The Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering offer a dual degree program leading to the award of the degrees Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Science (Computer Science). The typical duration of this program is 5 years full-time.

The Advanced Science (Honours) degree is designed to challenge students with an interest in critical thinking, research and innovation. The development of depth of understanding and practical skills in a discipline is a key part of the program, however, the degree also focuses on instilling a culture of research and enquiry through early induction into the research ethos and access to research groups and facilities.

The Computer Science degree focuses on the design and development of hardware and software tool by which computer applications may be developed. By combining your passion for science and the computer sciences you could further develop applications for use within the scientific world.

For admission to the program, students must satisfy the entry requirements to both the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) (3962) and the Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) (3978) programs.

For questions relating to the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) component of the program, students should consult the Science Student Centre. For questions regarding the Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) requirements for the program, students should consult staff in the School of Computer Science and Engineering Student Office.

Please refer to the program objectives as listed for the 3962 Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) program and the 3978 Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) program.

A total of 240 units of credit are required to complete this dual degree program. Students must satisfy the following requirements for the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) components.

Where the requirements for the two programs are completed in less than 240 units of credit due to overlapping courses, students must make up the remaining units of credit from the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Engineering.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) in dual degree mode:

When taken as part of a dual degree, a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) is comprised of 144 units of credit which includes:

Academic rules relating to the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) in dual degree mode are as follows:

1. Students must complete a minimum of 144 units of credit;

2. Students must complete at least one approved Advanced Science (Honours) major, and this must be declared before enrolling in Level II courses. Details of approved Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) majors and how to declare a major can be found on the 3962 Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) program page.

3. Students may choose to complete an optional minor using their Science electives. Students cannot complete a minor with the same name as their nominated major, and Level II and III courses cannot be double-counted between majors and minors. More than one minor may be completed subject to the limit on double-counting. Students must declare their minor(s) before their final semester. Details of approved Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) minors and how to declare a minor can be found on the 3962 Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) program page.


4.SCIF1121 Advanced Science: Professional Perspective and Practice (6 UOC) or SCIF1131 Science: Technological and Professional Perspectives (6 UOC) must be completed in Stage 1.

5. An Honours Year of 48 units of credit must be completed. Honours may only be completed in one discipline. For information regarding the admission requirements and application process for Honours, please see the information under 'Honours' on the 3962 Advanced Science (Honours) program page.

6. In addition to the courses required for a student's chosen major, SCIF1121/1131, and Honours, students must take ‘Science’ courses so that the major plus SCIF1121/1131, plus Honours year plus ‘Science’ courses total 144 units of credit. Details of what courses constitute 'science' courses can be found in Table 1 on the 3962 Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) program page.

Students in the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) dual degree may not count ‘COMP’ courses towards their Advanced Science(Honours) requirements unless they are specified as core courses in their major.

7. Students must complete at least 24 UOC of Level I 'Science' courses.

8.Students must complete at least 30 UOC of Level III ‘Science’ courses.

9. When offered in a particular major, students must take higher versions of any level II or level III courses. Any variation to this must be approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs) or nominee;

10.Students may not enrol into Level II courses until at least 30 UOC of Level I courses have been successfully completed.

11. Students may not enrol into Level III courses until at least 72 UOC of courses have been successfully completed.

12. Progression to Stages 2, 3, and 4 of this program is subject to academic performance. Students will be required to attain a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 70 in each semester. If a student does not maintain this minimum level of academic performance, they will be transferred to the 3983 Science / Computer Science program.

Students who intend to complete a double major or a major combined with a minor in the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) when taken as part of a dual degree should be aware that it may be difficult to complete these combinations within 144 UOC. This may involve extra time and cost to complete, and may have visa implications for international students

Students wishing to complete a Biotechnology, Neuroscience or Vision Science major may not be able to complete their major within the minimum units of credit. Completing one of these majors as part of the dual program may involve an extra semester of study, extra cost and would have visa implications for international students.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) in dual degree mode are as follows:

Optional double majors:

The flexibility of the Computer Science Program allows specialisations within the program such as Robotics and Computer Games. Hence a student may use some of the Core Computer Science courses and electives to specialise in up to two of the following areas:

Full details of these streams can be found using the Computer Science and Engineering link in the Area(s) of Specialisation section below.

Honours in the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) Component

For details about Honours in the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) please see 3962 Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours).

Honours (optional) in the Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) Component

Students undertaking the BSc (CompSci) in Dual Award mode may apply to complete an additional year (48 UoC) of study for the award of Honours. For details of Honours please see 4515 Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science.

For program rules and requirements, please refer to the Program Structure section above.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

The Faculty of Science has some rules that relate to all students enrolled in programs offered by the Faculty in relation to recognition for prior learning, general education, course exclusions, study load, and cross-institutional study. All students should read the information contained on the Faculty General Rules and Requirements page in this Handbook.