University of Tasmania, Australia

Brochure: Master of Biomedical Science (PDF 369.4 KB)

The Master of Biomedical Science will provide students with the theoretical and practical skills necessary for employment in medical pathology laboratories or to undertake further postgraduate research. The Master of Biomedical Science will allow students with an undergraduate background in Science or Health Science to broaden and extend their areas of potential employment with theoretical and practical skills in areas chosen from Clinical Chemistry, Haematology and Medical Microbiology.

The programme will equip students to sit the examination for membership of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) once they have the appropriate professional laboratory experience.

A Medical Laboratory Scientist carries out laboratory investigations which assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. These investigations can be divided into a number of categories:

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• Microbiology – Medical Scientists detect and identify disease causing microorganisms from patients with infectious diseases such as food poisoning or pneumonia and perform tests to help select the correct antibiotic for treatment.
• Haematology – Medical Scientists assess the numbers and quality of the various cells found in the blood and bone marrow, identifying diseases such as iron deficiency, anaemia and leukaemia. They also look for defects in the coagulation system and help monitor patients on anticoagulant therapy.
• Transfusion – Medical Scientists conduct testing on blood donated by the public to ensure it is safe for transfusion, by carrying out blood group and antibody screening. They ensure the blood is compatible by also testing recipients.
• Clinical Biochemistry & Endocrinology – Medical Scientists analyse blood and body fluids for chemicals to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with metabolic or physiological diseases, such as diabetes, measure, interpret and assess hormone levels and hormonal actions (e.g. Thyroid hormones) in patients with dysfunctional endocrine states.
• Immunology – Medical Scientists use their understanding of the immune system and how it protects us from the outside world.
• Molecular Biology – Medical Scientists utilise specialised techniques at the cutting edge of science to investigate the genetic basis of disease and assessing the risk of developing disease based on genetic make-up.
• Histology – Medical Scientists use tissues or lesions removed from a patient to enable the microscopic diagnosis of disease processes such as cancer or infection. Cytology scientists examine smears of cells such as pap smears to enable the early detection of cells that may indicate the presence of malignancy.

For further information about the Master of Biomedical Science, visit the Course and Unit Entry.

What can I do with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science?