Bachelor
Optometrists diagnose vision problems, eye diseases and other eye health issues. These highly skilled professionals correct poor vision and manage or slow degenerative eye diseases with corrective lenses, optical aids, contact lenses and therapy or medication.
When you enrol in the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry, you'll work collaboratively with peers from a range of disciplines to develop essential technical and professional skills to thrive in your future career.
The Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry will provide you with the clinical skills and training required to gain registration to practise optometry. It combines the theoretical discipline of vision science with the clinical expertise of primary eye care.
These two globally recognised UNSW degrees will see you build a degree that's tailored to your interests in a place that values your passions, purpose and potential.
Gain practical experience in UNSW's Optometry Clinic
You'll gain hands-on, practical experience in UNSW's Optometry Clinic
Connect with industry-leading research centres and institutes
Joining the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry gives you access to world-class facilities. We'll provide you with a varied education in vision science through the Centre for Eye Health
Study with the School of Optometry and Vision Science
UNSW Optometry and Vision Science is the largest school of optometry in Australia. We are committed to forming partnerships within the ophthalmic industry and across the healthcare sector. The School is committed to translational research that will lead to practical applications and significant improvements in community eye health.
At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.
To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.
We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.
Chemistry, English Advanced, Mathematics Advanced, Physics
We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.
HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.
Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.
Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.
Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our future student advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.
Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.
Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you're completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
| Qualifications | Direct entry requirement |
|---|---|
|
International ATAR
|
97
|
| UNSW Foundation Studies GPA |
9.2
|
|
Great Britain General Certificate of Education (GCE A levels)
|
17
All applicants must present a minimum of two Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry Scores are calculated from the best two, three, or four A2 Level subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1. |
|
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
|
39
Results based on scores required for entry into UNSW in 2019 and are only applicable if the Diploma has been completed. Students currently attempting the IB can apply directly to UNSW or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). For more details, visit www.uac.edu.au |
|
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (after 2016)
|
1390
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) based on the total of evidence-based reading and writing and mathematical test scores. Must be provided in conjunction with evidence of successful completion of senior secondary studies. |
We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.
Please contact us for direct entry requirements.
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Become an optometrist
Optometrists diagnose vision problems, eye diseases and other eye health issues. These highly skilled professionals correct poor vision and manage or slow degenerative eye diseases with corrective lenses, optical aids, therapy or medication.
Due to ageing and growing populations, the demand for qualified optometrists remains steady in Australia and globally. By 2036 the number of optometrists is likely to increase with Australia's population projected to reach 32.4 million.
Across the world, over 2.2 billion people experience vision impairment or blindness
Other career opportunities
The Bachelor of Vision Science will prepare you to work in the eye health sector, including clinical settings, health promotion in government and non-government organisations, laboratory-based eye research and the ophthalmic industry.
You can work in a wide range of optics, vision science and ophthalmology research laboratories that develop drugs, imaging technology and vision correction devices such as contact lenses, spectacles and ocular implants.
Career opportunities are also available in the government sector, particularly in teaching and defence technology (e.g., lasers and optical equipment). You could also contribute to the development of health and occupational policy regarding the importance of vision to quality of life in the workplace.
We believe that university is about more than what you learn in the classroom. A UNSW Medicine & Health degree provides the optimal balance of theoretical and hands-on learning to prepare students for the workforce.
When you enrol in the Bachelor of Vision Science / Master of Clinical Optometry you'll be a part of one of Australia's top 5 medical faculties*.
UNSW has been named 'Most Employable University' by the Australian Financial Review, four years in a row. Our students build professional portfolios through proximity and partnerships with some of Australia's largest metropolitan and rural hospitals. These initiatives unlock over 400 industry connections for students to tap into and to help kick off their rewarding careers in vision science.
Graduating from the widely respected Bachelor of Vision Science at a prestigious Go8 university like UNSW will open up a world of opportunity that could take you anywhere - Australia and beyond.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Upon completion of the Master of Clinical Optometry, you can apply to register with the Optometry Board of Australia
"For me, a highlight of the course is the exposure to a wide range of clinical environments, both internally within the UNSW Optometry Clinic's numerous specialty clinics and the variety of external placements in 'real-world' practices, which provide excellent hand-on experience in the profession. I utilise the clinical and research skills gained during my time at university on a day-to-day basis, in my roles as a clinician involved in patient care and as a researcher investigating methods for earlier detection of ocular pathologies."
Janelle Tong
Optometrist, Centre for Eye Health
"The program at UNSW Sydney provides a solid platform for students to develop their interests in patient eye care, ocular health and research. I have learnt a tremendous amount from highly experienced academics at the school and skilled clinicians based at the UNSW Optometry Clinics. The school also has strong ties with institutions and facilities globally, offering a wealth of knowledge and external training for future students."
Jeremy Chiang
PhD Student, UNSW Sydney