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Make a strong contribution to the field of medical science by gaining hands-on experience in biomedical, medical laboratory and clinical measurement science. Work alongside industry professionals within JCU's cutting-edge custom laboratories and benefit from practical experience with a research project driven by your individual passion.

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#1 in Queensland

for median graduate salary Good Universities Guide 2023, PG Health Services

Enhance your expertise

Build the skills to progress your career

#1 in Queensland

for full-time employment Good Universities Guide 2023, PG Health Services

Townsville

Townsville: February, July

$31,200.00^{^}

^{^}estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

2 years full-time

or part-time equivalent

AQF level 7 Biomedical Science or Medical Laboratory Science degree; or equivalent

117204

What to expect

Build on your existing medical, biomedical or clinical studies, knowledge and experience with JCU’s Master of Medical Science. You’ll study advanced theories and techniques and learn how to apply them for improving human and animal health in regional, rural, remote and Indigenous community settings.

This Master of Medical Science is flexible and allows you to choose from three majors: Clinical Sciences, Future Leaders in Tropical Research and Medical Laboratory Science. You will have the flexibility to choose your study pathway leading to a career as a Clinical Measurements Scientist, Medical Laboratory Scientist or as a medical research scientist. On your journey you will gain an in-depth understanding of medical science areas such as haematology, clinical biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, bioengineering, pathobiology and pathophysiology and the clinical sciences such as cardiac respiratory and neurophysiology. You will learn how to apply biostatistics and the principles of epidemiology to public health measures in your chosen discipline/major/career.

In your second year of study, you’ll investigate an area of medical science by planning, proposing and implementing a small-scale research project relevant to tropical health and medicine. You will also put your knowledge and skills to the test through professional placements in clinical and medical laboratory settings* such as private or public hospitals and JCU’s state-of-the-art medical laboratory facilities.

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

Become a medical researcher, clinical scientist or medical scientist with the knowledge and skills to make a difference to communities in the Tropics. JCU Medical Science graduates are highly sought-after, both nationally and internationally, for their strong skills in promoting health in regional, rural and remote areas.

View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects, as well as pre-placement requirements.

* Clinical Sciences and Medical Laboratory Science majors only

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 Master of Medical Science.

Majors

You can choose from three Medical Science majors.

Clinical Sciences

Explore fundamental issues of cardiac, respiratory, sleep, renal and neurological measurement, analysis, and interpretation. Undertake a full year of clinical rotations in professional medical or clinical science laboratories. Autonomously collect and interpret clinical research data and present professional scientific and clinical cases to your supervisors.

Future Leaders in Tropical Research

Make a contribution to the medical sciences by studying and researching your area of interest in medical science for example major parasite groups, develop immunology experiments, and design research proposals in this flexible major. Choose between a specialisation in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, or Physiology and Pharmacology, plus electives based on your professional interests. Autonomously collect and interpret research data and present professional scientific research results to your supervisors and the broader community.

Medical Laboratory Science

Become a multidisciplinary scientist and study clinically specialised streams - Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry, Histology and Cytology, Microbiology and Immunology and Immunohaematology. Apply your theoretical knowledge by completing professional/clinical placements in diagnostic medical laboratories. Autonomously collect and interpret clinical research data and present professional scientific and clinical cases to your supervisors.

Career Opportunities

JCU Master of Medical Science graduates are equipped with specialist skills and are employed in a variety of medical laboratory settings.

You could work as a research scientist in all areas or as a clinical scientist working in areas such as cardiac scientist, respiratory scientist, sleep scientist, neuroscientist or renal physiology. You could also work as a medical laboratory scientist working in areas of pathology, clinical microbiology, haematology, transfusion science, clinical biochemistry, histopathology, immunology, serology or laboratory management.

Graduates of the medical laboratory science major are eligible to apply for membership with the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS).

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

Handbook

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2023
Course code	117204
Course type	Masters by Coursework (AQF Level 9)
Professional accreditation status	The Medical Laboratory Science stream for this course is pending accreditation with the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists. Students studying the Medical Laboratory Science stream will be eligible to apply for membership with the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS).
Owner	Academy
College	Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	Completion of at least an AQF level 7 biomedical science degree or medical laboratory science degree at this or another university or equivalent determined by course co-ordinator. Students who complete the Graduate Diploma of Medical Science will be eligible for entry.
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.
Special admission requirements	Applicants who have graduated with a bachelor (pass) degree from another university may be required to complete coursework or assessment as deemed necessary by the Course Co-ordinator to comply with AIMS minimum requirements for accreditation.
Post admission requirements	Your 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 you must comply with in order to stay enrolled in your 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	48 credit points as per course structure
Additional course rules	Students must successfully complete the first year of the Master of Medical Science before they are able to progress to the Research/Projects subjects
Course learning outcomes	On successful completion of the Master of Medical Science, graduates will be able to: Apply and adapt advanced and integrated knowledge, including an understanding of recent developments, in the area of biomedicine, medical laboratory science and clinical measurements science Demonstrate related professional competencies, behaviours and ethical frameworks Apply an integrated understanding of biomedical, medical laboratory and clinical measurement science and its application to improve human and animal health in rural, remote and indigenous community settings Analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in new situations or contexts with creativity and independence Demonstrate a high level of personal autonomy and accountability for their own future professional development through reflection on current skills, knowledge and attitudes in the biomedical science arena Interpret and justify scientific propositions, methodologies and conclusions to specialist and non-specialist audiences through high level written and oral communication and numeracy skills. Plan and execute or critically evaluate a substantial body of novel research with a large degree of independence. Interpret and justify clinical case studies and interventional action

Inherent Requirements

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 visit: Postgraduate Medical Science.
Reasonable adjustments	All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

RM8301:06 Research Planning in Tropical Health and Medicine

RM8302:06 Research Project in Tropical Health and Medicine

TM5515:03 Epidemiology for Public Health or TM5516:03 Biostatistics for Public Health

OPTIONS

Select a Major from Table A

PLUS

Select 9 credit points of any Level 5 BC, HS, MI, ML, PP or TM subjects

TABLE A (Majors)

Type of major	Mandatory, single
Credit points in major	24 credit points

MAJOR	AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Clinical Sciences	JCU Townsville	Available only as a single major. Available mid-year entry for Domestic only.
Future Leaders in Tropical Research	JCU Townsville	Available only as a single major. Available mid-year entry for Domestic and International.
Medical Laboratory Science	JCU Townsville	Available only as a single major. Available mid-year entry for Domestic only.

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Townsville

Candidature

Expected time to complete	2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Maximum time to complete	5 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 years

Progression

Course progression requisites	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 Coursework Enrolment Procedure.
Special assessment requirements	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.
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure.
Maximum allowed	24 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for subjects completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course or equivalent recent work experience
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 15years 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	MASTER OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
Approved abbreviation	MMedSc
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Any major except the Future Leaders in Tropical Health Research Major may appear on the testamur
Exit with lesser award	Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have successfully completed 12 credit points of appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of: Graduate Certificate of Biomedical Science Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have successfully completed 24 credit points of appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of: Graduate Diploma of Medical Science
Course articulation	Not applicable
Special awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD31,200.00

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.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.

Student

Elizabeth Brimson

Master of Medical Science, majoring in Medical Laboratory Science

Everyone at JCU, from lecturers to technical staff, have been really supportive and shared my enthusiasm about my project. It’s been fantastic to have the flexibility in my course to let me shape it to meet my needs and goals.
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.
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.
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.
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.