Key application dates

All applications must be submitted no later than 11.59pm AEST on 31 August for the following year’s intake. You are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible prior to the timely application due date, as places are limited.

Please be advised that due to the high demand for this course, applications may need to close early once all available places are filled.

Please note the other key dates:

• Deadline for subject prerequisite assessment (if required) for the following year’s intake: 31 August.
  
  1. Review the lists of assessed subjects to determine if they satisfy prerequisites:
  
  Doctor of Optometry
  (i) Assessed subjects – Australia and New Zealand institutions
  (ii) Assessed subjects – International institutions
  
  2. Complete the Prerequisite Assessment Application form for any subjects missing from the lists or marked as subject to review for the upcoming intake.
  
  3. Submit the completed form along with the required subject syllabus or other supporting evidence to the Doctor of Optometry prerequisite subject review here.

There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) for this course. To ensure you are considered for a CSP, submit your complete application prior to the application deadline.

Key application dates

All applications must be submitted no later than 11.59pm AEST on 31 August for the main selection round. Late applications may be considered until 31 October 2026, subject to available places after the main round.

You are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible before the timely application due date, as places are limited.

Please note the other key dates:

• Deadline for subject prerequisite assessment (if required) for the following year’s intake: 31 August.
  
  1. Review the lists of assessed subjects to determine if they satisfy prerequisites:
  
  Doctor of Optometry
  (i) Assessed subjects – Australia and New Zealand institutions
  (ii) Assessed subjects – International institutions
  
  2. Complete the Prerequisite Assessment Application form for any subjects missing from the lists or marked as subject to review for the upcoming intake.
  
  3. Submit the completed form along with the required subject syllabus or other supporting evidence to the Doctor of Optometry prerequisite subject review here.

You can refer to the International Admissions Guide for the 2027 Intake.

Please be aware that the entry requirements, policies and dates in the previous guide are subject to change.

How to apply

1. Review entry requirements and eligibility

• Check the entry requirements tab of this course page and ensure you meet the admission criteria.
• Review the English language requirements.
• Consider whether you are eligible for Graduate Access Melbourne.
• If you are applying for multiple courses, ensure you have confirmed your preference order.

2. Gather your supporting documentation

As part of your application, you’ll be required to submit:

• Transcripts and detailed information related to all previous studies you have undertaken and/or completed, including an explanation of the grading system used and official certified English translation of any document that is not written in English. View further information about supporting documentation.
• Evidence of meeting the University's English language requirements.

Guaranteed entry pathway

If you are a domestic Guaranteed entry full fee applicant and you wish to be considered for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), you must apply via the Standard pathway.

Indigenous Pathway (domestic applicants only):

• A Confirmation document or a Statutory Declaration supplied to mdhs-indigenous-admissions@unimelb.edu.au to affirm you:

  • are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person by descent,
  • identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and
  • are accepted as such within the community in which you live or have lived

  Learn more about confirming your eligibility.

All domestic pathways

If you are applying for GAM, please gather the relevant supporting documentation required for the appropriate category.

3. Submit your application

Standard pathway

Applicants to the Standard pathway must:

• Apply directly via the University of Melbourne Course Application Portal by the deadline listed above

Eligible standard pathway candidates must apply by the deadline for the following year’s intake. No late applications will be accepted.

Guaranteed entry pathway

Applicants to the Guaranteed entry pathway must:

• Apply directly via the University of Melbourne Course Application Portal by the deadline listed above

Eligible guaranteed entry pathway candidates must apply by the deadline for the following year’s intake. No late applications will be accepted.

Indigenous pathway

Applicants to the Indigenous pathway must:

• Apply directly via the University of Melbourne Course Application Portal by the deadline listed above

Eligible Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants must apply by the deadline for the following year’s intake. No late applications will be accepted.

Additional application considerations:

Where a course offers both Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) and Australian full fee (AF) places, you only need to submit an application for one fee type. You will automatically be considered for a CSP if you are eligible.

How to apply

1. Review entry requirements and eligibility

• Check the entry requirements tab of this course page and ensure you meet the admission criteria.
• Review the English language requirements.
• If you are applying for multiple courses, ensure you have confirmed your preference order.

2. Gather your supporting documentation

As part of your application, you’ll be required to submit:

• Transcripts and detailed information related to all previous studies you have undertaken and/or completed, including an explanation of the grading system used and official certified English translation of any document that is not written in English. View further information about supporting documentation.
• Evidence of meeting the University's English language requirements.

Guaranteed entry pathway

If you are a domestic Guaranteed entry full fee applicant and you wish to be considered for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), you must apply via the Standard pathway.

Indigenous Pathway (domestic applicants only):

• A Confirmation document or a Statutory Declaration supplied to mdhs-indigenous-admissions@unimelb.edu.au to affirm you:

  • are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person by descent,
  • identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and
  • are accepted as such within the community in which you live or have lived

  Learn more about confirming your eligibility.

All domestic pathways

If you are applying for GAM, please gather the relevant supporting documentation required for the appropriate category.

3. Submit your application

• If you need help applying, you can find an authorised education agent* to help you lodge your application, accept your offer and apply for a student visa.

All applicants must:

• Apply directly via the University of Melbourne Course Application Portal by the deadline listed above

No late applications will be accepted.

*Students who have completed their previous qualifications in certain countries cannot apply directly and must use an education agent (or overseas representative).

After you apply

• All communications related to your application, including requests for additional information and application outcomes, will be sent to the email address you registered for your application. To avoid delays, please upload requested information as soon as possible.
• Track the progress of your application via the Application Portal.
• Please note that the Admissions team will only contact you via email if anything else is needed; there's no need to enquire about the timeline in the meantime.
• The time it takes to assess applications can vary. If you're applying for the next intake, this will typically be 4 to 8 weeks after we receive all required documents. Future intakes (beyond the next intake) may have different assessment timelines.

• Domestic applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in October for the following year’s intake.
• International applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in September for the following year’s intake.
• Deferrals are not permitted for the Doctor of Optometry. Please ensure you apply for the intake for which you can commence study.
  • If you decline your offer, you are welcome to apply again the following year but as the pool of applicants changes from year to year there is no guarantee you will be offered a place again.

Additional information

Inherent requirements

This course has inherent requirements. Refer to the Doctor of Optometry Handbook for important information on these requirements.

Clinical placements

Clinical Placements are undertaken as part of this course. All students must undertake a Police Record Check, obtain a Working with Children Check and comply with immunisation requirements. Refer to the following pages for important information:

• Clinical Education Risk & Governance
• MDHS Pre-Placement Requirements
• Student Placements.

Within the course, students will attend placements at clinical sites both within Melbourne, rural Victoria, interstate and overseas. Students are expected to bear the costs involved in these placements.

Additional costs

Please note that the purchase of some equipment will be necessary for various compulsory subjects within this course. Students will continue to use the equipment during the remainder of the course and after graduation.

Accreditation

After completing the Doctor of Optometry, you can apply for accreditation from the Optometry Board of Australia. Graduates from the Doctor of Optometry are also eligible for accreditation in many other countries around the world.

Please note: The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) requires that all Optometry graduates demonstrate English language skills at IELTS 7 or equivalent before being considered for professional registration by the Optometry Board of Australia. You will need to have valid test results from IELTS (Academic) examinations prior to applying for registration.

For additional, in-depth details on entry requirements and admissions for this course, refer to the University Handbook.