Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Vision Science / Master of Optometry
Deakin course code	D302
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	Offered at Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Online	No
Duration	3.5 years accelerated full-time program delivered over ten consecutive trimesters commencing in Trimester 1
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	083228D Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7/9
The course is only available to students on a full-time basis. This is a 3.5 year accelerated full-time program delivered over ten consecutive trimesters commencing in Trimester 1. Please refer to this webpage for English language skills required for AHPRA registration Please refer to https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Registration-Requirements.aspx for English language skills required for AHPRA registration

Course sub-headings

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 15.9% by 2028^*, 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.

Discover our health and community services courses.

^*2023 Employment Projections – for the five years to 2028, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia.

Indicative student 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.

Professional recognition

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be eligible to apply for registration to practise as an optometrist in Australia. Deakin optometry has been awarded accreditations by the Optometry Board of Australia, following assessment by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ).

As a graduate from this course you will be eligible to apply for registration to practise as an optometrist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and to Medicare as a service provider. This will enable you to pursue employment opportunities throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Career opportunities

Do you want to secure your future in one of the largest and fastest growing industries in Australia and the world? The healthcare and social assistance sector is Australia’s largest employer, and its continued strength is of particularly good news to those wishing to work in specialised fields; with the government projecting an occupation growth of 15.9% for Optometrists and Orthoptists over the next five years.*

Deakin optometry graduates are well prepared for that demand in a diverse range of work settings, including:

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.

*2023 Employment Projections – for the five years to 2028, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia.

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

Students are required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children Check (WWCC). Information will be provided to applicants once they enrol in the course. The School will guide you through this process. Additionally, students may be required to obtain a working with children check (State/Territory specific) dependent on the location they are allocated to for their interstate placement as part of this course.

Police record check

Students will be required to obtain a valid Police Record Check every calendar year for professional placements as part of this course. Information will be provided to applicants once they enrol in the course. The School 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 School will guide you through this process.

Code of Conduct

On commencement of the course students are expected to agree and sign the Student Code of Conduct.

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.

Alternative exits

Bachelor of Vision Science (H310)

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply advanced integrated optometric knowledge to evaluate clinical information, utilising expert skills and judgement to independently perform optometric examinations, establish diagnoses and design appropriate management plans within a robust practice management system.
Communication	Employ a range of communication strategies to interpret theoretical positions, methodologies and conclusions, and explain and justify professional and clinical decisions to other health professionals, peers and colleagues (specialist and non-specialist audiences). Employ a range of communication strategies that take into account individual diversity to effectively communicate information regarding informed consent, diagnoses and management plans to patients, carers and other health-care professionals.
Digital literacy	Choose appropriate technologies to effectively find, use and disseminate clinical and research findings; demonstrate skills in applying new technologies in clinical settings to implement examination plans and manage patient records.
Critical thinking	Apply expert knowledge to critically analyse and synthesise complex optometric information and theories to address research questions and new situations in professional practice.
Problem solving	Apply an advanced body of knowledge in order to define and frame clinical optometric problems and apply evidence based strategies to solve such problems. Apply business and practice management skills to identify areas of optometric business in need of improvement and strategies to improve and maintain a safe and efficient/compliant optometric practice.
Self-management	Operate in a professional, reflective and ethical manner, being cognisant of the accountability and responsibilities that come with professional optometric practice, thereby employing a structured and efficient approach to professional practice.
Teamwork	Operate as an independent optometric professional, capable of demonstrating leadership in practice management and collaboration with other health professionals in providing high quality optometric care for patients.
Global citizenship	Model behaviour consistent with professional and ethical standards of the profession, being sensitive to cultural and social diversity and the issues impacting on eye and vision care in regional and rural communities, adopting a global perspective to evidence-based practice and advocacy.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry students must pass 40 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
40 credit points of core units
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry must be satisfied

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Note:

Students mus 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.

Course structure

Units

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

Year 1 - Trimester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

SLE010

Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points)

HBS107

Understanding Health

HBS108

Health Information and Data

HMO101

Principles of Optics

SLE111

Cells and Genes

Year 1 - Trimester 2

HMO102

Science of Vision 1

HMO103

Clinical Optics

HMO104

Ocular Structure

And

SLE155

Chemistry for the Professional Sciences ^

SLE133

Chemistry in Our World

^ 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

HMO105

The Business of Optometry

HMO201

Science of Vision 2

HMO202

Ocular Function

MAA103

Accounting for Decision Making

Year 2 - Trimester 1

HMO203

Health and Vision Sciences 1

HMO204

Principles and Practice of Optometry 1

Year 2 - Trimester 2

HMO303

Health and Vision Sciences 2

HMO304

Principles and Practice of Optometry 2

Year 2 - Trimester 3

HMO305

Health and Vision Sciences 3

HMO306

Principles and Practice of Optometry 3

Year 3 - Trimester 1

HMO701

Advanced Optometric Studies 1

Year 3 - Trimester 2

HMO702

Advanced Optometric Studies 2

Year 3 - Trimester 3

HMO703

Community Optometry 1

Year 4 - Trimester 1

HMO704

Community Optometry 2

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.

Course duration

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

Course information

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 $6500-$7000) in Year 2 of the program.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Third party arrangements

There is an arrangement with the Australian College of Optometry, Barwon Health, Lorne Community Hospital and approximately 200 optometry practices across Australia and New Zealand to provide clinical training to our students.

The Dean of the School of Medicine signs the agreements with the ACO and Barwon Health. A member of the Optometry Executive signs the individual agreements and the practice accreditation documents (see below) and these are stored by the School of Medicine Student Experience Team.

Nature of third party arrangements

These partners allow our students access to clinical optometric training (pre-clinical and clinical) by providing opportunities to:

Observe optometric and ophthalmological consultations and
Undertake optometric consultations under the guidance and supervision of optometrists and ophthalmologist

Quality assurance arrangements

Supervisors that are responsible for providing summative and formative feedback are offered compulsory supervisor training modules (approx. 5 hours duration).

Practices offering student placements must pass an initial audit and sites are audited on a rolling basis (approximately 20% per annum).

Deakin staff liaise with supervisors (primarily via education officers at the ACO and Barwon Health and via telephone contact with individual optometrist practitioners in private practice).

Research and research-related study

A Research component (Honours equivalent) is scaffolded throughout the BVisSc/MOptom course. In HMO305 Health and Vision Sciences 3, 30% of the 2 credit point unit is devoted to an expanded literature review and in HMO701 Advanced Optometric Studies 1 and HMO702 Advanced Optometric Studies 2 this research is continued in the form of a research project with protocol writing, data collection, analysis and presentation (written and oral). In HMO306 Principles and Practice of Optometry 3, HMO703 Community Optometry 1 and HMO704 Community Optometry 2 independent Research-based case reports assess clinical research skills.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.