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Passionate about eye health? Inspired by interdisciplinary health care? Looking for a specialisation where professionals are in short supply? 

The UTS Master of Orthoptics – the only degree of its kind in Australia – just might be for you.

Child wearing glasses having an eye test

Do you want a career in eye therapy?

Orthoptists are eye therapists. They work with ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) and neurologists to provide care for people with vision difficulties, eye discomfort and eye movement disorders.

Today they are in high demand, using advanced technologies for assessment, diagnosis and non-surgical management of eye conditions.

Why study orthoptics at UTS?

  • Rigorous, practice-based training

    We prepare students for success through in-class simulations, interdisciplinary workshops and authentic assessments. You’ll also benefit from our strong links with local clinics and hospitals, with hands-on clinical placements.

  • World-class study environment

    Our state-of-the-art facilities create the optimal learning environment for health students in the heart of Sydney. What’s more, the small orthoptics cohort fosters a sense of community between staff and students – you won’t feel lost in the crowd.

  • Engaged with the industry

    All UTS orthoptics lecturers are passionate about the profession and active in research. This means you’ll be learning the most up-to-date techniques and using the most current tools, all under the guidance of highly-qualified experts.

  

  

student looks at computer screen

Graduate eligible for professional registration

Our course is fully accredited by the Australian Orthoptic Board. You will graduate eligible for registration as an orthoptist – ready to work in a people-centred profession with excellent job prospects.

woman tests child's eyes

A rewarding and diverse career

Opportunities are endless – join an orthoptic team in a hospital or an ophthalmic private practice. Specialise in low vision rehabilitation. Work in community health or clinical research, or join the biomedical equipment and pharmaceutical industry.

Video: Meet orthoptics student Nikita

My name is Nikita and I'm studying the Master of Orthoptics at UTS. I grew up in Sydney and I've always had an interest in science. I studied all the way through high school and I did my undergraduate in medical science. So I've always had a passion for that field.

My understanding of Orthoptics was that it's a form of eye therapy. And since doing the course, I've learned that the field's much broader than that, and they deal with pre and post-operative care and lots of diagnostic roles as well. The role is also expanded to treating pathological conditions in eyecare. Orthoptics has been a really exciting experience.

The profession allows me to merge my two interests in science and patient care. I get to work with the patients one-on-one and it's a really good field for me to be able to give back to the community, through helping people.

My interest in Orthoptics first sparked when my brother was receiving treatment as a child, as I continued the course, it was really interesting to see how the pathology behind his condition and how we treat children is through games and through fun activities but it's actually a way to maintain the child's vision.

The master of orthoptics is a two year postgraduate course. They combine your theoretical classes with placement while you're completing the course. So it's a really good way to apply what you're learning in the classroom into the field almost immediately.

I am passionate about rural and remote patient care. I had the opportunity recently to go to Royal Darwin hospital for placement. And in the month that I was there, we were able to treat patients as if we were clinicians and supported by the entire hospital staff. And it was a really wonderful opportunity to see conditions that you wouldn't necessarily see in a metropolitan setting like Sydney.

The job prospects for orthoptics range, from research to working in private clinics or in public hospitals and for Orthoptists at the moment with an ageing population, there's an increasing demand for us in the field.

My advice to students, if they have an interest in patient care and an interest in science, this is a beautiful way to merge those two industries and, uh, definitely apply.

Course structure

  • Master of Orthoptics

    15 Subjects
    96 credit points

    2 years full-time

    »  On-campus study
    »  280+ hours of clinical placements

  • Year 1

    • 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
  • Year 2

    • Research Project 1
    • Neurological Ocular Disorders
    • Therapy, Management and Rehabilitation
    • Professional Practice 2
    • Research Project 2
    • Advanced Professional Practice
    • Professional Practice 3

Take the next step

  • Dive deeper

    Read detailed course information

    Course info

  • Get advice

    Attend an online info session

    Register

  • Apply now

    Apply online, direct to UTS

    How to apply