Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: February, July
Fees
$8,021.00+
$30,160.00^
+estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load
^estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
1 year full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor degree in biomedical sciences or cognate degree; or equivalent
Course Code
116107
Course detail
Apply your theoretical skills as you complete between 12 and 36 weeks of clinical placements at public and private Hospital Clinical Measurements and Medical laboratories. You will gain advanced skills that enable you to work in high-demand areas including rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Cultivate your commitment to lifelong learning with this dynamic and exciting program. JCU Medical Science graduates are highly sought-after, both nationally and internationally.
View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.
JCU Medical Science graduates are equipped with specialist skills that enable them to be employed in a variety of medical settings.
You could work as a clinical or medical scientist, cardiac scientist, respiratory scientist, sleep scientist, or neuroscientist. You could also work in areas of pathology, clinical microbiology, haematology, transfusion science, clinical biochemistry, histopathology, immunology, serology or laboratory management. Alternatively, go on to study the Master of Medical Science.
Graduates may be eligible for membership with the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS).
Graduate Diploma of Medical Science
Handbook year | 2022 |
Course code | 116107 |
Course type | Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8) |
Professional accreditation status | TBA |
Owner | Division of Tropical Health and Medicine |
College | Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in biomedical sciences or cognate degree or equivalent from this or any other university, at the discretion of the Dean, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences. Students wishing to complete the Graduate Diploma of Medical Science (Medical Laboratory Science) will be admitted on a case-by-case basis following discussions with the academic advisor for biomedical sciences to ascertain completion of subjects in their undergraduate degree which fulfil the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) requirements for accreditation. |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 –Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
| Additional selection requirements | Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria. |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | Clinical placement/professional practice: This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. (Note: health professional courses generally involve extensive professional or clinical placements). Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Procedure. |
Post admission | This course may have specific admission requirements such as immunisation, the requirement to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card, federal police check and/or other requirements that students must comply with. Students must complete all Professional Experience Placement requirements by the prescribed deadlines and maintain currency of all requirements in order to stay admitted in the course. You will find your course requirements here: https://www.jcu.edu.au/professional-experience-placement/preparation-checklists |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 24 credit points as per course structure |
Course learning outcomes | On successful completion of Graduate Diploma of Medical Science, graduates will be able to: - Demonstrate advanced integrated theoretical and technical knowledge and skills, with depth in the underlying concepts and principles in chosen disciplines of medical science - Critically review, analyse, synthesise and apply scientific evidence and process to a range of social and economic contexts - Apply recognized methods and tools of medical science to the process of enquiry and discovery, particularly in a clinical/medical investigative context - Communicate scientific information and philosophies clearly and coherently through well-developed English language and numeracy proficiency, to a range of audiences for a range of purposes using a variety of modes - Demonstrate personal and social responsibility and accountability through an awareness of ethical frameworks, by working safely and responsibly in individual and team environments - Critically reflect upon the role of medical scientific investigation and medical research in tropical, rural and remote and indigenous communities - Reflect on current skills, knowledge and attitudes, in order to plan and implement ongoing personal and professional development needs, relevant to the chosen discipline of medical science |
Inherent Requirements
| Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the fundamental abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to complete the learning outcomes of a course while preserving the academic integrity of the university’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes. Students and prospective students must be able to demonstrate that they have acquired or have the ability to acquire the inherent requirements for their degree. For more information refer to Inherent Requirements page. |
| Reasonable adjustments | Reasonable adjustments may be made to assist students manage additional circumstances impacting on their studies provided these do not change the academic integrity of a degree. Reasonable adjustments do not alter the need to be able to demonstrate the inherent requirements of the course. |
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
BM5001:06 Professional Placement 1
BM5002:06 Professional Placement 2
OPTIONS
Select a major from Table A
Table A (MAJORS)
Type of major | Mandatory, single |
Credit points in major | 12 credit points |
MAJOR | AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Townsville | Available only as a single major | |
Townsville | Available only as a single major |
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Townsville |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time |
Maximum time to complete | 3 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 1 year |
Progression
Course progression | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | Clinical placement/professional practice: This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense (Note: health professional courses generally involve extensive professional or clinical placements) Further information about placements can be found at Preparing for Professional Experience Placement |
Special assessment | At the discretion of the College Dean, students may be required to undertake a prescribed English language test to ensure that they have an acceptable level of English language proficiency, including at least at the level required to be admitted to the course, to safely participate in professional experience placements. Refer to Review of a Student’s Suitability to Continue a Course Involving Placement policy |
Professional accreditation | Nil |
Maximum allowed Pass | Nil |
Supplementary exam for | Not applicable |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure. |
Maximum allowed | 12 credit points |
Currency | Credit will be granted only for subjects completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course |
Expiry | Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 13 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course. |
Other restrictions | Studies and/or professional experiences undertaken to fulfil the entry requirements to JCU awards may not be used for credit transfer. |
Award Details
Award title | GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF MEDICAL SCIENCE |
Approved abbreviation | GDipMedSc |
Inclusion of majors on | Any major may appear on the testamur |
Exit with lesser award | Nil |
Course articulation | Students who complete this course are eligible for entry to the Master of Medical Science, and may be granted credit for all subjects completed under this course. |
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD8,021.00
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD30,160.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.
Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.
Real stories
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Student
Eva Birosova
Graduate Diploma of Medical Science (Medical Laboratory Science)
This course has perfectly met my need for acquiring new clinical skills and knowledge as well as further development and refreshment of those skills I had in past. The course offers very relevant content, including authentic industry work experience.
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Alumni
Boni Sebayang
Master of Medical Science, majoring in Future Leaders in Tropical Research
When I wanted to study tropical health research, James Cook University was my first choice. I made the best decision of my life! Meeting and learning from JCU lecturers who write the journal articles that you read has been an exceptional experience.
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Lecturer
Associate Professor Donna Rudd
Course Coordinator, Medical Sciences
Our focus within Biomedicine at JCU is developing a scientific health workforce for the region and remote areas. We train multidisciplinary scientists capable of working independently to provide a comprehensive service and support.
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Employer
Michael Wilhelm
Group Laboratory Manager, Pathology Queensland
The JCU MLS graduates are one of the most highly sought after Medical Scientists for employment in Diagnostic Pathology Services. We have many JCU scientists working for Pathology Queensland over a wide range of roles, ranging from entry level to operations manager.
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Employer
Megan Harbourne
Statewide Clinical Education Program Manager, Department of Health, QLD
JCU graduates have a really strong focus on the patient journey, probably because they have developed interpretation and analysis skills across multiple sciences. They are great at understanding the pathophysiology of the various chronic diseases that impact our patients.