OVERVIEW
A rewarding career in health gives you the chance to reduce health disparities and help individuals and communities – in Australia and overseas – to lead fuller, healthier and happier lives. As a Bachelor of Health Sciences graduate, you can be confident you will have a solid grounding in a range of health-related fields. You will graduate prepared for a successful career in the largest and fastest growing employment sector in Australia, with employment in Health Care and Social Assistance projected to grow by 15.8% by 2026.^
Become a specialist in up to three major areas or broaden your knowledge and skill set through elective units.* Combining your interests with multiple majors can increase your competitiveness for a variety of health roles while opening the door to further study. This course also offers valuable workplace learning opportunities, giving you the chance to apply your knowledge in real-world contexts and build professional networks in the health sector.
COURSE STRUCTURE
To complete the Bachelor of Health Sciences students must attain 24 credit points. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to one credit point. In order to gain 24 credit points you will need to study 24 units (AKA 'subjects') over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters each year.
The 24 credit points include 6 core units (these are compulsory) and 2 major sequences of study from the Faculty of Health. A maximum of 8 credit points may be selected from units offered by other faculties.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
CAREER OUTCOMES
This flexible degree allows you to combine study areas that you are passionate about, and benefit from workplace learning to become a specialist in the booming health sector.
Depending on your majors, your health sciences degree can prepare you for work in the following roles and fields:
- community engagement officer
- case manager
- disability support planner
- family/community project officer
- environmental and sustainability officer
- exercise specialist
- food and nutrition policy developer
- food scientist
- health and sports marketer or PR officer
- health educator or counsellor
- health policy developer
- health promotion officer
- inclusion professional
- Indigenous support officer
- international aid worker
- lifestyle and wellness professional
- medical biotechnology researcher
- nutrition and health promotion coordinator
- policy adviser
- regional health service planner
- sustainability coordinator
- women's health officer.
Your choice of majors lets you tailor your degree to your interests and your desired career path. Find out more using our interactive Bachelor of Health Sciences majors and careers guide.
The healthcare and social assistance sector is one of the largest and fastest growing industries both within Australia and the world. With ageing populations and public health issues, such as obesity and chronic illness on the rise, and with governments around the world increasing emphasis on disease prevention, as well as treatment, employability in the sector is strong and continually increasing. In Australia, the healthcare and social assistance sector is projected to grow by 15.8% over the five years to May 2026 – that is 301,000 new jobs.*
You may choose to begin your studies with a Bachelor of Health Sciences to get a solid grounding in health sciences and explore your interest areas, then follow a pathway into psychology, nutrition, public health or nursing. This will allow you to pursue further career opportunities in specialist fields.
* 2021 Employment Projections – for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia
- Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
