A career in pathology will see you responsible for identifying people at risk of disease and determining treatment protocols. You could also be responsible for predicting the likelihood of diseases, preventing diseases by determining risk factors, diagnosing diseases, monitoring diseases and personalising treatment.
Some pathology disciplines include chemical pathology, anatomical pathology, immunopathology, genetic pathology, forensic pathology, haematology and microbiology.
The entry requirements to study pathology will vary based on the exact course you want to do. Academic requirements will differ between educational institutions and the level of study you undertake. For the most accurate information, you should view the course information on the institution’s website.
For an undergraduate degree, you’ll typically need to have an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent.
For postgraduate courses, satisfactory completion of an undergraduate degree is required. However, some institutions may take relevant work experience or research ability into consideration as well.
For Vocational Education and Training (VET) Courses, most students will need to have reached a level of study equivalent to the Australian Year 10. Some courses may require extra prerequisite subjects or work experience.
When studying pathology in Australia, there are several skills that will help you be the best pathology professional you can be. While some things can be learned, these are some intrinsic skills you should possess:
As part of the healthcare industry, to study pathology you should have a keen interest in health, wellness, biology and the sciences. Apart from an aptitude for science-related studies, it’s important you have good communication skills, excellent problem-solving skills and deduction competency. With no two days the same, if you want to make a difference to the healthcare sector in Australia and people’s lives, pathology might just be the right course for you.
There are several pathways to study pathology, from TAFE certificates to university level degrees. To find the best pathology course in Australia, you need to decide where you want your pathology career to take you, while also taking into account your current level of pathology knowledge and any previous study you’ve done.
Here are some of the different pathology courses available in Australia:
There are several career pathways you can enter after studying pathology or pathology-related disciplines in Australia, including:
Some of the leading Australian institutes to study pathology include The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, The University of Western Australia, Macquarie University, The University of NSW and more. Most universities offer not just bachelor’s degrees but also certificates and diplomas. TAFE and online platforms like Open Colleges are also excellent institutes to study a range of pathology courses.
While it depends on the field of pathology you enter into, a pathology qualification can see you earn on average $91,122 per year. Entry-level positions start at $80,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $110,839 per year.
Pathology careers are very much in demand in Australia in 2022 and beyond. Almost 500 million pathology tests are conducted in Australia every year, with these tests playing a crucial role in helping doctors successfully diagnose a large number of medical cases.
The pathology services industry in Australia has grown 2.5% per year on average between 2017 and 2022. In 2022 alone, the market size was projected to increase by 3.5%. Rest assured, you’re well placed for plenty of job opportunities after completing a pathology course.
Government funding assists students by subsidising their tuition fees. Schemes vary from state to state. There may be scholarships available depending on your chosen University, but at this present time, there are no government subsidies for pathology courses.