Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (Honours)
Undergraduate
2025
You're considered an International student if you are:
Undergraduate
2025
IHBL
One of the following:
SACE Stage 2 Biology
SACE Stage 2 Physics
SACE Stage 2 Chemistry
More info
None
AUD$ 42,000 per annum (per 1.0 EFTSL) for students enrolled in 2025
088329C
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
OR
Higher education study
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
OR
Work and life experience
Bangladesh HSC | 4 |
Canada High School (OSSD) | 65 |
Eynesbury FSP | 330 |
German Abitur | 3.5 |
Kenya KCSE (average) | B+ |
Malaysia STPM (best 3) | 6 |
Malaysia UEC | 30 |
Norway GPA | 3 |
Pakistan HSSC | 85 |
Sri Lanka A Levels (best 3) | 7 |
Sweden GPA | 13 |
UK Board GCE A Levels/HK Board | 7 |
Vietnam | 7.5 |
Australia | 72 |
IB (best 6) | 26 |
USA SAT (1600) | 1110 |
India (best 4) State Board | 75 |
India (best 4) Central Board | 65 |
HKDSE | 15 |
Nepal NEB | 2.61 |
Students commencing in July will require additional time to complete the degree due to course scheduling, degree structure and Honours requirements. Students may be limited to studying at a maximum of 50-75% of the required courses in some semesters. SP5 intake is not available for international students.
12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 2Ranked #43, 2024 THE Young University Rankings.
Enter the exciting world of diagnostic pathology or research, where you will investigate the causes and cures for disease, and play an integral role in patient care.
Develop the skills to help diagnose, manage and treat disease, and conduct laboratory research with this four-year honours degree offering extensive practical experience and hands-on learning.
As a medical laboratory scientist, your work will contribute to people's welfare. Your unstoppable future career will see you supporting clinicians in the diagnosis, management and treatment of disease. You’ll perform tests on blood, tissues and other samples, and develop improved methods for disease detection and treatment.
Benefit from 26 weeks of laboratory placements with a range of private and public laboratories during your studies. In your honours year, engage with an experimental research practice project or advanced clinical practice placement, and engage with specialist learning in microbiology, biochemistry, histopathology and cytopathology, and haematology.
Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements.
Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.
This honours degree prepares you for a career in all areas of pathology, with training in biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, molecular pathology, haematology and histopathology.
During your first two years you’ll study natural and biomedical sciences, and during the third and fourth years you’ll strengthen your knowledge through clinical courses and practical experience.
You’ll learn the theory and develop the skills required to perform a range of diagnostic tests including cross-matching for blood transfusions, identifying the organisms that cause infections and food poisoning, screening for cancer cells and detecting genes responsible for disease conditions. You’ll learn how to examine blood for any changes in its composition or function, and monitor levels of blood chemicals including sugar, electrolytes, pH, metabolites, toxins, drugs, hormones and proteins.
In your third year of study all students will complete 13 weeks of valuable field placements, which is more than what is required by industry to become an accredited medical laboratory scientist with the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS).
At the start of your honours year, you can choose to undertake Advanced Clinical Practice for 13 weeks or Experimental Research Practice for 13 weeks. In both options, you’ll work as part of a team in a diagnostic or research setting, learning how to manage specimens, perform tests and operate equipment.
Graduate with the knowledge and skills to excel in the world of laboratory science by studying the only honours degree in South Australia accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS).
Learn from experts in the field as your study a curriculum informed by well above world-class research in biochemistry and cell biology.1 You’ll learn how to test and analyse blood, tissue and other samples as you develop knowledge in the critical areas of haematology, transfusion science, clinical biochemistry, clinical microbiology, histopathology and cytopathology.
You’ll also gain real industry experience in clinical settings and will benefit from UniSA’s purpose-built on-campus facilities, including our histopathology and haematology laboratories.
Graduating with an honours degree will set you apart from the crowd, ensuring you have a competitive edge and are well-placed for a career in industry, research or further postgraduate study.
Graduates are eligible for membership with a range of professional organisations including AIMS, the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (AACB) and the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM).
12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine student Fiona, shares her experience of her rural placement at SA Pathology in Whyalla, supported by UniSA’s Department of Rural Health.
As a Medical Laboratory Scientist, you’ll support clinicians in the diagnosis, management, treatment of disease and develop improved tests for disease detection. You may also recommend possible treatments, monitor dosage and effects, as well as track the progress of patients.
You should be inquisitive and have an analytical mind, and you’ll need to have the ability to absorb, connect and integrate information from various sources. Medical Laboratory Scientists use a range of intricate and sophisticated equipment, so a certain amount of manual dexterity is needed to conduct laboratory work effectively.
Medical Laboratory Scientists are employed in a range of areas, including:
View our guide on Science Careers for more information.
The program is fully accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS), and graduates are entitled to Graduate Membership of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists.
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (AACB).
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM).
How to apply for international students will give you helpful information about the application process at the University of South Australia. When you are ready, apply through our International Application System. If you would like to talk to someone near you about studying at the University of South Australia, we have agents all over the world who can assist you. Find an Education Agent in your country.
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
International
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
Recipients can get a 50% reduction on tuition fees for up to four years of full-time study for selected degrees.
Recipients can get a 15% reduction on tuition fees for the duration of their chosen degree.
As a UniSA student, you will have unique access to work placement opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events, internships, guest speakers and more.
Our campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform. We have health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and great student lounges. You will also gain access to a range of community clinics, which provide professional and cost effective services in areas of health, business, law and psychology. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and lots more.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
As a laboratory medicine student, you'll have access to on-campus purpose-built laboratories including:
I am privileged to lead a degree focused on developing independent research skills for students to graduate ready to meet the challenges and diverse roles of their profession or for further postgraduate study. This is achieved within a supportive learning environment where students work with world-class researchers and facilities in their chosen area of discovery and innovation.
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
You can access our online International Application System through our How to Apply page. The International Application System is an easy and secure online application and acceptance process. You will have visibility of your application through the secure online portal with the ability to download offer documents, submit your acceptance and make a payment.
Alternatively you can submit an application through one of the University's registered Education Agents.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC http://www.satac.edu.au/.
If you are applying for the UniSA Study Abroad or Study Abroad Plus program, you can submit your application online here.
Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Masters by Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit http://unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.
There is no closing date for submitting your application however the admissions process takes between one and three weeks from the date that we receive your application and all required supporting documentation.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC. Key dates for applications can be found here.
You may be eligible to receive credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving credit will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
The amount of credit you may be eligible to receive is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions team.
The best way to determine your eligibility to receive credit or advanced standing is to apply using our International Application System which can be found on our How to Apply page. You will need to supply detailed syllabus documents with your application.
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
We also have many events throughout the year in Australia and overseas where you can speak with UniSA representatives about your area of interest. View our calendar of events in your home country by selecting the 'International' filter.