Bachelor of Biosecurity Science

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About the course

You may combine your interests in science, agriculture, animals, and plants in a fulfilling and useful job with our biosecurity science courses. The only undergraduate biosecurity course specifically designed for this degree is available in Australia.

You will gain the knowledge to help:

  • protect our farms, livestock and crops from pests and disease
  • help prevent the attack of weeds and feral animals
  • protect people and the community from zoonotic diseases

In collaboration with our Biosecurity Center of Excellence, we offer the Bachelor of Biosecurity Science.

Expand your awareness of the science and policy governing biosecurity as well as your practical skills and knowledge in the fields of plant and animal sciences. Build a foundation for your studies in biology, microbiology, chemistry, and research techniques. Your specialty areas are as follows:

Plants and animals

  • anatomy and physiology
  • plant and animal production
  • animal health and diseases
  • plant pests and diseases
  • epidemiology

Biosecurity

  • surveillance and monitoring
  • risk management
  • legislation, regulation and policy
  • compliance and enforcement.

In your final year, you will complete a biosecurity industry project. During this two month industry placement, you will evaluate and report on biosecurity practice.

Entry Requirements

 

Applicants with higher education study

Those who have finished a higher education course in its entirety or in part as their highest level of study since leaving secondary school are considered applicants with higher education. This covers coursework completed by applicants at universities or non-university higher education institutions, such as those who wish to transfer from another institution of higher learning to Box Hill Institute or applicants who wish to enroll in a different course at Box Hill Institute.

Higher education holders may be eligible for advanced standing; they should make note of any pertinent credentials when applying or when speaking with the course coordinator.

You can apply to study with us through direct entry and must also have:

  • achieved a score of at least 20 in English OR demonstrate an equivalent literacy standard 
  • successfully completed any maths at unit 3/4 level OR demonstrate an equivalent numeracy standard
  • booked and successfully completed an individual face-to-face selection interview of approximately 30 minutes duration
  • competent computer skills for accessing subject resources, completing online tutorial tasks and submitting word processed assignments through StudentWeb

Applicants with vocational education and training study

Candidates who have finished a VET programme in its entirety or in part as their highest level of study since completing secondary school are referred to as candidates with vocational education and training (VET) study. This covers those who have additional credentials like a Year 10 or Year 12 high school diploma as well as education at a public TAFE or other VET provider.

Candidates for advanced standing who have a diploma or higher should mention any pertinent credentials in their application or in their interview with the course coordinator.

You can apply to study with us through direct entry and must also have:

  • achieved a score of at least 20 in English OR demonstrate an equivalent literacy standard 
  • successfully completed any maths at unit 3/4 level, OR demonstrate an equivalent numeracy standard
  • booked and successfully completed an individual face-to-face selection interview of approximately 30 minutes duration
  • competent computer skills for accessing subject resources, completing online tutorial tasks and submitting word processed assignments through StudentWeb

Applicants with work and life experience

Candidates who have completed secondary education more than two years ago (i.e., applicants who are not categorized as recent secondary education applicants) and have not since pursued VET or higher education study are those who have work and life experience.

Experience might contain a variety of elements that are adequate to show preparation for higher education. This covers entry at a mature age, professional experience, involvement in the community, or work experience. The applicants may have participated in extracurricular activities that prepared them for tertiary education or were pertinent to the intended field of study in higher education.

Candidates for advanced standing who have relevant work and life experience should mention any such experience in their application or in their interview with the course coordinator.

You can apply to study with us through direct entry and must also have:

  • achieved a score of at least 20 in English OR demonstrate an equivalent literacy standard 
  • successfully completed any maths at unit 3/4 level OR demonstrate an equivalent numeracy standard
  • booked and successfully completed an individual face-to-face selection interview of approximately 30 minutes duration
  • competent computer skills for accessing subject resources, completing online tutorial tasks and submitting word processed assignments through StudentWeb

Applicants with recent secondary education

Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is based primarily on completion of Year 12 at a school, TAFE, or other VET or higher education provider that was completed (or will be completed) within the previous three years (this includes Australian or international equivalent).

You can apply through VTAC and must have:

  • achieved a score of at least 20 in English OR demonstrate an equivalent literacy standard 
  • successfully completed any maths at unit 3/4 level OR demonstrate an equivalent numeracy standard
  • booked and successfully completed an individual face-to-face selection interview of approximately 30 minutes duration
  • competent computer skills for accessing subject resources, completing online tutorial tasks and submitting word processed assignments through StudentWeb

Career & Learning Outcomes

 

Your professional employment opportunities as science-educated and biosecurity-skilled personnel at entry-level positions in compliance, auditing, policy development, data management, investigation, training, and surveillance monitoring of industries affected by biosecurity risk may be influenced by your performance in this biosecurity science course. Jobs with titles like “biosecurity officer,” “biosecurity compliance regulatory officer,” “biosecurity policy officer,” and “project support officer” may be found across a wide range of sectors. They might also be able to find jobs in related fields that are relevant to biosecurity, guided by a thorough understanding of local, regional, and global best practices.

Learning Outcomes

  • Lifelong learning
  • Global citizenship
  • Information literacy
  • Application and enquiry
  • Ethical, social and professional understanding
  • Communication
  • Personal and intellectual autonomy

Intake Dates & Course Length

 

February

Full time: 3 years or part time equivalent

Mode of delivery is blended (theory based subjects delivered remotely/online, practical subjects delivered face-to-face under BHI’s Covid Safe Plan).

Classes take place on weekdays (Monday-Friday)

Contact hours (FT) are typically 24 hours per week. An additional 24 hours per week of personal study time is typical.

For information regarding dates such as enrolment, orientation and study breaks please visit the Academic Calendars page.

Fees & Finance Options

 

 Full Fee
Tuition Fee$54,624
Service Fee$804
Core Skills Support Fee$0
Material Fee$0
Retain Course Items$0
Total Course Estimate$55,428
Payable Estimate (at commencement)$18,116

Retain Course Items are purchased once by the student prior to commencing. Those items then become the property of the student. Fees listed are at 2023 rates and may increase annually over the duration of delivery. The student tuition fees listed are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. For more information please contact our Course Advisors on 1300 BOX HILL.

Course Structure

 

A bachelor’s in biosecurity science can be earned in three years. Attendance for all lectures and practical exercises is required. You are urged to participate in tutorials, which are optional. In some units, field trips are counted as one of the assessable tasks.

The majority of subjects have 4-6 hours of contact scheduled each week (including practicals). You should budget 12 hours each week, including time for independent study, for each course. For the duration of the course, full-time students should prepare to put in a total of 48 hours of work per week.

To graduate, you must complete all 23 unit subjects, including a 7-week Biosecurity Industry Project in your final year.