Optometry

Train in a field that enables you to care for others by diagnosing and managing a wide range of ocular conditions and disease. As a graduate, you’ll be qualified to work anywhere in Australia or New Zealand.

Get work-ready

Clinical placements are an integral part of your learning. You'll undertake a variety of short-term industry placements and spend time as a student resident in one of a range of clinical optometric and medical settings. These experiences take place in both metropolitan and regional or rural settings, and will enable you to consolidate your knowledge and skills under the supervision of qualified optometrists.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate (your first degree)

An undergraduate degree is generally completed between two to four years, depending on the pattern of study and any recognition of prior learning you may have. Associate degrees, bachelor and bachelor with honours are all undergraduate degrees.

With an endemic spread of myopia across the world, I wanted to learn about and practice the skill of a profession that dealt first hand with combating this disease.

Zara Danehsvar

Bachelor of Vision Science/Master in Optometry

Career opportunities

Always wondered what an optometrist does? On any given day, an Australian optometrist may perform primary visual assessments, treat advanced eye disease and dispense both prescription medicines and optical aids. As such, optometrists share traits with general practitioners, ophthalmologists and pharmacists. At the same time, most optometrists are business owners providing clinical care and dispensing optical appliances.

If you're after a work-life balance in the health field, optometry could be for you. Why? Work is very flexible if you go into private practice (around 75% of graduates do). However, you're also perfectly placed to explore other employment opportunities, such as para-medical practice, research and work within vision-related non-government organisations.

Learn from the best

Being an optometry student at Deakin means that you'll be exposed to a team of industry-leading experts, ensuring you'll graduate with the confidence and experience needed to thrive in the workplace.

Learn more about our optometry staff members

Graduate sooner

Unlike any other optometry course in Australia, you can complete your Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry in just three-and-a-half years of full-time study.

Indigenous Entry Stream

Aspiring to a career in optometry? We offer an Indigenous Entry Stream for our optometry course, which provides a direct entry pathway for Indigenous Australian applicants.

Learn more about the Indigenous Entry Scheme

Regional and Remote Entry Scheme

If you live in a regional area you might be eligible for special entry pathways that give you a better chance of finding a spot in your dream course.

Learn more about the Regional and Remote Entry Scheme

Accreditation

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and Medicare Service Providers.

Research with us

If you're excited about making a breakthrough and curious about the future of optometry, a higher degree by research could be for you.

Learn more about researching with us

Medicine and optometry at Deakin

Deakin's innovative Doctor of Medicine is a unique four-year graduate-entry program. The course aims to improve the health and wellbeing of rural and regional Australians by training doctors to pursue a career in medicine in rural and regional areas either as specialists or general practitioners.

Study optometry at Deakin

Change the way people see the world. Gain practical experience through placements and graduate work-ready.

Browse other disciplines within medicine

Choose an area that you're interested in and learn how Deakin's extensive range of study options and experiences can help turn your dreams into reality.