Graduate Diploma of Medical Science

Build on your existing medical, biomedical or clinical knowledge and experience with JCU’s Graduate Diploma of Medical Science. This one-year degree has two pathways for students, one as a Medical Laboratory scientist (MLS) and the other as a Clinical Measurements scientist (CMS). You’ll have extensive opportunities to apply your theoretical skills as you complete clinical placement at public and private Clinical Measurements or Medical Science Laboratories.

Through this graduate certificate, you will gain advanced skills that will enable you to work in high-demand areas including regional, rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Throughout your placement, you will apply recognised methods and tools of medical science to the process of enquiry and discovery, particularly in a clinical/medical investigative context. You will develop strong skills in communicating information to those with and without a medical or scientific knowledge base.

As you complete the Graduate Diploma of Medical Sciences, you will transition to work alongside experts in the clinical and medical laboratory science field; the network connections that you make and professional relationships that you form will have the potential to lead to future employment.

Course pre-requisites and admission requirements

View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Medical Science.

Work Integrated Learning

This course requires work-integrated learning (WIL) activities, such as placements, fieldwork, internships or industry-partnered projects. During the course, you will be required to complete a minimum of 1600 hours of WIL.

As a JCU Medical Science graduate, you will be equipped with specialist skills that enable employment in a variety of medical settings.

By choosing the Clinical Sciences major you could work as a clinical scientist, cardiac scientist, respiratory scientist, sleep scientist, or neuroscientist. By choosing the Medical Science major you could specialise in areas of diagnostic pathology such as clinical microbiology, haematology or transfusion science. Alternatively, you could find opportunities in clinical biochemistry, histopathology, immunology, serology, or laboratory management. Some graduates also go on to study the Master of Medical Science.

Graduates may be eligible for membership with the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS).

Graduates (CMS major) may be eligible for membership with Australian Council of Clinical Physiologists (ACCP) or Professionals in Cardiac Sciences Australia (PICSA).

Course fees are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.

A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependents accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.

Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.

Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.