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Undergraduate

Botany

Botanists investigate plant evolution and diversity as well as the effects of environmental and biological factors on the structure, functioning and ecology of plants.
3
Years Full Time
Course Details Careers & further study Fees & Scholarships Admission requirements How to apply Contact us Enquire Apply

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Address

Student Central

The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009

Telephone

131 UWA (131 892)

International

(+61 8) 6488 1000

Email

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Hours

8.30am - 5pm AWST, Monday - Friday

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Careers and further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career options.

Career Pathways

Botany graduates are highly sought after and employed by environmental consultants, resource industries, government departments (such as Agriculture and Food, Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and the Department of Water), botanic gardens (Kings Park) and research agencies (CSIRO) that either work in, or are interested in, the environment, conservation, restoration and horticulture.
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Career Pathways

Botany graduates are highly sought after and employed by environmental consultants, resource industries, government departments (such as Agriculture and Food, Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and the Department of Water), botanic gardens (Kings Park) and research agencies (CSIRO) that either work in, or are interested in, the environment, conservation, restoration and horticulture.

Further Study

Plants underpin life on Earth. Honours in Botany allows you to conduct rigorous scientific research on various aspects of the taxonomy, biology or functioning of plants. Your research could investigate the exciting diversity and uniqueness of Australian flora or focus on how plants function and interact over all levels of biological organisation, from the plant cell to the role of vegetation in the functioning of ecosystems. Other research may focus on the ways plants adapt to environments ranging from the Antarctic oceans to deserts of the inland. You might also study how we can overcome problems of environmental degradation such as those derived from mining and salinity. If you’re enthusiastic about plants across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, this honours specialisation is for you. Honours in Botany can lead to many careers including ecologist, conservation biologist, plant physiologist, plant taxonomist, agricultural scientist, forester, environmental impact assessor, flora resource manager, government policy writer and consultant, consultant risk assessor involved in predicting and identifying algal blooms, consultant for aquaculture, marine biologist, evolutionary biologist, science journalist, laboratory technician, field research officer, plant pathologist or forensic scientist.
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Further Study

Plants underpin life on Earth. Honours in Botany allows you to conduct rigorous scientific research on various aspects of the taxonomy, biology or functioning of plants. Your research could investigate the exciting diversity and uniqueness of Australian flora or focus on how plants function and interact over all levels of biological organisation, from the plant cell to the role of vegetation in the functioning of ecosystems. Other research may focus on the ways plants adapt to environments ranging from the Antarctic oceans to deserts of the inland. You might also study how we can overcome problems of environmental degradation such as those derived from mining and salinity. If you’re enthusiastic about plants across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, this honours specialisation is for you. Honours in Botany can lead to many careers including ecologist, conservation biologist, plant physiologist, plant taxonomist, agricultural scientist, forester, environmental impact assessor, flora resource manager, government policy writer and consultant, consultant risk assessor involved in predicting and identifying algal blooms, consultant for aquaculture, marine biologist, evolutionary biologist, science journalist, laboratory technician, field research officer, plant pathologist or forensic scientist.
Postgraduate study at UWA

Master of Biological Science

Master of Biological Science

Western Australia (WA) is a terrestrial biodiversity hot spot. Up to 80 per cent of the region's plants and invertebrates are unique to the area, and the state is a stronghold for threatened mammals. This makes WA the ideal living laboratory for studies in biological science.

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course. For fee type definitions and further assistance, see the Fee Calculator Help page. You can also search our database for scholarships that are relevant to you or this course

Domestic Student Fees

Indicative annual course fee
2024
Commonwealth Supported Place $9,845.65

Eligible Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) students can use the HECS-HELP loan program to pay their tuition fees. For Full-Fee Paying (FFP) places, students are charged an annual course fee.

Find out more information about tuition fees, or visit the fee calculator for a more accurate cost.

Fee calculator

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

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Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Cost of living

International Student Fees

There is no current fee information available for this course. Please visit the fee calculator to browse course fees from a previous year, or other courses.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Search Scholarships

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Cost of living

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying this major, find out the admission details below.

Minimum entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements

Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65
  • 75.5
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 254
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 324
Trinity College Foundation
  • 280
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 61
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 56
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 75
Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).
Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65
  • 75.5
Monash University Foundation Year
  • 254
South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 324
Trinity College Foundation
  • 280
University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program
  • 61
Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 56
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 75
View full details

Admission requirements

For applicants with recent secondary education, information on admission criteria is available on our entry requirements page.

Admission requirements

Mathematics requirement

This major requires a certain level of Mathematics. If you do not meet this level, you can take additional Mathematics units in your first year to satisfy this requirement.

WACE prerequisite: Mathematics Methods ATAR

Mathematics requirement

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

English competency

How to apply

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Find out how to apply through our simple online application process. 

We'll guide you through our entry requirements, admission pathways available to you and application deadlines for your chosen course. 

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Course details

Botanists study how plants evolve and adapt to changing climates and environments and have a proactive role in mitigating the loss of biodiversity. Botany is an ideal major if you are enthusiastic about Western Australia's unique native flora or agricultural crops, and are interested in addressing current and future threats to plant conservation and sustainability.

About the course

Botany is the scientific study of plants – from their structure and function to their indispensable roles in ecosystems and the intricacies of their cell function.
View full details

About the course

Botany is the scientific study of plants – from their structure and function to their indispensable roles in ecosystems and the intricacies of their cell function. Botanists study how plants evolve and adapt to changing climates and environments and have a proactive role in mitigating the loss of biodiversity. Botany is an ideal major if you are enthusiastic about Western Australia's unique native flora or agricultural crops, and are interested in addressing current and future threats to plant conservation and sustainability. In this major there will be up to three overnight field trips, the cost of which is to be paid for by the student (up to $500 to cover food and accommodation for around 10 nights).
Botany

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
  • Albany (Regional campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • 12 hours per unit which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-BOTNY
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years (BSc), 4 years (BSc[Hons])
View full details
Botany

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
  • Albany (Regional campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • 12 hours per unit which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-BOTNY
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years (BSc), 4 years (BSc[Hons])
Honours Available
  • Yes
Degrees course is available in
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Thomas Windsor

Thomas Windsor
Find out more

Thomas Windsor

Thomas Windsor
Choosing Botany was a fairly simple thought process. I’ve always liked plants and decided being able to study them for a few years sounds all right. I decided to pursue Botany at UWA because of its location within an incredibly biodiverse and unique region of Australia. Being able to participate in field trips with staff and scientists who live and breathe their research has been among the best experiences of my degree.

The most enjoyable part of my degree has been the opportunity to volunteer within the School of Biological Sciences. If you find yourself interested in a topic, I cannot stress enough how important it is to approach your lecturers and ask them about their research. Chances are they need an extra pair of hands!
 

You may also be interested in these courses

Course Structure

Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.

Popular combinations

Agricultural Science Agricultural Science Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conservation Biology Conservation Biology

Course structure details

Level 1

Core

Take all units (24 points):

Bridging

Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1721 or SCIE1500. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1720 and either MATH1721 or SCIE1500. Note: MATH1721 should be taken if also considering majors or minors that require it for progression to level 2 (e.g. Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Computer Science):
Level 2

Core

Take all units (24 points):
Level 3

Core

Take all units (24 points):
Course structure details Other combinations

Why study this course

  • Botany is an ideal major if you are enthusiastic about Western Australia's unique native flora or agricultural crops, and are interested in addressing current and future threats to plant conservation and sustainability
  • In this major, there will be up to three overnight field trips, the cost of which is to be paid for by the student (up to $500 to cover food and accommodation for around 10 nights)

Why study this course

You'll learn to

  • understand plant structure, functioning, adaptation, diversity and evolution 
  • appreciate the critical relationships between plants and their environments
  • demonstrate a knowledge of basic plant processes at different levels of an organism from the molecular to whole plant scale through to populations,  communities and ecosystems
  • be conversant in the terminology, issues and practice of the core principles of plant science, including their diversity, ecology, genetics and evolution, and physiology and adaptation to their environments

You'll learn to

Richer student experiences

Student Exchange & Study Abroad

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

University of Leeds

University of Oslo
Study abroad options

Student Exchange & Study Abroad

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. Teachers and students hail from all around the world, and it has a total of 61 departments under the faculties of arts, business administration, education, engineering, law, medicine, science, and social science. Currently, it has about 21,000 students undertaking undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs.

Hong Kong, China
Asia

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University of Leeds

The University continues to appear in the top 100 of the QS world rankings. Leeds is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities as well as the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), which comprises 16 research-intensive institutions spanning six continents. In the 2015 National Student Survey, 90 per cent of Leeds students said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course.

Leeds, United Kingdom
Europe

"Studying abroad has become one of the most amazing experiences of my life. In the beginning it was tough, but once I found my feet, everything fell in to place and I enjoyed the best consecutive six months of my life. I have made amazing friends from all walks of life and found my passion for medieval history and found many skills I possess that I had never known about. I grew up as an individual and came to realise how capable I was to fulfil many tasks and face situations." Abby Donkin, Bachelor of Arts, 2013
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University of Oslo

The University of Oslo (UiO) is the oldest university in Norway and is recognised as one of Northern Europe's most prestigious universities. Today, UiO is the country's largest public institution of research and higher learning. UiO has ambitious goals for increasing its contribution to academic developments internationally, as well as for resolving the challenges facing society today. The overriding goal of UiO's Strategy 2020 is to strengthen its international position as a leading research university through a close interaction across research, education, communication and innovation.

Oslo, Norway
Europe

"This was the best decision I have ever made. Whether I was hiking with other international students, trying my hand at Norwegian with local students, chatting with the barber or supermarket cashier or all the people on my various travels, I remember each and every one of them. It really makes you view the world in a new way. The language barrier wasn't too significant as everyone speaks English, but it does pay to try to learn Norwegian. I am now quite fluent in it after just six months. I have a place on the other side of the world I can call home. Will you too?" Wygene Chong,Bachelor of Commerce (Business Law/French,2014)
View program

Visit Global Studio for more details and to apply to study abroad.

Visit Global Studio
Ranked 1st in Australia and 32nd in the world for Biological Sciences (ARWU 2023)

Fieldwork in Science

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Fieldwork in Science

Find out more about our amazing field trips in the Natural and Physical Sciences interest area that'll take you all around Western Australia and beyond.

Your degree options

This major is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for these degrees. It is also offered as a second major in our other bachelor's degrees.

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