The Graduate Diploma of Medical Science offers advanced multidisciplinary scientific training allowing you to provide guidance, policy and leadership in a variety of high demand work environments (both urban and regional). You develop particular strengths that open up unique opportunities for working in areas where there is very high demand for professionals, including: rural and remote, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other tropical communities.

JCU graduates are highly sought after because they demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning, intellectual development and display exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards.

The Graduate Diploma of Medical Science is designed for:

• Scientific Health professionals wanting to upskill to pursue higher level research, leadership or senior scientist roles, and
• Graduates of the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (or similar*), seeking advanced training in either major – Clinical Sciences or Medical Laboratory Science.

The course is created and delivered by allied health industry experts. You will learn in JCU’s cutting-edge custom laboratories, as well as on-the-job in professional and/or clinical placements in the Townsville Hospital Clinical Measurements Laboratories – Cardiac Investigations Unit and Respiratory and Sleep Units.

As a vital part of the healthcare team the work of a Medical Scientist is dynamic and exciting.  Graduating from JCU will prepare you to work as a Clinical or Medical Scientist in public and private laboratories, both nationally and internationally. There are many career opportunities.

Graduate Diploma of Medical Science in Medical Laboratory Science

You may want to pursue a career in a Pathology laboratory where you will examine blood, urine, tissue or faeces. You will be able to seek roles that require advanced technical skills in scientific analysis and knowledge in the areas of clinical microbiology, haematology, transfusion science, clinical biochemistry, histopathology, immunology, serology or laboratory management – or you may develop expertise in all these areas so you are able to provide after-hours care. Your role may involve determining what is wrong, what needs to happen to make a patient well and even helping the doctor understand whether a certain treatment is working.

Professional membership

Membership with the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) opens up opportunities to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist nationally and internationally. With a combination of a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences and the Graduate Diploma in Medical Science in Medical Laboratory Science, you can attain AIMS membership.

Graduate Diploma of Medical Science in Clinical Sciences

Perhaps working behind the scenes doesn’t suit you. If you have clinical, scientific and communications skills, you may choose to work in clinical laboratories with patients. In these cases you would become a Cardiac scientist, Respiratory scientist, Sleep scientist or Neuroscientist, or multidisciplinary scientist positions (for example in uniquely challenging and fulfilling roles in rural and remote settings).

There are a range of careers in Clinical Sciences, providing support to specialist doctors in Cardiac, Respiratory and Emergency Units.