Overview
The internationally recognised four-year Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc) degree qualifies you to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Graduates can pursue other careers in health-related fields or enter into research and postgraduate study (e.g. Postgraduate Diploma/Master of Medical Laboratory Science and PhD).
Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) course provides details for Medical Laboratory Science.
Career opportunities
New graduates can provisionally register as Medical Laboratory Scientists, usually gaining full registration after working in a diagnostic medical laboratory for six months. Other examples of career options are medical research, biotechnology, veterinary diagnostics, forensic science, scientific instrumentation, mortuary assistant and laboratory management.
Admission
200-level and beyond
Subjects in Year 2:
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology / Immunology
- Physiology
- Diagnostic Pathology
Subjects in Year 3:
- Principles of Pathology
- Chemical Pathology
- Medical Microbiology
- Histotechnology
- Cytology
- Haematology
- Transfusion Science
In fourth year, you’ll specialise in two of:
- Chemical Pathology
- Clinical Microbiology
- Clinical Virology
- Diagnostic Molecular Pathology
- Cytopathology
- Haematology
- Histopathology
- Transfusion Science
- Clinical Immunology
You’ll study under supervision in an approved diagnostic pathology laboratory in New Zealand or overseas.
Health and Conduct
The Division of Health Sciences requires all applicants applying for any of its health professional programmes to declare any criminal or disciplinary charges they have faced, or are facing, and any health status issues which could affect their participation in clinical aspects of the programme or their overall fitness to practise.
Contact the Health Sciences Admissions Office for information.
Contact details
Website Medical Laboratory Science
Department of Pathology
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Course Director
Dr Heather Brooks
Email heather.brooks@otago.ac.nz
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science (PGDipMLSc)
- Master of Medical Laboratory Science (MMLSc)
Papers
See the full list of Medical Laboratory Science (MELS) papers.
Programme requirements
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science (PGDipMLSc)
| Papers |
|---|
MELS 510 Advanced Medical Laboratory Practice (60 points) MELS 580 Research Project (30 points) Either |
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc)
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | Health Sciences First Year Course Note: Students enrolled in the Health Sciences First Year course will be required to achieve a satisfactory mark in a standard diagnostic English test or another approved measure of achievement. | 126 |
| 2nd year | MELS 208 Introduction to Diagnostic Pathology MELS 223 Infection and Immunity (for BMLSc) MELS 230 Biochemistry (for BMLSc) MELS 241 Human Biology: Cells to Systems (for BMLSc) MELS 251 Physiology (for BMLSc) | 45 18 18 18 18 21 |
| 3rd year | MELS 301 Diagnostic Chemical Pathology MELS 302 Haematology and Transfusion Science MELS 304 Principles of Pathology MELS 305 Elements of Histotechnology MELS 306 Medical Microbiology | 30 30 15 15 30 |
| 4th year | Two of: MELS 401 Advanced Diagnostic Chemical Pathology MELS 402 Clinical Microbiology MELS 403 Clnical Virology MELS 404 Diagnostic Molecular Pathology MELS 405 Cytopathology MELS 406 Haematology MELS 407 Histopathology MELS 408 Transfusion Science MELS 409 Clinical Immunology MELS 410 Medical Laboratory Science for Rural Health | 120 |
