Sept 2025 Entry
2 years
81
We have a limited quota for admissions. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
What's New
Aims
The aim of the MMLS program is to equip students to become qualified medical laboratory technologists (MLTs), responsible for conducting tests accurately, analysing results and providing essential information for patient diagnosis and treatment. They also play a role in maintaining quality control, managing laboratory equipment and data, and collaborating with healthcare professionals to ensure optimal patient care.
MMLS students are cultivated as lifelong learners and critical evaluators of professional and scientific healthcare literature, enabling them to engage in research, analyse information from various sources and apply it to clinical practice. Through a strong sense of professional commitment, our graduates deliver high-quality services and contribute to the advancement of the MLT profession.
Characteristics
This is the only full-time postgraduate programme in Medical Laboratory Science offered by Hong Kong Government-funded universities. In addition to a comprehensive theoretical foundation, the curriculum incorporates practical training and clinical attachments in Hong Kong hospitals’ laboratories. Students will acquire the skills to connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications, enabling them to effectively apply their knowledge of laboratory medicine.
Professional Recognition
Graduates are eligible to apply for registration (Part II) with the Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) Board of Hong Kong. Registration is legally required to practise as medical laboratory technologists in local medical laboratories.*
Graduates are also eligible to (i) apply for membership in the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS, UK), and (ii) sit the Certificate Examination of the American Society for Clinical Pathology International (MT, ASCPi).*
* Subject to approval
Career Prospects
A wide range of career opportunities are open to graduates of this programme, including careers in medical laboratories in both the public and private sectors (e.g., hospitals and clinics), in the medical biotechnology sector, and in the environmental science, agriculture and food testing industries. Graduates can also choose to pursue careers in academia or research through further study at the Master or PhD levels.
This is a 2-year professional programme designed to prepare students to become competent entry-level medical laboratory technologists. The programme consists of 81 credits to be covered in 6 semesters. It involves university-based study and off-campus clinical education at local clinical laboratories.
The 81-credit curriculum includes the following subjects.
- 12 Core Subjects (39 credits; including Capstone Project [6 credits])
- 13 Specialism Subjects (38 credits; including Clinical Placement [10 clinical credits])
- 1 Elective Subject (3 credits)
- 1 Academic Integrity and Ethics Subject (1 credit)
Core Subjects
- Human Physiology
- Human Pathophysiology
- Instrumentation in Clinical Laboratory
- Clinical Immunology
- Clinical Virology
- Legal and Ethical Issues for Healthcare Professions
- Current Topics in Medical Laboratory Science
- Molecular Diagnostics in Medicine
- Bioinformatics for Medical Laboratory Science
- Molecular Technology in Clinical Laboratory
- Workshops on Advanced Molecular Diagnostic Technology
- Capstone Project
Specialism Subjects
- Basic Cellular Pathology
- Basic Clinical Chemistry
- Basic Haematology
- Basic Medical Microbiology
- Concepts and Theories in Histopathology and Cytology
- Practicum and Interpretation in Histopathology and Cytology
- Concepts and Theories in Clinical Chemistry
- Practicum and Interpretation in Clinical Chemistry
- Concepts and Theories in Haematology and Transfusion Science
- Practicum and Interpretation in Haematology and Transfusion Science
- Concepts and Theories in Medical Microbiology
- Practicum and Interpretation in Medical Microbiology
- Clinical Placement (In public and/or private clinical laboratories)
Elective Subjects
- Epidemiology
- Professional Development in Infection Control Practice
- Clinical Applications of Molecular Diagnostics in Healthcare
Academic Integrity and Ethics Subject
- Academic Integrity and Ethics (Health and Social Sciences)
81
Programme Leader
Prof. Gilman Siu
PhD, ASCPi (MB), FIBMS, Reg. MLT (Part I) HK, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Medical Laboratory Science
Deputy Programme Leader
Ms Lesliee Luo
MMs (HKU), BSc (PolyU), Reg. MLT (Part I) HK
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A Bachelor’s degree in sciences, preferably biochemistry, biological sciences, life sciences or health-related disciplines from a reputable university.
If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. Please refer to the "Admission Requirements" section for details.
Preference will be given to applicants who have obtained credits for each of the following prerequisite undergraduate-level course before admission to the programme.
- Human Physiology (3 credits or equivalent)
- Human Anatomy (3 credits or equivalent)
- Laboratory Techniques and Instrumentation (3 credits or equivalent)
- Human Biochemistry (3 credits or equivalent)
- Cell Biology (3 credits or equivalent)
- Human Genetics (3 credits or equivalent)
- Molecular Biology (3 credits or equivalent)
- Statistics / Biostatistics (3 credits or equivalent)
For further programme information, please contact:
The General Office (tel: (852) 3400 8578; email: hti.tpg@polyu.edu.hk)
or visit our website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hti/study/programmes/taught-postgraduate-programmes_list/
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Suitable candidates may be invited to attend interviews.
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Normal colour vision is not one of the admission criteria, but applicants should note that normal colour vision may be required for employment in the medical laboratory profession.
6 for local and non-local students
HK$7,850 per credit for local and non-local students
Required
Required
