General Information

Overview

If a career that champions good health for all people is something you aspire to, expand your options and focus on the future with the Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation double degree.

The only double degree of its kind, this integrated program combines knowledge and skills development in health science while you learn how to leverage innovation for positive change in people’s health as well as your industry.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Health Science/ Bachelor of Applied Innovation requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

 
  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
  • See the course planner for an example degree structure
  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Anatomy and Physiology
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO10004
Introduction to Health Sciences
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
HEA10001
Digital Health Foundations
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
HEA10004
Brain and Behaviour
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY10007
Foundations of Statistics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
STA10003
Health and Disease Across the Life Course
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO20004
Research Methods for Health Sciences
Core unit, 12.5 credit points, Non-psychology majors only
HEA20007
Introduction to Research Methods
Core unit, 12.5 credit points, Psychology majors only
PSY10005
Units of study Unit code
Core units
Exploring Creativity and Innovation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
INV10001
Fundamentals of Innovation Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
INV10002
Innovation Sandpit
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
INV10003
Responsible Innovation Futures
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
INV10004
Innovation for Challenges of Today
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
INV20001
Innovation for the Future
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
INV20002
Applied Innovation Internship
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
INV20003
Applied Innovation Studio A
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
INV30001
Applied Innovation Studio B
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
INV30002
Leadership and Facilitation of Innovation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
INV30003
Units of study Unit code
Consumer Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE10005
Introduction to Biochemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BCH20002
Physiology in Medical and Health Sciences
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR20003
Musculoskeletal Anatomy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO10008
Infections and Immunology in Health Sciences
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO20005
Genes and Genomics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30006
Body Function and Structure for Health Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30007
Pathophysiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30008
Units of study Unit code
Technology and Data Acquisition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP10001
Neurophysiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20006
Medical Imaging Systems
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP20009
Measurement and Instrumentation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP20010
Physiological Signals
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP30007
Engineering Technology Innovation Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ENG40011
Cardiopulmonary and Renal Physiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP30009
Biomedical Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP30003
Units of study Unit code
Neuroscience
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU10002
Neurophysiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20006
Neuroimaging
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20007
Sensation and Perception
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20005
Higher Cortical Functions
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30004
Advanced Topics in Neuroscience
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30007
Developmental and Molecular Neuroscience
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20008
Neuropsychopharmacology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30009
Units of study Unit code
Introduction to Nutrition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR10001
Consumer Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE10005
Physiology in Medical and Health Sciences
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR20003
Nutrition in the Life Course
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR20002
Nutrition and Disease Prevention
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR30001
Public Health Nutrition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR30004
Nutritional Biochemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR30005
Nutrition Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR20001
Units of study Unit code
Introduction to Forensic Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE10007
Fundamentals of Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY10008
Developmental Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20007
Analysis of Variance and Regression
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
STA20006
Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FOR10001
Cognition and Human Performance
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20006
Social Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20016
History and Philosophy of Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30013
Statistics for Forensics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
STA20008
Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FOR30001
Psychology of Personality
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30008
Units of study Unit code
Physical Activity, Health and Technology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SPH10013
Epidemiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
STA20009
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HEP20002
Environment and Society: Problems and Solutions
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC10005
Indigenous Health
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HEA20006
Health Communication
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HEP30003
Leadership and Innovation in Health Promotion
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HEA30010
Public Health Nutrition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR30004

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.

Units of study Unit code
Professional placement - Major (12 months)
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Health
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
HEA20003
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20002
Integrated Professional Placement B - Health
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
HEA20004
Mental Health Advanced
  • PSY20001 Theories of Counselling 
  • PSY30001 Psychology of Health
  • PSY30012 Psychology of Trauma 
  • PSY30015 Positive Psychology

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • Accounting
  • Advertising 
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Applied Psychology
  • Aviation
  • Biomedical Science 
  • Biotechnology 
  • Branded Environments
  • Chemistry
  • Cinema and Screen Studies
  • Climate and Social Justice
  • Communication Design 
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing 
  • Criminology 
  • Data Analytics
  • Data Science 
  • Design Principles and Processes 
  • Digital Advertising Technology 
  • Digital Marketing 
  • Diversity and Multiculturalism 
  • Editing
  • Engineering 
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Ethics and Technology 
  • Film and Television Theory
  • Finance 
  • Games and Interactivity 
  • Health Statistics 
  • Health Societies 
  • Higher Mathematics 
  • History 
  • Human Resource Management 
  • Indigenous Studies 
  • Industrial Design 
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Innovation
  • Interior Architecture 
  • Interior Documentation and Construction
  • International Relations and Security 
  • Journalism 
  • Literature
  • Management 
  • Management for Health 
  • Management Information Systems
  • Marketing 
  • Media Industries 
  • Motion Design 
  • Neuroscience 
  • Nutrition
  • Perspectives on Globalisation 
  • Philosophy 
  • Photomedia 
  • Physics 
  • Politics and International Relations 
  • Professional and Creative Writing
  • Public Relations 
  • Screen Studies and Popular Culture
  • Social Impact 
  • Social Media 
  • Sociology 
  • Space Technology Minor
  • Web Development
View minor units

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Applied Innovation graduates will be able to: 

  • demonstrate knowledge and cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and apply this with initiative and judgment in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship
  • demonstrate technical and practical skills, and a broad understanding of key concepts in their chosen field of study
  • demonstrate knowledge and cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgment in identifying and solving problems independently and collaboratively, in diverse contexts
  • apply communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas to different audiences and stakeholders
  • with responsibility and accountability, apply their knowledge, cognitive and technical skills, and principles of sustainability and respectful design, to the development of design solutions
  • exercise organisational and leadership skills, and demonstrate the ability to plan and execute a project and/or piece of research with groups that may include academics, industry professionals and students
  • define and integrate theoretical principles applicable to business and apply those principles in a range of practices
  • systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources in order to make informed judgements on options for innovatively solving a range of problems that arise in business contexts
  • formulate creative solutions that are fit for purpose and demonstrate cognisance of the impact of business decisions on the triple bottom line
  • coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas
  • communicate a range of business arguments by evaluating and implementing alternative communication strategies as appropriate to the audience.

Career opportunities

The graduates from this double degree course are well equipped to find work in both technical and administrative areas. Besides being a professional engineer in a chosen area of expertise such as Civil Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, or Product Design Engineering, graduates develop critical and creative reasoning skills that can be employed in areas such as policy analysis and development, research, community development, administration, public relations, publishing or media.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts, students must complete 500 credit points comprising:

  • 10 Engineering core units of study (125 credit points)
  • 18 units of study from one Engineering major (225 credit points)
  • 4 Arts core units of study (50 credit points)
  • 8 units of study from one Arts Major (100 credit points)
  • EAT20008 Professional Experience in Engineering (Compulsory non-credit unit) **

Domestic students also have an opportunity to undertake a WIL Professional Placement. Please note that due to government regulation international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake Professional Placements in this course.

** Students who undertake a 6 or 12-month Professional Placement may receive an exemption for EAT20008. Where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternative unit.

Professional placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process.

Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 600 credit points comprising:

  • 10 Engineering core units of study (125 credit points)
  • 18 units of study from one Engineering major (225 credit points)
  • 4 Arts core units of study (50 credit points)
  • 8 units of study from one Arts Major (100 credit points)
  • 4 units from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points)
  • EAT20008 Professional Experience in Engineering (Compulsory non-credit unit) **

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 550 credit points comprising:

  • 10 Engineering core units of study (125 credit points)
  • 18 units of study from one Engineering major (225 credit points)
  • 4 Arts core units of study (50 credit points)
  • 8 units of study from one Arts Major (100 credit points)
  • 2 units from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points).
  • EAT20008 Professional Experience in Engineering (Compulsory non-credit unit) ** **

Students who undertake a 6 or 12-month Professional Placement may receive an exemption for EAT20008. Where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternative unit. Honours merit calculation for Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) component in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts double degree Honours merit calculation will be based on the averaged results of 12 units in the final two years of the course with the following descriptive outcomes:

  • BEng (Hons) with High Distinction; for students who achieve ≥ 80
  • BEng (Hons) with Distinction; for students who achieve 70 – 79
  • BEng (Hons) with Credit; for students who achieve 60 – 69
  • BEng (Hons); for students who achieve < 60 

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) component is 225 credit points (normally 18 units). The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Arts component is 100 credit points (normally eight units). This is based on exit award requirements of 500 credit points.

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations. Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 60 or higher and meet allthe essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.

Selection rank adjustments 

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.

Subject Adjustments 

A study score of 25 in Health and Human Development, any Mathematics, Physical Education, any Science or Sociology equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 10 points.

Meeting course prerequisites 

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered.

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2024
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) <5 <5
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 0 0%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 0 0%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) 0 0%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) <5 <5
International students 0 0%
All students <5 100%
Notes: *<5* - the number of students is less than 5
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.

Interested in the Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Applied Innovation?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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