Start building today!
Experience the Find the courses and unlock the true potential
The Master of Optometry is a two-year professional entry-level degree that provides students with advanced knowledge, clinical skills, and professional attributes required to practise as a registered optometrist in Australia. Delivered as the second component of a five-year dual-degree program — typically following a Bachelor of Vision Science — it combines the theoretical foundations of vision science, ocular anatomy and physiology, the optics of lenses and instruments, pharmacology, neuroscience, and psychophysics with the clinical art of primary eye care. This includes the diagnosis and management of ocular disease, the dispensing of spectacles and contact lenses, and the care of special populations such as children and people with low vision. All programs must be accredited by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ), and successful graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Optometry Board of Australia (OBA) to practise independently as optometrists.
The Master of Optometry is designed for graduates of an accredited Bachelor of Vision Science program who wish to enter the optometry profession. The course incorporates the latest research and technology, and has been developed in collaboration with academics, practitioners, and representatives from international optometry companies and independent practices. Students acquire skills in clinical judgement to treat patients in a variety of ways — from prescribing contact lenses and spectacles to providing advice on lighting and visual habits — while also gaining depth in ocular pharmacology and the therapeutic management of eye disease. Employers of graduates span private practices (both corporate chains and independent optometrists), hospitals, government health departments, the defence forces, optical product and pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and community eye health organisations across Australia and internationally.
Australia's optometry workforce is experiencing strong and sustained demand, driven by an ageing population, growing rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes that affect ocular health, and an increasing global burden of vision impairment. The Australian Government's Jobs and Skills Australia projects occupation growth of 16.4% for optometrists and orthoptists over the five years to 2029 — significantly above average for all occupations — signalling an ongoing shortage of qualified practitioners, particularly in regional, rural, and remote communities. With over 2.2 billion people worldwide experiencing vision impairment or blindness and Australia's population projected to grow substantially, the pipeline for optometry graduates is expected to remain strong well into the future.
Beyond strong job security and demand, the profession of optometry is undergoing meaningful expansion in its scope of practice. Legislative amendments now allow appropriately trained optometrists to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of eye disease, elevating the clinical role of the profession and creating new career pathways in specialist areas such as ocular therapeutics, myopia control, paediatric optometry, and low vision rehabilitation. Graduates enjoy professional autonomy, competitive salaries, the ability to practise in diverse settings from busy urban clinics to fly-in-fly-out rural services, and a genuinely meaningful career helping people protect one of their most precious senses.
In Australia, the Master of Optometry is not a standalone postgraduate degree open to any applicant — it functions as the clinical capstone of a combined five-year dual-degree program, and there is typically no direct entry from outside that pathway. Students must first complete an accredited Bachelor of Vision Science (or Bachelor of Health Sciences with a vision science major) from a recognised Australian institution. Most universities require applicants to have achieved a minimum GPA — for example, a credit average (65%) or a GPA of 4.0 on a 7-point scale — in their undergraduate vision science degree to progress into the master's component. Some institutions require the bachelor's degree to have been completed within the last two to five years, and applicants who have completed their Bachelor of Vision Science at a different institution may need to transfer into that university's vision science program before becoming eligible for the master's.
In addition to academic requirements, students must meet a range of non-academic prerequisites before undertaking clinical placements. These typically include up-to-date immunisations in accordance with state and territory healthcare worker standards, completion of relevant Working With Children checks and other screening requirements, and valid police/background checks. Students are also expected to fund and purchase specialist optometry equipment valued at approximately AUD $5,000 prior to placement. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency, with most universities requiring an IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each subtest), or equivalent results in TOEFL iBT (90 overall), PTE Academic (64 overall), or Cambridge C1 Advanced. All programs must hold accreditation from the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ), ensuring that graduates meet the national standards required to apply for registration with the Optometry Board of Australia.
This course may be offered in different study modes depending on the university, campus location, course structure and student type. Students should check the available delivery mode before applying, as not every study option is available at every institution.
On-campus study is the traditional mode of delivery where students attend classes, lectures, tutorials, workshops or seminars at the university campus. This option may suit students who prefer face-to-face learning, access to campus facilities, networking with classmates, practical workshops, group projects and direct engagement with academic staff.
Some universities may offer programs fully online or with online subject options. Online study can be attractive for students who need flexibility due to work, family, location or other commitments. Online study may suit domestic students, working professionals or students who want to study from outside Australia.
Hybrid or blended study usually combines online learning with some on-campus classes, workshops, intensive sessions or practical components. This mode may suit students who want flexibility but still want some face-to-face interaction. The exact structure varies between institutions.
Programs in Australia may have different intake structures depending on the university. The most common intake systems are semester, trimester and block mode.
Many Australian universities follow a two-semester academic calendar. The main intakes are commonly Semester 1 (around February or March) and Semester 2 (around July). Semester-based study usually allows students to complete a set number of subjects over approximately 12 to 14 weeks.
Some universities use a trimester system, which generally provides three study periods a year — around February/March, June/July and October/November. Trimester study may provide more flexibility and may help some students complete their course faster.
Some institutions may offer selected subjects or programs in block mode, where students focus on one subject at a time over a shorter, more intensive teaching period. Block mode may suit students who prefer concentrated learning or working professionals managing study around employment.
Some online or professionally focused programs may offer more frequent start dates or flexible entry points throughout the year. Students should not assume that every course has monthly or multiple intakes — availability depends on the institution, course structure and student type.
Graduates of an accredited Master of Optometry program are eligible to register with the Optometry Board of Australia (OBA) and immediately enter professional practice as optometrists across a wide range of settings. Career pathways span independent and corporate private practices, hospital eye departments, public health and community eye care services, defence and occupational health, academic and research institutions, and the optics and pharmaceutical industries. The profession's expanding scope of practice — particularly in therapeutic prescribing — has opened specialist clinical pathways that were previously unavailable, while the ongoing shortage of optometrists in regional and remote Australia continues to create strong demand for graduates willing to serve underserved communities.
Entry Level
Graduate Optometrist
Graduate Optometrist, Provisional Registrant Optometrist, Associate Optometrist
Early Career
Registered Optometrist
Optometrist (Corporate Chain), Optometrist (Independent Practice), Contact Lens Practitioner, Paediatric Optometry Associate
Mid-Level
Senior Optometrist / Specialist
Senior Optometrist, Low Vision Specialist, Myopia Control Specialist, Occupational Optometrist, Clinical Educator
Senior Level
Practice Owner / Manager
Practice Principal, Optometry Clinic Manager, Head of Optometry Services, Senior Clinical Optometrist, Academic Staff / Lecturer
Leadership
Director / Head / Principal
Director of Clinical Services, Head of Optometry Department, Principal Investigator (Research), National Clinical Director, Chief Optometrist
Optometrist salaries in Australia vary based on experience, location, practice setting, and whether the practitioner is employed or a practice owner.
Melbourne
Melbourne is home to a dense concentration of optometry practices, major optical retail chains, hospital eye departments, and leading vision research institutions, making it one of Australia's strongest cities for optometry graduates. The city's large, diverse, and ageing population drives sustained demand for eye care services, and graduates benefit from access to a broad range of clinical environments including specialty clinics and public health services.
Sydney
As Australia's largest city, Sydney offers optometry graduates access to a vast patient base, well-established corporate and independent practice networks, hospital-based optometry roles, and proximity to world-class ophthalmic research facilities. The city's multicultural population provides excellent exposure to a wide variety of ocular conditions, and the strong healthcare and biomedical sector creates opportunities beyond direct clinical practice.
Brisbane
Brisbane's rapidly growing population and Queensland's sunny climate — which increases the prevalence of conditions such as UV-related eye disease — create consistent demand for optometry services. The city offers a mix of corporate chains, independent practices, and public hospital roles, and serves as a gateway to regional and remote Queensland where optometrists are in particularly high demand.
Perth
Perth offers optometry graduates a strong and rewarding career market, with the city's growing population and vast regional hinterland creating sustained demand for eye care practitioners. Western Australia's mining and resources sector also generates opportunities in occupational vision and workplace eye health, while the state government's focus on improving healthcare access in remote Aboriginal communities provides a unique and meaningful avenue for graduates interested in public health optometry.
Adelaide
Adelaide is home to an accredited Bachelor of Health Sciences (Vision Science) / Master of Optometry program, making it a natural study and career destination for South Australian optometry students. The city's healthcare precinct, network of independent optometry practices, and proximity to regional South Australia provide graduates with diverse employment options, including specialist and rural health roles.
Canberra
Canberra hosts one of Australia's accredited Master of Optometry programs and offers graduates access to a highly educated and relatively affluent patient population with strong demand for optometry services. The city's significant government and defence sector presence also creates niche opportunities for optometrists working in occupational health, defence health services, and public health policy roles.
Before choosing a course, students should compare:
International students who want to study in Australia should also consider additional requirements before applying.
Join successful graduates
Students Helped
Application Processed
Listed Universities
Listed Courses
