The Master of Medical Laboratory Science degree and preceding Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science allow a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science graduate to pursue a full-time research option, possibly leading on to a PhD. These postgraduate qualifications also allow experienced medical laboratory scientists with unrelated or no previous university study to undertake research-based qualifications which may assist them in research and academic careers. Potential candidates should note that there is a strong focus on assisting the individual to develop self-directed research skills. These postgraduate qualifications are not designed to provide practising medical laboratory scientists with updates on their area of practice.