
Level 3

Core

Take all units (24 points):
Course structure details Other combinations

Graduate Membership

ASM logo

As a graduate, you will be eligible for membership with the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM), the national scientific and employment body of the profession.

Graduate Membership

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Health Students' Society

The Health Students' Society (HSS) is a student-run, not-for-profit organisation for undergraduates completing health-related majors at UWA. HSS provides social and education opportunities and encourages students to make the most of their time on campus and of university life. HSS offers a support network for members during their degrees and aims to enhance the university experience and raise the profile of graduates to prospective employees.

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Health Students' Society

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.