UAC CODE: 300573 (North Ryde)
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Current Macquarie students: To view all the details for your chosen course, visit the Macquarie University Handbook
Gain knowledge and skills in a broad range of biodiversity and conservation disciplines, particularly in the Australian context.
Learn from renowned teachers who have exceptional research strengths in ecology, remote sensing, the environment and management.
Enhance your learning by studying in modern labs designed to foster collaboration, and in a number of exciting field settings.
Get hands-on experience in our 11-hectare fauna park, where world-class environmental research is conducted by leading academics.
With a rapidly evolving job market, graduate employability remains our priority. We’re working closely with a range of industries and sectors to ensure you’re job-ready when you graduate. View graduate professions and potential employers.
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The Faculty of Science and Engineering isn't afraid to tackle the big issues. In a world more dependent on science and engineering than ever before, we stand at the forefront of innovation. We're home to globally renowned academics, so you'll learn from those who are making an impact on major issues affecting the world.
Learn more about the faculty
Our vibrant and leafy campus forms part of one of the largest business and technology precincts in Australia. To ensure you have the right skills when you graduate — whether you're starting your first job or taking your career to the next level — we offer flexible study options, personalised degrees and practical experiences.
Benefits of studying at Macquarie
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looking to start my course in 2026
In person, on campus
160 credit points
80 credit points
240 credit points
Your degree’s core zone provides the focus of your preferred area of study and consists of all the units you’ll need to complete to meet your degree’s requirements.
Complete the capstone unit below.
A Capstone unit is an essential unit that integrates all the material presented across your degree, which is generally undertaken in your final year.
Complete each unit below.
Essential units are units that you must complete to qualify for your degree.
You can use your flexible zone to enrol in any unit for which you meet the requisites. You may also use your flexible zone to complete a second major or specialisation, listed below.
Find further information and specific requirements in the Macquarie University Handbook.
Use our handy guide to better understand common study terms.
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Job and Skills Australia – an Australian Government initiative – provides accessible labour-market data, research and tools to help you understand Australia’s current and projected workforce-skills needs.
Get help preparing a résumé, identifying job opportunities and connecting with employers.
Study a degree with built-in practical experiences, and get an invaluable head start in your career.
Study at Australia’s #1 uni for graduate employment rate: QS Graduate Employability Rankings, 2020.
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Simple steps to entry at Macquarie
The selection rank considers your Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or equivalent rank plus any adjustment factors you’re eligible for.
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a number between 0.00 and 99.95. It indicates your position relative to other students aged 16-20 who have completed the HSC and who meet eligibility criteria for an ATAR. Universities typically admit students based on their selection rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustments). However, other criteria – such as a personal statement, questionnaire, portfolio of work, audition, interview or test – may also be considered. Visit the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for more information.
If you’ve completed the HSC, interstate Year 12 examinations or the International Baccalaureate (IB) and included Macquarie in your preferences, you may be eligible to receive adjustments – additional points that can be added to your ATAR or equivalent admissions rank to boost your selection rank. Many of our degrees allow you to combine our adjustment factor schemes, up to a maximum of 10 points. Not all adjustment factor schemes apply to all degrees, so check adjustment factors for more details.
Not everybody comes to university with an ATAR. That’s why we provide a range of entry schemes and pathway options that assess your suitability on more than just your educational attainment to date. Explore entry pathways.
At Macquarie, we consider a range of criteria in addition to your selection rank to assess your suitability for study. We offer many different admission pathways, including early entry schemes and alternative routes to a degree. Use our Entry Navigator to discover which options are best for you.
If you’re in Year 12 or you’ve just completed the HSC, interstate Year 12 examinations or the International Baccalaureate (IB), you apply to Macquarie via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Your eligibility for an offer is determined by your selection rank or our Subject Advantage Entry Scheme. You might also be eligible for the Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme, the Schools Recommendation Scheme or the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry Pathway
If you’re a non-Year 12 applicant and you don’t hold any formal education qualifications, but you do have informal learning and work experience, you may submit a portfolio for entry into one of our pathway programs, which allow you to articulate into a Macquarie degree after successfully completion.
Macquarie recognises completed TAFE, college and university qualifications. If you’ve completed a recognised qualification, you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of prior learning (RPL).
To be eligible to graduate from your degree, you must satisfy the inherent requirements – essential activities, capacities and academic requisites – of your degree.
View inherent requirementsView student profiles for each of our degrees and learn how other students have been admitted. Information on the ATAR and selection rank, as well as other criteria and general offer information, is available.
Student profilesIf you’ve completed prior study at diploma level or higher, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree.
Your prior learning may consist of:
When applying to study at Macquarie University, you’re required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
You may satisfy the English language requirements if you’ve completed:
The required standard of English for this degree is:
| IELTS band | Minimum score required |
|---|---|
| Overall | 6.5 |
| Reading | 6 |
| Writing | 6 |
| Listening | 6 |
| Speaking | 6 |
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looking to start my course in 2026
This fee information is intended as an indicative guide only; actual rates will be calculated at the time of enrolment. To obtain a more accurate approximation, look up the cost of your unit or course by using our Fee calculator.
Fees are generally based on current mean rate for full-time study (eight units per year). For courses longer than one year in duration, you'll pay the fee that is current for the year that you enrol. Fees may increase each year.
Find out moreHECS‑HELP is a loan scheme that assists eligible students enrolled in Commonwealth supported places to pay their student contribution amounts. It can't be used for additional study costs, such as accommodation or text books.
You’re required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) to Macquarie University in compliance with the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Act 2011 (Cth). The fee contributes to services, support and facilities of a non-academic nature.
Learn about SSAFMacquarie University offers a variety of scholarships that recognise a range of factors, including academic or athletic achievement, leadership experience and volunteer work, or financial need and hardship. Additional scholarships may be available for selected areas of study.
The Birrung (Star) Scholarship aims to alleviate the financial burden of being a student and support the successful completion of an Undergraduate degree.
Applications close: Application form for 2027 will be available soon.
Award value: $10,000 one-off for one-off award
Find out moreSupporting new Physics and Astronomy students
Applications close: Application form for 2027 will be available soon.
Award value: $5,000 per year for 3 years
Find out moreSupporting Indigenous students relocating to study
Applications close: Nov Round: 13 November 2026; Dec Round: 10 December 2026; Jan Round: 8 January 2027
Award value: $6,000 per year for up to 4 years
Find out moreSupporting Indigenous students
Applications close: Nov Round: 13 November 2026; Dec Round: 10 December 2026; Jan Round: 8 January 2027
Award value: $3,000 per year for up to 4 years
Find out moreI'm a
looking to start my course in 2026
Bachelor of Biodiversity and Conservation
300573 (North Ryde)
2026
Australian or New Zealand citizens, permanent residents of Australia, or holders of Australian permanent resident humanitarian visas who are applying for undergraduate study at Macquarie must apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
To be considered for this course, you must search (based upon the UAC Code provided above) and include it as one of your course preferences.
What you'll need to apply
When submitting your application, it's important you provide:
Decide on your course
Explore your entry options and check the requirements
Gather your documentation
Submit your application
For help with your application, or if you have any questions, contact our team.
Future Students
T: +61 (2) 9850 6767
E: futurestudents@mq.edu.au
| Session/Year | Location | Applications open | Applications close | Session commences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | North Ryde | 2 April 2025 | 6 February 2026 | 23 February 2026 |
| Session 2 | North Ryde | 8 April 2026 | 9 July 2026 | 27 July 2026 |
To best help you follow your passion at Macquarie, we’ve created a simple entry program navigator that allows you to compare all of our entry programs and find out which ones suit you the best.
If you’d like to know more about studying at Macquarie University, we’d love to hear from you.