Skip to content
There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

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 … For more content click the Read More button below. Note: The Master of Optometry program does not include any clinical training and is not appropriate for people wanting to train for registration to practice as an Optometrist in Australia.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Developed communication, critical thinking, and problem solving skills through an effective and enriched learning environment that is evidenced based.
2.
Developed advanced disciplinary knowledge that is both theoretical and practical in a number of fields in optometry.
3.
Developed knowledge and skills in the use of specialised optometric technologies and methodologies
4.
Gained appropriate training and experience in effective communication to a range of audiences including one-on-one interactions with patients and to a group
5.
Gained a national and global outlook of contemporary issues most relevant to research and the practice of optometry.
6.
Developed skills and knowledge in research methods and evidence based practices to foster life-long learning, critical analysis and independent enquiry.

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure
72 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 72 UOC as a standalone program.

The program consists of 72 UOC comprised of:
1. 12-18 UOC of Core Courses
2. 54-60 UOC of Prescribed Electives. In exceptional circumstances, in place of Prescribed Electives, students may take up to 12 UOC of postgraduate courses from the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, subject to the approval of the Program Authorities from both Schools.

Core Courses

Students must take at least 12 UOC, up to a maximum of 18 UOC of the following courses.

Please Note:
- Students electing to take OPTM7208 Research Skills in Optometry (3UOC), must enrol 2 times over two Terms for a total of 6UOC
- Students electing to take OPTM7218 Research Project (4 UOC), must enrol 3 times over three Terms for a total of 12 UOC.

OPTM7302
6 UOC
Evidence Based Optometry

Prescribed Electives

Students must take at least 54 UOC, up to a maximum of 60 UOC of the following courses.

OPTM7001
6 UOC
Introduction to Community Eye Health
OPTM7003
6 UOC
Epidemiology of Blinding Eye Diseases
OPTM7006
6 UOC
Eye Care Program Management
OPTM7104
6 UOC
Advanced Contact Lens Studies 1
OPTM7115
6 UOC
Visual Neuroscience
OPTM7205
6 UOC
Specialty Contact Lens Studies
OPTM7213
12 UOC
Ocular Therapy
OPTM7301
12 UOC
Advanced Clinical Optometry
OPTM7511
6 UOC
Advanced Ocular Disease 1
OPTM7521
6 UOC
Advanced Ocular Disease 2
OPTM7611
6 UOC
Introduction to Myopia
OPTM7612
6 UOC
Myopia Management

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

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

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

Pathways

Articulation Arrangements

Graduate Certificate - GradCert7435 - Optometry

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.

Additional Information

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, OPTM7001 and OPTM7006.

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

Some courses may require students to go on field trips, the cost will be borne by the student.

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)
Pre-2019 Handbook Editions