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QUT offers the only optometry training in Queensland. The optometry program includes a three-year Bachelor of Vision Science followed by a two-year Master of Optometry.
Our course is embedded with clinical experience and prepares you to treat patients from a variety of social and cultural groups, ages and conditions. You will work with a range of complex instruments and learn to use clinical judgement to treat patients.
At our on-campus optometry clinic you will practise clinical skills under the supervision of registered optometrists. You will treat patients and provide specialist services in ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, children’s vision, dry eye, glaucoma, and other eye diseases and chronic conditions with ocular effects, such as diabetes. This experience is extended with opportunities to participate in off-campus activities that focus on prevention and treatment within the wider community, and clinical placements in optometric practices, ophthalmology practices and other healthcare settings. You may also choose to travel and complete clinical training in rural and remote Australia, or overseas. In recent years our students have travelled to the UK, Mexico, India, Japan, Vanuatu, and Singapore.
You will receive individual attention from experienced lecturers and clinicians. All of our staff conduct vision research and our clinical supervisors are experienced optometrists. Our staff maintain relationships with the profession, and our guest lecturers are optometrists from private practice and other health disciplines such as the medical and pharmacy professions.
Highlights
- After completion of Master of Optometry, graduates are able to practise as an optometrist and register with the Optometry Board of Australia.
- Prepare for a career in private practice, contact lens practice, paediatric vision, occupational/public health vision or low vision.
- Practise clinical skills under the supervision of registered optometrists at the on-campus QUT Health Clinics.
- Choose to travel and complete clinical training in rural and remote Australia, or overseas.
Highlights
- After completion of Master of Optometry, graduates are able to practise as an optometrist and register with the Optometry Board of Australia.
- Prepare for a career in private practice, contact lens practice, paediatric vision, occupational/public health vision or low vision.
- Practise clinical skills under the supervision of registered optometrists at the on-campus QUT Health Clinics.
- Choose to travel and complete clinical training in rural and remote Australia, or overseas.
Explore this course
What to expect
Optometrists are primary eye care practitioners and are often the first point of contact for many people seeking advice about their eyes and vision. Optometrists provide regular, preventative eye care through the early detection of eye disease and conditions that have ocular effects, and the provision of treatment for acute and chronic eye disease and vision problems. Optometrists are also able to use a number of ocular drugs to assist in the detection and management of eye conditions.
Course requirements
There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. You will need to identify these requirements and ensure you allow sufficient time to meet them. Some of these requirements have associated costs.
Blue card: You must undergo a criminal history check for working with children and be issued with a suitability card (blue card) before commencing clinical placement/practicum in an organisation where they may work with children or young people.
The processing of your application may take several months so you must submit your blue card application to HiQ as early as possible to ensure you have your card before you begin any unit that requires contact with children. There is no charge for student blue cards. Students who already have a blue card must register it with QUT.
Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.
Career outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates may work in clinical practice in a range of optometric settings, or in teaching and research positions in Australia and internationally. Many graduates enter private practice with a view to future partnership or the establishment of their own practice. An increasing number of graduates are working alongside other health professionals in medical ophthalmology clinics.
Graduates of the dual award program (Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry) are employed in areas that include contact lens practice, paediatric vision, occupational/public health vision or low vision.
Students may choose not to complete the Master of Optometry, exiting with a three-year Bachelor of Vision Science, to pursue a research career (following completion of an honours year) or find employment in the ophthalmic industry.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry are accredited by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand and you must complete both programs to be eligible for registration as an optometrist with the Optometry Board of Australia.
Student registration
QUT automatically registers students enrolled in this course with the Optometry Board of Australia in accordance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009. Details about student registration are available from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
Possible careers
- Optometrist
Requirements
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2018.
Don't have an OP or rank?
- Course code
- OP45
- QTAC code
- 425312
- CRICOS code
- 065380A
-
- Kelvin Grove
-
- 3 years full-time
- 3 years full-time
-
- February
- February
- OP Guarantee
- No
- Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course we assume you have sound knowledge in these areas:
- Chemistry
- English
- Maths B
- Physics
We assume that you have knowledge equivalent to four semesters at high school level (Years 11 and 12) with sound achievement (4, SA).
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your selection rank (or OP equivalent) will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2018
The scores listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent school leavers. If you are not a school leaver, take a look at the entry thresholds box at the top of this page to see the lowest adjusted scores required overall to receive an offer.
| Excluding adjustments | Including adjustments | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OP | Selection rank | OP | Selection rank | |
| Highest OP/selection rank to receive an offer |
OP
1
|
Selection rank
99
|
OP
1
|
Selection rank
99
|
| Median OP/selection rank to receive an offer |
OP
1
|
Selection rank
97
|
OP
1
|
Selection rank
99
|
| Lowest OP/selection rank to receive an offer |
OP
5
|
Selection rank
91
|
OP
1
|
Selection rank
99
|
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
Minimum academic requirements
I completed my studies outside of Australia
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
Subject prerequisites
- Chemistry
- Maths B
- Physics
You must have achieved this study at a level comparable to Australian Year 12 or in recognised post-secondary studies. Note: Strict quota apply for entry to this course. Further information is available from QUT Admissions.
I completed secondary school in Australia
Guide to entry thresholds
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2018.
- OP
- 1
- Rank
- 99
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)
Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. You must provide your Cambridge English Candidate ID and Candidate Secret Number, these are printed on your Cambridge English Confirmation of Entry. |
185 | 176 | 176 | 176 | 176 |
|
IELTS Academic
Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. |
7 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
|
Pearson PTE (Academic)
Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. Please assign your test to QUT in your Pearson profile. |
65 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 58 |
|
TOEFL iBT
Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. |
98 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 20 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Haven't completed an English language test? We can help!
If you have not completed an English language test, you can sit the IELTS test at our IELTS test centre
Fees
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2019
2019: CSP $9,200 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Additional Costs
There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs. Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.
2019
2019: $35,800 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Additional Costs
There are requirements that you will need to meet as a student in this course. Some of these requirements have associated costs. Information is available from the Additional course requirements and costs website.
Student Services and Amenities Fee
You may need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
Scholarships
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship (Academic)
A scholarship for future undergraduate students who want to study in any faculty.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Equity scholarships scheme
A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Struggling financially
Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship (Elite Athlete)
A scholarship for future undergraduate students who want to study in any faculty.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Sporting excellence
QUT Health Clinics
82 students completed more than 15,000 hours treating patients at QUT Health Clinics in 2016. Many of these appointments were delivered at QUT Health Clinics, located at Kelvin Grove campus.
Award-winning staff
QUT graduate, and practising optometrist, Emily Pieterse developed and implemented the first Australian university-based myopia control clinic in 2014 within the QUT Optometry Clinic. Emily has been recognised for outstanding performance academically, as a clinician (Optometry Australia QLD/NT Young Optometrist of the Year, 2013), and as an educator (two Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Awards 2016—Individual and Team Performance).
Real graduate
'There's a great emphasis on the clinical practice of optometry. We get to practise on real patients and work closely with the lecturers and students from all different year levels.'
Real opportunities to treat patients
As well as clinical placement in QUT Health Clinics, health students can gain experience treating paediatric patients during community events around South-East Queensland.
QUT Health Clinics
82 students completed more than 15,000 hours treating patients at QUT Health Clinics in 2016. Many of these appointments were delivered at QUT Health Clinics, located at Kelvin Grove campus.
Award-winning staff
QUT graduate, and practising optometrist, Emily Pieterse developed and implemented the first Australian university-based myopia control clinic in 2014 within the QUT Optometry Clinic. Emily has been recognised for outstanding performance academically, as a clinician (Optometry Australia QLD/NT Young Optometrist of the Year, 2013), and as an educator (two Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Awards 2016—Individual and Team Performance).
Real graduate
'There's a great emphasis on the clinical practice of optometry. We get to practise on real patients and work closely with the lecturers and students from all different year levels.'
Real opportunities to treat patients
As well as clinical placement in QUT Health Clinics, health students can gain experience treating paediatric patients during community events around South-East Queensland.
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