Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Science Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Information for intending Bachelor of Science Honours students

The Honours year

The Honours degree is a one-year course of advanced study and research. Completion of Honours allows students to continue onto higher degree study (eg PhD) and provides intensive practical training in current experimental techniques, the opportunity to develop oral and written communication skills and the experience of working in an active research environment. Our Honours graduates are highly sought after by employers in biological, medical and industrial areas.

Most Honours projects are supervised by departmental staff and research fellows located in the University of Melbourne Bio21 Molecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute. The Bio21 institute has superb facilities and houses a large number of groups with strong interests in molecular, structural and chemical biology.

Most students start their studies at the beginning of Semester one, although mid-year entry (start of Semester 2) is also a possibility.

Honours scholarships

The department has made available scholarships of $5,000 for students in the 2012 Honours intake. All students with a 3rd year average of 85 or above will be guaranteed a scholarship. In addition, a limited number of scholarships will be offered to students with an average between 80-85. It is expected that at least eight (8) scholarships will be offered in 2012.

Admission requirements

Entry is by merit, usually after a three-year BSc degree. The Honours course is open to students who have completed a major (usually 50 points or more) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Melbourne, or an equivalent level of study elsewhere. However, under circumstances in which students have relevant 300-level subjects in closely related disciplines, these requirements may be waived by the Head of Department. All BBiomed students who have completed the core 300-level subjects are eligible.

For details of entry requirements, visit the links to Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours) (BH-BMED) and Bachelor of Science (Honours) (BH-SCI).

Finding a project and a supervisor

Prospective Honours students can find out about research projects posted on this Web site or the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Honours/Postgraduate booklet. All students are strongly encouraged to approach staff members directly to discuss research project opportunities and their interests before completing an application form. Students can also obtain advice from the Honours Coordinator.

Supervisors and Honours projects

Departmental research covers many areas of biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology and biophysics. Current information about the research projects on offer to students and research areas is provided in the information booklet.

Honours/PhD Information Booklet 2012

[PDF, 2.3MB]

Links to the individual supervisors' projects from the information booklet are listed below:


Projects at external institutes

It is possible for students to complete their research project with supervisors in affiliated external institutions. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has close links with research groups at the following research organisations:

Projects in external institutions must have a strong focus on the use of biochemical and molecular biological approaches and supervisors should be affiliated with the Department and approved by the Honours coordinator. A list of potential supervisors in external institutions is available from the Honours coordinator.

A Combined Honours Course with the Department of Chemistry is also available for students wanting to undertake a research project involving both disciplines. Students taking a combined project will enroll in the Biochemistry/Chemistry degree if their coursework is in Biochemistry and the Chemistry/Biochemistry degree if their coursework is in Chemistry.

Selection into the Honours course

If you wish to be considered for Honours in 2011, and you would like to undertake your project and coursework in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (for projects undertaken within the department or in an affiliated institute), you must:

  1. Speak directly with potential supervisors about your interests and potential projects in their laboratories, coursework requirements etc. in order to identify suitable laboratories in which to do your research project. Helpful background material can be found in departmental and institute Honours project booklets and websites, at the MDHS Honours Expo, and individual information sessions held by departments and institutes. In some cases, supervisors may be willing to offer you a provisional place in their laboratory (a provisional offer indicates that you have a guaranteed place in the Honours course providing you satisfy all of the entry requirements). Students who have been offered a provisional offer should submit a ‘Supervisor Provisional Offer Form’ (final page of this booklet), signed by the supervisor, to the departmental office, Level 3, West wing, Medical Building by 18 November.
  2. Apply online through the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences website

For more information on how to apply, students should contact Irene Koumanelis (Student Administrator) or Prof Malcolm McConville (Honours coordinator).

Honours information session

An information session on the Honours course in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will be held around the middle of September. The session will give students the opportunity to meet supervisors and discuss possible projects.

Enquiries

Professor Malcolm McConville
Honours Coordinator, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Bio21 Institute
30 Flemington Rd
room: 332
tel: +61 3 8344 2342
email: malcolmm@unimelb.edu.au

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