Overview 2024
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students
View archived years for this course
For years prior to 2015, please view the Course and Unit Handbook Archive
View the current year's course page
Laboratory Medicine is at the heart of healthcare. Learn to make a real difference through diagnosis.
The Master of Laboratory Medicine will provide you with the theoretical and practical skills necessary for employment as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in medical pathology laboratories or other diagnostic laboratories (Professional Experience Sequence), and to provide relevant research experience (Research Sequence). The course provides a formal qualification in Laboratory Medicine for those with an undergraduate background in science or health science.
The Master of Laboratory Medicine will provide experience in research, and is a potential pathway for students to enter postgraduate research degrees.
If you choose the Professional Experience Sequence, you will undertake your professional experience placement in host laboratories on mainland Australia (outside of Tasmania).
Learning Outcomes
Career outcomes
Students will gain knowledge and a variety of skills in Laboratory Medicine professional areas such as: clinical chemistry, endocrinology, haematology, blood transfusion science, histopathology, medical microbiology, human molecular biology, and immunology. A Medical Scientist carries out laboratory investigations which assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
There are various career options open to biomedical and medical laboratory scientists, especially in hospital clinical and pathology laboratories, private pathology services, blood transfusion services, veterinary pathology laboratories and public health laboratories. Other areas of employment are found in universities and diagnostic companies.
Some students will be prepared to undertake further postgraduate training in biomedical research, leading to potential career options in research organisations.
Professional Accreditation
The Master of Laboratory Medicine is a professionally accredited degree. This course is accredited by Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS).
Graduates meet the requirements for Graduate membership of AIMS and can progress to full membership on the completion of 2-years postgraduate medical laboratory experience. For further membership requirements, please visit the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists website.
If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us for further information.
Course structure
Core Units
This unit will introduce you to the fundamental theoretical and practical concepts and principles of histology. The unit provides you with an in-depth study of histological methodologies including fixation, decalcification, processing and section cutting of normal tissues and techniques to…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
In Haematology 1, you will study blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases, including the aetiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of blood diseases such as leukaemia, anaemia, haemophilia and deep vein thrombosis. In the first half of the unit…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
In this unit you will explore how bacterial characteristics can be used as part of an identification strategy in a clinical microbiology laboratory. Module 1 examines how bacteria regulate their behaviour, communicate and multiply using various metabolic & genetic regulation…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CXA641 General and Medical Microbiology
The unit CXA651, Clinical Chemistry 1 will provide you with a thorough knowledge of: quality assurance, including sources of error; use and establishment of reference ranges; collection, preservation, transportation and storage of specimens for analysis and the preparation of laboratory…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Sequences
Clinical Chemistry Sequence (GDipLabMed/MLabMed)
This unit continues from CXA651 and is designed to extend student theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of clinical biochemistry. The unit covers the pathological changes that occur in tissues and cells and how these changes can be detected…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
Endocrinology is a specialised area of study in Clinical Chemistry and investigates the hormonal control mechanisms and regulation of metabolism and growth within the body. The study of endocrinology builds on many topics studied previously in Clinical Chemistry 1 and…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CXA653 Clinical Chemistry 3 (endocrinology)
Haematology Sequence (GDipLabMed/MLabMed)
In this unit, you will integrate and extend prior knowledge and skills about the laboratory differentiation of normal and abnormal haematological health conditions gained in CXA631 Haematology 1. You will systematically investigate the causes, laboratory investigations and treatment of anaemia…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit covers the major blood group systems of relevance to human blood transfusion and the theoretical basis of common transfusion testing practices. We explore the donation of blood products and the management of transfusion services and study in detail,…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Microbiology Sequence (GDipLabMed/MLabMed)
Introduces students to diagnostic medical bacteriology. Skills taught include: processing of clinical specimens, recognition of normal microbiota, identification of pathogens and the undertaking of appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Students learn: aspects of laboratory safety, epidemiology, pathogenesis and control of infectious…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit has been designed to systematically introduce the students to the common and diagnostically important fungal, parasitic and viral diseases of major organ systems in humans. The unit content is primarily concerned with laboratory diagnostic aspects of the above…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Professional Experience or Research Stream
Professional Experience Stream
Professional Experience Stream
Core units
This unit develops the pathological processes that underlie various human diseases. You will recognise common pathological conditions. In addition, histopathological methods and microscopic recognition are used to demonstrate bacterial and fungal infections, amyloidosis, pigments andneoplasia. Immunohistochemistry will be studied theoretically…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
This is a professional experience placement (PEP) unit, undertaken off campus in diagnostic pathology laboratories, accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), or equivalent. Over a 16-week period, students can experience core and specialised areas within a modern…
Credit Points: 25
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Summer school (early) | ||||
View all details for CXA704 Laboratory Medicine Professional Experience Placement
Degree Electives
This unit extends the student's understanding of the concepts of genetics and molecular biology obtained in CXA315 Cell and Molecular Biochemistry. The unit focuses on medical molecular genetics, providing detailed study of genetic mutations and inheritance patterns of genetic diseases.…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Expands on the understanding of biochemistry obtained in CXA261 Metabolic Biochemistry, concentrated at a molecular level. The unit is a comprehensive study of regulation of cellular metabolism and signalling along with a detailed study of the molecular mechanisms of genetic…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
In this unit, you will integrate and extend prior knowledge and skills about the laboratory differentiation of normal and abnormal haematological health conditions gained in CXA631 Haematology 1. You will systematically investigate the causes, laboratory investigations and treatment of anaemia…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit covers the major blood group systems of relevance to human blood transfusion and the theoretical basis of common transfusion testing practices. We explore the donation of blood products and the management of transfusion services and study in detail,…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Introduces students to diagnostic medical bacteriology. Skills taught include: processing of clinical specimens, recognition of normal microbiota, identification of pathogens and the undertaking of appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Students learn: aspects of laboratory safety, epidemiology, pathogenesis and control of infectious…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit has been designed to systematically introduce the students to the common and diagnostically important fungal, parasitic and viral diseases of major organ systems in humans. The unit content is primarily concerned with laboratory diagnostic aspects of the above…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit continues from CXA651 and is designed to extend student theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of clinical biochemistry. The unit covers the pathological changes that occur in tissues and cells and how these changes can be detected…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
Endocrinology is a specialised area of study in Clinical Chemistry and investigates the hormonal control mechanisms and regulation of metabolism and growth within the body. The study of endocrinology builds on many topics studied previously in Clinical Chemistry 1 and…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for CXA653 Clinical Chemistry 3 (endocrinology)
Research Stream
Research Stream
Core units
CXA701 Guided Research A. This unit is the first research unit in the Master of Laboratory Medicine program. Students will conduct a search of current scientific literature related to an area of biomedical science research currently conducted in the School…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit is the second research unit in the Master of Laboratory Medicine (Research Sequence). Students will further develop and implement the research plan developed in Guided Research A to explore an issue related to biomedical science research currently conducted…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
CXA703 Guided Research C. This unit is the third and final research unit in the Master of Laboratory Medicine research program. Students will continue to undertake an approved Guided Research Project on an issue related to biomedical science and related…
Credit Points: 25
This unit is currently unavailable.
Entry requirements
For Domestic students
Successful completion of a first degree in Biochemistry or a Medical Science, Health Science, Science or other related discipline, with a credit average, including studies of Biochemistry/Physiology at second year and some first or second year Immunology and Microbiology.
For International students
Admission to most postgraduate coursework courses at the University of Tasmania require qualifications equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree. Applicants must achieve the required grade in their qualifying studies, meet any prerequisite subjects, and meet English language requirements to be eligible for an offer.
English Language Requirements
For students who do not meet the English Language Requirement through citizenship or prior studies in English in an approved country, evidence of an approved English language test completed within the last 2 years must be provided. See the English Language Requirements page for more information.
Course Specific Requirements
Successful completion of a first degree in Biochemistry or a Medical Science, Health Science, Science or other related discipline, with a credit average, including studies of Biochemistry/Physiology at second year and some first or second year Immunology and Microbiology.
Credit transfer
Applications for credit can be made in your course application. Find out more information about how to apply for a credit transfer/advanced standing at Recognition of Prior Learning.
Talk to us on 1300 363 864 or enquire online about your credit transfer.
Articulation
This course does not currently articulate with any other course.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
This is a full-fee course, which means you’ll need to pay the entire amount for your studies. Commonwealth supported places are not available in this postgraduate course. However, there are still support options available for eligible students to help you manage the cost of studying this course.
You may be able to fund all or part of your tuition fees by accessing a FEE-HELP loan from the Australian Government. FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists domestic full-fee students to pay for University, which is repaid through the Australian Tax System once you earn above a repayment threshold. This means you’ll only have to start repaying the loan once you start earning above a specific amount.
Our scholarships and prizes program also offers more than 400 scholarships across all areas of study. You can even apply for multiple scholarships in one easy application.
An important note on Youth Allowance and AustudyThe Department of Social Services has approved some accredited and professionally oriented Masters courses for student payments through Youth Allowance or Austudy. This means if you enrol in one of these courses, you may be eligible for student payments. However, please be aware that this is not the case for all Master courses. Please visit our Scholarships, Fees and Costs website for further information.
Further informationDetailed fee information for domestic students is available at Scholarships, fees and costs, including additional information in relation to the compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Domestic students enrolled in certain postgraduate coursework programs may not be eligible for student payments through Youth Allowance and Austudy. Visit the Department of Social Services website to find out more about eligibility for Centrelink support and the list of eligible courses
Scholarships
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
How can we help?
Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.
- Domestic
- 13 8827 (13 UTAS)
- International
- +61 3 6226 6200
- Course.Info@utas.edu.au
- Online
- Online enquiries