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.
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 students 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.
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. Completion of a tertiary level Mathematics and/or Statistics subject is strongly recommended (but is not compulsory)
- 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. Students from other degrees or Universities will need to ensure that they include the pre-requisite subjects in their degree.
More information about the Doctor of Optometry graduate degree