Subjects and clinical placements

Our two-year specialist degree is focused on diagnosis and management of a variety of eye disorders in children and adults. Orthoptics students can expect to study anatomy and physiology, ophthalmics, diagnostics, therapeutics and orthoptic clinical practices - guided by our internationally acclaimed academics researchers and practitioners. 

Subjects

  • Eye and Visual Systems
  • Binocular Vision and Ocular Motility 1
  • Ocular Pathology 1
  • Introduction to Professional Practice 
  • Clinical Management of Refractive Error
  • Binocular Vision and Ocular Motility 2
  • Ocular Pathology 2
  • Professional Practice 1
  • Research Project 1
  • Neurological Ocular Disorders
  • Therapy, Management and Rehabilitation
  • Professional Practice 2
  • Research Project 2
  • Advanced Professional Practice
  • Professional Practice 3

Clinical placements

Master of Orthoptics students experience a diverse range of clinical placement opportunities. Students complete a minimum of 280 hours over the two year program, both during semester and block placements between semesters, in a range of over 50 placement sites across Sydney in hospital, community and private practice, and over 15 sites outside the Sydney metropolitan area.

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Become a placement partner

Finding a placement

Placements are sourced for students by the UTS Graduate School of Health as the sites chosen are carefully selected to provide a balance of clinical practice across a range of settings and maximise your clinical learning. 

Placement locations

Students are allocated placements within the Sydney metropolitan area. All students are required to undertake a block (full-time) rural, remote or interstate placement for up to three weeks at a location compatible with their circumstances.

Hospital placements

Our hospital placement partners include some of Sydney's largest teaching hospitals as well as settings in regional and rural Australia. Placements within a hospital setting may include:

  • medical and perioperative areas
  • outpatient clinics

Specialist and alternative placement settings

Students also have the option to pursue career interests outside the the hospital setting in a range of specialist settings including specialised opthalmic private practices, rehabilitation clinics, community health clinical and private orthoptic practices. These settings can include:

Specialisted Opthalmic Private Practices:

  • Refractive laser surgery
  • Glaucoma
  • General opthalmic
  • Paediatric
  • Cornea
  • Oculoplastics
  • Cataract
  • Retinal

Rehabilitation:

  • Low vision
  • Neurological/stroke

Community health:

  • School screening clinics
  • Statewide Eye Preschooler Screening (StEPS) Program clinics
  • Paediatric screening clinics (0-3)
  • Aged care facilities

Commencing students

Detailed information on clinical placement requirements and logistics including uniform, vaccinations and more can be found on the UTS Current Students site.

 

[Music]

Prem: I chose the Master of Optics at UTS because I always had a passion for pathology, and I always wanted to work with patients.

Owen: In the hospital setting it's been very hands-on. I've been having to work with a lot of the diagnostic equipment that we've been using in class, and a lot of the patient communication skills that we rehearse and practice in our orthoptics degree. All the placements are sourced for us by the Orthoptics department but we have the option of sourcing our own if the opportunity arises.

Tasie: My career goals when I chose UTS was replaced in a field where there's growing demand and one I can accumulate experience in. There is many different fields that I can work in and I can move around in.

Prem: I have a passion for research, but I also wouldn't mind working in the private, rural, or public sector with Orthoptics. And one amazing thing about UTS of Orthoptics is it provides us that exposure to these elements while we're studying. Aand on top of that there's a small cohort, meaning that we get the attention we need with our lecturing staff to be able to achieve our goals. My advice to students is is if you have a passion for it go for it, it won't feel like study at all

[Music]

 

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.