Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry
at UNSW Sydney, New South Wales.
A five-year integrated UNSW Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry program leading to direct AHPRA optometry registration. Includes substantial clinical placement at the UNSW Optometry Clinic and partner public eye-care services across NSW.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the UNSW Sydney Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 99 | UAC |
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
Most recent published cutoff is 99 for the 2025 intake.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
UNSW runs the integrated Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Clinical Optometry as a five-year program leading to AHPRA Optometry Board of Australia registration. Year one builds the biomedical foundations: anatomy, physiology, optics, biochemistry and visual perception. Year two layers ocular anatomy, neuroscience, advanced optics, statistics and clinical sciences. Year three carries pathology, pharmacology, refraction, binocular vision and the first clinical placements in the university optometry clinic. Year four (Master of Clinical Optometry year one) carries advanced clinical practice with patient assessment, contact lens fitting, ocular disease management and therapeutic prescribing. Year five (M.Optom year two) runs the final clinical rotations including hospital optometry, rural and remote placements, and a capstone clinical research project. The integrated degree combines undergraduate vision science with postgraduate clinical optometry.
Example first-year subjects
- Anatomy and Physiology for Vision Science
- Introduction to Optics
- Biochemistry for Vision Science
- Visual Perception
- Statistics for Health Sciences
- Professional Practice in Vision Science
How you will be assessed
- Clinical placement supervisor evaluation in the university clinic
- OSCE practical exams in clinical skills (refraction, fitting)
- Mid-semester tests and final exams in optics, anatomy and pathology
- Patient case studies and clinical reasoning reports
- Capstone clinical research project
- Therapeutic prescribing competency assessments
Placement and industry experience
The integrated pathway requires extensive clinical placement in the university optometry clinic and partner sites. UNSW rotates students through the on-campus clinic, hospital eye clinics (Westmead, Sydney Eye Hospital where partnered), corporate optometry sites (Specsavers, OPSM, and similar), independent practices and rural locum placements in regional NSW. Required pre-placement: NSW Working with Children Check, AHPRA student registration, immunisations and police checks. Final-year rural placement blocks build clinical confidence and CV value.
Career outcomes
- Graduates are registered optometrists in independent and corporate optometry practice, hospital eye clinics and rural NSW after AHPRA registration.
- First-year jobs typically include corporate optometry (Specsavers, OPSM), independent practice in Sydney, hospital optometry at Westmead Eye Clinic and rural locum work.
- Many alumni progress to therapeutic prescribing endorsement, specialty contact-lens or paediatric practice, or run their own practice or franchise.
Professional accreditation
- Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand accredited
- AHPRA Optometry Board of Australia registration eligible
Typical first jobs
- Optometrist at corporate practices (Specsavers, OPSM)
- Independent practice optometrist in Sydney metropolitan and regional NSW
- Hospital optometrist at Westmead, Sydney Eye Hospital and partner LHDs
- Rural and remote locum optometrist
- Behavioural and developmental optometry practice
- Specialty contact lens and dry eye practitioner
Graduate starting salary
$80,000 - $100,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/jobs/optometrists. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Graduates apply for AHPRA registration through the Optometry Board of Australia and gain therapeutic prescribing endorsement (T-endorsement) automatically as part of the M.Optom. Career options include independent and corporate optometry practice, hospital eye clinics, rural locum work, and academic and research roles. Postgraduate specialty options include Master of Public Health, paediatric optometry training, behavioural and developmental optometry, and post-professional certifications in dry eye, contact lenses and low vision.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with strong physics, biology and chemistry foundations
- Those comfortable with fine clinical examination work
- People aiming for a regulated AHPRA-registered profession in five years
- Students willing to combine independent or corporate practice career planning
- Those happy to do rural placement blocks for CV value
It is probably not for you if
- Students uncomfortable with the physics-heavy optics content
- Those unwilling to do extended clinical placements
- Anyone hoping to avoid therapeutic prescribing pharmacology
Related courses at UNSW
Sources
- https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/undergraduate/bachelor-of-vision-science-master-of-clinical-optometry
- https://www.uac.edu.au/
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the UNSW Sydney handbook and on UAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/unsw/bachelor-of-vision-science.