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Undergraduate

Associate Degree of Medical Laboratory Science

Associate Degree of Medical Laboratory Science (AMLS)
CRICOS: 098993K

Entry requirements
Study mode
  • On-campus
  • External
Campus
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 2 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Feb, May
Note: The May intake (Trimester 2) is only available part-time, therefore is not suitable for international students who wish to study full-time on-campus.

Overview

  • Learn how to examine blood samples to assist in identifying diseases such as anaemia and leukaemia, as well as how to perform blood grouping for patients requiring a transfusion.
  • You will also develop the skills required for processing patient tissue samples to assist the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer.
  • You will learn how to use state of the art methods to assist the diagnosis of the causes of infectious diseases like pneumonia and meningitis, and blood and wound infections.

Further study

After completing the Associate Degree of Medical Laboratory Science, you have the option to take the credit from your studies and go on to complete the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science.

Career outcomes

  • Gain the education and training necessary for a career as a medical laboratory technician or technical officer in the private and public pathology laboratory sectors, a medical or clinical research technician in a university, health or biotechnology sectors, or in health, medical and scientific product marketers.
  • This degree will also provide you with training for a career as a biomedical scientist with a research capability and/or a biomedical science support role. 
  • Medical laboratory technicians and technical officers form a critical part of the health team supporting medical scientists, 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. 

Entry requirements

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, Chemistry, or equivalent.

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this degree. If your country is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility. 

English language requirements

You are required to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 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 with our English language partner, the Union Institute of Language (UIL), or if you're a domestic student you can apply to study UniSQ Ready courses TPP0122 and TPP0123.

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 Associate Degree 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.

Additional requirements for placements

All students must be able to meet the physical and other requirements of professional experience placements within this program. These include:

  • evidence of immunity to notifiable and contagious diseases
  • a signed QLD Health Student Orientation Checklist, QLD Health Placement Deed and a QLD Health Placement Privacy and Consent Deed, or a signed SA Health Student Orientation Checklist, SA Health Placement Deed and a SA Health Privacy and Consent Deed. 
  • a signed UniSQ Student Clinical Placement Policy Declaration.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

If you have previously studied in your home country, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don’t meet the entry requirements, don’t worry, there are pathway options available to you.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 16 units.

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 8
Medical Laboratory Science courses 8
incl.39 days of clinical placement
Total 16

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Clinical experience

In addition to the courses to be studied, you will also need to complete clinical experience, where interactive hands-on activities, such as experiments and use of specialist equipment, are undertaken.

All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of clinical/professional practice within this degree.

Residential schools

All students will have the opportunity to come on-campus for residential schools, where you will attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials to gain practical experience, use facilities and specialist equipment, and meet staff and other students.

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 international students' first year of study (8 units) in this degree:

Study Mode Cost
External/Online

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 35840
On-campus

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 35840

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2025. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Residential school costs

This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

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

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

CRICOS: 098993K

Note: The July intake (Semester 2) is only available part-time, therefore is not suitable for international students who wish to study full-time on-campus.  The external study mode is available to international students residing in Australia but there are mandatory and highly recommended residential schools at a UniSQ campus and block clinical placement in Australia.

Intakes

You can select to start your study in Trimester 1 or 2.

Study period  Orientation  Study period start date Finish date
Trimester 1, 2025  Monday 3 February  Monday 10 February  Friday 9 May
Trimester 2, 2025 Monday 19 May Monday 26 May  Friday 22 August
Two men collaborating at a computer workstation in an office environment.

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Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2025

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