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Laboratory Medicine

Laboratory Medicine is at the heart of healthcare. Learn to make a real difference through diagnosis.

Over 500 million pathology tests were ordered for Australians in the last 12 months, covering a range of diseases and conditions from cholesterol checks to cancer diagnoses.

Start your career in diagnostic pathology or medical research laboratories and start making your own contributions in Tasmania and beyond.

The Master of Laboratory Medicine is designed to prepare students to work in specialised medical and pathology laboratories that provide diagnostic services essential to our healthcare system. The tests performed provide valuable information used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Course Options

Master of Laboratory Medicine

2 years min, 5 years max
Launceston CRICOS 093656A

View course details Master of Laboratory Medicine

An accredited course means you graduate job ready.

Be part of a smaller learning cohort in a highly supportive learning environment.

Professional placements connect you with future employment networks.

Study options

Professional experience placement

If you choose the Professional Experience Sequence, you will undertake your professional experience placement in host laboratories on mainland Australia (outside of Tasmania).

Contribute to ground-breaking research

Develop a research plan and explore an issue related to biomedical or health-related research.

Choice of three study streams

Choose to specialise in two of the following three streams:

  • hematology
  • microbiology
  • clinical chemistry
  • Course breakdown

    Choose from a professional experience sequence or a research sequence.

    1

    Year 1 (Semester 2 intake only)

    37.5 credit points

    Core units
    37.5 credit points
    covering the topics of:

    • Haematology
    • General and Medical
    • Microbiology
      Clinical Chemistry

    2

    Year 2 (Semester 2, 3 only)

    87.5 credit points

    Year 2 (Semester 1 and 2)
    (87.5 credit points)

    Core Unit

    • CXA625 Histology (12.5 credit points)

    Professional Experience Sequence

    • CXA622 Histopathology (12.5 credit points)
      + one elective (12.5 credit points)

    Choose two of the following streams:

    • Haematology
    • Microbiology
    • Clinical Chemistry
      (50 credit points)

    Research Sequence:

    • CXA701 Guided Research A (12.5 credit points)
    • CXA702 Guided Research B (12.5 credit points)

    Choose two of the following streams:

    • Haematology
    • Microbiology
    • Clinical Chemistry
      (50 credit points)

    3

    Year 3 (Semester 1 only)

    25 credit points

    Professional experience sequence (25 credit points)

    • Laboratory Medicine Professional Experience Placement

    Research sequence (25 credit points)

    • Guided Research

    Career outcomes

    Sathya Perrera - Laboratory Medicine graduate

    Sathya Perrera is an outstanding student from Sri Lanka who studied the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine and graduated in 2019. She is currently working for Hobart Pathology, Tasmania.

    Graduates from this course meet the academic requirements for direct entry into the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists. Many graduates continue into postgraduate study and conduct research in the areas of molecular biology, clinical chemistry, medical microbiology and haematology. Students will gain knowledge and a variety of skills in professional areas such as: clinical chemistry, endocrinology, haematology, blood transfusion science, histopathology, microbiology, human molecular biology, and immunology.

    Australia’s pathology workforce:

    24k

    people in size

    Australian pathology laboratories process

    500 million

    tests each year

    Pathology laboratories play a vital role in

    70%

    of medical diagnoses

    Entry information

    Entry requirements

    Entry requirements vary across courses. You'll find the requirements on our individual course pages. These can be accessed from Course Options, which is located at the top of this page.

    We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you're not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

    Credit for prior learning

    The University of Tasmania aims to provide you with credit for approved prior study or equivalent professional experience which exceeds standard entrance requirements for courses. For more information please visit Recognition of Prior Learning.

    English language requirements

    For those applicants who are nationals of and currently residing in a country where English is not the official language, evidence of an IELTS or TOEFL test must be provided. For more information, please visit International Future Students.