-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ZAcHrRGb8x7ikQGQ9z19gg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001305632-05-000002.txt : 20050405
<SEC-HEADER>0001305632-05-000002.hdr.sgml : 20050405
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050405115426
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001305632-05-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050405
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050405

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			H&Q LIFE SCIENCES INVESTORS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884121
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				043147016
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 ROWES WHARF
		STREET 2:		HAMBRECHT & QUIST FOURTH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6175740500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 ROWES WHARF
		STREET 2:		HAMBRECHT & QUIST 4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OMSTEAD DANIEL R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001254774

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-06565
		FILM NUMBER:		05732765

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O H&Q HEALTHCARE INVESTORS
		STREET 2:		30 ROWES WHARF, 4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110-3328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884121</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>H&amp;Q LIFE SCIENCES INVESTORS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HQL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254774</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OMSTEAD DANIEL R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O H&amp;Q LIFE SCIENCES INVESTORS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>30 ROWES WHARF, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110-3328</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>H&amp;Q Life Sciences Investors</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-04-01</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3965</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel R. Omstead</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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