Key details
Duration
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
320Course code
Overview
The Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours provides you with the knowledge and skills to work as a medical scientist in diagnostic pathology, in areas such as haematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, histology and molecular pathology. You will be taught by industry professionals who will assist you in testing samples, interpreting results and making recommendations for improved patient health. The addition of placements allows you to apply these skills to the workplace, thereby increasing your employment opportunities. In the final year of your degree you will have the option of undertaking a research project or gaining advanced professional practice, where you will work alongside medical scientists and researchers in accredited laboratories.
Career opportunities
Completion of the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours provides you with a globally recognised, professional accredited qualification with employment opportunities in the identification and diagnosis of disease and pathogens, medical research, forensic pathology, public health and the pharmaceutical industry, both within Australia and Internationally.
Professional recognition
This course has been professionally accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS). Graduates of this course are eligible to directly apply for membership.
Fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) be an Australian citizen, who will complete some of your course of study while resident in Australia; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen; or an Australian permanent visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; who studies the entire course while living in Australia.
Further information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study in 2024 is AUD $33,168.00. This equates to $ $4,146.00 per 10 credit point unit (0.125 EFTSL).
These fees are subject to increases annually, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.
Why study a health course at CDU?
As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
- Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
- Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous health, tropical medicine and other issues of regional and national importance
Why study a health course at CDU?
As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
- Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous and Asia-Pacific health, tropical medicine and other issues of international importance
Why study a health course at CDU?
As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
- Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
- Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous health, tropical medicine and other issues of regional and national importance
Why study a health course at CDU?
As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
- Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous and Asia-Pacific health, tropical medicine and other issues of international importance
What will I study?
The first year of the degree provides you with the foundational knowledge and skills with the benefit of a laboratory experience, which is built on during the second year providing you with specific knowledge and skills in the areas of haematology and clinical chemistry. The third year expands your understanding of the diagnostic laboratory by extending into histology, transfusion medicine and applied immunology, before gaining workplace experience through 16 weeks of placement completed at the end of your degree as 2 x 8 week blocks. The honours year allows you to gain advance professional experience or undertake a research project. In the professional experience stream students complete a further 8 weeks in a in a laboratory, coupled with additional knowledge to assist in navigating the workplace. In the research stream students undertake a yearlong research project. Both options benefit your leadership and communication skills and allow you to work as part of a team managing samples, performing tests and operating equipment.
Course structure
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 320 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
Core Units
| 290cp - 310cp
| Compulsory Core units totalling 290 - 310 credit points as per the list of units detailed below. Plus either: |
| Specialist Electives (1 unit) | 10cp | Specialist Elective unit totalling 10 credit points selected from the units detailed below. HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A sociological introduction (replaces HSC230 from 2021) |
| Electives (0 - 2 units) | 0 - 20cp | For students undertaking the Professional Practice Experience Option ONLY. Elective units totalling 20 credit points selected from undergraduate units offered by the University |
| 320cp | Total Credit Points |
Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)
- See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.
2022 Course Changes and Transition Arrangements
Students enrolled prior to 2022 should note the following course structure changes.
- HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A Sociological Introduction has been moved from a core unit to a specialist elective.
- A Research Option and Professional Practice Option have been added to the core.
- Students electing to undertaking the Professional Practice Option will need to complete 2 elective units.
2021 Course Changes and Transition Arrangements
HSC220 Society, culture and health: A sociological introduction has replaced HSC230 Cultural Safety in Health from 2021. Students have completed HSC230 do not need to complete HSC220.
SBI182 Microbiology and Immunology has replaced SBI173 Microbiology from 2021 and is equivalent. Students who have completed SBI173 do not need to complete SBI182.
SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare has replaced SCH102 Organic and Inorganic Chemistry from 2021. These units are not equivalent and students who have completed SCH102 need to contact the course coordinator for progression advice.
MLS283 Clinical Immunology has replaced SBI283 Immunology from 2021 and is equivalent. Students who have completed SBI283 do not need to complete MLS283.
Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| MLS110 Introduction to Diagnostic Pathology | CO | SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO |
| SBI150 Cellular Biology | CO | SBI182 Microbiology and Immunology (replaces SBI173 from 2021) | CO |
| SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies | CO |
| SCH101 Chemical Concepts | CO | Specialist Elective (HSC220 or HSC203, HSC133 or SWK102) | SE |
| Year 2 | |||
| MLS101 Haematology 1 | CO | MLS202 Haematology 2 | CO |
| SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare (replaces SCH102 from 2021) | CO | PHA214 Biotechnology and Genomics | CO |
| MLS245 Medical Biochemistry | CO | MLS283 Clinical Immunology (replaces SBI283 from 2021) | CO |
| SBI282 Clinical Microbiology 1 | CO | SBI284 Histology and Histochemistry | CO |
| Year 3 | |||
| MLS300 Cell Pathology | CO | MLS401 Laboratory Placement 1 (20 cp) | CO |
| MLS301 Transfusion Medicine | CO | ||
| SBI302 Clinical Microbiology 2 | CO | MLS402 Laboratory Placement 2 (20 cp) | CO |
| PHA311 Clinical Biochemistry | CO | ||
| Year 4 - Research Option | |||
| HSC701 Research Project (30 cp) | CO | HSC702 Research Thesis (30 cp) | CO |
| PHM526 Research Design | CO | PHM527 Research, Ethics and Impact (new title 2021) | CO |
| Year 4 - Professional Practice Option | |||
| MLS411 Laboratory Placement 3 (20 cp) | CO | MLS415 Laboratory Placement 4 (20 cp) | CO |
| MLS410 Professional Practice Consolidation | CO | PHM527 Research, Ethics and Impact or Elective 1 | CO/E |
| PHM526 Research Design or Elective 1 | CO/E | Elective 2 | E |
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
Admission requirements are met by one of the following:
- Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 60*.
- Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
- Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.
- Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
- Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 140.
- Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program, the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses, or other recognised tertiary preparation course.
- Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience.
- Defence members with service of 1 year or more at the following ranks (or higher) meet the academic entry requirement for this course:
- Navy: Seaman, Able Seaman, Leading Seaman
- Air Force: Aircraftmen/Aircraftwoman, Leading Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman, Corporal
- Army: Private, Lance Corporal, Corporal
*After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.
Additional admission requirements
In order to complete the research major, students will require a GPA of >5.0; places will be limited and require communication with the course coordinator for specific details.
International entry pathway
International applicants who have completed the CDU Foundation Studies Program; and
- achieved a minimum mark of 65% in Foundation English A and B; and
- successfully complete FSP013 Foundation Chemistry;
are eligible to apply.
Essential requirements
English language requirements
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. From 2025 all applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course can be met by evidencing of one of the following:
| Year 12 | Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia, or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). |
| 0.5 FTE Higher Education Study | Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years. |
| CDU Enabling Course | Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5FTE (40 credit points). |
| TAFE Qualification | Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia. |
| AHPRA Registration | Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement. |
| English Test^ | Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores outlined in the table below. |
^ Minimum Requirements for English Tests:
| Postgraduate requirements | Undergraduate requirements | |
| CDU ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes | Successful completion of EAP004 | Successful completion of EAP003 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test | Overall minimum: 6.5 No band below: 6.0 | Overall minimum: 6.0 No band below 6.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | Overall minimum: 176 No skill below: 169 | Overall minimum: 169 No skill below 169 |
| Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic | Overall minimum: 58 No score below 50 | Overall minimum: 50 No score below: 50 |
| Test of English as a Foreign language | Overall minimum: 79 Minimum writing score: 21 | Overall minimum: 60 Minimum writing score: 21 |
IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted, allowing candidates to retake a single skill within 60 days of sitting their initial test. One Skill Retake results are valid for two years from the date of the first test (not from the date of the Retake test) to the date of commencement at CDU.
CDU accepts combined results from two test sittings of IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL, taken within a six-month period, if:
- Both tests were under the same testing system; and
- The overall score in both tests meets the overall minimum; and
- The applicant achieved the section minimum for each section in at least one test.
Recognised English-speaking countries:
| Standard List | Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America. |
| Extended List | Bermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe. |
For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education from an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| CDU English for Academic Purposes 3 (ZEAP30) | Successful completion of EAP003 English for Academic Purposes 3 |
| IELTS Academic Module (including One Skill Retake) | A minimum overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 169, with no skill below 169. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of B2. |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50. |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 60 and a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
ATAR profile
The following table represents the ATAR and selection rank profile for applicants offered a place on the basis of their ATAR in semester 1, 2023
| ATAR based offers only | ATAR (excluding adjustment factors) | Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | 65.00 | 65.00 |
| Median rank to receive an offer | 67.95 | 77.25 |
| Highest rank to receive an offer | 90.90 | 98.35 |
Notes
"<5" indicates less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made.
Assumed knowledge
Stage 2 Chemistry or equivalent
I've had the unique opportunity to explore tropical and rural health, which I may not have had the exposure to had I studied elsewhere.
Katie
CDU student
My advice for anyone who is considering studying a health or science degree at CDU is if you are thinking about it, just do it.
Nishat
CDU student
I've had the unique opportunity to explore tropical and rural health, which I may not have had the exposure to had I studied elsewhere.
Katie
CDU student
My advice for anyone who is considering studying a health or science degree at CDU is if you are thinking about it, just do it.
Nishat
CDU student
Course details
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.
Student profile
There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.
Additional information
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
You make CDU
Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
You make CDU
Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.
How to apply
There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.
Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.
SATAC
SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.
International applications
Applications must be submitted online through our application portal, Studylink. You'll need a valid email address to create your online account. Once you have started your application, you will be able to save it and resume it later. There is no application fee when you apply online.
You may be able to lodge a direct application; however, there may be restrictions on your geographic location. If you cannot submit a direct application via the application portal, please apply through one of our registered agents.
If you do not meet any of the criteria above please visit Pathways to study to view the options available to you.
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