Biomedical Science Major - Bachelor of Science
Interested in emerging areas of medical and health science and how they can improve human and animal health? Study the Biomedical Science major in the Bachelor of Science.
Biomedical science and biotechnology have revolutionised research over the past decade, stimulating growth in industries like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, veterinary science and medical research. Biomedical science is the most rapidly developing area in biological sciences, and demand for biomedical graduates is expected to grow.
You gain an understanding of fundamental physiology and biomedical research, working with the latest laboratory techniques and equipment. AUT has specialist biomedical labs with analytical equipment not available at any other New Zealand university.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Science.
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The Biomedical Science major draws on chemistry, human health, pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences and molecular biology to explain the key principles of biomedicine. Courses cover the future of diagnostics, drug discovery and delivery, human systems, biomedical research and exciting advances in biomedical research including gene editing and nanotechnology.
You’ll become familiar with a wide variety of biomedical facilities and equipment, including:
- Cell culture
- LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy)
- Flow cytometer-cell sorter
- Real-time PCR machine (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
- Fluorescence microscope
- 3D printer
- Bioprinters
- Plate-reader
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.*
*Depending on your chosen combination of majors and minors it may take you longer than three years to complete your degree.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Science students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Choose one of:
- DIGD507 Mahitahi | Collaborative Practices
- SCIE504 Science and Society
And choose one natural sciences course
- ASTR500 Introductory Astronomy
- BIOL500 Foundations of Life
- BMED500 Introduction to Biomedical Science
- CHEM500 Chemistry in Our World
- CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry #
- CHEM502 Biological and Solution Chemistry
- CONS500 Biodiversity
- EASC500 Our Dynamic Earth
- ENVS502 Environmental Science Skills
- ENVS503 Our Total Environment
- FOOD502 Food Science
- FOOD503 Food Technology
- GESC500 Mapping Our Environment
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology
- HEAL507 Health and Environment
- MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment
- MASC500 Introduction to Marine Science
- MASC501 Marine Science Techniques
- MELS501 Histology and Cytology^
- MICR501 Microbial Life
- PHYS501 Physics for Scientists and Engineers
- SOSC585 Climate Action
And one mathematical and computer sciences course
- COMP500 Programming Concepts and Techniques*
- COMP503 Object Oriented Programming*
- MATH502 Algebra and Discrete Mathematics
- MATH504 Introductory Mathematics for Science
- MATH505 Algebra and Calculus I
- STAT500 Applied Statistics
- STAT502 Introductory Probability and Statistics
^Not offered in 2025
*Only available to students in the Analytics and Mathematical Modelling and Computation majors
#Please note that this course is designed for students with chemistry knowledge from high school. If you're unsure about your level of knowledge, you can take an optional pre-test here.
And one course from either the natural sciences or mathematical and computer science courses above.
Complete the following course:
- SCIE606 Vision Mātauranga: Science Practice in Aotearoa
And one of:
- CHEM604 Instrumental Analysis
- SCIE600 Scientific Inquiry
In Year 3, you complete a project in an area related to your major. This project gives you an important competitive edge for your career, and is good preparation for postgraduate study.
Courses you complete for this project:
- SCIE707 Science Capstone Project A
- SCIE708 Science Capstone Project B
Biomedical science courses
If you're majoring in biomedical science, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight biomedical science-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Year 1 courses
- BMED500 Introduction to Biomedical Science
- HEAL514 Understanding the Human Body Systems for Health Practice*
*This replaces HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I. Started before 2026 and need to complete HEAL505? View info on changes to first-year health courses
Year 2 courses
- BMED600 Molecular Biomedicine
- BMED601 Natural Biomedical Products
- HEAL609 Integrated Human Body Systems II
Year 3 courses
- BMED700 Advanced Molecular Biomedicine
- BMED701 Biomedical Science
- BMED702 Drug Delivery and Formulation
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for a course timetable or more info on a specific course use our course search.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-science/biomedical-science-major
Students who started at AUT before 2023
If you started your studies at AUT before 2023, the courses you need to study to complete the requirements for your programme are a little different. Find out more about what courses you should take.
Skills you will develop
The outcomes for graduates of the Bachelor of Science are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
- Laboratory technician
- Formulation scientist
- Biomedical production technician
- Clinical trial assistant
- Medicinal chemist
- Toxicologist
- Health policy analyst
- Medical writer
Biomedical science graduates can also progress into further study and research in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, aimed at curing or controlling non-communicable diseases.
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Science
- Analytics
- Biological Science
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Food Science
- Marine Science
- Mathematical Modelling and Computation
Postgraduate study options
- Biomedical science is a rapidly developing area
- Can open up numerous career opportunities
- Access to AUT’s specialist biomedical labs
- Flexibility: tailor your degree with a second major, minor or electives of your choice
- Complete an industry-related project in your final year
- Doing research in medical and health areas
- Interested in finding cures, preventing diseases and identifying health risks
- Creative, innovative and knowledgeable
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.