By Oskar Schnaak, 4 February, 2026
Oskar Schnaak is about to start his 4th year of a medical laboratory science degree. Find out what he thinks about the course and his studies.
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Why did you choose to study medical laboratory science?
I had always wanted to do something to do with health. I enjoyed maths and science at school.
Once I started the degree, we were introduced to such a broad range of disciplines such as biochemistry, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology. I found it amazing to learn how they all linked together.
There is always something to keep me engaged and wanting to learn more.
Why study at QUT?
I visited a couple of universities, but QUT stood out the most to me.
Not only did it offer a range of degrees that I was interested in, but the QUT campuses also had a really aesthetic environment and was a convenient location for me.
What parts of the medical laboratory science course have you enjoyed the most?
I love how to course works. Learning the theory first and then being able to put it into practice during practical classes. It's not all just memorisation, we also learn specific techniques and skills that prepare us for our careers.
During a practical class in 3rd year haematology, I found it difficult to differentiate some of the white blood cells. The demonstrators gave me a few amazing tips on how to do this, that you won’t find in any textbook.
I will carry this information on the rest of my journey as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
What other practical experience do you gain studying medical laboratory science?
The practical skills we learn are further reinforced during 4th year when we get to experience work in an industry or commercial lab as a part of our internship. I am very excited about gaining real-world experience in a laboratory.
As part of my degree, I’ve done a lot of practical laboratory classes in multiple disciplines like haematology, microbiology, biochemistry. As I am a full-time student, I do around 4 practical classes a week each semester.
This will prepare me for my practical experience.
What has been a highlight for you while at uni?
In my first year I won an award for achieving an outstanding academic achievement in genes, genomes and genetics unit. This included an award and a bursary.
This award helped motivate me to continue to excel and deepened my interest in this discipline.
What advice would you give to someone considering studying medical laboratory science?
Just have a go. If you find out that the degree you choose is not for you, you can always change.
There is a lot of support through the lecturers, unit coordinator, demonstrators, etc. When making friends, remember that everyone in your course has the same interest so don’t be afraid to go out and start conversations with new people.
There are also medical laboratory science and biomedical science student groups that you can join to meet new people and network.
