To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) – 4 years.

The Nanotechnology Specialisation is offered as part of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) and requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The Specialisation is offered by the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, withIn The Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Specialisations have different admission requirements to other programs of study available In The Bachelor of Science (Honours). In order to undertake a Specialisation students must be admitted to The Specialisation program. The name of the specialisation will appear on the transcript and parchment.

There is an alternative 1 year program for the Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnology) (Honours) for students who have successfully completed a Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnolgy).

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail In The University Entry Requirements.

Prerequisites and Assumed Knowledge for Specialisations

Successful completion of SACE Year 12 Chemistry, Physics and Mathematical Studies or the equivalent are required for entry to the Quantum Nanostructures stream, while successful completion of SACE Year 12 Chemistry only will allow entry into The Specialisation in Nanotechnology Biomedical Nanotechnology stream.

Course aims

In The Nanotechnology Specialisation the topic sequence forms a coherent and explicit path towards a comprehensive appreciation of, and competence in, the appropriate underlying science. This course will educate students with the range of skills inherent in Nanotechnology graduates:
  • a capacity to understand and apply modern scientific principles
  • skills In The retrieval and presentation of scientific information both orally and in writing to scientific and non-scientific audiences
  • proficiency in independent critical analysis of information and capacity to solve problems
  • an ability to analyse and evaluate numerical data independently
  • competence In The practical use of relevant computer and information technology
  • an ability to work effectively in a team on a largely self-defined project
  • an appreciation of the role of science in society
  • an understanding of the ethical issues raised through the study of science.

Learning outcomes

Graduates are expected to be able to:
  • have a sound grounding in multidisciplinary areas of nanoscience as well as hands on research experience
  • have an increased understanding of materials and their properties at the atomic level, including an understanding of the intimate relationship between scale and size, nanostructure and the properties of materials
  • be skilled in areas of nanoscience with relevant hands on experience and will be qualified for jobs in traditional science-based industries and government laboratories such as DSTO and, as the nanotechnologies emerge and mature, will be positioned for jobs in this applied area
  • educate a new generation of scientists who can participate in, and indeed seed, new high-technology companies that will be the key to maintaining jobs, wealth and educational infrastructures as nanotechnology results in a new industrial revolution
  • develop a range of professional, scientific and computational skills that will enhance employment opportunities in a wide range of industrial, research and governmental institutions
  • display readiness for the workplace through their ability to contribute constructively to multidisciplinary teams, to communicate both orally and in written form, and to be familiar with modern, computer-based communication technology. This will be achieved using non-traditional education techniques including group-based problem-based learning, flexible delivery and WebCT interactive tutorials
  • form strong multidisciplinary educational and research links through joint team projects that cross the traditional areas of science.

Program of Study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Nanotechnology) specialisation a student must complete 144 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the Bachelor of Science (Honours) – 4 years program of study.  The program of study for The Specialisation is detailed below:

No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 144 units for the degree. A topic cannot be counted twice.

Elective topics to complete 144 units may be selected from any offered within the University or, with approval from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, from outside the University, provided any course and prerequisite requirements are met.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Upon completion of at least 103.5 units and with a GPA of 5 or more in the last 36 units of study, students may commence the Fourth Year Honours program. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will exit with the Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnology) on completion of 108 units.

Students who have completed 72 units or more with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following rule, may exit with the Diploma in Applied Science:
at least 27 units from the First Year science topics offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering
at least 18 units from Second or Third Year science topics offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Students who have completed 108 units according to the first three years of the Program may choose to exit with the Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnology).

Except where there is an approved double specialisation (see Bachelor of Science (Honours) program of study) the same upper level (2xxx or above) topic cannot be counted twice. For example an upper level topic that is counted towards a specialisation may not also be counted towards a minor.

Students undertake one of two streams In The Nanotechnology Specialisation:

Core - Biomedical Nanotechnology - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life#  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1101  Chemical Structure and Bonding  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1102  Modern Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 NANO1101  Fundamentals of Nanotechnology#  (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics*

Plus either:

 MATH1121  Mathematics 1A#  (4.5 units) AND
 MATH1122  Mathematics 1B#  (4.5 units)

or

 MATH1701  Mathematics Fundamentals A#  (4.5 units) AND
 MATH1702  Mathematics Fundamentals B#  (4.5 units)

Core - Biomedical Nanotechnology - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL2771  Biochemistry  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2772  Molecular Biology  (4.5 units)
 CHEM2701  Chemical Reactivity  (4.5 units)
 CHEM2702  Organic Reactions  (4.5 units)
 CHEM2711  Spectroscopy and Data Analysis  (4.5 units)
 NANO2701  Structure and Characterisation  (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics*

Core - Biomedical Nanotechnology - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL3762  Protein to Proteome  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3771  DNA to Genome  (4.5 units)
 CHEM2712  Separation Science**  (4.5 units)
 CHEM3701  Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry  (4.5 units)
 CHEM3712  Introduction to Polymer Science  (4.5 units)
 NANO3702  Frontiers of Nanotechnology  (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics*

Core - Biomedical Nanotechnolgy - Honours Year topics

36 unit comprising:

 NANO4700A  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4700B  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4700C  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4700D  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4700E  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4711  Advanced Nanotechnology  (4.5 units)

Plus two of:

 CHEM4703  Advanced Organic Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 CHEM4723  Advanced Macromolecular Science  (4.5 units)
 FACH4703  Chemistry of Energetic Materials  (4.5 units
 PHYS4701  Advanced Special Topics in Physics A (Atomic and Molecular)  (4.5 units)
 PHYS4711  Advanced Special Topics in Physics B (Quantum Theory)  (4.5 units)
 PHYS4721  Advanced Special Topics in Physics C (Space and Surface Science)  (4.5 units)

*Students may choose to undertake a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Minor as part of the elective component of their degree subject to meeting course/topic requirements.

#These topics are cognate studies topics which must be taken to complete the specialisation.

**Students who have passed CPES2102 Analytical Chemistry as part of Year 2 should undertake CHEM3711 Organic Synthesis and Mechanism instead.

Core - Quantum Nanostructures - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 CHEM1101  Chemical Structure and Bonding  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1102  Modern Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 MATH1121  Mathematics 1A#  (4.5 units)
 MATH1122  Mathematics 1B#  (4.5 units)
 NANO1101  Fundamentals of Nanotechnology#  (4.5 units)
 PHYS1101  Fundamental Physics I#  (4.5 units)
 PHYS1102  Fundamental Physics II#  (4.5 units)

Plus 4.5 units of elective topics*

Core - Quantum Nanostructures - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

 CHEM2701  Chemical Reactivity  (4.5 units)
 CHEM2702  Organic Reactions  (4.5 units)
 CHEM2711  Spectroscopy and Data Analysis  (4.5 units)
 MATH2702  Linear Algebra and Differential Equations  (4.5 units)
 NANO2701  Structure and Characterisation  (4.5 units)
 PHYS2701  Quantum Concepts  (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics*

Core - Quantum Nanostructures - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

 CHEM2712  Separation Science  (4.5 units)
 CHEM3701  Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry  (4.5 units)
 CHEM3712  Introduction to Polymer Science  (4.5 units)
 MATH3702  Methods of Applied Mathematics**  (4.5 units)
 NANO3702  Frontiers of Nanotechnology  (4.5 units)
 PHYS3711  Quantum Physics  (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics*

Core - Quantum Nanostructures - Honours Year topics

36 unit comprising:

 NANO4700A  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4700B  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4700C  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4700D  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4700E  Research Project in Nanotechnology  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 NANO4711  Advanced Nanotechnology  (4.5 units)

Plus two of:

 CHEM4703  Advanced Organic Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 CHEM4723  Advanced Macromolecular Science  (4.5 units)
 FACH4703  Chemistry of Energetic Materials  (4.5 units
 PHYS4701  Advanced Special Topics in Physics A (Atomic and Molecular)  (4.5 units)
 PHYS4711  Advanced Special Topics in Physics B (Quantum Theory)  (4.5 units)
 PHYS4721  Advanced Special Topics in Physics C (Space and Surface Science)  (4.5 units)

*Students may choose to undertake a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Minor as part of the elective component of their degree subject to meeting course/topic requirements.

#These topics are cognate studies topics which must be taken to complete the specialisation.

**Students who have passed MATH2111 Vector Calculus as part of Year 2 should undertake MATH2702 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations instead.

Combined degrees

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Nanotechnolgy) may also be studied in a combined degrees program with a: