Lancet Laboratories Bursary, Internships and Learnerships

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Lancet Laboratories, a private pathology group founded more than 60 years ago and based in Richmond, Johannesburg, trains laboratory staff through three programmes: a bursary for Medical Laboratory Science students, internships for Biomedical Technology graduates, and phlebotomy learnerships for matriculants. Lancet describes all three in a few lines on its careers page. It publishes no values, no application dates and no separate brochure, so this page sets out what the company does say and flags what it leaves out.

A bursary that starts in second year of the BHSc

Lancet says it partners with universities and offers bursaries to successful candidates from the second year of the BHSc in Medical Laboratory Science. First-year students and school-leavers are therefore not the target: you would need to be registered for the degree and through first year before Lancet considers you. The company does not name its partner universities, say how candidates are chosen, or describe any public application route for the bursary.

What Lancet does say clearly is where the bursary leads: bursary holders go on to complete their internship with Lancet Laboratories, so the award comes with a place to do the practical training after the degree. Lancet does not state what the bursary covers, how much it pays, or whether graduates owe any service beyond the internship.

Biomedical Technology internships, limited each year

The second programme is for graduates who already hold a Biomedical Technology qualification rather than a Lancet bursary. The prerequisite is a National Diploma or BTech in Biomedical Technology. Lancet notes that it does “limited recruitment” for these internships once a year, without giving the month.

Phlebotomy learnerships for matriculants

The entry point that needs no tertiary qualification is the phlebotomy learnership, which prepares matriculants for work as phlebotomists, the staff who take blood and other specimens from patients. The prerequisite is a matric with Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, English, and Biology or Life Sciences, each at a D symbol or higher.

Where Lancet posts openings

All Lancet vacancies go through the Lancet careers portal, where you create a profile and apply online. When it was checked on 27 September 2026, the portal listed permanent posts such as medical technologists, phlebotomists and laboratory assistants, but no bursary, internship or learnership openings. The portal deletes profiles that stay inactive for 12 months, so candidates waiting for a training intake need to log in from time to time.

Lancet warns that it never charges placement fees and does not tolerate job selling; fraud can be reported on its hotline, 0861 000 973. General enquiries go to 0861 526 238 or service@lancet.co.za. The programme descriptions are on the Lancet Lab Careers page.

Lancet also runs a Lancet Education Fund, but that supports the school education of children of its lower-income employees and is not open to the public.

For other funding in laboratory and allied health degrees, including options for first-year students, see the site’s health science bursaries and medical bursaries.

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