Master of Pathology overview
The Master of Pathology is for students desiring comprehensive knowledge of the field, providing units in all manner of pathology disciplines. Western Sydney University and others feature classes in surgical pathology, cytopathology, small biopsy pathology and many more. These programs take two years of full time study to complete, or up to four years if part time.
Employment options
Graduates can gain access to the employment opportunities specified here, so long as they couple their education with relevant training and certification. Master degrees help students go into either clinical or anatomical pathology, giving them access to a broad array of specialisations. Companies like Clinical Labs and the RCPA offer an abundance of training and employment opportunities to graduates wishing to enter any portion of pathology.
Scholarships and funding
There are several scholarship opportunities available to students of pathology, most of which are centred around research.
- The John Flood Memorial Scholarship provides pathology students undergoing a higher research degree in the University of Sydney Medical Program the chance to complete a research project during a semester break. $1700 is awarded upon completion
- The Harold Attwood Prize confers approximately $540 upon postgraduate medical students who achieve the top grade in the written component of PCP2, a mandatory part of many medical programs
- The Reginald Maney Lake and Amy Laura Bonamy Scholarship provides a stipend to postgraduate students of pathology undergoing a research program
Those uninterested by research can seek the wealth of general scholarship opportunities listed here. These are accessible across all disciplines and are welcoming to students of varying ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds.
Prerequisites and selection process
Admission to these programs always requires a bachelor of medicine, with many requiring students to have secured placement in a relevant training program before commencement of the course. This means being already being an employee in some capacity before applying. Students are therefore advised to seek out advisory boards and resources like RCPA to gain professional insight into what placement programs are best for you. These programs take place all over the country, with an extensive list of training positions being available here.