Handbook - Clinical Optometry

Overview

Optometry combines the theoretical discipline of vision science with the clinical art of primary eye care. Vision science includes the optics of lenses and instruments, the physiology of the eye, the psychophysics of vision and the neuroscience of the brain. Optometry includes the diagnosis and management of ocular disease, the … For more content click the Read More button below. Upon completion of the Master of Clinical Optometry degree, students will be allowed to apply for registration with the Optometry Board leading to the practice of Optometry in Australia, New Zealand and most parts of Asia. Graduates of the dual award Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry will have specialised knowledge and skills for professional practice and research in Optometry and Vision Science and further learning.

Optometry includes the diagnosis and management of ocular disease, the dispensing of spectacles and contact lenses, the management of people with special needs (children, low vision), sports vision and vision in the workplace. Graduates of this program will be able to register as an optometrist in Australia. The degree is also recognised in New Zealand and in most parts of Asia. Job opportunities in this field are excellent and are expected to remain excellent given the high visual demands in the modern computer-based workplace, and the ageing population in Australia.

Upon completion of the Master of Clinical Optometry degree, students will be allowed to apply for registration with the Optometry Board leading to the practice of Optometry in Australia, New Zealand and most parts of Asia.

Graduates of the dual award Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry will have specialised knowledge and skills for professional practice and research in Optometry and Vision Science and further learning.

Program Structure

Students must complete 96 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

Year 1 Core Courses (Stage 4)48 Units of Credit:

Students must take 48 UOC of the following courses.

OPTM6400

6 UOC

Optometric Preclinical Practice

Clinical Optometry 4A

OPTM6413

6 UOC

Anterior Eye Therapeutics

OPTM6421

6 UOC

Binocular Vision, Paediatrics and Low Vision

OPTM6422

6 UOC

Clinical Optometry 4B

OPTM6423

6 UOC

Therapeutics and the Posterior Eye

OPTM6424

6 UOC

Professional Optometry

Year 2 Core Courses (Stage 5)48 Units of Credit:

Students must take 48 UOC of the following courses.

OPTM8511

6 UOC

Clinical Paediatrics, Low Vision and Colour Vision

OPTM8512

6 UOC

Clinical Optometry 5A

OPTM8513

6 UOC

Clinical Ocular Therapy 5A

OPTM8514

4 UOC

Optometry Research Project

OPTM8521

6 UOC

Clinical Contact Lenses

OPTM8522

6 UOC

Clinical Optometry 5B

OPTM8523

6 UOC

Clinical Ocular Therapy 5B

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

The Master of Clinical Optometry program 8095 (MClinOptom) is only open to students who have completed the UNSW Bachelor of Vision Science program 3181 (BVisSci) within 5 years prior to admission. Applicants must complete the BVisSci 3181 program and achieve a Weighted Average Mark (see below for definition of program WAM) of 65.00.

As the number of places available each year is limited and will vary from year to year, entry into the program is competitive. Selection is based on the program WAM for the BVisSci program 3181 and performance at an interview. Not all applicants will be invited to participate in the interview.

The number of places available for entry into the MClinOptom 8095 to vary each year.

Any honours year or additional tertiary study completed in addition to program 3181 will not be considered by the School of Optometry and Vision Science in the ranking of applicants for entry to program 8095.

Students without a UNSW BVisSci degree program 3181 who wish to pursue the MClinOptom program 8095 are advised to apply for entry into either BVisSci/MClinOptom program 3182 OR BVisSci program 3181 followed by an application for entry into the Master of Clinical Optometry (8095) via the above competitive selection process.

The award of credit in recognition of prior learning (RPL) for external students will be considered (in accordance with UNSW RPL policy and procedure), and a study plan will be developed on a case by case basis

All applicants, domestic and international, are to consult AHPRA’s website to guide their understanding of the Registration Standard: English Language skills and Registration Standard: Criminal history.

Definition of program WAM: The above admissions requirements refer to a ‘program WAM’. The program WAM, for purposes of entry into the MClinOptom 8095 program, is calculated using all the courses in the BVisSci program 3181 including the required 2 GenEd courses only (12 UOC) that have a finalised grade at the time of assessment. If more than 12 UOC of GenEd have been completed, only the first two GenEd courses will be included in the program WAM. If 3 GenEd courses were completed, with one in one term, and the other two in the same subsequent term, we will count the first GenEd, and the GenEd with the higher mark, out of the other two.

Special Admission Requirements

Interview

Other

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Domestic Students

International Student

Program Requirements

Participation and Enrolment Requirements

Criminal records check

Medical assessment

Working with Children Check

Other

Compulsory Training Component

Please note: The number of hours per day/week and days per week varies depending on the placement type and location.

Students enrolled in the Master of Clinical Optometry will be required to complete WIL at internal and external locations, including interstate locations. The cost associated with this WIL will be met by the student.

Progression Requirements

Progression rules are in accordance with university policy.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Related Double Degree

Bachelor of Vision Science - BVisSc
Master of Clinical Optometry - MClinOptom3182 - Vision Science / Clinical Optometry

Postgraduate Pathway

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD1487 - Vision Science

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD1860 - Optometry

Master of Science (Research) - MSc(Res)2900 - Optometry (MRes)

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence

Current Students Award with Excellence

For more information, please visit the link above.

The Award with Excellence is awarded in coursework masters programs, including Masters (Extension) but with the exception of Masters (Extended) such as JD and MD, when a Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of at least 80% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award are completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award 'with Excellence' except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students

Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)

International Students

Additional Expenses and Resources

The cost associated with clinical work experience will be met by the student.

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions