Q. What is the duration of the program?

A. The BOptom BSc program is taken over five years of full-time study. The program cannot be undertaken part-time or externally. This program replaced the 4 year Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom) from 2006.

Q. Do I need to sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT)?

A. Yes. In addition to submitting a UAC application applicants must submit an application to sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT) with the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Please see: www.acer.edu.au for further information.

Q. What are the entry requirements?

A. Entry into the BOptom BSc program for those completing their Higher School Certificate (or equivalent) will be on the basis of the Universities Admissions Index (UAI) and performance in the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT).
Admission to the BOptom BSc for those who have completed or who are undertaking tertiary studies will be ranked on overall academic merit and performance in UMAT.

Q. What will be the weighting of the UAI and UMAT in the selection process?

A. Selection will be based on two thirds UAI or equivalent and one third UMAT results.

Q. What UAI will I need?

A. We cannot predict in advance what UAI will be required. To be competitive for entry to the BOptom BSc in 2008 it is expected that applicants will need a UAI or equivalent of at least 95.00.

Q. What UMAT score will I need?

A. We cannot predict in advance what UMAT score will be required. 2008 is the first year that UMAT results will be considered for direct entry to the program, therefore, we are unable to provide you with an estimate of the UMAT score required.

Q. If I don't get the UAI required for entry in 2008, is there any other way of getting into the program?

A. You can apply to transfer into the BOptom BSc:
* An alternative entry pathway for admission to the BOptom BSc program is available for applicants who have not undertaken post-secondary studies. Refer to Admission Requirements for further information.
* Transfer from another program. Applications will be via UAC. Applicants are assessed on academic merit (that is your UAI and/or your tertiary record may used in the calculation) and performance in UMAT. This is possible, but not easy. It is important to remember there is no guarantee that you will be offered a place.

Q. What are the program requirements for the BOptom BSc, and what if I haven't studied the necessary subjects?

A. Refer to Admission Requirements for information regarding requirements and assumed knowledge.

Q. What are the job prospects?

A. Currently, employment opportunities are excellent, with all optometry graduates securing employment (often before they have completed their degree). While positions in Sydney may be lesser in number, the demand in the country areas and interstate is quite high.

With the age of the Australian population increasing, it is envisaged that demand will remain strong for optometrists in the future.

Q. What is the starting salary?

A. Starting salaries for Optometrists in Sydney are approximately $50,000. According to GradStats 2003, a report released in December 2003 by the Graduate Careers Council of Australia, this has risen $7,000 from 2002 and is the second highest average starting salary for university graduates. Country and interstate positions may offer more money, with recently advertised positions offering salary packages as high as $80,000 per annum for more remote areas.

Q. What is Optometry, and how can I find out what it is like?

A. Take some time to look through this web site. It gives a good overview of what Optometry is.

A good way to find out what Optometry is like is to make an appointment for an eye examination at the UNSW Optometry Clinic. During session, students who are in the latter years of the program will examine you, under supervision. Have a chat to them and discover first-hand what Optometry is all about. Make an appointment.

Q. Why has the program been extended to a five year degree?

The practice of optometry is expanding to incorporate the use of therapeutic drugs to treat some eye diseases. The four schools of optometry in the region are expected to train to the highest common denominator in all states and New Zealand. In Victoria optometrists have been using therapeutic drugs for some years. The legislation will soon be in place in New South Wales, Tasmania, ACT, Queensland and New Zealand. The programs at the University of Melbourne and University of Auckland have already been extended to 5 years. The new UNSW program is designed so that graduates are competent to use therapeutics and to be granted therapeutics authorisation in every applicable state and in New Zealand.

Q. What are the career paths and prospects?

A. Vision Science is a new field with a wide variety of career options. Vision science graduates may find employment in the ophthalmic industries. Optical lens and contact lens manufacturers will require employees with a Vision Science graduates particular mix of skills and abilities when designing and developing new products. Multifocal lens design is a growth area in ophthalmic technology. The pharmaceutical industry is beginning to develop a range of new products for age related eye diseases. Laser and hologram technologies are being widely used in a wide range of products. Innovative products such as the bionic eye and the artificial cornea are being developed at UNSW. Scientists are needed to develop these laboratory solutions to commercial release. Laser refractive surgery is constantly being enhanced and improved. Scientists are needed to design and evaluate the effectiveness of these new surgical technologies. The opportunities in this emerging field are likely to be numerous and engagingly interesting. A career in academic teaching is available, particularly to those with higher degrees in Vision Science.