Doctor of Optometry
From 2011, the University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Optometry (OD) will be offered as the pathway to an exciting and rewarding career in optometry. The University of Melbourne has long led the way in Optometry training in Australasia. We were the first university to respond to the expanded scope of professional optometric practice by introducing therapeutic training. The OD is an internationally recognised qualification and the gold standard for optometry education. Our new OD is the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The Doctor of Optometry will be of four years duration and will consist of a combination of on-campus teaching and clinical placements, with the clinical component commencing in year 1 and gradually increasing to full-time in the final year. Opportunities will exist for clinical related research to be conducted as a required component of the degree.
Doctor of Optometry Information Flyer
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Information about the new Doctor of Optometry commencing in 2011. Available for download here : PDF (1130 kb) |
What are some of the benefits of the new postgraduate degree?
- Students entering the OD have previously completed an undergraduate degree, allowing the teaching in the OD to be delivered at a more sophisticated level and allow for the development of more advanced clinical skills.
- Early clinical experience will be a feature of the program. Later years will focus on developing advanced clinical skills with a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice.
- Broad clinical experience will be achieved by providing an unparalleled range of rural and metropolitan placements and international externship opportunities.
- The proposed Doctor of Optometry will qualify you to practise as a therapeutically endorsed Optometrist in Australia, and to register to practise in several overseas countries. Accreditation in other countries, including North America, is being planned.
- The proposed Doctor of Optometry is currently the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The Doctor of Optometry (OD) is an internationally recognised qualification and is the gold standard for optometry education.
Entry Requirements
Subject to Academic Board approval, selection for the proposed Doctor of Optometry may include consideration of:
- Grade point average in an undergraduate degree which includes a tertiary subject (at any level) in Physics or Optics, plus three 2nd or 3rd year subjects: one in Anatomy or Cell Biology; and two in any of the Molecular, Cellular or Physiological sciences.
- An aptitude test (e.g. GAMSAT or OAT )
- A written statement in support of the application (this might include details of any relevant work experience)
Whilst applicants may complete an undergraduate degree in any discipline (as long as it includes the necessary pre-requisite subjects), the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne will offer ideal pathways to this graduate program.
Applicants whose degree course did not incorporate a physics or optics subject are required to successfully complete a subject in this area before they can be considered for entry. Applicants wishing to complete an appropriate subject at the University of Melbourne may consider the Community Access Program (CAP) which allows single subject enrolment.
Recommended CAP options:
For students who have completed Physics at year 12:
640-131 Physics 1 ; or
640-172 Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment ; or
655-152 Optics: From Rainbows to Digital Imaging
For students who have not completed Physics at year 12:
640-171 Physics 1: Fundamentals or
655-152 Optics: From Rainbows to Digital Imaging
Pathways
For students of the University of Melbourne the preferred pathway is via the Bachelor of Science (with a life sciences major - sample course plan) or the Bachelor of Biomedicine (the core subjects fulfill the pre-requisite requirements - sample course plan). Students from other degrees or Universities will need to ensure that they include the pre-requisite subjects in their degree. Completion of a tertiary level Mathematics and/or Statistics subject is also strongly recommended (but is not compulsory).
2010 Undergraduate Course Information (Sciences and Health Sciences)
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Detailed undergraduate course information and pathways for employment and further study for 2010 entry in sciences and health sciences. View this publication online - easy flip-through and more interactive features! Also available for download here : PDF (1692 kb) |
Quotas and fee types
It is expected that the intake into the proposed Doctor of Optometry will be consistent with the current intake into the B.Optom at 60 per annum. We expect the mix of CSP and fee students to be the same as for the undergraduate program.
Guaranteed entry
Students who meet the prerequisite requirements for entry into the proposed Doctor of Optometry will be guaranteed entry to the course if they meet specific criteria. The University's guaranteed pathway to graduate professional entry programs is detailed on the web.
Applications using this pathway will be made in the final year of undergraduate study. It is not necessary to nominate an intention to pursue this pathway before then.
Want to be kept updated?
The Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences invites you to register for email updates over the next few years as the new course is developed and more details become available. If you wish to be kept updated as information becomes available please keep visiting this web site and/or sign up to receive email updates.