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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International student entry requirements
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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.
Your second-year courses cover biochemistry, genetics, clinical chemistry, haematology, medical microbiology, immunology and virology, transfusion science and molecular genetics.
You study two medical laboratory science specialisation subjects in more depth, along with pathology, methods of research and professional practice and ethics.
Each specialisation has two courses you need to complete.
Not all specialisations are offered every year.
Depending on your specialisation, you complete four courses from:
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:
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.