Bachelor of Health Science

VU course code:HBHLCRICOS:092156GLevel of study:Undergraduate

ATAR

Not required

Duration

3 years full time or longer for part time

Delivery mode

In Person

Fees

View all fees

Location

St Albans Campus

Intakes

View all intakes

Overview

Embark on a rewarding career in public health, with a Bachelor of Health Science at Victoria University.

Prepare yourself for a range of health and science careers with a degree that focuses on improving the health of groups of people.

Get fantastic real-world experience through VU’s collaborations with health institutes, other universities and community organisations. You’ll graduate from this health-science degree with the skills and knowledge to work on government health programs, private-practice initiatives and with NGOs.

Whether you dream of improving the lives of people in developing countries or shaping public policy to support Australia’s ageing population, opportunities are growing in all areas of this important field.

You’ll study core bioscience, research and public-health topics, and your major will be in Public Health. From your second year of study, you’ll choose your particular areas of interest to focus on.

You’ll graduate with expertise in:

disease and injury prevention
health research
health promotion
epidemiology.

At VU, take advantage of flexible study options and a hands-on approach that will have you job-ready for your chosen career.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Critically review selected social, biological, economic, political and environmental determinants of health, well-being and disease and explain how they manifest in both local and global contexts;
Evaluate and justify the use of best-evidence based methods and technologies to investigate and propose solutions to contemporary, emerging and future-oriented issues in public health;
Apply a broad and coherent knowledge base and skills in the health sciences to analyse predictable, unpredictable and sometimes complex problems which reflect the multi-faceted nature of health, well-being and disease;
Conceptually map key ethical, legal and professional components within the domain of health.
: Considering a career in clinical health care? A Bachelor of Health Science offers a strong foundation that can prepare you to enter these highly-competitive courses:
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelor of Paramedicine
Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy)/Master of Health Science (Osteopathy).
In first year, you’ll study alongside students in these other courses in units covering anatomy and physiology and indigenous health and wellbeing. For a list of recommended units to study within your Bachelor of Health Science to enable transfer, see the course structure section below.
: Begin your journey to becoming an expert professional equipped to provide solutions to the world’s evolving health challenges.
As a Bachelor of Health Science graduate, you’ll open doors to a range of career and further study opportunities, including our Master of Global Public Health.
Or, continue to a masters or doctoral degree to access world-leading research opportunities with our flagship research centre, the Institute for Health & Sport (IHES).
: Within your Bachelor of Health Science, you have the opportunity to choose a second major in Indigenous health, supported by the strength of Victoria University’s Moondani Balluk academic unit, which promotes Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research and partners with government and community groups.
You’ll gain the knowledge required to make a real difference to the health outcomes of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations and communities by focusing on how history, societal structures and colonial systems impact health outcomes.
: Achieve your full potential with The Learning Hub, which helps you develop your confidence, academic ability, and study skills.
Benefit from in-person mentoring and study sessions, along with a range of digital learning modules that you can access anytime.
Get help from our online, 24/7 support service to polish your assignments before you submit, and receive guidance on writing, referencing, maths and more.
Read more about The Learning Hub

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your educational achievements and work experience, as well as your skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

ATAR requirements

No minimum ATAR required

This course does not have a minimum ATAR requirement for entry. Read the entry criteria for this course below.

Why ATAR is not applicable

You do not need an ATAR score to apply for this course. Instead, you need to have successfully completed secondary school and to meet any requirements outlined below. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their ATAR, age, education or socioeconomic background.

Minimum entry criteria include:

English-language requirements
academic requirements.

Your work and life experience will also be considered.

To find specific entry requirements for this course, please select the section below that is most relevant to you.

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.

: This information is relevant if, in the 2 years prior to studying with us, you have completed (or will complete) one of the following:
Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE)
an Australian or overseas equivalent to VCE
an International Baccalaureate (IB).
Admission criteria
Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English.
: This information is relevant if you have completed an accredited award (such as a certificate or diploma) at an Australian Registered Training Organisation (usually a TAFE, polytechnic or other registered VET institute).
Admission criteria
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (or equivalent).
: This information is relevant if you’ve previously completed all or part of a university or other higher-education course.
Admission criteria
Full or partial completion of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of a single unit of Higher Education studies.
OR:
Completion of a bridging or enabling course eg. Foundation course or equivalent.
: This information is relevant if you left secondary school more than two years ago and haven’t studied since.
Admission criteria
Five years (minimum) work/life experience in Health Sciences or similar.
OR:
Applicants that completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate more than two years ago.
PLUS:
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).

Special entry programs

Special admission programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

Additional information

Students may be required to undergo a Victoria Police Check, Working with Children check, a medical check and a physical capacity test dependent upon units chosen.

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To successfully attain the Bachelor of Health Science, students will be required to complete 288 credit points consisting of:

96 credit points of First Year Core studies;
96 credit points of Public Health Major studies;

Plus One of the following:

Option A:

96 credit points of Indigenous Health Major studies;

Option B:

96 credit points of Minor studies (Two Minor sets in total).

Students that complete the first year of College Core studies can elect to graduate with the following (Option A) double Major:

Majors in Public Health and Indigenous Health.

Students that complete the first year of College Core studies and a single Major in Public Health, can elect to graduate with (Option B) two minors to complement their Major, as follows:

Indigenous Health (HMIIND);
Health (Sport Science Minor) (SMIHEA);
Health and Nutrition (HMIHNU), and;
Bioscience (HMIBIO).

After you are accepted into your course, you will need to enrol in your course units.

During enrolment, use your course delivery plan to understand the structure and requirements of your course.

Fees & scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the government, reducing it to the amount listed here. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will qualify for a CSP place. If your course is not Commonwealth supported, or you don't qualify, you'll pay full fees.

Learn more about Commonwealth Supported Places

Careers

When you graduate with a Bachelor of Health Science, you can find job opportunities in:

government departments focused on public health and health promotion
not-for-profits including health foundations and education programs
international organisations such as the UN, WHO, UNICEF, ACSM
health and community organisations
pharmaceutical industries
professional associations
public health research programs in academic and research institutions.

Demand continues to grow for these professions. Visit Jobs and Skills Australia to find job-market information for:

Intakes

Melbourne

On campus – Melbourne St Albans Campus

Summer block

Course starts 11 January 2027

Applications close03 January 2027

Semester 1 - Block 1

Course starts 15 February 2027

Applications close07 February 2027

Semester 1 - Block 3

Course starts 26 April 2027

Applications close18 April 2027

Semester 2 - Block 1

Course starts 26 July 2027

Applications close18 July 2027

Apply via VTAC if you are:

in Year 12 or
applying to multiple universities

VTAC course code 4301310071

VTAC very late applications are due by 22 January 2027

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information on this page, please note that dates are subject to change. Some courses may close early due to an earlier start date or there being limited places available.