Course Information Day attracts next Biomed cohort
Prospective Bachelor of Biomedicine students hit campus yesterday to learn more about the sought-after degree, including new majors and places to learn in 2019 and beyond.
Students interested in a career in professional health were welcomed to the Parkville Campus yesterday and urged to follow their passion.
Whether it is medicine, dentistry, bioengineering, research or another career that beckons, Professor David Williams encouraged prospective students to identify which area of biomedical science they are most interested in and gravitating towards it.
“This is a critical time to lay the foundations for your career options,” the Program Director and Deputy Head of Physiology told year 12 students and their families on Monday 17 December.
With 14 majors to choose from – including new psychology and human nutrition majors offered for the first time in 2019 – Professor Williams said university is the time to evolve not only your skill-set, but also passion, engagement and interest in professional health.
“After all, you have 45 years of working life ahead, so you should enjoy what you do,” the member of the Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Biomedical Sciences (NCBMS) said.
From 2019, students will have even more access to learning via virtual reality and simulation, plus enjoy practical class teaching in the new, purpose-built Western Edge Biosciences building.
Alex Diaz, 2018 Bachelor of Biomedicine graduate, said he chose the degree at Melbourne because of the high-quality teaching and proximity to Australia’s leading biomedical precinct.
“It is also a good generalist degree for those interested in health sciences. I was unsure of what future direction I wanted to take,” he said. “But, I majored in neuroscience because I wanted to pursue a scientific interest that wasn’t yet fully understood. Delving deep into that area was huge for me.”
Alex has since been accepted into the University’s Doctor of Medicine program.
He added: “The workload can be vigorous – as it should be – but you can still be involved in student life as well.” Alex has been a long-time active member of the Biomedicine Student Society and said the social aspect of university life is just as rewarding as the study.
At a panel discussion later in the day called, ‘What’s after Biomedicine?’ the audience heard from Bachelor of Biomedicine graduates about their experiences whilst studying and where their degree has taken them.
The students who have pursued different pathways from medicine, to research, optometry to physiotherapy, all spoke about the transition from high school to university, what they majored in and why, plus how they managed the workload with part time jobs and social activities.
Graduate Josh Murray urged the next biomed cohort of high-achievers to focus on doing their personal best. “There’s no right way to be successful at university, but you can find ways to stand out including your Breadth subjects,” he said.
The audience heard how biomed students had used Breadth to pursue interests outside of their degree such as languages, commerce, music and law to create their own unique pathway.
“One of my Breadth subjects was Creative Writing, which helped me be more concise when doing the GAMSAT (The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test) and getting into Medicine," Alex said.
Discover more about studying Biomedicine at Melbourne: