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University of Southern Queensland (USQ)

  • 12% international / 88% domestic

Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

  • Bachelor

UniSQ offers Australia's only 3-year Medical Laboratory Science degree accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS).

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Study Mode
In person, Online
Intake Months
Feb, Jul
Domestic Fees
$8,296 per year
ATAR
65.6

About this course

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.

Entry requirements

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
Pre-requisites

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 for Semester 1 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 satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

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).

Study locations

Toowoomba

External

Distance

Online

Career pathways

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.

Course structure

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 24 units. Most courses (similar to 'subjects') are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per semester.

Courses to be studied Units Core courses 8 Medical Laboratory Science courses 16 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.

How to apply

How to apply
Apply via QTAC

Apply via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) if you:

  • have never studied with UniSQ before, or
  • are a Year 12 student, or
  • want to transfer to UniSQ from another university.
Mode QTAC Codes
External 906135
Toowoomba 906131

Copy your QTAC code and continue through to the QTAC website to complete your application.

Apply through QTAC

If you are applying via QTAC, please check our application closing dates.

Apply directly to UniSQ

You may be able to apply directly to UniSQ if you:

  • are a current or previous UniSQ student returning to study with complete or incomplete qualifications (excluding Head Start students), or
  • have recently graduated from TAFE.

The closing dates for applying directly to UniSQ are:

  • Semester 1, 2023 - applications close on 20 February and the Semester 1 study period commences on Monday 20 February, 2023.
  • Semester 2, 2023 - applications close on 10 July and the Semester 2 study period commences on Monday 10 July, 2023.
2024 intakes

You can apply to start the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science in Trimesters 1, 2 or 3.

You can also apply to start this degree in March by enrolling in your first two courses in Block 2. After this you will move into the Trimester Academic Calendar from Trimester 2.

  • Trimester 1 - applications close 22 January 2024 and the Trimester 1 study period starts on 22 January 2024.
  • Block 2 - applications close 11 March 2024 and the Block 2 study period starts on 18 March 2024.
  • Trimester 2 - applications close 13 May 2024 and the Trimester 2 study period starts on 13 May 2024.
  • Trimester 3 - applications close 2 September 2024 and the Trimester 3 study period starts on 2 September 2024.
Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.