Master of Medical Laboratory Science

Summary

Develop specialist skills in a chosen field of medical laboratory science, demonstrate your analytical and problem-solving skills and learn to apply contemporary theory to current practice.

The ability to carry out research in medical laboratory science is a skill in high demand by industry. Medical laboratory scientists are facing new challenges as technologies evolve and diagnostic services change. Top-level evaluative and management skills are in demand along with specialised skills in research and development. The Master of Medical Laboratory Science equips you with the skills to make the most of these opportunities.

This programme is open to all medical laboratory scientists (New Zealand registration and practising certificate are required). There's an opportunity to follow either a management or a specialised scientist pathway.

You need to complete a total of 240 points, including 120 points from advanced-level papers and a thesis of 120 points. For your thesis you complete a sustained piece of research in a specialised area of medical laboratory science; a unique offering in today’s competitive job market.

You can follow either a management or a specialist scientist pathway.

Complete the following papers

• SCIE802 Scientific Research (30 points)
• MELS802 Quality Assurance in Laboratory Services (30 points)

And either

Specialist Scientist pathway

Graduates gain the ability to plan and execute laboratory-based research and critically analyse the efficiency and accuracy of existing laboratory techniques in the context of patient care.

Complete this paper:

• PHIL880 Ethics of Biotechnology (30 points)

And one paper from:

• SCIE803 Specialist Readings in Applied Science (30 points)
• SCIE804 Selected Topics in Applied Science (30 points)
• GENE802 Contemporary Molecular Genetics (30 points)

Or

Management pathway

Graduates gain the ability to critically analyse strategic and operational processes and examine the evidential base underpinning health policy development.

One paper from:

• MELS801 Biomedical Ethics (15 points)
• HEAL825 Applied Healthcare Ethics (15 points)

And three papers from:

• HEAL837 Health Policy Applied (15 points)
• HEAL816 Special Topics (15 points)
• HLAW801 Health Law (15 points)
• HEAL817 Leadership and Management I (15 points)
• HEAL818 Leadership and Management II (15 points)

And complete a thesis

MELS999 MMLS Thesis (120 points)

Career opportunities

• Postdoctoral fellow
• Researcher
• Lecturer in universities
• Industrial research leader