Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Pathology overview
Graduate certificates and diplomas provide essential knowledge of the field in a succinct timeframe. They offer students the chance to learn about haematology, medical microbiology, clinical chemistry and other specialisations depending on the program and institution. The University of Canberra offers a diploma in diagnostic pathology that equips graduates to become assistants and medical scientists. Graduate certificates take six months of full-time study to complete, or a year part-time. Diplomas are twice as long at a year full time or two years part-time.
Employment options
Pathology is a huge discipline, making graduate certificates and diplomas insufficient for careers leading laboratories and autopsies as a fully-fledged pathologist would. That said, they do offer a great pathway into further study or a career as a technical officer, medical scientist or assistant. The specialisations mentioned here are worth keeping in mind when deciding how best to apply your skills.
Scholarships and funding
There are several scholarship opportunities available to master level students of pathology, but there are none at the graduate certificate or diploma level. However, there is an abundance of general scholarships available. Examples of these include:
- The EU 2020 Horizon Scholarship for students planning to study in Europe through Curtin University
- The Gallipoli Scholarship Fund for students related to a WWI veteran
- The ECIG Scholarship Program for students who are chosen based upon an essay
These opportunities come and go quite quickly, so it is advisable to check the full list here so as to not miss out.
Prerequisites and selection process
These programs all require students to have completed a bachelor of medicine beforehand. The University of Canberra and other institutions provide a choice of entry pathways in addition to this.
- Have obtained a credit GPA (65%) in a prior study, or
- Have two years of relevant work experience, or
- For entry into the diploma, hold a graduate certificate in diagnostic pathology