Optometry: transitioning to the Melbourne Model
As the University moves to the Melbourne Model, the current undergraduate optometry degree (the Bachelor of Optometry) is being replaced by a new postgraduate degree which will begin in 2011 (subject to approval).
A major assessment of optometry training, including an extensive review of educational models worldwide, has been undertaken. It is anticipated that 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.
The timeline for change is:
| 2009 | final intake into the 1st year of the Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | no 1st year intake into the Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom) |
| 2011 | first intake into the Doctor of Optometry |
| 2013 | final graduating year of the Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom) |
| 2014 | first graduating year of the Doctor of Optometry |
Limited opportunities for entry into the later years (2nd and 3rd year) of the Bachelor of Optometry may be available in 2010 and 2011 (for February entry), subject to availablity of places. Students may apply for later year entry to the Bachelor of Optometry providing they have completed study equivalent to the first year or first and second year of the Bachelor of Optometry course and achieved strong results in this study. Local students will need to apply for transfer. International students will need to apply for admission and will be assessed for credit and later year entry. For advice about later year entry, please contact the Science Student Centre .
Doctor of Optometry
Selection for the proposed Doctor of Optometry (still to be confirmed) 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
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.
Pathways
For students of the University of Melbourne the preferred pathway is via the Bachelor of Science (with a life sciences major) or the Bachelor of Biomedicine (the core subjects fulfill the pre-requisite requirements). 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).
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.
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.
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.