Biomedical Science
At the University of Newcastle, career-ready placements enable you to work directly with industry and community partners by undertaking a placement relevant to your area of study through your degree.
Placements are a compulsory requirement for graduation for the Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree for students commencing in 2023. As a biomedical science student, you will complete a minimum 140 hours across the duration of the placement. This will be completed as part of the requirements of HUBS3412, a 20 unit course offered in Semester 2 of each year.
Placements provide an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on training and experience in real world situations. Additionally, through exposure to current practice, you can reflect on and appreciate the link between curriculum and practice. Placement is a compulsory requirement for graduation.
Please refer to the Student Professional Experience Policy and your program handbook for more information regarding the placement requirements of your degree.
What you need to do
The Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree requires you to complete career-ready placement in the form of an industry or clinical work placement. The common duration of the placement will be several days a week for the duration of the semester, totaling at least 140 hours of supervised experience.
The placement course (HUBS3412) enables you to explore the theoretical knowledge and acquire practical and applied experience in a vocational setting related to the Bachelor of Biomedical Science program. You will undertake a structured and supervised placement with a host organisation in an area of interest.
Placement opportunities include, but are not limited to medical research institutes, clinical trial centres and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. There are also opportunities to complete placements in both local and interstate locations.
Application and Approval for Placement
To find out about the placement options and requirements for your degree, visit the 'Placement' tab at the top of your Program site in Canvas.
The program Academic Placement Officer (APO) will work with you to source an appropriate placement opportunity.
If you would like to source your own placement, it is important that you contact your program Academic Placement Officer (BiomedSci-Placement@newcastle.edu.au) prior to contacting any potential host organisations.
SONIA
All Biomedical Science placements are managed in the SONIA system, which is used to record all student work placements across the university.
Insurance
If you are undertaking approved, unpaid workplace experience, you are covered for personal accident and public liability insurance under university insurance. For further clarification, please contact the University’s Insurance Team (insurance@newcastle.edu.au).
Support and resources
While the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy will work with you to source your placement opportunity, the Careers Service is also available to provide support during or after your placement. Make the most of the services they provide which include:
- Access to CareerHub, an online portal with discipline-related work and work experience opportunities
- Information about job and placement searching strategies
- Assistance aligning your studies and interests with industry opportunities
- Drop-in and appointment-based resume and application checking, plus an interview preparation service
If you would like to source your own placement, it is important that you contact your program's Academic Placement Officer prior to contacting any potential host organisations.
Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are a great way to stay connected with industry. Below is a list of most major biomedical science associations available in Australia:
- Institute of Biomedical Science
- Australian Academy of Science
- The Australian Society for Microbiology
- ARCS Australia
- Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemist (aacb)
- Australian Society for Medical Research (asmr)
- Australasian Society for Immunology Inc
- Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Society
- Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB)
- Australian Science Communicators
- Australian Institute of Medical Scientists
- Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
- Australasian Laboratory Managers Association
- Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Australasian Neuroscience Society
- Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE)
- Australian Biotechnology Association
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- Australia’s Academic and Research Network
- Women in STEMM Australia
- Society for Medical & Biological Engineering
Contact us
For all enquiries, please contact:
Dr Melissa Tadros
Biomedical Science Academic Placement Officer
Email: BiomedSci-Placement@newcastle.edu.au
Need extra help?
The Careers Service offers free support to all current and past students of the University of Newcastle. Visit Careers to learn more and to get in touch.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.