Orthoptics courses

The Master of Orthoptics, our two-year postgraduate degree, is focused on the diagnosis and management of a range of eye disorders in children and adults.

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.

This two-year specialist degree is focused on the diagnosis and management of a range of eye disorders in children and adults. You’ll study anatomy and physiology, ophthalmics, diagnostics, therapeutics and orthoptic clinical practice, and your studies will be guided by academics, researchers and practitioners who are internationally acclaimed in the field.

Beyond the classroom, you’ll put your knowledge into practice with extensive clinical placements, problem-based learning and realistic simulated environments – what better way to apply what you’ve learnt?

brochure: What is an orthoptist? (pdf, 205.6KB)

Brochure: UTS Graduate School of Health Course Guide (PDF, 2.3MB)

Clinical placements

Practise makes perfect, so as a student of this course, we’ll give you lots of opportunities to apply your skills. You’ll complete a minimum of 280 hours of clinical placements over the two years of the degree.

We’ll organise placements for you in hospital, community and private settings, making sure you experience a diverse range of clinical cases and health care environments. You’ll also have the chance to study in a range of locations – UTS has partnered with more than 50 orthoptics placement sites in Sydney, 15 in rural and regional NSW, and three overseas (Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA; and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK). Learn more about the clinical placements on offer.

Professional registration

The Master of Orthoptics is a professional health qualification leading to registration as an Orthoptist.

Graduates of the Master of Orthoptics degree are eligible to seek registration as an Orthoptist in Australia by the Australian Orthoptic Board

Course teaching mode

Our program is offered as a full-time on-campus course, part-time and distance options are not currently available. All Graduate School of Health courses operate on Calendar B.

The course is an intensive two-year program. A full-time study load is four subjects per session. From session two, these include clinical subjects and external clinical placements during sessions and in breaks.

You can expect to be on campus or at clinical placement five days per week during sessions and at full-time clinical placement blocks during breaks. Some students maintain part-time jobs in addition to their study.

Learn more about how we teach through practice-based learning.

Facilities

Our multi-million dollar orthoptics facility is located in the UTS Tower. It includes state-of-the-art teaching spaces and simulated clinic areas complete with advanced orthoptics equipment.  Our students enjoy small group learning environments that allow them to integrate theory and practice and are supported by cutting-edge AV and IT capabilities.

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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

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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.