- 2 years (or part-time equivalent)
- Toowoomba
- External
- Feb, May
- View dates
- AUD 35,840
- (Indicative annual fee)
- 098993K
Overview
- Set yourself up for a career in the pathology laboratory sector and gain the skills and knowledge to needed to become a medical laboratory technician.
- Assist in identifying diseases such as anaemia and leukaemia by examining blood samples, and learn how to perform blood grouping for patients requiring a transfusion.
- Develop the skills required for processing patient tissue samples to assist the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer.
- Learn to apply state of the art methods to assist in diagnosing the causes of infectious diseases like pneumonia and meningitis, as well as blood and wound infections.
- Develop valuable, real-world skills by completing 48 days of clinical placement, where you'll apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings, work alongside experienced professionals, and gain firsthand insight into day-to-day clinical operations.
Dedicated to helping
UniSQ is dedicated to helping everyone develop their abilities and academic skills so they can reach their full potential on their chosen path.
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Career outcomes
As a graduate, you can apply for jobs as a:
- medical laboratory technician or technical officer in private and public pathology laboratories
- medical or clinical research technicians in universities, health organisations, or biotechnology sectors.
- biomedical science support role, assisting in disease diagnosis and research
- health, medical, and scientific product marketer, working with medical and laboratory equipment.
What you'll study
To graduate from the Associate Degree of Medical Laboratory Science, you must successfully complete 16 units of study.
Degree structure
An undergraduate university degree typically consists of a combination of core, major and elective courses designed to provide you with foundational knowledge and opportunities for an in-depth deeper dive into your chosen field.
Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for detailed recommended enrolment patterns and course availability.
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previous studies or relevant work experience. This could reduce the number of courses you need to study to complete your degree.
Degree requirements
You will be required to attend on-campus residential schools as part of this degree. During these sessions, you will attend face-to-face practical classes and workshops, use the laboratory facilities and specialised equipment, and engage with staff and fellow students.
As part of the degree, you will need to complete 48 days of practical placements in accredited pathology laboratories. Placements in industry provide professional experience, putting the theory into practice, and opportunities to start networking with potential employers.
We have a team of professional placement officers who will liaise with you to arrange your placements. Please note that you may be required to travel outside the Toowoomba/Greater Brisbane area and/or interstate to undertake placements.
All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of practical placements within this degree.
Applicants must be willing to undertake and submit the requirements of the University of Southern Queensland, Queensland Health and private pathology providers for practical placement. Please visit Resources and Forms to download the latest Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Placement Guide.
Other study options
If you’re interested in further study, after completion of this degree you can go on to study the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (if you meet all the entry requirements).
Entry requirements
You need to satisfy the following requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.
Use our International qualification converter to check country-specific grades (that are equivalent to Australian Year 12) you will need to apply for this degree.
To study this degree, we assume you have sound knowledge in:
- English (Units 3 & 4, C), or equivalent and
- General Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C), or equivalent
We assume that your knowledge is equivalent to a grade C or higher in Units 3 and 4 at high school level (typically studied in Year 12). Find out more about assumed knowledge.
You'll need to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires:
- IELTS (Academic) - Minimum overall score of 6.0 and a minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four components - listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Alternative English language proficiency tests may also be accepted.
During your study
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet these requirements throughout your studies.
Inherent requirements are fundamental skills, capabilities, and knowledge that you must be able to demonstrate to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the degree, while maintaining the academic integrity of the degree.
If you think you may experience any problems meeting inherent requirements, you can talk to an Accessibility Support Officer about reasonable adjustments that may be put in place to assist you. Any reasonable adjustments made must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.
Review the inherent requirements and make sure this degree is right for you.
All students must be able to meet the physical and other requirements of placements within this degree. These include:
- UniSQ Student Declaration
- Queensland Health Student Orientation Checklist
- Queensland Health Student Deed Poll
- Queensland Health iLearn Modules
- Pathology QLD Visitor Confidentiality Protocol
- AUSLAB Clinical WILS Student Access
- QML Online Induction Certificate
Students must also provide the following immunisation evidence prior to commencing clinical placements:
- Hepatitis B seroconversion
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella immunisation evidence
- Varicella immunisation evidence
- Pertussis immunisation evidence
- Covid-19 immunisation evidence.
Entry pathways
There is more than one way to get into university, and if you're not sure about your entry options get in touch to discuss.
Fees and scholarships
- This estimated 2025 annual fee is based on the current average rate for your first year of study (8 units per year) and does not include cost of materials such as textbooks, additional costs or the Student Services and Amenities fee.
- This is an indicative guide only and your fees will vary depending on the courses you select, with the actual rates calculated at enrolment.
- We review our fees annually and they may increase each year.
- Further details are available on the Fees website.
Additional costs
You may be required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee as part of your degree cost.
This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation, and meal expenses.
Placement courses may incur some additional costs, including uniform and equipment, transport to and from venues and, in some instances, living expenses, particularly for placements in rural and remote settings
UniSQ Scholarships
We offer scholarships for academic excellence, community leadership, and financial need - you can apply for more than one!
Find out moreHow to apply
The University accepts applications all year. Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.
ApplyYou can select to start your study in Trimester 1 or 2.
| Study period | Orientation | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1, 2025 | Monday 3 February | Monday 10 February |
| Trimester 2, 2025 | Monday 19 May | Monday 26 May |
| Trimester 1, 2026 | Monday 9 February | Monday 16 February |
Preparing to apply
You've made the decision to study at UniSQ - congratulations! Take the next steps:
You can contact one of our approved agents to guide you through the application process. Our agents provide:
- advice on your study plans
- advice on applying to UniSQ
- document certification
- assistance with any pre-departure arrangements
- assistance with your visa requirements.
To support your application, you will need to submit certified copies of:
- identity documents (passport)
- evidence of your English language proficiency
- senior high school (A levels/Year 12) certificate and academic transcripts
- all post-secondary study certificates and academic transcripts (if any)
- evidence of work experience (if required).
Application dates can vary so be sure to check our key dates to get all the details.
It is important to apply early to allow enough time for your application to be assessed and processed to meet study commencement dates and participation in Orientation activities. You should also factor in visa processing requirements and timeframes, where applicable.
After you’ve submitted your application, you will be emailed a reference number. Please allow up to 14 days for assessment. If further assessment is required for course credits or exemptions, this process may take longer.
Once you have received your letter of offer from UniSQ, you will need to return your signed acceptance of offer form. The UniSQ team will contact you at this time with more information regarding next steps.
Find out more
Connect with us - start a conversation, whenever suits you.
Frequently asked questions
At UniSQ, to gain entry into our Associate Degree in Medical Laboratory Science you will need to meet specific pre-requisites, assumed knowledge requirements, as well as a number of inherent requirements. ‘Assumed knowledge’ is the term we use to explain the minimum level of knowledge we presume you have in some subjects before you start your degree. ‘Inherent requirements’ are fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the degree, while maintaining the academic integrity of the degree.
For more information on entry requirements for this associate degree in laboratory science, please view the entry requirements section of this page.
This course covers all the fundamentals that are generally explored in a lab technician course. Throughout the duration of your studies, you will gain the skills to:
- examine blood samples and process patient tissue samples to assist in identifying a range of diseases
- understand the methods behind diagnosing the causes for various infectious diseases
- interpret and generate scientific data using appropriate experimental, computational, statistical and technological approaches
- apply fundamental ethical, professional and workplace health and safety standards in clinical and research laboratories.
Upon completion of your studies you will be well prepared to step confidently into roles within a medical laboratory setting.
At UniSQ you can study our Sciences Associate Degree in Medical Laboratory Science on-campus or externally, allowing you to learn your subject theory online and attend on-campus residential schools when required. We’ve been delivering distance education for over 40 years, so you can be sure that you are studying your degree with the online education experts.
Discover more about the different ways you can study at UniSQ.
