Vertical Double Degree Pathways

Do you want to supercharge your time at ANU and graduate with a Bachelor and Masters degree within 4 years? Why not combine an undergraduate degree with a Masters by coursework and enter the workforce with an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification.

A Venn diagram with Bachelor and Master circles overlapping

What is a Vertical Double Degree pathway?

Three year single undergraduate degrees offered by the ANU College of Science or ANU College of Health and Medicine require 96 units of Science courses and 48 units of ANU electives. This empowers you with the flexibility to enrol in courses from across the University in your undergraduate degree. However, if your passion is Science and you want to fast track your entry into the employment market with a Masters degree in a Science or Health & Medicine related discipline, you can opt to swap out 24 units (4 courses) of those ANU electives and get a jump start on postgraduate courses in your third year of study. This requires a bit of thought and advance planning in your second year of study, but our student advisors will help you every step of the way.

Why choose a Vertical Double Degree pathway?

This is your opportunity to complete a Bachelor and Masters degree in less time and save yourself one year of postgraduate tuition fees. Once you have met the conditions of offer for the Masters degree, you will be eligible for 48 units of credit: 24 units of credit from the postgraduate courses already completed and 24 units from your Bachelor degree. This leaves you only one year of postgraduate study to get that Masters qualification. If you are a domestic Commonwealth supported student, there is an extra cost reduction as the 24 units of postgraduate courses taken in the 3rd year will be invoiced as per the same scheme as courses contributing towards your undergraduate Commonwealth supported degree.

What do I need to know before I express interest?

This study pathway has a progression hurdle in the Bachelor degree which must be met before postgraduate study can commence. Students who opt for the Vertical Double Degree pathway must achieve a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0 in the first 96 units of undergraduate courses attempted in the Bachelor degree to commence the 24 units of Masters courses in the Bachelor degree. Students who do not achieve this GPA will be able to complete and graduate from their Bachelor degree but will not be able to undertake Masters courses. If the total number of units attempted exceeds 96 in the same teaching period in which the 96th unit is attempted, all courses attempted will be used in the calculation of the GPA.

Pathway options

Below is a list of possible pathway combinations for the College of Health & Medicine. The Bachelor of Science has the broadest range of options however it is possible to start from other programs such as the Bachelor of Health Science. A list of pathway options from majors in the Bachelor of Science is available from here (indicative only). Study plans on this website provide a general example of how the programs can be combined, each study plan is tailored to suit each individual student in alignment with published degree requirements, admissions requirements and cognate credit requirements for the destination Masters program and course scheduling (subject to change).

Bachelor of Health Science &

Master of Public Health

Combine the Bachelor of Health Science with a Master of Public Health regardless of which stream you are in. Both the pre-med stream and the Applications of Health stream are compatible with a pathway to the MPH.

Indicative study plans (subject to change) 

Semester 1 Start – Applications of Health stream

Year 1
Semester 1
Bachelor
HLTH1001
Bachelor
BIOL1008
Bachelor
Applications of Health Course List
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2
Bachelor
HLTH1002
Bachelor
BIOL1004
Bachelor
Applications of Health Course List
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Year 2
Semester 1
Bachelor
HLTH2001
Bachelor
MEDN2001
Bachelor
Applications of Health Course List
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2
Bachelor
HLTH2002
Bachelor
MEDN2002
Bachelor
POPH3000
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Year 3
Semester 1
Bachelor
HLTH3001
Bachelor
HLTH3002
Master
POPH8100
Master
POPH8101
Semester 2
Bachelor
SCOM3033
Bachelor
3000-level Science
Master
POPH8108
Master
Public Health Topic List
Year 4
Semester 1
Master
POPH8103
Master
Public Health Integrative Course List
Master
Public Health Elective List
Master
Public Health Topic List
Semester 2
Master
Public Health Topic or Elective List
Master
Public Health Integrative Course List
Master
Public Health Elective List
Master
Public Health Topic or Elective List

Semester 1 Start – Pre-Med stream

Year 1 Semester 1 Bachelor
HLTH1001
Bachelor
BIOL1008
Bachelor
CHEM1101
Bachelor
ANU elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
HLTH1002
Bachelor
BIOL1004
Bachelor
CHEM1201
Bachelor
ANU elective
Year 2 Semester 1 Bachelor
HLTH2001
Bachelor
MEDN2001
Bachelor
BIOL2171
Bachelor
ANU elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
HLTH2002
Bachelor
MEDN2002
Bachelor
POPH3000
Bachelor
ANU elective
Year 3 Semester 1 Bachelor
HLTH3001
Bachelor
HLTH3002
Master
POPH8100
Master
POPH8101
Semester 2 Bachelor
SCOM3033
Bachelor
3000-level Science
Master
POPH8108
Master
Public Health Topic List
Year 4 Semester 1 Master
POPH8103
Master
Public Health Integrative Course List
Master
Public Health Elective List
Master
Public Health Topic List
Semester 2 Master
Public Health Topic or Elective List
Master
Public Health Integrative Course List
Master
Public Health Elective List
Master
Public Health Topic or Elective List

Master of Science Communication

Indicative study plan (subject to change) - Semester 1 start
Year 1 Semester 1 Bachelor
HLTH1001
Bachelor
BIOL1008
Bachelor
Applications of Health Stream
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
HLTH1002
Bachelor
BIOL1004
Bachelor
Applications of Health Stream
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Year 2 Semester 1 Bachelor
HLTH2001
Bachelor
MEDN2001
Bachelor
Applications of Health Stream
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
HLTH2002
Bachelor
MEDN2002
Bachelor
POPH3000
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Year 3 Semester 1 Bachelor
HLTH3001
Bachelor
HLTH3002
Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Semester 2 Bachelor
SCOM3033
Bachelor
3000- level Science
Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Year 4 Semester 1 Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Master
SCOM8014
Master
SCOM8000 or SCOM8004
Master
SCOM8000 or SCOM8004
Semester 2 Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Master
ANU Elective
Master
SCOM8000 or SCOM8004
Master
SCOM8004 or 6000- 8000 level
SCOM Course List

Bachelor of Science &

Master of Public Health

Academic requirements for admission to this Vertical Double Degree can be satisfied in different ways depending on your Bachelor of Science course selection.

Indicative study plan (subject to change) based on a Psychology Major and Science Communication Minor

Semester 1 Start

Year 1 Semester 1 Bachelor
(PSYC-MAJ)
PSYC1003
Bachelor
(SCOM-MIN)
SCOM1001
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
(PSYC-MAJ)
PSYC1004
Bachelor
(SCOM-MIN)
SCOM1002
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Year 2 Semester 1 Bachelor
(PSYC-MAJ)
PSYC2009
Bachelor
(PSYC-MAJ)
2000- level PSYC
Bachelor
(SCOM-MIN)
2000- 3000- level SCOM
Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
(PSYC-MAJ)
2000- level PSYC
Bachelor
(SCOM-MIN)
2000- 3000- level SCOM
Bachelor ANU Science Elective Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Year 3 Semester 1 Bachelor
(PSYC-MAJ)
3000- level PSYC
Bachelor
(PSYC-MAJ)
3000- level PSYC
Master
POPH8100
Master
POPH8101
Semester 2 Bachelor
(PSYC-MAJ)
3000- level PSYC
Bachelor
3000- level Science
Master
POPH8108
Master
Public Health Topic List
Year 4 Semester 1 Master
POPH8103
Master
Public Health Integrative Course List
Master
Public Health Elective List
Master
Public Health Topic List
Semester 2 Master
Public Health Topic or Elective List
Master
Public Health Integrative Course List
Master
Public Health Elective List
Master
Public Health Topic or Elective List

Master of Science Communication

Indicative study plan (subject to change) with an Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Major and a Cognitive Psychology Minor - Semester 1 start
Year 1 Semester 1 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL1003
Bachelor
(COPS-MIN)
PSYC1003
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL1004
Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL1009
Bachelor
(COPS-MIN)
PSYC1004
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Year 2 Semester 1 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL2151
Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
PSYC2009
Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL2114
Bachelor
(COPS-MIN)
PSYC2008
Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Year 3 Semester 1 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL3191
Bachelor
3000- level Science Elective
Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Semester 2 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL3206
Bachelor
(COPS-MIN)
PSYC3015
Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM course list
Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM course list
Year 4 Semester 1 Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Master
SCOM8014
Master
SCOM8000 or SCOM8004
Master
SCOM8000 or SCOM8004
Semester 2 Master
6000- 8000- level
SCOM Course List
Master
ANU Elective
Master
SCOM8000 or SCOM8004
Master
SCOM8004 or 6000- 8000 level
SCOM Course List

Master of Science in Biological Sciences

Academic requirements for admission to this Vertical Double Degree can be satisfied in different ways depending on your Bachelor of Science course selection.

Indicative study plan (subject to change) based on an Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Major and a Chemistry Minor

Semester 1 Start

Year 1 Semester 1 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL1003
Bachelor
(CHEM-MIN)
CHEM1101
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL1004
Bachelor
(CHEM-MIN)
CHEM1201
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Year 2 Semester 1 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL1009
Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL2131
Bachelor
(CHEM-MIN)
2000- level CHEM
Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL2202
Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL2114
Bachelor
(CHEM-MIN)
2000- level CHEM
Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Year 3 Semester 1 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL3109
Bachelor
3000- level Science
Master
6000- 8000- level BIOL
Master
6000- 8000- level BIOL
Semester 2 Bachelor
(EEOB-MAJ)
BIOL3191
Bachelor
3000- level Science
Master
6000- 8000- level BIOL
Master
6000- 8000- level BIOL
Year 4 Semester 1 Master
BIOL8291
Master
8000- level BIOL
Master
Science & Society Course List
Master
6000- 8000- level BIOL
Semester 2 Master
BIOL8700 / BIOL8704
Master
8000- level BIOL
Master
Science & Society Course List
Master
6000- 8000- level BIOL

Master of Science in Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics

Academic requirements for admission to this Vertical Double Degree can be satisfied in different ways depending on your Bachelor of Science course selection.

Indicative study plan (subject to change) based on a Quantitative Biology Major and Maths Minor

Semester 1 Start

Year 1 Semester 1 Bachelor
(QBIO-MAJ)
BIOL1003
Bachelor
(QBIO-MAJ)
MATH1013
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
(Science Elective)
STAT1008
Bachelor
(MATH-MIN)
MATH1014
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Bachelor
ANU Elective
Year 2 Semester 1 Bachelor
(QBIO-MAJ)
STAT2001
Bachelor (QBIO-MAJ)
BIOL2151
Bachelor
(MATH-MIN)
MATH2305
Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Semester 2 Bachelor
(QBIO-MAJ)
MATH2307
Bachelor
(MATH-MIN)
MATH2306
Bachelor
(MATH-MIN)
3000- level MATH
Bachelor
ANU Science Elective
Year 3 Semester 1 Bachelor
(QBIO-MAJ)
MATH3353
Bachelor
(QBIO-MAJ)
MATH3511
Master
BIOL6200
Master
COMP6730
Semester 2 Bachelor
(QBIO-MAJ)
BIOL3157
Bachelor
3000- level Science
Master
STAT6038
Master
BIOL8002
Year 4 Semester 1 Master
MATH6208
Master
COMP8410
Master
BIOL8291
Master
BIOL8001
Semester 2 Master
BIOL6243
Master
Any List
Master
Any List
Master
Science & Society Course List

How to apply

Have a conversation with us

Embarking on a pathway to a Masters degree is a big decision, especially if you are only just beginning your university career. If you are a current student, we encourage you to start the conversation with us at the start of your second year of study and ideally no later than the end of your second year. The minimum considerations to keep in mind are whether your course choices are suitable for satisfying admission to the postgraduate program and any requisite requirements of the masters courses, and your GPA is on track.

Find a combination that suits your interests

Talk to a student adviser in the College Student Services Office

The student advisers will step through your academic record, put you in touch with the Masters program convener so you can get specialist advice about course selection and career opportunities, and help you map out a study plan for the remainder of your undergraduate program which will include 24 units of postgraduate study from your Master of choice.

Submit an Expression of Interest to a Vertical Double Degree pathway

You can Submit an Expression of Interest to a Vertical Double Degree pathway up until you have completed 72 units of study.

Contact us

Please contact the science enquiries team.

Updated:  28 October 2021/Responsible Officer:  Science Web/Page Contact:  Science Web