Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry

Course summary for local students

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Professional recognition
• Fees and charges
• Career opportunities
• Course Learning Outcomes
• Course rules
• Course structure
• Admission criteria
• Academic requirements - Current or recent secondary education
• Academic requirements - Current or recent secondary education
• Academic requirements - VET study
• Academic requirements - Work and life experience
• English language proficiency requirements
• Non-academic requirements
• Admissions information
• Pathways
• Credit for prior learning - general
• Alternate exits
• Workload
• Work experience
• Participation requirements
• Mandatory student checks
• Selection Adjustment

Course overview

Graduate in just three and a half years with Australia’s only accelerated Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry course. Optometrists are in high demand with occupation growth expected to reach 15.1% by 2026,* you will gain the discipline-specific knowledge and skills to be work-ready and eligible to apply for registration as a practising optometrist in Australia and New Zealand.

You will undertake a variety of short-term industry placements throughout your course and spend the final six months as a student resident, empowering you to graduate confidently. You will develop crucial skills in the clinical assessment, treatment and management of eye and vision disorders, with strong foundations in evidence-based and reflective practice, inter-professional collaborative practice and practice management. Our course has a strong emphasis on understanding the visual health issues impacting regional and rural Australia and the rural health gap.

Want to graduate job ready as a qualified optometrist from Australia’s only accelerated combined Bachelor/Masters course?

Deakin offers Australia’s first accelerated Bachelor/Masters course, which means you can graduate and begin your career sooner. This is made possible due to Deakin’s trimester system whereby you will undertake ten consecutive trimesters starting from Trimester 1.

During the course you will investigate the structure and function of the visual system while learning about various visual health issues and their wider impact on the local and international community. Gain crucial skills in the clinical assessment, treatment and management of eye and vision disorders, as well as forming a strong understanding of the ethical, legal and professional standards of practice. You will cover a broad spectrum of industry-relevant study areas that prepare you for work as a professional optometrist, including:

• the key principles of optics
• clinical optics and treating eye and vision disorders
• ocular function and structure
• the science of vision
• the business of optometry.

Your clinical placement rotations take place in both metropolitan and regional or rural settings, where you will consolidate your knowledge and skills under the supervision of qualified optometrists. As a student resident you will learn in one of a range of clinical optometric and medical settings.

Our optometry students are able to work directly with real patients who attend the Deakin Collaborative Eye Care Clinic - located onsite at our Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus. Our students are supervised by experienced registered optometrists while providing ocular healthcare to the patients at the clinic. It's equipped with a fully fitted optometry practice for examination and a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose clinical skills laboratory.

As well as preparing you to diagnose and manage ocular conditions, this unique combined degree has a strong emphasis on the underlying social and environmental factors that contribute to the health gap between regional communities and urban populations, ensuring you graduate with a well-rounded understanding of the field of optometry. On successful completion of this accredited course, you can apply for registration to practise as an optometrist in Australia and New Zealand.

Deakin is deeply committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. As part of this commitment, our Indigenous Entry Stream provides a specialised pathway for Indigenous students to become healthcare practitioners, improving cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the communities they serve. Our Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry is one of four courses available through this stream.

Are you a current Year 12 student? If you attend a school in a regional or remote area or within the Greater City of Geelong you may be eligible to apply for this course through our Regional and Remote Entry Scheme using our dedicated VTAC code. As an eligible applicant you may also receive up to a 10 aggregate point adjustment towards your entry score. Make the most of your ATAR.

*2021 Employment Projections – for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia.

Professional recognition

Fees and charges

The tuition fees you pay will depend on the units you choose to study as each unit has its own costs. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.  

Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together 12 credit points of a typical combination of units for that course. Twelve credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year.  You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.  Learn more about fees and available payment options on our Current students fees website.

Career opportunities

• clinics
• corporate and community settings
• health services
• hospitals
• non-government organisations
• private practice
• research institutes
• state and local governments
• tertiary education institutions.

Career opportunities for qualified optometrists include:

• practice ownership
• private and public eye care
• research and education
• recognised specialties within optometry such as:
  • myopia control
  • dry eye management
  • low vision
  • paediatric vision.

As well as pursuing a career in optometry, this course could lead you towards a number of other rewarding careers, including:

• ophthalmic practice business owner
• spectacle retailer
• not-for-profit campaigner
• visual simulator designer.

*2021 Employment Projections – for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry students must attain 40 credit points. This is an accelerated three and a half year course delivered over ten consecutive trimesters commencing in Trimester 1. All the units in the course are core (these are compulsory).

Students must pass all first year units, or be granted Recognition of prior learning for these units, before proceeding to second year.

Due to the integrated nature of the curriculum and assessment, and the requirements of the external accrediting body, from Year 2 onwards, students must pass all units in a given trimester prior to proceeding to the next trimester. Any student who fails to meet this requirement will need to intermit until the next offering of the unit, which will usually be in a period of two trimesters.

To support student reintegration to the course after a period of intermission, students will be required to demonstrate that they have maintained skills and knowledge at a level required to practice safely. To support students in doing this, non-award units will be offered in the trimester preceding re-entry to the course. Please contact your course advisor for assistance.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Units

Students must enrol in the Waurn Ponds (Geelong) offering of all units

Year 1 - Trimester 1

Year 1 - Trimester 2

And

OR

^ Students who completed Unit 3 and 4 (or Year 12 equivalent) Chemistry MUST do SLE155. Those who did not do Chemistry in VCE units 3 and 4 (or Year 12 equivalent) may take SLE133.

Year 1 - Trimester 3

Year 2 - Trimester 1

Year 2 - Trimester 2

Year 2 - Trimester 3

Year 3 - Trimester 1

Year 3 - Trimester 2

Year 3 - Trimester 3

Year 4 - Trimester 1

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

Please note, there are limited places in this course and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. Applications for this course may close prior to the published closing date if all places are filled.

Academic requirements

Academic requirements - Current or recent secondary education

Academic requirements - Current or recent secondary education

If you have undertaken higher education studies after secondary schooling, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

• successful completion of at least two bachelor level or above units (AQF Level 7 or equivalent)

Academic requirements - VET study

If you have undertaken any Vocational Education and Training (VET) study after secondary school, you will need to meet at least one of following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

• completion of a certificate IV or higher in a related discipline
• completion of a diploma or higher in any discipline
• at least 50% completion of a diploma or higher in a related discipline

Academic requirements - Work and life experience

If you finished Year 12 more than three years ago, or did not finish Year 12, and haven’t undertaken any further study, you may be considered for admission to this degree based on your work, volunteer and/or life experience.

Submit a personal statement outlining your motivation to study, previous education and employment history, and how this course can assist your career aspirations or progression. Think of it as a job application cover letter – it should be relevant and demonstrate your commitment and interest in this course or study area.

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Domestic Students and International Students who have completed secondary qualifications taught in English (VCE English Units 3 or 4 or equivalent.)
• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score of 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 25 in any other English
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6) or equivalent
• other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

International students who have NOT completed secondary qualifications taught in English (VCE English Units 3 or 4 or equivalent.)

• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score of 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 25 in any other English
• IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no band score less than 7.0) or equivalent;
• other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

Non-academic requirements

Indigenous Entry Stream applicants

To be eligible for a place in the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry course, Indigenous Entry Stream applicants must meet the following admission criteria (note this entry stream is for non-Year 12 applicants via direct application only):

• Recognition as an Indigenous Australian and
  provide confirmation of Aboriginality from their community and
  have completed one or more of the following requirements:
• A Senior Secondary Certificate of Education with ATAR of at least 50 or equivalent (including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL), or
• Have successfully completed at least one year of study at certificate IV or higher in any discipline

Personal statement

Applicants can include a personal statement to complement their application. Applicants will need to ensure that they outline any relevant work and/or life experience and summarise the reasons why they wish to undertake the course. Learn more about the personal statement.

Inherent requirements

Applications are accepted from students who possess the skills and prerequisites required to complete the course, gain professional certification and practise safely. The inherent requirements of the course are listed in the document, BVisSci and MOptom Inherent Requirements (pdf 103k).

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning. We're also committed to admissions transparency. Read about our first intake of 2023 students (PDF, 354KB) – their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin? Discover the different entry pathways we offer and study options available to you, no matter your ATAR or education history.

Pathways

If you did not meet the selection requirements for this course don't despair, we have further pathway options available. Are you a Year 12 student? You may be interested in our Regional and Remote Entry Scheme. Our Indigenous Entry Stream is available for this course providing a specialised pathway for Indigenous students to become healthcare practitioners. Explore your options to get ready for the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry using our Pathways Finder.

This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.

Credit for prior learning - general

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.

Alternate exits

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

The course includes an extensive practical placement component (cost incurred by the student) including a Clinical Residential Placement in the last six months of the course. Students will also need to purchase personal optometric diagnostic (costing approximately $3500) in Year 2 of the program.

Workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Work experience

Placements are an integral part of this course and ensure that you graduate career ready and with confidence. From your second year onwards, you will attend clinical placements across a range of placement settings. During the last six months of this course, you will undertake a clinical residential placement with a focus on regional and remote optometry. During this residency you need to consolidate your knowledge and skills in supported environments under the supervision of qualified optometrists.

Participation requirements

The course has been developed to provide students with opportunities to practice optometry (under supervision) in a variety of contexts. In keeping the Deakin Optometry’s commitment to improving rural eyecare delivery, students will spend at least three months of their extended residential placement in a regional, rural or remote location to develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by these communities when attempting to access eye care.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Students are required to complete units in Trimester 3.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Requirements for Clinical Placements and Registration

Inherent requirements

Applications are accepted from students who possess the skills and prerequisites required to complete the course, gain professional certification and practise safely. The inherent requirements of the course are listed in the document, BVisSci and MOptom Inherent Requirements (pdf).

Working with Children Check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) . Check for the relevant state prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Information will be provided to applicants once they enrol in the course. The Faculty will guide you through this process.

Police record check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course. Information will be provided to applicants once they enrol in the course. The Faculty will guide you through this process.

Immunisations

Prior to commencing clinical placements students are expected to have a current immunisation status including three COVID-19 vaccinations. Information will be provided to applicants once they enrol in the course. The Faculty will guide you through this process.

Code of Conduct

Prior to commencing students are expected to sign the Student Code of Conduct.

Selection Adjustment

Subject adjustment

A study score of 40 in any English equals 3 aggregate points per study. A study score of 35 in Biology, Chemistry or Physics equals 3 aggregate points per study. A study score of 35 in any English equals 1 aggregate point per study. A study score of 30 in Biology, Chemistry or Physics equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 12 points.

Regional and Remote Entry Scheme

Current year 12 students from regional and remote areas may be eligible for additional aggregate points to their selection rank through Deakin's Regional and Remote Entry Scheme. Learn more about this scheme, eligibility and how to apply.

 Access and equity

Special entry access schemes (SEAS) enable Deakin to consider disadvantaged circumstances you may have experienced and the impact upon your studies. SEAS also allows us to identify if you’re from under-represented groups when making selection decisions for some courses. SEAS does not exempt you from meeting any of the course entry requirements. Learn more about Deakin’s special entry access schemes.

Indigenous Entry Stream

The Indigenous Entry Stream provides a direct-entry pathway for Indigenous Australian applicants. This stream is for non-Year 12 applicants. Current Year 12 applicants can apply directly through VTAC. Learn more about this scheme, eligibility and how to apply.