Diploma of Laboratory Technology

The Diploma of Laboratory Technology is designed for students wanting to broaden their skills and knowledge of laboratory science.

You’ll learn a range of lab techniques that will enable you to contribute to wider scientific discovery.

You’ll encounter and can specialise in many industries including, but not limited to:

construction materials, pathology, forensics, environmental monitoring, minerals, food and wine.

Upon graduation, with your honed practical skills, you could work as support staff to scientists in research and education.

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The Diploma of Laboratory Technology provides a range of laboratory techniques to conduct scientific and technical tests and has a strong emphasis on the development of a range of typical sound practical skills for the biosciences workplace.

Industry sector/specialisations include, but are not limited to:

• construction materials testing
• environmental monitoring
• food testing
• pathology and/or forensic testing
• mineral assay
• wine testing
• process manufacturing.

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Students must achieve a total of 15 units, including 5 core and 10 elective units. This course has been structured to enable students to obtain a generic Diploma or a specialisation in either Pathology or Biotechnology.

Units of study

Maintain and calibrate instruments and equipment (MSL934004)

Process and interpret data (MSL924003)

Use laboratory application software (MSL924004)

Analyse data and report results (MSL925004)

Monitor the quality of test results and data (MSL935007)

Perform tissue and cell culture techniques (MSL975033)

Perform microbiological tests (MSL975035)

Perform haematological tests (MSL975036)

Perform chemical pathology tests (MSL975037)

Perform biological procedures (MSL974021)

Perform molecular biology tests and procedures (MSL975034)

Apply routine chromatographic techniques (MSL975040)

Apply routine spectrometric techniques (MSL975048)

Plan and conduct laboratory / field work (MSL913004)

Provide information to customers (MSL915003)

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) can now be done on campus in Hawthorn at Room 132, Building TD. Book now or call +61 3 9214 3584 for more information.

Australian Year 12: Completion with a ‘satisfactory’ in English or English as an Additional Language (EAL).

All other students: Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

• Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 4 Upper Intermediate level) with overall 65%, all skills 60%
• minimum IELTS overall band of 5.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 5.0
• TOEFL iBT (internet-based) minimum score of 65 with no band less than 15
• Pearson (PTE) minimum score of 42 (no communicative skills less than 36)
• any other equivalent assessment of English language proficiency.

Find out more about English language requirements.

The aim of this course it to further build on the skills and knowledge obtained upon completion of Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques.