This course covers the following key concepts and skills:

• Cell theory
• Role of nucleic acids (DNA/RNA)
• Genetics and inheritance
• Homeostasis
• Evolution
• DNA Technology
• Ecology and Population
• Human anatomy
• Environmental issues
• Practical Lab Activities

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• Write short notes on or give definitions of the technical terms used in general biology
• Write short notes to explain the meaning or significance of key concepts in biology
• Write brief essays to outline the structure or functioning of biological systems or to explain the unifying concepts.

For more information please download the Course Outline.

Biology has a minimum of 20 hours of approved lab activities. These lab activities account towards your final grade and can be done either in your home, office or even your backyard if required. Lab activities are hosted through our online classroom, so there is no need to go to a campus or book a room anywhere; they have been developed to be conveniently accessible online.

** Frog dissection is carried out online/virtually.  

The course materials include:

• Student welcome email in which you will also receive instructions on how to navigate Connect (the online classroom), view your grades, view teacher feedback, etc
• Learning Resources (expanded on below)
• Lab Activities, Progress Tests and Final Exam

The Learning Resources in the Biology course includes:

• Biology textbook (online/hardcopy, see below)
• Teacher’s notes on chapters (online)
• Biology glossary (online and in the textbook)
• Additional Learning – online links to recommended YouTube clips where teachers explain concepts
• Additional Learning – practice questions and answers within the textbook (online/hardcopy)

Purchasing the Biology textbook is not a requirement as an online version is available in the online classroom.  However, many students benefit from having the hardcopy.  This can be purchased via the QLD Textbook Warehouse (http://www.qtw.com.au).  Type “Unilearn Biology” in the search field at the top of their website homepage.  It is called “BIOLOGY 2e UNILEARN CUSTOM BOOK”. Please note the hardcopy is in black and white while the online version is in colour.

This course does not assume that you have any prior knowledge beyond basic maths and general reading and writing skills. It does presume you will be self-motivated and capable of self-directed learning (within the guidelines provided by the course materials). Since this is an online course, it is presumed that you have adequate computer skills and can use the main computer programs efficiently.

If you have little background in the sciences you may find that your progress through the earlier modules will be slower to begin with but much of the material is quite descriptive and familiarity with the concepts should develop quickly.

Australian students: $850
International students: $1000

The course cost covers the online classroom content as well as the Statement of Achievement via express post, but does not cover the fee for sitting the final exam.

Final exam cost

$75 for students sitting their online exam within Australia

$125 for students sitting a paper-based exam within Australia

$150 for students sitting their online exam outside of Australia

$200 for students sitting their paper-based exam outside of Australia

View our refund policy »

You have 12 months to complete this course; however, it may be completed sooner.

This course requires a minimum of 220 hours or 18 weeks to complete.

Note: Most students take 540 hours to complete the course as the 220 minimum hours is the learning in the textbook only and does not take into account completing homework, reading time, tutorial help, progress tests and/or assignments/activities. 

The following Study Plans can be used as a guide to complete the course in 18 or 26 weeks:-

18 Week Study Plan

26 Week Study Plan

To be eligible to sit the final exam, you must complete and pass all of the progress tests and lab activities with a score of 60% or higher on each. Completing all tests will improve your chances of successfully passing the final exam. More information about submitting work »

To sit for your final exam, you will need to arrange an invigilator. Please read through the exam information and processes for how to do this »

Once you have completed the online exam with a 50% or better you will be awarded a Statement of Achievement and a transcript for submission to QTAC or the like.

**It is highly recommended that you sit the specimen exam prior to siting the final exam. Most students who sit the specimen exam and receive feedback from their teacher score much higher on the final exam. Please give teachers a minimum of 1 week prior to your exam date for grading and feedback.

Tutorial support is provided by our experienced and qualified biology educator, Sarah Thomas.

Before enrolling in this course, you must check with the university you plan on attending to ensure this course meets their requirements for any required pre-requisites, you must also ask the university if there are any additional requirement such as a specific final grade or exam score. (For example: some universities require you to receive at least 75% on your final exam before it will be accepted.)

Enrolments take approximately two days to be processed, but may take longer during our peak times.

As soon as payment is confirmed you will receive an email inviting you into the online classroom.

Enrol Now!