HSC subjects and science majors

You’ve decided that you want to continue studying a subject you enjoyed during your final years of high school, like Biology or Chemistry or Food Technology. But, you’ve realised that it’s not as simple as enrolling in a Bachelor of Biology, or Food Technology, because those exact degrees don’t exist 

You can actually study these subjects and gain advanced knowledge by enrolling in a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science, broad degrees that offer you a variety of subject areas to specialise in (over 40 in fact).

The first thing you’ve got to know when you enrol in a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science, is that you’ll study a major and a minor.

What’s a major?

The technical answer: “A defined sequence of units of study that deepens your experience in a field of study.”

But in plain terms, a major is a group of related subjects you’ll take in order to gain specialised knowledge in a specific area.

Each subject (what we call a “unit of study”) is assigned credit points.

To achieve a major, you need to complete a required 48 credit points and specific units of study within one subject area. Usually this is made up of 8 units of study, taken across the duration of your degree.

What’s a minor?

Minors are very similar to majors: think of them as a smaller group of related subjects that you’ll take to gain knowledge in a specific area.

A minor requires fewer credit points than a major - 36 to be exact. Usually this is made up of 6 units of study, taken across the duration of your degree.

All of our liberal studies degrees (Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science, Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies) and specialist degrees like the Bachelor of Psychology require you to complete a major, and a minor (or second major).

How do my HSC subjects align with what is available in Science at University?

Click on a HSC subject below to see our related Science majors (and minors). From there, click through to find out more about the specific units of study.

One last thing: this is a guide! You don't need to have studied these specific HSC subjects to undertake the listed majors and minors, they're just suggestions to get you started. You can study all of the below without any prior experience or study.*

*Please note that this is a guide for subject areas of interest only and not a model for course prerequisites or assumed knowledge. Please consult Sydney Courses for more information on the specific prerequisites and requirements for the course that interests you.