Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
Want a career as a medical laboratory scientist and play a key role in the world of health science? The Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science prepares you for a career in this exciting field.
As specialised health professionals, medical laboratory scientists provide information about a patient’s state of health that is vital to the diagnosis of disease and monitoring of its treatment.
Through the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science you develop skills in accurate observation and the collection, recording and interpretation of test results. Once you have completed this degree and fulfilled requirements of the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand, you can register and practise as a medical laboratory scientist.
Start date: 2019
- Download Science programme brochure [PDF, 4.5 MB]
Minimum entry requirements
- University Entrance or equivalent
- Must be capable of meeting Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act) requirements including police clearance
English language requirements
- At least IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with all bands 6.0 or higher; or equivalent.
Required New Zealand school subjects
- Biology, Chemistry, Statistics
Don’t meet the entry requirements?
Consider starting with:
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
- CHEM502 Biological Chemistry
- MICR501 Microbiology
- CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry
- MELS501 Histology and Cytology
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- HEAL609 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIOL501 Biological Sampling and Interpretation
- CHEM602 Biochemistry
- GENE601 Genetics
- MELS601 Clinical Chemistry I
- MELS602 Haematology I
- MELS607 Medical Microbiology I
- MELS605 Immunology and Virology
- MELS606 Transfusion Science I
- GENE701 Molecular Genetics
- MELS603 Pathology I
- MELS604 Pathology II
- HEAL610 Methods of Research and Enquiry
- HEAL708 Professional Practice and Ethics
- Clinical Chemistry
- Haematology
- Histology
- Immunology
- Medical Cytology
- Medical Microbiology
- Transfusion Science
- MELS601 Clinical Chemistry I
- MELS702 Clinical Chemistry III
- MELS703 Haematology II
- MELS704 Haematology III
- MELS705 Immunology II
- MELS706 Immunology III
- MELS719 Medical Microbiology II
- MELS720 Medical Microbiology III
- MELS707 Transfusion Science II
- MELS708 Transfusion Science III
- MELS709 Histology
- MELS710 Medical Cytology
- LabPLUS
- Labtests NZ
- New Zealand Blood Service
Year 1
In your first year you take eight compulsory papers. These papers give you a general scientific grounding and a broader perspective on medical laboratory science.
Papers you study
Year 2
Your second-year papers cover biochemistry, genetics, clinical chemistry, haematology, medical microbiology, immunology and virology, transfusion science and molecular genetics.
Papers you study
Year 3
You study two medical laboratory science specialisation subjects in more depth, along with pathology, methods of research and professional practice and ethics.
Papers you study
Specialisations you can choose (select two)
Each specialisation has two papers you need to complete.
Not all specialisations are offered every year.
Depending on your specialisation, you complete four papers from:
Year 4
Your final year consists of two 15-week placements of 30 hours per week in New Zealand or Australia.
Recent placements included:
This degree prepares you for a career in a diagnostic laboratory. Registered medical laboratory scientists work in public hospitals and community laboratories doing diagnostic laboratory testing across all specialisations.
Other career paths include:
- Diagnostic reagent manufacture
- Laboratory management
- Marketing of medical equipment and reagents
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
25 Feb 2019
- The tuition fee for a year of full-time study varies depending on your course of study and the combination of papers you study within your qualification. Estimates given are based on paper selection of previous student enrolments within each qualification. Your exact fees will be calculated at the time of invoicing.
- The tuition fee for a year of full-time study varies depending on your course of study and the combination of papers you study within your qualification. Estimates given are based on paper selection of previous student enrolments within each qualification. Your exact fees will be calculated at the time of invoicing.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.