Optometry and Vision Science - 8073
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Contact: www.optometry.unsw.edu.au
Campus: Sydney
Career: Postgraduate
Typical Duration: 1.5 Years 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 72
View program information for previous years
Program Description
The Master of Optometry program is intended to provide students with advanced knowledge and clinical skills in Optometry and Vision Science. The program is designed to provide a broad range of courses that offer students training in clinical and theoretical aspects of Optometry with opportunities to advance their knowledge in a number of fields such as Contact Lenses, Visual Neuroscience, Business Skills, Occupational Optometry, Community Eye Health and Behavioural Optometry. Admission is limited to students with a minimum of a three-year undergraduate degree in Optometry with a credit average. Upon completion graduates will have advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the profession.
Note: The Masters of Optometry does not include any clinical training and is not appropriate for people wanting to train for registration to practice as an Optometrist in Australia.
Note: The Masters of Optometry does not include any clinical training and is not appropriate for people wanting to train for registration to practice as an Optometrist in Australia.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The aim of the program is to provide specialised and advance knowledge and training in Optometry. At the completion of the program graduates will have:
- Developed communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills through an effective and enriched learning environment that is evidenced based.
- Developed advanced disciplinary knowledge that is both theoretical and practical in a number of contemporary fields most relevant to the optometry profession.
- Developed knowledge and skills in the use of specialised optometric technologies and methodologies
- Developed knowledge and skills in research methods and evidence based practices to foster life-long learning, critical analysis and independent enquiry.
- Gained appropriate training and experience in effective communication to a range of audiences including one-on-one interactions with patients and to a group.
- Gained a national and global outlook of contemporary issues most relevant to research and the practice of optometry.
Program Structure
The program requires students to complete 72 Units of Credit (UOC) of advanced disciplinary courses. This comprises two core courses focusing on evidence based practice and research skills, and elective courses offered through the School of Optometry and Vision Science (see below). A number of the courses have pre-requisites, co-requisites or exclusions, as indicated in the course descriptions. Up to 12 UOC of postgraduate level courses may be taken elsewhere in the University subject to the approval of the Program Authority. The courses are taught using different modes of delivery including face-to-face interactions, workshops, online learning and clinical practicals and workshops.
The program may be completed in one and half years full-time or two or more years part-time. Courses offered will only be conducted if there is sufficient demand. For information on which courses are being run refer to www.optom.unsw.edu.au.
Core Courses
The program may be completed in one and half years full-time or two or more years part-time. Courses offered will only be conducted if there is sufficient demand. For information on which courses are being run refer to www.optom.unsw.edu.au.
Core Courses
- OPTM7302 Evidence Based Optometry (6 UOC)
- OPTM7108 Research Skills in Optometry (6 UOC) or OPTM7308 Research Project (12 UOC)
Elective Courses:
- OPTM7003 Epid of Blinding Eye Diseases (6 UOC)
- OPTM7005 Eye Hlth Econ & Sustainability (6 UOC)
- OPTM7006 Eye Care Program Management (6 UOC)
- OPTM7103 Behavioural Optometry 1 (6 UOC)
- OPTM7104 Adv. Contact Lens Studies 1 (6 UOC)
- OPTM7110 Public Health Optometry (6 UOC)
- OPTM7115 Visual Neuroscience (6 UOC)
- OPTM7203 Behavioural Optometry 2 (6 UOC)
- OPTM7205 Specialty Contact Lens Studies (6 UOC)
- OPTM7444 Business Skills in Optometry (12 UOC)
- OPTM7511 Advanced Ocular Disease 1 (6 UOC)
- OPTM7521 Advanced Ocular Disease 2 (6 UOC)
Important: Please note that OPTM7003, OPTM7005, and OPTM7006 are delivered as online courses. International students can take a maximum of 25% of their courses via distance or online. Therefore, where international students receive advanced standing into the program and are only required to take 48 UOC to complete the degree, they can take a maximum of 12 UOC of courses chosen from OPTM7003, OPTM7005 and OPTM7006.
Academic Rules
Please refer to the Program Structure above and contact the school office for more information.
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: UNSW Fee Website.
Admission Requirements
The minimum requirement is the equivalent of a three-year AQF level 7 Bachelor degree in Optometry with a credit average. Students with an average between 60 and 65 will be considered for admission at the discretion of the Postgraduate Coordinator taking into consideration performance in Optometry courses completed in the undergraduate program.
Prospective international students should note that they will need to meet the University's English language requirements (see https://www.unsw.edu.au/english-requirements-policy).
Prospective international students should note that they will need to meet the University's English language requirements (see https://www.unsw.edu.au/english-requirements-policy).
Recognition for Prior Learning / Advanced Standing
Applicants with the equivalent of an AQF level 8 Bachelor Honours degree in Optometry may be awarded advanced standing for a maximum of 24 UOC and may complete the degree within one year of full time study (48 UOC). These students will still be required to complete the core course requirements for the program but will take fewer elective courses.
Exit Provisions
Enrolled students will be allowed to exit the program with a Graduate Certificate (program 7356) or Graduate Diploma in Optometry (program 5665) provided they meet the requirements of these programs.
To graduate with a Graduate Certificate students must have completed OPTM7302 and 18 UOC of elective courses (which may include OPTM7108).
To graduate with a Graduate Diploma students must have completed OPTM7302 and 30 UOC of elective courses (which may include OPTM7108 or OPTM7308).
To graduate with a Graduate Certificate students must have completed OPTM7302 and 18 UOC of elective courses (which may include OPTM7108).
To graduate with a Graduate Diploma students must have completed OPTM7302 and 30 UOC of elective courses (which may include OPTM7108 or OPTM7308).
Pathways
Students may use the Master of Optometry as a pathway to further study, in particular, higher degree research such as a PhD. The requirement is that the student must have completed OPTM7308 Research Project, and obtained a minimum grade of distinction.
Area(s) of Specialisation
