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.
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Minimum entry requirements
If you have New Zealand qualifications
- University Entrance or equivalent including:
- NCEA: 14 or more credits in each of Biology, Chemistry and Statistics
- CIE: A D grade or better at AS or A level in each of Biology, Chemistry and Statistics
- Must be capable of meeting Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act) requirements including police clearance
If you have qualifications from another country
See entry requirements for students from other countries. Select your country from the dropdown menu.
English language requirements
- At least IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with all bands 6.0 or higher; or equivalent.
Don’t meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science?
Consider starting with:
Year 1
In your first year you take eight compulsory courses. These courses give you a general scientific grounding and a broader perspective on medical laboratory science.
Courses you study
- BIOL500 Foundations of Life
- MICR501 Microbial Life
- CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry
- MATH504 Introductory Mathematics for Science
- MELS500 Introductory Laboratory and Histological Techniques
- MELS502 Introductory Immunology
- SCIE504 Science and Society
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Year 2
Your second-year courses cover genetics, pathology, immunohaematology, medical microbiology, laboratory information and quality management, and science practice in Aotearoa.
Courses you study
- GENE603 Cells, Genes and Molecules
- GENE604 Diagnostic Genetics
- MELS603 Pathology I
- MELS607 Medical Microbiology I
- MELS610 Laboratory Information and Quality Management
- MELS611 Clinical and Chemical Pathology
- MELS612 Immunohaematology
- SCIE606 Vision Mātauranga: Science Practice in Aotearoa
Year 3
You study different laboratory science specialisation subjects in more depth, and complete your capstone project where you can apply what you’ve learnt in your courses.
Courses you study
- MELS722 Advanced Immunology
- MELS723 Advanced Haematology
- MELS724 Advanced Chemical Pathology
- MELS725 Advanced Medical Microbiology
- MELS726 Advanced Transfusion Science
- MELS727 Advanced Histology and Cytology
- SCIE707 Science Capstone Project A
- SCIE708 Science Capstone Project B
Year 4
In your fourth and final year, you’ll put your theory into practice with placements in medical testing laboratories in New Zealand or Australia. Recent placements included:
- LabPLUS
- Labtests NZ
- New Zealand Blood Service
Complete two of:
- MELS711 MLS Clinical Training Clinical Chemistry
- MELS712 MLS Clinical Training Molecular Diagnostics
- MELS714 MLS Clinical Training Haematology
- MELS715 MLS Clinical Training Histology
- MELS716 MLS Clinical Training Immunology
- MELS717 MLS Clinical Training Medical Microbiology
- MELS718 MLS Clinical Training Transfusion Science
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Workplace experience in AUT programmes
Students who started at AUT before 2023
If you started your studies at AUT before 2023, the courses you need to study to complete the requirements for your programme are a little different. You can find the old programme regulations you need to meet on Canvas. Simply log in with your AUT student ID number and password.
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.
Applications received after this date may not be considered.
($7,289 - $7,899 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
($42,000 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
- Fees-free study may be available for domestic students
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.