Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

Year 1

In your first year you take eight compulsory courses. These courses give you a general scientific grounding and a broader perspective on medical laboratory science.
 

Courses you study
 

• HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
• CHEM502 Biological Chemistry
• MICR501 Microbiology 
• CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry
• MELS501 Histology and Cytology
• HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 
• HEAL609 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• BIOL501 Biological Sampling and Interpretation
   

Year 2

Your second-year courses cover biochemistry, genetics, clinical chemistry, haematology, medical microbiology, immunology and virology, transfusion science and molecular genetics.
 

Courses you study
 

• GENE602 Principles of Genetics
• GENE603 Cells, Genes and Molecules
• MELS601 Clinical Chemistry I
• MELS602 Haematology I
• MELS605 Immunology and Virology
• MELS606 Transfusion Science I
• MELS607 Medical Microbiology I
• GENE701 Molecular Genetics 
   

Year 3

You study two medical laboratory science specialisation subjects in more depth, along with pathology, methods of research and professional practice and ethics.
 

Courses you study
 

• MELS603 Pathology I
• MELS604 Pathology II
• MELS608 Laboratory Information Systems and Automations
• HEAL708 Professional Practice and Ethics
   

Specialisations you can choose (select two)

• Clinical Chemistry
• Haematology
• Histology
• Immunology
• Medical Cytology
• Medical Microbiology
• Transfusion Science
   

Each specialisation has two courses you need to complete.
 

Not all specialisations are offered every year.
 

Depending on your specialisation, you complete four courses from:

• GENE702 Molecular Diagnostics
• MELS701 Clinical Chemistry II
• MELS702 Clinical Chemistry III
• MELS703 Haematology II 
• MELS704 Haematology III
• MELS705 Immunology II
• MELS706 Immunology III 
• MELS707 Transfusion Science II 
• MELS708 Transfusion Science III
• MELS709 Histology
• MELS719 Medical Microbiology II
• MELS720 Medical Microbiology III
• MELS721 Histology III
   

Year 4

Your final year consists of two 15-week placements of 30 hours per week in New Zealand or Australia.
 

Recent placements included:

• LabPLUS
• Labtests NZ
• New Zealand Blood Service
   

Minimum entry requirements
 

• University Entrance or equivalent including:

  • NCEA: 14 or more credits in each of Biology, Chemistry and Statistics

  • CIE: A D grade or better at AS or A level in each of Biology, Chemistry and Statistics

• Must be capable of meeting Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act) requirements including police clearance
   

International student entry requirements
 

English language requirements

• At least IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with all bands 6.0 or higher; or equivalent.

Domestic

• $7,835 - $8,412 (for 120 points)
• ($6,901 - $7,478 tuition fees + $934 student services levy)
   

International

• $40,534 (for 120 points)
• ($39,600 tuition fees + $934 student services levy)
   

This degree prepares you for a career in a diagnostic laboratory. Registered medical laboratory scientists work in public hospitals and community laboratories doing diagnostic laboratory testing across all specialisations.


Other career paths include:

• Diagnostic reagent manufacture
• Laboratory management
• Marketing of medical equipment and reagents