In a nutshell
Build sought-after skills to help promote health and wellbeing across communities with this Bachelor of Health Sciences course from Deakin University.
If you’re interested in science or health and want a rewarding career helping others, this course will equip you with the skills, knowledge and experience required to turn your passion into a career in this dynamic and growing industry. In this broad, foundation course, you’ll learn the fundamentals of health science, and study subjects including environmental health, family and society health, food, disability, medical biotechnology, health promotion, health and sustainability, nutrition and physical health, psychological science, exercise science and psychology for professional development. You’ll be able to choose up to three majors, with a broad range of electives – making this course an ideal starting point for a varied and successful career across a range of health science fields.
With a particular focus on preparing students for real-world work, this course offers workplace learning opportunities for developing practical experience to complement your theoretical study. You’ll graduate from this course equipped with the experience, skills and insights required to make a real difference in the important, challenging and rewarding field of contemporary health science.
What you’ll need
To be eligible to study this course, applicants must meet the following entry requirements:
- Hold a senior secondary certificate of education with pre-requisite units 3 and 4, a study score of at least 25 in English as an additional language (EAL) or 20 in English other than EAL, and meet the published Australian Tertiary Entrance Rank for the year of admission; OR
- Hold a Certificate IV in a related discipline; OR
- Hold a diploma in any discipline or 50% completion of a diploma in a related discipline; OR
- Have successful completion of relevant study at an accredited higher education institution equivalent to at least two Deakin University units; OR
- Demonstrate other evidence of academic capability judged to be equivalent for example relevant work or life experience.
English language proficiently requirements also apply.
Subject summary
In this health science course, the subjects you may study include:
Core subjects:
- Academic integrity
- Understanding health
- Health information and data
- Australian health care system
- Population health: A research perspective
- Program planning, management and evaluation
- Integrated learning for practice
Students will select elective units based on one of the following major sequences:
- Environmental health (major)
- Exercise science (major and minor)
- Family, society and health (major and minor)
- Food studies (major and minor)
- Health promotion (major and minor)
- Health and sustainability (major and minor)
- Medical biotechnology (major and minor)
- Nutrition (major and minor)
- Disability and inclusion (major and minor)
- Physical activity and health (major and minor)
- Psychological science (major)
- Psychology for professional development (major and minor)
Why Deakin University?

Established in 1974 as Australia’s first regional university in Victoria, Deakin University has consistently raised the bar in delivering quality tertiary education with a focus on excellent teaching and research.
The multi-award winning education provider teaches over 53,000 students a year, offering renowned courses that integrate real-world expertise and practical skills. Get recognised with Deakin in a range of industries, including nutrition, sports management, property management, law, business and more. Plus, they’ve have ranked in the top 2% by the acclaimed Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
As a student of Deakin, you’ll get support every step of the way along your learning journey!
They’ve got a range of on-campus facilities and online features to help ease the pressure of study, including on-campus childcare services, a medical centre with qualified nurses and doctors, free and confidential counselling (face-to-face or via phone) and more.
Deakin also offer advisers and resources to help develop your academic skills. Advisers are available on campus and online to help guide you in your research, assignment and study practices.
Campus locations
This course can be delivered on campus to provide you with practical training in a face-to-face learning environment. It is available to study at the following locations: