Combine your interests in agriculture, animals and plants with science and enjoy a rewarding and practical career. This is the only dedicated undergraduate certificate course in biosecurity offered in Australia and it pathways into the Bachelor of Biosecurity Science, which is the only dedicated biosecurity degree offered in Australia.
In this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge to:
This course runs in association with our Biosecurity Centre of Excellence. You will learn specialised biosecurity surveillance and monitoring, and expand your understanding of biosecurity science and regulation. The course will provide you with a foundation in Australian agriculture, the biosecurity continuum and research methods.
Last updated:
14 Apr 2021 at 02:00PM AEST
Box Hill Institute reserves the right to alter or delete details of a course offering, fees or other information provided
February and July
Full time: 13 weeks
Mode of delivery is online. Online engagement hours are typically 16 hours per week. An additional 32 hours per week of personal study time is typical.
This course is delivered online. Online learning can involve a range of programs and resources including StudentWeb, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, Skype, specific industry platforms, pre-recorded sessions, assigned reading, tutorials, discussion boards, and online activities. Online delivery means that you can enrol in this course when you wish, and complete at your own pace.
This biosecurity science course may provide you with professional employment opportunities as science-educated and biosecurity-skilled personnel at entry-level positions in surveillance monitoring of industries impacted by biosecurity risk. Employment opportunities are available across a broad range of industries but may include jobs with position descriptions that include aspects of biosecurity surveillance and monitoring or an understanding of the application of biosecurity practices. You may also find positions in allied industries that are biosecurity relevant, informed by comprehensive understanding of national and international best practice.
The Undergraduate Certificate in Biosecurity Science provides graduates with a broad understanding of the biosecurity continuum (onshore, at border, and offshore) and the social and economic challenges involving biological threats to humans, agriculture and the environment. Graduates will have a detailed understanding of pest and disease surveillance and monitoring, the national preparedness plans put in place to protect Australia’s ecosystems, and will have developed knowledge and skills to identify and monitor biosecurity breaches.
Offshore Residents
Australian Residents
Applicants with higher education study
Applicants with higher education are those who have completed some or all of a higher education course as their highest level of study since leaving secondary education. This includes study undertaken by applicants at non-university higher education providers or university, such as applicants seeking to transfer to Box Hill Institute from another education provider or applicants changing to a different course at Box Hill Institute.
Applicants with higher education may be eligible for advanced standing and should mention any relevant qualifications in their application or during the interview with the course coordinator.
You can apply to study with us through direct entry and must also have:
Applicants with vocational education and training study
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those who have completed some or all of a VET course as their highest level of study since leaving secondary education. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider and applicants who have other qualifications such as Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.
Applicants with diploma or higher qualifications may be eligible for advanced standing and should mention any relevant qualifications in their application or during the interview with the course coordinator.
You can apply to study with us through direct entry and must also have:
Applicants with work and life experience
Applicants with work and life experience are those that have left secondary education more than 2 years ago (i.e. applicants who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.
Experience could include a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education. This includes mature age entry, professional experience, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped them to prepare for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.
Applicants with relevant work and life experience may be eligible for advanced standing and should mention any relevant experience in their application or during the interview with the course coordinator.
You can apply to study with us through direct entry and must also have:
Applicants with recent secondary education
Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is based primarily on completion of Year 12 undertaken at school, TAFE or other VET or higher education provider (this includes Australian or international equivalent) that was completed (or will be) within the previous 3 years.
You can apply through VTAC and must have:
Australian Residents:
Direct entry
All applicants must:
Offshore Residents:
Please apply through:
See how to apply or contact the international office for more information.
If you have successfully completed the Diploma of Laboratory Technology, you may qualify for 6 credit points (1 units).
Successful completion of the Undergraduate Certificate will enable you to apply for four units (24 credit points) of advanced standing into the Bachelor of Biosecurity Science.
This training is provided to eligible individuals with funds made available by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments
Offshore Residents
Applicants located outside of Australia Will be charged A$9,755.00
Australian Residents
In 2021, Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) eligible domestic students will pay a tuition fee of $0 for a limited number of places. To apply for one of these places, please submit a course enquiry. Students must complete the course by December 2021 (for July 2021 intake) and February 2022 (for the November 2021 intake) to be eligible for the discounted fee. Students who study beyond this date will be required to pay full fees.
To get a CSP you must be one of the following:
More information about the eligibility requirements for CSPs can be found at the Study Assist website.
Government Subsidised Standard | Full Fee | |
Tuition Fee | $0 | $8,160 |
Service Fee | $166 | $166 |
Core Skills Support Fee | $83 | $83 |
Material Fee | $0 | $0 |
Retain Course Items | $0 | $0 |
Total Course Estimate | $249 | $8,409 |
Payable Estimate (at commencement) | $249 | $8,409 |
Retain Course Items are purchased once by the student prior to commencing. Those items then become the property of the student. Fees listed are at 2021 rates and may increase annually over the duration of delivery. The student tuition fees listed are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. For more information please contact our Course Advisors on 1300 BOX HILL.
The Undergraduate Certificate of Biosecurity Science is a 6 month qualification. You are expected to attend all lectures online and complete all online activities. Tutorials are elective and you are encouraged to attend. Students will require a computer with reliable internet access in order to participate in online forums and to download and upload class materials. A webcam and microphone (such as on a laptop or smart phone) is essential to participate in online discussion forums and to record or present some assessment tasks.
Delivery of most subjects are timetabled for 4 hours per week in a remote-learning environment. Lectures are recorded and can be watched in your own time if you cannot attend scheduled times. Some lectures and tutorial may be pre-recorded.
You should expect to spend 12 hours per week per subject including personal study hours. Full time students should expect to commit 48 hours per week total workload for the length of the course.
Completion of all 4 unit subjects is required to graduate.
Class sizes are typically less than 20.
This subject is designed to give students a holistic understanding of the broad Australian agricultural industry from pre-farm through to processing and market. It will enable students to identify and describe the operational processes within the major agricultural industries such as beef, dairy, sheep, poultry, pigs, horticulture, nursery and broad-acre cropping. An overview of agriculture will be completed with an introduction to the emerging and smaller agricultural industries including apiary, deer and alpaca. Students will be extended to discuss the major issues facing agriculture such as social, environmental and climate change and to examine how these affect agricultural operations and logistics. This subject will include site-visits to relevant agricultural businesses and complement studies undertaken in BBS104 Introduction to Biosecurity.
Online subject contact hours (per week):
1x2hr lecture; 1x2hr tutorial
This subject introduces the principles of the biosecurity continuum, (onshore, at border and offshore), and the social and economic contextual framework as it applies to challenges involving biological threat to humans, flora, fauna and the environment. Students will examine how policy, standards, delivery systems and risk management can reduce biosecurity threats and proactively prepare for emerging biosecurity challenges to ensure safety for plant and animal agriculture, food processing, environmental status, animal and human welfare and personal and corporate economic stability. The subject will also consider bioterrorism as a potential biosecurity threat.
Online subject contact hours (per week for a 6-week period):
2x2hr lecture; 2x2hr tutorial
This subject provides the foundational knowledge and skills in mathematical statistics and metrology that underpin further studies in the science, agriculture and biosecurity fields. Students will engage in the study of both basic metrology and the selection and summary of data within a laboratory environment. Students will develop skills in basic statistical methods, experimental design and hypothesis testing. Reliable sources of scientific information will be considered and accessed to examine the role of statistics in scientific and peer-reviewed communication.
Online subject contact hours (per week):
1x2hr lecture; 1x2hr tutorial
This subject builds on knowledge and skills acquired in previous subjects, and introduces strategies and tools available to successfully monitor and respond to biosecurity risk agents. Students will achieve a high level of understanding of surveillance and monitoring methodologies and be asked to apply their knowledge to a mock biosecurity case study. Students will be asked to critically assess a possible biosecurity breach and using their knowledge and skills identify the disease, pest or weed and develop a plan to control and monitor the situation.
Online subject contact hours (per week for a 6-week period):
2x2hr lecture; 2x2hr tutorial
Is this the course for you?
Enrol now or enquire about this course.