Undergraduate

Plant Biology (Extended Major)

Apply knowledge from botany, molecular sciences and genetics to work on applications to real-world problems.
80
ATAR
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

Frequently asked questions

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
$46,600.00
2025
$49,200.00

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 Chemistry and Mathematics. If you do not meet this level, you can take additional Chemistry and/or Mathematics units in your first year to satisfy this requirement.

WACE prerequisite: Mathematics Methods ATAR and Chemistry 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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Ready for the next step?

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. 

We can’t wait for you to join us!  

Apply now

Course details

Plant Biology is an exciting and rapidly developing subject, with many applications in fields as diverse as agriculture, conservation and environmental biology. You'll be trained to apply a combination of scientific knowledge from botany, molecular sciences and genetics, working on applications to real-world problems such as how plants adapt to climate change and how to produce healthier and more sustainable foods for the future.

About the course

In Plant Biology, you will study plants from molecular, cellular, and physiological perspectives and develop an understanding of the molecular characterisation of plant development and reproduction, as well as genetic, genomic and physiological studies that aim to elucidate how plants interact with their environments.
Plant Biology

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-PLBEM
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Plant Biology
Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-PLBEM
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Degrees course is available in
  • Bachelor of Biological Science

Course structure

Extended majors enable you to dive deeper into a particular area of study and normally require 13 to 18 units studied over the course of your degree.

Course Structure

Why study this course at UWA?

  • Study near the South West of Western Australia, one of the world’s 25 ‘biodiversity hotspots’ (Conservation International)
  • We’ll provide you with the environment to build technical skills through hands-on learning in the classroom and out in the field, visiting places across WA from the desert to forests and tropical reefs.
  • A major in Plant Biology can accelerate you into a diverse range of career opportunities

You'll learn to

  • Describe the development, structure and functioning of plants from the molecular scale through to the whole plant
  • Demonstrate competency in scientific methodologies such as filed and laboratory sampling, experimentation and data analysis in the plant sciences
  • Demonstrate understanding of the different ways genome sequencing, genome editing, genome diversity and evolution are used to solve both fundamental and applied problems in the plant sciences
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the crucial relationship between a plant's genetics, physiology and ecology with capacity to respond to changing environment and threats e.g. pathogen resistance, impacts of climate change, salinity
  • Demonstrate competency in high-level critical thinking and communication skills suited to gaining employment in the plant sciences
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.