Program Overview

Get the technical and applied expertise you need to establish your biomedical career with La Trobe's Bachelor of Biomedicine.

Start with how the body works as you build fundamental knowledge in chemistry, bioscience and health. Take a close look at infectious diseases, including the factors that drive epidemics and pandemics. Then tailor your degree with a combination of up to two majors or electives aligned to your personal career goals and industry demand.

By completing La Trobe's Bachelor of Biomedicine, you will:

• Develop strong foundational knowledge in topics such as biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, human physiology, infectious and non-communicable disease.
• Choose from majors in cancer, heart and brain diseases; immunology and infectious disease; physiology and pharmacology; or molecular and cellular biochemistry.
• Gain hands-on experience from day one with lab work, internship opportunities, overseas exchange opportunities and more.
• Be prepared for your future career at every stage of the course, with the flexibility to exit early with a Diploma after one year or an Associate Degree after two years.
• Graduate with your majors on your academic transcript and a pathway to specialist postgraduate studies in research, medicine, physiotherapy and more.

Major: Physiology and Pharmacology

If you’re interested in the intricate interplay between physiological processes of the human body and the drugs used to treat diseases and maintain health, the physiology and pharmacology major is designed for you. This interdisciplinary major will provide you with a deep understanding of the human body at the molecular, cellular, and systemic level, along with mechanisms of drug action and their clinical applications. You will exploit skills and fundamental knowledge acquired through core Biomedicine 1st and 2nd year subjects to explore how our organs function when we’re healthy, as we age, during stresses such as exercising, and when we develop a disease. Core concepts of physiology and pharmacology will be reinforced through integrated workshops and practical classes. Opportunities to communicate in different modes to varied audiences will provide you with valuable transferable skills. This major combines scientific inquiry with practical skills, preparing you to make meaningful contributions to healthcare, the pharmaceutical industry, or biomedical research.