Master of Clinical Optometry

University of Melbourne

Australia, Melbourne

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University of Melbourne

Australia , Melbourne

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Part Time

Delivery

Online

Campuses

Online

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesMarch-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 2 year(s)

Tuition Fee

AUD 14,048 / year

Next Intake March-2026

Master of Clinical Optometry

About

Overview

Please note: This course is not running in 2024. For information on future intakes please register for updates.

The Master of Clinical Optometry is the University of Melbourne’s premier course for established optometrists seeking to develop a stronger practice and advance their careers.

Via a range of robust and challenging elective subjects, this course offers you the opportunity to develop your professional knowledge via an entirely online learning experience. You will gain specialist knowledge in areas including anterior eye disease, paediatric patients, contact lens patients, and glaucoma and retinal disease.

As a student, you will:

Advance your clinical skills and apply evidence-based knowledge directly to your current practice
Join a flexible and interactive learning community
Be in direct contact with world-leading optometry academics and researchers.

Designed to be compatible with the Continuing Professional Development requirements of the Optometry Board of Australia, the Master of Clinical Optometry is the only fully online course in Australia that allows qualified optometrists to gain continuing CPD points while building towards a masters degree.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for already-qualified optometrists looking to advance their existing skills and knowledge. This course does not carry professional accreditation and is not a pathway to professional registration as an optometrist.

International students are welcome to study this course. However, please note that this course is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in Australia as it does not meet the onshore study requirements and it is not registered with CRICOS.

You will also gain accredited continuing professional development (CPD) points as you study and work towards the Masters qualification*.

*CPD points are relevant to practitioners based in Australia or New Zealand. Suitably qualified overseas candidates are also welcome to apply.

Pathways

Components of the Master of Clinical Optometry can be undertaken separately as Specialist Certificates:

Specialist Certificate in Anterior and Dry Eye Disorders
Specialist Certificate in Glaucoma and Retinal Disease
Specialist Certificate in the Management of Contact Lens Patients
Specialist Certificate in the Management of Low Vision Patients
Specialist Certificate in the Management of Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders
Specialist Certificate in the Management of Paediatric Patients.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum eligibility

You’re considered an international student based on your citizenship – even if you're studying in Australia.

Masters

You must have completed an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institution. Most Masters degrees also require a minimum WAM (Weighted Average Mark)based on your previous studies for entry. You can use our graduate coursework grade conversion eligibility calculator to get an indication of whether you’re eligible for a specific Masters degree.

Depending on your previous studies and experience you could also be eligible for credit towards your studies at the University.

Find Masters by coursework degrees

Doctorates

If you go on to a doctorate, you need to have completed an Honours and Masters degree in the relevant discipline. Additional qualifications and work experience is also taken into consideration.

Go to Graduate research study for more information

To find out about assessment and our admissions criteria, see How you're selected.

Course-specific requirements

Graduate coursework degrees may have specific interviews, portfolios and supplementary tests you need to do before you can be accepted into a degree.

To find out about specific requirements, review the entry and application information for the course you're interested in to find out what these are.

English Program Requirements

English Language Criteria

Applicants are required to satisfy the University’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Career

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this course the students will have:

Advanced knowledge and skills in their selected fields of clinical optometry.
A detailed knowledge in the use and application of specific advanced diagnostic techniques and/or instrumentation
An advanced ability to evaluate and synthesise research from the scientific and clinical literature
An appreciation of the value of, and the ability to achieve, collaboration with other healthcare professionals as an effective means to aid clinical problem-solving
The capacity to interpret and integrate information from a variety of sources (such as patient presentation details, advanced diagnostic techniques, scientific, clinical and technical literature, and other healthcare professionals) in the development of the most appropriate patient management
The ability and initiative to offer enhanced clinical services based on their in-depth study in selected fields of clinical optometry
Have advanced their clinical skills and developed a flexibility of outlook such that they are better able to respond to future paradigm shifts in the scope of optometric management.

Continue your professional development

For optometrists in Australia and New Zealand, the Master of Clinical Optometry easily satisfies your annual CPD point quota, as determined by the Optometry Board of Australia.