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Health and Life Sciences

Full-time S6 or above Higher Diploma

Programme Code AS114205

Higher Diploma in Biomedical Science

Programme Edges

Promising Career Prospects

So Far, over 150 graduates have been registered as medical laboratory technologists (MLT) and most of them are working in the Hospital Authority.

Student Academic Achievement

More than 30 graduates were awarded Alistair Harvey Foundation Scholarship.

Promising Career Prospects

So Far, over 150 graduates have been registered as medical laboratory technologists (MLT) and most of them are working in the Hospital Authority.

Student Academic Achievement

More than 30 graduates were awarded Alistair Harvey Foundation Scholarship.

Basic Information

The programme aims to equip students with wide range of knowledge, skills and techniques in biomedical science including biomedical analysis and medical testing.

The programme is designed with an emphasis on generic and language training, whole-person development and workplace experience to better prepare students for further studies and employment after graduation.

The programme is linked to the “Earn and Learn” scheme. Upon completion of the full-time first year of this programme¹, the student may choose to study in the “Earn and Learn” scheme. Under the “Earn and Learn” scheme, students can enroll in the seventh semester of the “Earn and Learn” Part-Time (Day) mode. Students will be employed by the participating companies as registered apprentice for two years in the “Earn and Learn”. During the two-year training period, there will be salary, government allowance under the Earn & Learn Scheme, Industry Incentive Allowance and Training Allowance. For the two years of “Earn and Learn” scheme, the employer will sponsor the apprentice to study the Higher Diploma (HD) programme at IVE for one day per week².

For details, please refer to the "Earn and Learn” scheme website.

Mode of Study Full-time

Duration of Study 2 Years

Offering Campus(es) / Venue(s)

IVE (Sha Tin)

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for Intermediate membership of Australian Institute of Medical Scientists.

Remarks

The tuition fee for the full-time Higher Diploma is paid by the student.
Employers will sponsor the tuition fees for these two years.

Notes

The programme information is applicable to local applicants. For non-local applicants, please visit here.
Students may be required to attend classes on other VTC campuses. VTC reserves the right to cancel any programme, revise programme title, content or change the offering institute(s) / campus(es) / class venue(s) if circumstances so warrant.
Except for specific modules of specific content, the medium of instruction for Higher Diploma programmes is English and may be supplemented with Chinese.

Entrance Requirements

HKDSE

Chinese Language 2

English Language 2

Core/Elective Subject 2

VTC Diploma of Foundation Studies; OR
VTC Diploma of Vocational Education / VTC Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate; OR
Diploma Yi Jin / Diploma of Applied Education; OR
Relevant and substantial work experience and/or prior qualification(s) obtained in or outside Hong Kong (e.g. assessed through recognition of prior learning and credit accumulation and transfer), with demonstrated ability to undertake sub-degree education; OR
Equivalent

Remarks

Applicants can use HKDSE Applied Learning (ApL) subjects (except ApL Chinese) for admission purpose. An "Attained", "Attained with Distinction (I)" and "Attained with Distinction (II)" in an ApL subject (Category B subjects) are regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2", "Level 3" and "Level 4" respectively for admission purpose.
One Other Language subject (Category C subjects) can be counted for admission purpose. For 2024 HKDSE and before, a "Grade D or E" and a "Grade C or above" in an HKDSE Other Languages subjects are regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2" and "Level 3" respectively. From 2025 HKDSE onwards, Language Proficiency Level A2 or above in French / German / Spanish, N3 or above in Japanese and TOPIK II: Grade 3 or above in Korean are recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement. Starting from 2026 HKDSE, a Grade E or above in Urdu language will also be recognised for the same purpose. For details, please click here.
An "Attained" in HKDSE Citizenship and Social Development is regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2" for admission purpose.
If one of the five HKDSE subjects is Citizenship and Social Development, the general entrance requirement would become "Attained" for Citizenship and Social Development and Level 2 or above in four other HKDSE subjects including Chinese Language and English Language. Besides, Level 2 or above in Mathematics Extended Part (Module 1 or Module 2) is also recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement. If applicants have taken both Module 1 and Module 2, either one of the modules (with a higher level) will be counted for admission purpose.
Applicable to holders of Diploma in Vocational Education / Diploma of Vocational Education (DVE) (students admitted to DVE in AY2017/18 or before are required to complete prescribed further studies modules).
Upon completion of the Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate (DVB) programmes, students can progress to Higher Diploma programmes in VTC, subject to their BTEC and IGCSE results.
Applications with work experience and/or prior qualification(s) submitted will be assessed individually by the departments concerned.

Articulation / Employment

Articulation

Graduates may apply for further study in local or overseas universities and other Bachelor Degrees listed below:

BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science offered by Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom;
BSc (Hons) in Human Biology offered by Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom;
BMedSc offered by the Queensland University of Technology, Australia;
BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science offered by the University of Ulster, United Kingdom;
BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science offered by the Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom;
BSc (Hons) in Biological Science offered by the Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom;
BSc (Hons) in Applied Microbiology offered by the Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom; and
BSc (Hons) in Human Biosciences (Reg no. 252701)^# offered by the Coventry University, United Kingdom (in collaboration with SHAPE).

^#It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognise any qualification to which this course may lead. Please refer to the corresponding programme page in the website of SHAPE for the registered course no."

Full-time top-up degree programmes in collaboration with the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) of VTC is not applicable to Mainland Students. For admission arrangements of part-time programmes, please visit website of SHAPE.

Career Prospects

Graduates may be employed as medical laboratory assistants, research assistants, technicians in quality control and product development, product specialists.

Curriculum

Statistics
Human Physiology
Human Anatomy for Medical Scientist
Essential Biochemistry for Medical Scientist
Essential Workplace Communication: Effective Oral Interaction
Whole Person Development - MindShift: Achieving Personal Growth & Effectiveness
IT Essentials – Health and Life Sciences

Clinical Immunology
Cell Biology
Pathophysiology
Clinical Laboratory Instrumentation
Safety and Professional Practices in Biomedical Science
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Conversation and Reports
Essential Workplace Communication: Digital Written Correspondence
Whole Person Development - Collaboration, Teamwork & Social Engagement (Part A)

Medical Microbiology
Professional Workplace Communication: Storytelling and Job Search
Whole Person Development - Collaboration, Teamwork & Social Engagement (Part B)

Introduction to Public Health
Molecular Technologies for the Clinical Laboratory
Clinical Chemistry
Project
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Presentation, Administrative and Technical Text Writing
Professional Workplace Communication: Proposal and Report Writing
Enrichment Module A

Molecular Biology and Diagnostics
Histopathology and Clinical Cytology
Haematology
Medical Genetics
Project
Professional Workplace Communication: Pitching and Persuasive Presentation
Industrial Attachment
Whole Person Development - Enhancing Competencies in the 21^st Century Workplace
Enrichment Module B

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for AY2027/28 will be announced at a later stage. The tuition fees for the AY2026/27 is listed below for reference.

1st Year Tuition Fees (HK$)

$35,140

Remarks

The study duration of Higher Diploma programmes is normally 2 years. The tuition fee is payable in two instalments each year. Each instalment is HK$17,570.
In addition to tuition fees, students will be required to pay other fees, such as caution money and students’ union annual fees. Students of Higher Diploma programmes will be required to pay the study package fees for Chinese & Putonghua modules.
Some students may be required to study bridging modules or enhancement programmes to support their study; or to attend additional training, industrial attachments, public examinations for which separate fees will be charged.
Tuition fees are subject to annual review. The tuition fee levels for 2^nd Year will be reviewed subject to inflationary adjustments and other relevant factors.
Applicants shall refer to the Government's revised eligibility criteria for subvented study places and subsidies for AY2027/28 and beyond. Applicants not meeting the revised eligibility criteria are subject to self-finance fees. If you need any further enquiry on visa requirements, please contact the Immigration Department of the HKSAR.
The information listed above is only applicable to local students.