- On-campus
- External
- Toowoomba
- 3 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Overview
- UniSQ offers Australia’s only 3-year Medical Laboratory Science degree accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS).
- With UniSQ, your work integrated learning and clinical placements start with a pre-analytical placement in your first year of study. Clinical placements provide real-world experience in pathology laboratories and opportunities to enhance your employability.
- Through medical laboratory science course work, learn how to examine blood samples to identify different types of anaemia, leukaemia and malaria, as well as how to determine the blood group of a patient requiring a transfusion.
- Develop the specialised skills required to process patient tissue samples for diagnosis of diseases, such as cancer, and determine the compatibility of blood products for patients requiring transfusion.
- Learn how to use state-of-the-art molecular and conventional methods to determine the cause of infectious diseases like pneumonia and meningitis, and blood and surgical wound infections.
Professional memberships
The Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science is accredited with the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS). Students are eligible for free student membership of AIMS and graduates are eligible for discounted membership of AIMS.
You will also be eligible to apply for membership to professional organisations including the Australian Society for Microbiology, Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Australian Society for Medical Research.
Career outcomes
- You will be prepared for employment in private and public pathology laboratories, medical research institutions, blood banks and forensic science laboratories.
- Medical laboratory scientists are a critical part of the healthcare team supporting pathologists, doctors, nurses and associated health professionals by performing analyses on patient specimens, to provide information that is vital in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of human disease.
- This qualification can be a pathway to study medicine, to work in IVF clinics, or work in medical research or forensic sciences.
Entry requirements
Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.
Recent secondary education
Adjusted Entry score including adjustment factors (additional points given in certain circumstances). | Unadjusted Entry score not including adjustment factors. | |
---|---|---|
ATAR The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile rank used to assess the results of high-school applicants for undergraduate entry into university. | 65.60 | 68.00 |
To study this degree we assume you have sound knowledge in:
- English (Units 3 & 4, C), and
- General Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
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.
It is also recommended that you have studied either Biology (Units 3 & 4, C), Chemistry (Units 3 & 4, C), or equivalent.
Further admission information
Adjustments are additional points given in certain circumstances that may increase your Rank. Find out if you qualify for any adjustment factor pathways such as educational disadvantage where you live, and subjects you passed.
UniSQ is committed to greater admissions transparency. Learn more about the education and work experience, as well as average Ranks for this degrees' student cohort from the previous year.
Inherent requirements
There are inherent requirements that must be met in order to successfully complete this 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. Please read and understand the inherent requirements specific to the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science before applying.
If you think you may experience any problems meeting inherent requirements, you can talk to a Student Equity 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.
Tafe (VET) qualification
If you have completed a qualification from a TAFE or qualified private provider, you may be able to use these qualifications to meet UniSQ's entry requirements.
Work and life experience
You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet UniSQ's entry requirements.
English language requirements
You are required to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in each subscore. UniSQ also accepts other English language proficiency tests.
If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can apply to study the English for Academic Purposes EAP3 pathway program through the Union Institute of Language (UIL).
Additional requirements for placements
All students must provide the following documents prior to commencing any clinical placements in the program:
- UniSQ Student Declaration
- UniSQ Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) form
- 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
- Tuberculosis Risk Assessment Form for Students
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
Recognition of prior learning or work experience
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.
Pathways
If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.
If you identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent you may be eligible to enter the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program (IHEPP).
Degree structure
To complete this degree students must complete 24 units.
Courses to be studied | Units |
---|---|
Core courses | 24 |
incl. 80 days of clinical placement | |
Total | 24 |
Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.
Residential schools
If you are enrolled in the External study mode in this degree, you will be required to come on-campus for residential schools, where you will attend face-to-face practical classes and workshops, use the laboratory facilities and specialised equipment, and engage with staff and other students.
Professional experience / clinical placements
Practical experience is an integral component of this degree and each student is required to undertake and satisfactorily complete 80 days of practical experience in NATA accredited laboratories. Every effort is made to accommodate student preferences in terms of the location and timing of placements. However, students should be prepared for potential professional placements outside of their preferred location (Queensland-based students will not be expected to travel interstate), and the associated travel and accommodation expenses.Progression into practical courses is dependent upon a pass grade in theoretical and other placement courses that have been set as prerequisites.
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.
Fees and scholarships
Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.
Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:
Study Mode | Cost |
---|---|
Commonwealth supported
The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution. |
AUD 8948 |
Domestic full fee paying
You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee. |
AUD 29600 |
1 These are indicative annual fees for 2024.
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
Professional experience costs
This degree includes a professional experience component that may involve travel, accommodation and meal expenses.
Residential school costs
This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation and meal expenses.
Loan to help you pay your fees
You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.
You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.
Scholarships
At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.
How to apply
This degree is currently under review and we're launching our redeveloped courses from Trimester 1, 2025. If you're interested in applying, please contact us for more information.
To study a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at UniSQ you need to meet a minimum ATAR and assumed knowledge. ‘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.
Additional documentation must also be provided prior to any clinical placements.
For further information on ATAR, assumed knowledge and additional documentation, please view the entry requirements section of this page for details.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements, we have many pathway options you can explore. UniReady is a free and flexible pathway, giving you an alternative entry option into the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science.
Not sure if you want to commit to the full degree? Why not start with our Associate degree of Medical Laboratory Science? Upon completion, if you have followed the recommended enrolment pattern, you can then articulate into the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science if you choose.
The duration of a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science will vary depending on the learning provider you choose to study with.
At UniSQ, a full-time course load will take 3 years, or you can undertake the part-time equivalent option which is up to 6 years.
The cost of a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science in Australia will vary depending on the education provider you choose to study with.
When you study with us, the first year of your studies will cost approximately AUD 8021 (Commonwealth supported place), not including:
- Professional experience costs
- Student services and amenities fees
- Residential school costs.
Please view the fees and scholarships section of this page for details.
- Ranked above world standard in Medical and Health Sciences in the latest ERA results.
- We offer Australia’s only 3-year Medical Laboratory Science degree accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS) and our graduates are eligible for discounted membership of AIMS.
- Begin work integrated learning and clinical placements with a pre-analytical placement in your first year of study.