Breadth

Did you know that your Bachelor of Biomedicine isn’t filled with just ‘Biomedicine’? Did you know you can study management, communication, language or music? This is possible through your Breadth options!

Breadth is one of the most exciting aspects of the University's undergraduate degrees. Breadth subjects allow you to gain knowledge and understanding across a broader range of disciplines, enabling you to develop insight, experience and new ways of thinking in areas distinct from the main fields of study in your degree.

Why study breadth?

The aim of breadth is not only to encourage you to expand your academic horizons, but also to enable you to bring a broader range of skills to the workplace. Breadth will offer you the flexibility to take on the many challenges of a 21st century global work environment, as well as opportunities for increased personal development.

Breadth is an opportunity to:

  • learn about something you're interested in from outside the core disciplines of your degree
  • challenge the ways you approach and view the world
  • meet and share learning experiences with students from other parts of the University
  • try subjects in different fields to see if further studies in these areas interest you
  • extend skills you already have or learn new skills
  • prepare for graduate pathways or career entry

How do I choose my breadth subjects?

What you choose is really up to you - there is no right or wrong ways to select your breadth subjects. Feedback from employers in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology sector indicates that they look favourably on Graduates who have strategically used their subject choices to enhance their employability.  University of Melbourne students are uniquely placed to utilise their Breadth subjects to do just this.

Below are a few suggestions on how to use your Breadth subject choices to complement the content knowledge and practical scientific skills you will develop in your Bachelor of Biomedicine. Alternatively you may choose to follow  a Breadth Track.

Communication and Academic English

Entrepreneurship

Global Development

Health Sciences from a different Perspective

Indigenous Studies

Languages

Law

Leadership

Public Policy

Science from a different Perspective

Self-Development and Wellbeing

Sport/Exercise

Alternatively you may choose to follow  a Breadth Track. A breadth track is a grouping of three or more subjects that will allow you to progressively develop knowledge and skills in a study area. Breadth tracks are optional and subjects in a track need to be added to the breadth component of your study plan individually. Breadth tracks will not appear as specialisations on your academic transcript.

These are only some of the subjects you can choose to meet the Breadth requirements of your course.There are many reasons why you might decide to study a particular subject or subjects through breadth, for example, for interest, to achieve prerequisites for graduate studies, or to complement your core studies. There are hundreds of options for your degree!

More information on choosing breadth subjects

Handbook - Breadth Search

Learn more about Breadth Tracks

What are the Rules?

  1. Bachelor of Biomedicine students complete a breadth component of 50 points (four subjects), with another 25 points (two subjects) of free (that is, breadth or science selective) subjects.
  2. At least 12.5 points (1 subject) of breadth must be taken at Level 2 or 3 (and no more than 37.5 points (3 subjects) at Level 1.

Subjects that may contribute to a student's Bachelor of Biomedicine breadth component will be subjects that contrast with science, technology and Engineering Systems, or integrate these studies with humanities and social sciences so that the subject encompasses a much broader arena of knowledge and skills (e.g. University Breadth Subjects).

Will my breadth studies affect my average (WAM/GPA) or application for graduate study?

When selecting you for a graduate course, some faculties will consider the studies you have completed that are directly relevant to the study area, while some may calculate your average using all of your studies. As these practices vary, you should check with the selecting faculty whether or not breadth will be considered during the selection process.

MDHS University Breadth Subjects

Breadth FAQs

Biomedicine Breadth Requirements