University of Melbourne
Doctor of Optometry
Admissions Guide 2025
Applications are open to all applicants who have valid GAMSAT results and who have completed or are completing an undergraduate degree during 2024.
Application Dates
Applications for domestic students open on 1 May 2024 and close on 31 July 2024 at 5pm AEST / 3pm AWST
NO LATE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED - Please note the closing time is 5pm AEST / 3pm AWST
MARCH
APRIL
Ensure you have original academic transcripts if you attended (at any time) an institution not participating in ARTS.
This includes overseas and exchange transcripts.
MAY
1 May - Doctor of Optometry Applications open.
JUNE
JULY
31 July - Applications close.
University of Melbourne Graduate Access Melbourne Applications AND Guaranteed Entry Applications close.
AUGUST
7 August - Deadline to upload original transcripts from non-ARTS institutions (including any 1st Semester, 2024 results and 2nd Semester enrolled subjects) to GEMSAS, in support of applications.
(Excludes transcripts for any study at ARTS institutions).
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Mid November - Offers are due to be released.
DECEMBER
15 December - Deadline to upload transcripts online as instructed in offer letters including 2024 final results and any single subject prerequisite studies for applicants with conditional offers.
JANUARY 2025
FEBRUARY 2025
Waitlisted and unsuccessful applicants will hear back by end of February.
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
GEMSAS (for all general application and processing enquiries)
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ACER (for GAMSAT enquiries only)
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The University of Melbourne Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Enquiries: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/r83i W: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-optometry/ |
Email will be the primary means of contact between GEMSAS and applicants.
It is essential that you provide a current email address which will be valid from April 2024 to February 2025 and that you regularly check your emails, including your junk or spam folders.
Some email messages may not be accepted or may be flagged as spam by some email providers (e.g. Hotmail or Yahoo).
Applicants are advised to provide an email address other than their current university address (unless it will be available until February 2025), Hotmail or Yahoo email addresses.
Neither GEMSAS nor the University of Melbourne will be held responsible for undeliverable or unread email communication.
Should you need to change your email or postal address, please do so in your GEMSAS user account.
Please save the following email addresses to your safe sender list:
The My Emails page in your GEMSAS account should be checked regularly.
The following GEMSAS emails will be visible on the My Emails page:
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- Confirmation of Registration, Submitted, Payment emails
- Emails from the Assessment team re: academic documents and/or education study claims
- Undeclared study and outcome emails
- Courtesy reminders
The following emails will NOT be visible on the My Emails page:
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- Place Offer notifications, as the offer/unsuccessful/waitlist email is sent directly from the University of Melbourne
- Any email correspondence sent directly from the University of Melbourne
- Email correspondence from
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. andThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Offers
Successful applicants will be given a firm date by which to accept an offer of a place and offers not accepted by that date, according to the school's instructions, will lapse.
If you have been offered a place in another course and you intend to accept that place, then please be considerate of fellow applicants and withdraw your application as soon as possible.
Deferral
Deferral of a place is not permitted.
Exclusion
An applicant who has been excluded from any university must indicate this when they apply. The school may contact applicants for further detail.
Admission irregularities
Applicants should be aware that the presentation of forged documents is a criminal offence in Australia and that the university may take appropriate action against such cases. Applicants who submit fraudulent documents or otherwise seek to gain an advantage by fraudulent means may be banned from future applications through GEMSAS.
All tertiary study must be declared in the application. For the purpose of university admission, the withholding of information and/or the submission of incorrect or misleading information are deemed fraudulent. Actions taken in such cases may include cancellation of an application for admission, withdrawal of an offer of admission, or cancellation of an enrolment.
Only your first submitted application will be processed, regardless of which application has been paid for.
Advanced Standing (credit transfer)
Successful applicants with relevant prior study or professional practice may be granted up to 200 points of credit towards the Doctor of Optometry as follows:
- 100 points of credit will normally be granted to applicants with an undergraduate degree with a major in optometry or vision science, or equivalent;
- 200 points of credit will normally be granted to applicants who are registered as an optometrist with the Optometry Board of Australia and have at least three years of documented clinical practice as a registered optometrist within the last ten years.
Misconduct policy
Please see our website for further information.
Refund policy
The application fee is not refundable unless required by law. Therefore, you remain liable to pay the application fee even if you withdraw your application after having paid the fee, are not offered a place in a course, or you decline an offer of a place. The Australian Consumer Law, set out in Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), provides consumers with a number of protections including guarantees that cannot be excluded, restricted, or modified. This refund policy does not exclude, restrict or modify the rights you may have under the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable laws. If you believe you have a right to claim a refund, please contact
Appeals process
You are encouraged to commence your application as soon as possible, even if you do not have all the required documentation. You will be able to log back in and amend your application until you either submit your application or until the application closing date (at which time your application must be submitted). You are not considered an applicant until you have created your application online (i.e. registered and selected optometry, within the application period of 1 May to 31 July of the current year), and have received a valid GEMSAS VTAC ID. GEMSAS Policies, including the GEMSAS Extenuating Circumstances Policy and Procedure, and the GEMSAS Appeals Policy and Procedure, only apply to optometry applicants with a valid current year GEMSAS VTAC ID.
Queries
If you have a query regarding your application, please contact
Appeals
If you wish to appeal a decision made by GEMSAS or VTAC relating to the processing of your application, please consult the GEMSAS Appeals Policy and Procedure for details.
Email the details of your appeal and any required accompanying documentation to
Please note that this Committee can only hear appeals against decisions made in the processing of your application. Appeals against decisions made by participating universities must be made to the individual university concerned.
Extenuating Circumstances
If you wish to request the extension of a deadline due to extenuating circumstances, please consult the GEMSAS Extenuating Circumstances Policy and Procedure for details.
Email the details of your request and any required accompanying documentation to
Please note that this only applies to requests relating to GEMSAS or VTAC deadlines. Requests relating to deadlines imposed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) or universities must be made to the organisation concerned.
Application Process*
There are three components of the application process:
The GAMSAT validity period has been changed from 2 years to 4 years. GAMSAT results obtained from different sittings are directly comparable and can be used when applying to universities for up to four consecutive years in Australia.
To apply in 2024 for entry in 2025, ONLY the following results can be used: September 2020, March 2021, September 2021, March 2022, September 2022, March 2023, September 2023 and March 2024.
All applicants for Commonwealth Supported Places and Domestic Full Fee places in the University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Optometry (i.e. citizens/permanent residents/permanent humanitarian visa holders of Australia and citizens of New Zealand) must have a current score on the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT).
GAMSAT results are valid for four years. If you sit the September test in 2024 you may use the results obtained to apply in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028, for a graduate entry course commencing 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 respectively.
Helpful information can be found on the GAMSAT website that shows the validity of all the GAMSAT tests.
https://gamsat.acer.org/results/currency-of-results
The Doctor of Optometry uses the GAMSAT Overall Score for selection. A minimum GAMSAT score has not been set for the Doctor of Optometry.
You can evaluate your standing in relation to other candidates who sat GAMSAT in the same year as you did, by consulting the chart included with your Statement of Results. Please note that neither GEMSAS nor ACER staff have the authority to review individual transcripts or GAMSAT results or to offer advice on the likelihood of selection.
Registration for the GAMSAT and application for admission to the Doctor of Optometry are separate processes.
All applicants for Commonwealth Supported Places and other domestic places (i.e. citizens/permanent residents of Australia and citizens of New Zealand) must apply through GEMSAS (eligible Indigenous Australian applicants may apply directly, please refer to the Additional Information section for more information).
Please note any other direct domestic applications made through the University of Melbourne's online system will not be accepted and these applications will be withdrawn. Please ensure you apply through GEMSAS and follow the application process (How to Apply section).
Doctor of Optometry candidates are responsible for determining their eligibility to apply. Applicants are selected for offer of a place based on the following criteria:
- Performance in GAMSAT;
- Performance in a qualifying degree (as indicated by the Weighted Average Mark (WAM));
- Successful completion of approved prerequisite subjects.
GEMSAS will not be accepting any hardcopy documentation. Applicants are required to upload supporting documentation directly to GEMSAS.
If you studied at an ARTS institution (see Appendix A of this Guide), you do NOT need to send any academic transcripts for that study. Please note that we do not use hard copy transcripts where results are available via ARTS, and we will not accept transcripts provided as clarification regarding study not shown in ARTS. For all study at non-ARTS institutions, upload your official academic transcripts.
Note that if you have also applied for Medicine at any of the GEMSAS medical schools or Dentistry at the University of Melbourne, you will only need to upload one set of transcripts. We can use these for all your GEMSAS applications.
When you complete your Application Form, you will be presented with relevant documentation requirement information which you must read carefully. Follow the instructions on the Documentation page of the Application to submit your academic transcripts and English Language Competency documentation (if required).
You can view the documentation requirements, that you will be required to submit with supporting documentation, on the Documentation page in the application but will only be able to access the upload function once you have submitted and paid for your application.
Please submit only those documents that have been specifically requested and are in accordance with the new documentation guidelines and follow the instructions on the Documentation page. Failure to include all requested documents may disadvantage you.
There are different deadlines for uploading academic transcripts dependent on the completion date of your Undergraduate Degree or receipt of a conditional offer.
Upload your official academic transcript(s) (and separate grading schemes if they are not included on the reverse of your transcript) as soon as possible after submitting your application or completing your study. Your transcripts must be uploaded no later than the deadlines below:
Documents from non-ARTS institutions: Upload your transcript(s), for all non-ARTS study, no later than 7 August 2024.
Conditional offer:
If you have been made a conditional offer and have completed an undergraduate degree or any single subject prerequisite studies in 2024, you must upload the final transcripts to your University of Melbourne Online Student Portal by 15 December 2024. Any student who has accepted a conditional offer but cannot provide transcripts by this date is encouraged to contact the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.
If you experience difficulty supplying any of the required documentation by the due date, you must contact the Faculty as soon as possible (prior to the due date).
Note: If you have completed a Bachelor or Honours degree, exchange study or prior study credited to these courses, at a non ARTS institution you will need to provide a transcript for this study.
The University of Notre Dame is now an ARTS institution, so if you have studied at Notre Dame GEMSAS will attempt to retrieve your results electronically, even if you previously provided documentation in the past. You will only need to provide transcripts if specifically requested by GEMSAS staff during the assessment process.
Any qualification undertaken in a language other than English must be documented by the original transcript, accompanied by an officially translated original (by a NAATI translator), in English.
Scans of original hard copy translations (featuring the translator's original stamp and signature on every page) can be uploaded in your account. Please see the Academic Document Submission Guidelines for instructions on supplying digital translation documents (which feature a digitally inserted stamp or QR code).
Extra documentation requirements for study in China and India:
China:
- Original Transcript in both Chinese and English Language
- Original Degree Certificate that is "Awarded according to the Regulations Concerning Academic Degrees in the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国学位条例)” - both in English and Chinese Language
- If you have completed a Masters degree we will need original documentation (either official degree certificate or graduation certificate) that shows you completed/defended your thesis - both in English and Chinese Language. In addition to the above.
*English Translations must either be issued by your school or NAATI Translations.
*Please note if you do not provide all of the above it may delay the assessment of your application.
India:
- Unconsolidated Marksheets including any backlogs - Marksheets must be issued by the awarding University NOT the college.
- Official finalised completion certificate (not provisional) as issued by the awarding university (in addition to the marksheets/transcripts)
*Please note if you do not provide all of the above it may delay the assessment of your application.
In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed either:
- An undergraduate degree in any discipline, with studies to have been completed within 10 years of commencing the Doctor of Optometry
Or - For applicants whose most recently completed undergraduate degree was completed 10 or more years before January 1st of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the Doctor of Optometry, a Graduate Diploma, Master or PhD degree, or equivalent, completed within 10 years of commencing the Doctor of Optometry
Undergraduate Australian degrees must be from a Commonwealth-accredited institution as listed by TEQSA (see http://www.teqsa.gov.au/national-register). Overseas degrees must be recognised by the Australian Department of Education (DE) (previously AEI-NOOSR) or UK ENIC (previously UK NARIC) as comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree. Your qualifications will be assessed for comparability as part of your application process.
Please do not contact the Australian Department of Education (DE) for assessment of your degree.
For those in the final year of study, satisfactory completion of the degree in 2024 will be a condition of entry. Note that if you cannot complete and provide evidence of completion of your degree in the 2024 calendar year, any offer you have received that is conditional upon completion of your current degree may be withdrawn. A qualifying degree is defined as an Honours degree or a Bachelor degree of at least three years' duration when studied full-time, or equivalent, from a recognised university.
Applicants enrolled in a two-year degree or one-year conversion degree may only apply after completion of the degree. Those who have completed a higher degree without a prior Bachelor degree should consult the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences to ascertain eligibility.
During selection, applicants are ranked based on a Selection Score which is based on their Weighted Average Mark (WAM) and their GAMSAT score - where the WAM is weighted 2/3 and the GAMSAT is weighted 1/3. A minimum WAM of 65 is required for the Doctor of Optometry (OD). A minimum GAMSAT has not been set.
GEMSAS will calculate a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) from electronic results (from ARTS institutions) or transcripts provided by the applicant. Scans of original hard-copy transcripts or an official and secure electronic copy of your transcript will be needed if you have completed your degree or any part of your qualifying degree at an overseas university or any university not included in the list of ARTS institutions in Appendix A. Please note that GEMSAS does not use hard copy transcripts where results are available via ARTS, and we will not accept transcripts provided as clarification regarding study not shown in ARTS.
If you wish to calculate your WAM, please do so according to the instructions in the ‘How to Calculate Your WAM’ section below. Applicants whose degrees were completed outside Australia and New Zealand will not be able to calculate a WAM for themselves. Please note that any WAM calculated by an applicant will be an estimated WAM and used only for the information of the applicant.
The WAM indicates the level of performance in the qualifying degree. It should be emphasised that a science major is not a prerequisite, and that academic excellence in other areas, such as the humanities and social sciences, is encouraged and recognised.
In the WAM calculation:
- The most recently completed 100 credit points (equivalent to one year of full time study) are weighted by 2
- The next most recently completed 100 credit points (equivalent to one year of full time study) are weighted by 1
- Subjects completed concurrently will be selected for inclusion in the most recent 100 credit points (equivalent to one year of full time study) according to performance, starting from the subject with the highest mark.
- Results for failed subjects will also be included in the WAM calculation for the year in which they were studied and their credit value will count towards the most recently completed 200 credit points.
Please note the following:
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Results for 2020 subjects completed before the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. January 2020 to March 2020) will be included in WAM calculations (All entry pathways). Results for honours completed in 2020 will be included in WAM calculations for 2022 and all subsequent intakes (excluded for Guaranteed Entry Pathway). All other 2020 subject results (i.e. completed from April 2020 to December 2020) will be excluded from WAM calculations for 2022 and all subsequent intakes (All entry pathways). For the avoidance of doubt, please note that subjects from all other study periods will be used in WAM calculations (All entry pathways).
- For example:
- If an an applicant completed their final year of undergraduate study in 2020, the most recently completed 100 eligible credit points (equivalent to one year of full time study) (including study completed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (1 April 2020) and any honours results completed in 2020), will be weighted by 2. The next most recently completed 100 credit points (or equivalent) will be weighted by 1.
- If an applicant completed their penultimate year of undergraduate study in 2020, the most recently completed 100 eligible credit points (equivalent to one year of full time study) will be weighted by 2 and the next most recently completed 100 credit points (equivalent to one year of full time study) completed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (including 2020 results completed prior to 1 April 2020 and honours results completed in 2020), will be weighted by 1.
The Selection Committee may select applicants on the basis of postgraduate study, where the study:
- has been completed within ten years of commencement of the Doctor of Optometry;
- is equivalent to at least one year full-time; and
- builds upon studies completed at the undergraduate level and is in a health or biological science discipline.
Before you calculate your Selection Score, you should read the section 'How To Apply'.
Applicants to the Doctor of Optometry at the University of Melbourne must have completed approved prerequisite studies:
- Three subjects at second or third year level (or equivalent) from one or more relevant biological science disciplines.
Please refer to the University of Melbourne website for further information and the full list of approved prerequisite subjects: https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/study/prerequisites
There are no interviews for the Doctor of Optometry.
Selection into the Doctor of Optometry is based on the following criteria:
How to Apply
The online application opens 1 May 2024. We recommend that you register and begin the application as soon as possible after this date. To apply for admission to the Doctor of Optometry commencing in 2025, you must complete the online Application Form - on the GEMSAS website - by no later than:
- 5.00pm AEST/3pm AWST Wednesday 31 July 2024
Late applications will NOT be accepted.
The application fee is paid by credit card, when completing the online application form. You do not need to complete your payment at the time of submission, but must do so by 5pm AEST/3pm AWST 7 August.
In 2024 for 2025 entry, the application fee for University of Melbourne Doctor of Optometry is AUD $264.
Don't forget to include
Special Entry Schemes. If you are applying through Graduate Access Melbourne, you will need to complete a Graduate Access Melbourne application form in addition to your GEMSAS online application. Refer to the Additional Information section for more information.
Eligible Indigenous Australian applicants: Please refer to the Additional Information section for more about how to apply directly to the University as an Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander applicant. Eligible applicants do not pay an application fee.
After completing and submitting the online Application Form and making your payment, you need to upload your official transcripts from non-ARTS institutions. All documentation must be uploaded by the dates listed below. Wherever possible they should be uploaded earlier.
Due Date: Uploaded no later than Wednesday 7th August 2024
If any of your tertiary studies were undertaken at a university not listed in Appendix A (as an institution whose results can be retrieved through ARTS), you MUST upload your official academic transcripts for all such studies. The University of Notre Dame is now an ARTS institution, so if you have studied at Notre Dame GEMSAS will attempt to retrieve your results electronically, even if you previously provided documentation in the past. You will only need to provide transcripts if specifically requested by GEMSAS staff during the assessment process.
Note: supporting documents for any study at Diploma level and below are only required if that study has contributed to a Bachelor level or higher qualification. You can upload your transcripts in your GEMSAS account once you have submitted and paid for your application.
- Only one set of transcripts is required to complete your GEMSAS application, even if you are applying for multiple applications across Medicine, Dentistry and Optometry.
- Uploaded documents must be a high-quality colour scan of the official transcript/and or completion certificate or a secure official digital copy.
- Documentation must be in PDF or JPEG file only and a limit of 15MB.
- Please scan each document separately and include both sides (front and back) if applicable. Transcripts received from the same qualification can be combined into one file.
- Please refer to the full Academic Document Guide found in the application portal.
- If there has been no change to your education history and you applied through GEMSAS within the last two years you do not need to provide GEMSAS with your academic documents again. You will be contacted should GEMSAS require any further academic documentation.
Any qualification undertaken in a language other than English must be documented by the original transcript, accompanied by an officially translated original (by a NAATI translator), in English.
Scans of original hard copy translations (featuring the translator's original stamp and signature on every page) can be uploaded in your account. Please see the Academic Document Submission Guidelines for instructions on supplying digital translation documents (which feature a digitally inserted stamp or QR code).
Extra documentation requirements for study in China and India:
China:
- Original Transcript in both Chinese and English Language
- Original Degree Certificate that is "Awarded according to the Regulations Concerning Academic Degrees in the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国学位条例)” - both in English and Chinese Language
- If you have completed a Masters degree we will need original documentation (either official degree certificate or graduation certificate) that shows you completed/defended your thesis - both in English and Chinese Language. In addition to the above.
*English Translations must either be issued by your school or NAATI Translations.
*Please note if you do not provide all of the above it may delay the assessment of your application.
India:
- Unconsolidated Marksheets including any backlogs - Marksheets must be issued by the awarding University NOT the college.
- Official finalised completion certificate (not provisional) as issued by the awarding university (in addition to the marksheets/transcripts)
*Please note if you do not provide all of the above it may delay the assessment of your application.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
Please submit only those documents that have been specifically requested. Address all general correspondence or enquiry, via email to
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The University of Melbourne Doctor of Optometry |
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Contact details: |
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Enquiries |
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Web |
https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-optometry/ |
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Bachelor Degree/ WAM/ GAMSAT/Ranking Score |
Please refer to the 'How to Calculate Your WAM' section in this Guide. |
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Currency of qualification |
Degree: undergraduate degree to have been completed within 10 years of commencing the Doctor of Optometry, or for applicants whose most recently completed undergraduate degree was completed 10 or more years before 1 January 2025, a Graduate Diploma, Master or PhD degree or equivalent completed within 10 years before 1 January 2025. Prerequisites: subjects to have been completed within 10 years of commencing the Doctor of Optometry |
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Special entry schemes |
Graduate Access MelbourneGraduate Access Melbourne (GAM) provides access to applicants whose personal circumstances have had a sustained adverse effect on their academic achievement at undergraduate level or who are members of a specified group known to be under-represented in higher education. Applicants approved for the Graduate Access Melbourne scheme may be re-ranked based on their level of disadvantage. To be eligible for Graduate Access Melbourne you must:
You may be considered under one or more of the following categories:
Recognition as an Indigenous Australian: Please refer to the Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander applicants section in this table for more about how to apply. In order to be considered for Graduate Access Melbourne in one or more of the above categories, applicants must clearly state how the disadvantage has affected their studies in their degree. In the application form you will need to include statements describing your circumstance and attach supporting documentations where appropriate. Further information about eligibility can be found at https://go.unimelb.edu.au/yxy6 How to apply for GAM 1. GAM applications are made separately to your course application and must be submitted directly to the University of Melbourne at https://go.unimelb.edu.au/dvj8 2. All supporting documentation must be attached to the online form at the time of submission. Incomplete applications are not able to be considered. 3. The closing date for GAM applications for the 2025 intake is Wednesday 31 July 2024 4. Only eligible applicants should apply Guaranteed Entry PathwayThis pathway is available to two cohorts of students who are completing their undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne. 1. Chancellors Scholars (current University of Melbourne students who entered their undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne with an ATAR of 99.90 or above). More information at https://go.unimelb.edu.au/u726 2. Guaranteed Full Fee Entry (current University of Melbourne students who entered their undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne with an ATAR of 99.00 or above). More information at https://go.unimelb.edu.au/q5mi How to Apply under the Guaranteed Entry Pathway 1. Applications must be submitted directly to the University of Melbourne at https://go.unimelb.edu.au/tmg6 2. Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm AEST on Wednesday 31 July 2024 Please note:
Full-Fee Guaranteed Entry applicants who wish to be considered for other fee type places must apply via the standard GEMSAS process. These applications will be considered separately University of Melbourne Indigenous Pathway Please refer to the Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander applicants section in this table for further information |
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Offers |
Offers will be made on the basis of the ranked list - WAM and the GAMSAT score where the WAM is weighted 2/3 and the GAMSAT 1/3. |
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Prerequisite subjects and equivalents |
Three subjects at second or third year level (or equivalent) from one or more relevant biological science disciplines. The prerequisite subjects need not have been completed as part of the qualification(s) that is used as the basis for selection. Please go to https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/study/prerequisites to find out more about subject prerequisites and how to have your subjects pre-assessed if required. Subjects should be submitted no later than one month prior to the application deadline. Applicants enrolling in prerequisite subjects in 2024 must have results available by 15 December 2024. Applicants should confirm with their enrolling institution that results will be available by this date. If results will not be available, applicants should apply for the 2026 intake. Subjects must have been completed within 10 years of commencing the Doctor of Optometry. |
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Selection Criteria |
For detailed selection criteria, refer to the University of Melbourne website https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-optometry/#entry-requirements |
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English Language Proficiency for Domestic Applicants |
Domestic applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree, or a graduate degree of at least two years duration, where the degree was taught and assessed entirely in English^, may satisfy the University's English requirements if you fulfil the following: If the degree was completed:
Applicants who have completed a graduate degree of at least 1 years duration If the degree was completed:
To find out English language tests scores required for entry to graduate courses, see course-specific requirements. If you don't meet these requirements, there are additional English programs and tests you can take. See Other ways to satisfy English language requirements. 1 English speaking countries: Antigua + Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (excluding Quebec), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federal States of Micronesia, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), United States of America 2 Predominantly English-speaking countries: Botswana, Canada (Quebec), Ethiopia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Israel, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Palau, Philippines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe **Evidence of work: sufficient documentation includes an up-to-date resume ^ This option is not available if the institution is in China, India, Nepal or Pakistan. Applicants who have not completed undergraduate studies in English can satisfy the English Language Requirements in a number of ways and must provide evidence to support this upon receipt of an offer at the University of Melbourne. |
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Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander applicants |
Applicants of Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander descent are given priority access to the Doctor of Optometry at the University of Melbourne. Applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) descent can apply for the Doctor of Optometry via one of two ways:
*Indigenous applicants are encouraged to apply via the Indigenous pathway as eligible applicants will not be subject to ranking and will be selected into the program if the minimum requirements are met. Indigenous applicants are not required to apply via GEMSAS nor sit the GAMSAT if they are applying via the University of Melbourne Indigenous pathway. Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to get in touch with the University's Indigenous Student Support Officer at Applying via the University of Melbourne Indigenous Pathway Applicants applying via the University of Melbourne Indigenous pathway will have priority access. These applicants will: 1. Need to meet the eligibility requirements for the Indigenous Pathway including supplying a Confirmation of Identity to 2. Need to still meet the entry requirements of the Doctor of Optometry however are not required to undertake GAMSAT if applying via this pathway 3. Applicants eligible for the Indigenous Pathway will not be subject to ranking and will be selected into the program if the minimum requirements are met and the selection committee decides the applicant is likely to succeed in the program To apply via the University of Melbourne Indigenous Pathway applicants must ensure they: 1. Submit a Doctor of Optometry course application directly via University of Melbourne Course Application portal by 5:00pm AEST on Monday 31 July 2023 2. Submit a Confirmation of Identity to |
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International students |
International applicants should refer to the University of Melbourne's International Admissions Guide when applying for the Doctor of Optometry found online at: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-optometry/how-to-apply/ Note: 1. International students must submit their application directly to the University of Melbourne at https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-optometry/how-to-apply/ 2. Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm AEST on Wednesday 31 July 2024 3. International students may apply for the Doctor of Optometry with either a score from GAMSAT or MCAT or OAT 4. Applicants who have undertaken their undergraduate studies in a language other than English should consult the University of Melbourne's website for information about minimum English language requirements. Find out more about English language requirements. |
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Open Days and Information Sessions |
You can find out more about the University of Melbourne's Doctor of Optometry at Open Day and through Information Sessions run throughout the year. |
How do I choose between valid GAMSAT results?
The GAMSAT validity period has been changed from 2 years to 4 years. GAMSAT results obtained from different sittings are directly comparable and can be used when applying to universities for up to four consecutive years in Australia.
To apply in 2024 for entry in 2025, ONLY the following results can be used: September 2020, March 2021, September 2021, March 2022, September 2022, March 2023, September 2023 and March 2024.
The University of Melbourne uses an overall GAMSAT Score. If you have many valid GAMSAT results, you should select the results with the best overall GAMSAT Score.
Simply record in the Application Form the appropriate candidate identification number, month and year of sitting for the test you wish to use for selection.
This will be the only GAMSAT result that will be provided to GEMSAS for your OD application.
It is not possible to mix individual section scores from different years.
What GAMSAT scores are acceptable for entry to GEMPASS Australia medical schools?
GAMSAT results are valid for four years. To apply in 2024 for entry in 2025, ONLY the following results can be used: September 2020, March 2021, September 2021, March 2022, September 2022, March 2023, September 2023 and March 2024.
The GAMSAT is held in March and September, however results from the September sitting in the year of GEMSAS application cannot be used for that intake - it may only be used for designated future intakes:
|
GAMSAT session |
2025 Intake |
2026 intake |
|
September 2020 |
✓ | ✗ |
|
March 2021 |
✓ | ✗ |
|
September 2021 |
✓ | ✓ |
|
March 2022 |
✓ | ✓ |
|
September 2022 |
✓ | ✓ |
|
March 2023 |
✓ | ✓ |
|
September 2023 |
✓ | ✓ |
|
March 2024 |
✓ | ✓ |
|
September 2024 |
✗ | ✓ |
|
March 2025 |
✗ | ✓ |
Helpful information can be found on the GAMSAT website that shows the validity of all the GAMSAT tests. https://gamsat.acer.org/results/currency-of-results
I completed my undergraduate degree more than 10 years ago, am I still eligible to apply?
If you have completed additional study such as an honours or postgraduate degree (i.e. Graduate Diploma, Masters or PhD), and have completed the prerequisite subjects within the last 10 years, then you will be eligible to apply.
How will GEMSAS determine comparability of overseas qualification/s to the Australian Qualification Framework?
GEMSAS assessors will review all overseas documents that are received and determine the comparison level of the qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Often, this means confirming that a Bachelor degree studied overseas is comparable in educational level to a Bachelor degree completed in Australia. However, GEMSAS will also assess other types of post-secondary overseas qualifications claimed by applicants, such as postgraduate studies and exchange programs.
For all overseas assessments GEMSAS uses the Australian government's Department of Education (DE) (previously known as NOOSR/AEI NOOSR) guidelines and UK ENIC (previously UK NARIC) for verification and level comparability. Where GEMSAS is unable to determine the comparison level of a qualification using these guidelines, the assessment is passed to the institution to which the applicant has applied.
How will my overseas study be converted to an Australian comparable scale?
An Australian 50-80 point grading scale is used to calculate the Weighted Average Mark (WAM) for the Doctor of Optometry at the University of Melbourne. As many other countries use a different grading system, we may need to convert applicants' grade marks or GPAs to a 50-80 grading point scale before their GEMSAS WAM can be calculated.
GEMSAS will take the actual results from applicants' overseas university transcripts and use the institution grading information provided on the transcript to convert these grades to a 50-80 grading point scale. To do this, we need to know the minimum required pass marks and the maximum achievable mark. GEMSAS will generally use the percentage mark where a transcript shows both an exact percentage mark and a letter grade.
If there is no information on a transcript regarding the grading scale, GEMSAS assessors may take further steps, such as researching the institution and checking the grading system on the institution's official website, or using guidelines provided by The Department of Education (DE). In some cases, we may request applicants provide further documentation that confirms the grading system used by their institution.
I have received a conditional offer, where do I send my final transcript and evidence of completion and when is the deadline?
You must upload the final original academic transcript and evidence of completion for any undergraduate degree or single prerequisite subjects studied in 2024 to the University of Melbourne application portal at https://go.unimelb.edu.au/2wrs by 15 December 2024. Any student who has accepted a conditional offer, but cannot provide transcripts by this date must contact the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences before the deadline at https://go.unimelb.edu.au/r83i.
I didn't receive confirmation of my submitted information or my payment.
After completing the Application Form you will need to SUBMIT your application (once done you will receive an email from GEMSAS confirming your application has been submitted). You will then be taken to the payment system to make your payment. Once your payment has been made successfully you will be shown a receipt screen and you will receive an email from GEMSAS.
If you do not receive either email, please log into your GEMSAS account and check your My Emails page. If the successful submission and payment emails are not visible, please email
What is the USI number and is it a mandatory requirement?
A USI is a reference number made up of ten numbers and letters. It creates an online record of your nationally recognised training and qualifications attained in Australia. Yes, it is a mandatory requirement to provide your USI number in the application. For more information see http://www.usi.gov.au/
I have previously applied through GEMSAS
If you have previously applied through GEMSAS, you are still required to register anew online and complete and submit a new application.
Very Important: If there has been no change to your education history and you applied through GEMSAS within the last two years you do not need to provide GEMSAS with your academic documents again. You will be contacted should GEMSAS require any further academic documentation.
I have studied at the University of Notre Dame. How will the change to using ARTS results from Notre Dame impact my application?
Starting in 2024, the University of Notre Dame is adopting the ARTS process. This means if you're a current or former student, we'll attempt to access your academic results directly from the university electronically. You won't need to submit transcripts unless requested by GEMSAS staff. In case of any discrepancies, ARTS records will be used for GPA calculation and eligibility assessments.
I can't see the documentation requirements for submitting supporting documentation
Documentation requirements are generated according to your selections and responses. As your application progresses, the Documentation page, with documentation requirements for academic transcripts and English Language Competency documentation, will appear on the left of your screen. You will only have access to the upload function once you have submitted and paid for your application. To access your documentation requirements, after you have submitted and paid for your application, log into your application and select the Documentation button on the My Applications page.
If you cannot save or print any of the documents mentioned above, please email
How do I upload my supporting documentation (Education transcripts and/or English Language Competency)?
The documentation requirements page will describe in detail where to upload your supporting documentation, deadlines for uploading the documentation and what type of documents can be accepted. It is very important that you read this page carefully. Any incorrect documentation provided may delay the processing of your application.
Are there any restrictions on the types of academic documentation accepted?
Yes, we will only accept PDF or JPEG file formats, max 15MB. Word documents (.doc, docs, .rtf) are not accepted.
For Australian and New Zealand qualifications digital documents issued by My eQuals are accepted, provided they meet the My eQuals guidelines. You must download a PDF of your document from the My eQuals portal which is digitally signed by your institution and has the required security features including the certificate key or blue banner verification. Sharing links for download via My eQuals is not permitted. For example, certified documents viewed in Adobe Acrobat Reader have a blue ribbon above the document stating: “Certified by the issuing education provider… all signatures are valid”. Please note that the blue ribbon/certification may not be visible in some web browsers and non-Adobe applications.
For overseas qualifications colour scans of official hard copy documents or institution-issued secure PDF documents are accepted. Scans must be fully legible, including any notes, codes, logos and legends. Whether security features on a PDF meet GEMSAS requirements is at the discretion of GEMSAS Assessment. Documents which do not meet security requirements may be rejected, or may only be conditionally accepted.
Scan each document separately and include both sides (front and back) if applicable. If your academic documents have information on both sides (even if it is generic information rather than your academic results), please ensure that you scan both sides of the document. Transcripts received from the same qualification can be combined into one file.
It is very important you read the information on the Documentation requirements page as any incorrect documentation may delay the processing of your application.
I don't have a scanner. How can I send my documents?
Phone applications can be used to scan your documents (e.g. Cam Scanner, Adobe Scan) but askew or poorly focused scans will not be accepted. Ensure that the entire document is scanned, without scanning external surrounds such as tabletops or a frame or your fingers. The document needs to fill the entire space and all edges of the document must be visible. The documents must not look warped by the scan.
I don't have an original transcript; can I submit a copy?
No, only official transcript/s or digitally secure PDFs will be accepted. Screenshots, photos, certified copies, unofficial results and online printouts are not accepted.
A Statement of Results is not acceptable and is not considered in place of a full transcript, nor is a printout of an academic record.
If you are required to provide documentation, detailed guidelines will be available in the Documentation page in the GEMSAS application portal.
My transcript is not in English; should I provide a translation?
Any qualification undertaken in a language other than English must be documented by the original transcript, accompanied by an officially translated original (by a NAATI translator), in English.
Scans of original hard copy translations (featuring the translator's original stamp and signature on every page) can be uploaded in your account. Please see the Academic Document Submission Guidelines for instructions on supplying digital translation documents (which feature a digitally inserted stamp or QR code).
I'm still studying this year; do I need to submit a 2024 transcript?
Applicants completing their degree in 2024 will be assessed on the basis of the information available at the time of application. Semester 1 (or Trimester 1), 2024 results should be submitted to be included in the assessment. However, any offers made prior to the receipt of final results and confirmation of completion will be conditional.
Please note that GEMSAS does not use hard copy transcripts where results are available via ARTS, and we will not accept transcripts provided as clarification regarding study not shown in ARTS.
If you have studied at a non-ARTS institution then you must upload your official transcript as soon as possible.
I'm currently studying and plan on taking an Early Exit, what do I do?
If you are currently studying a program and intend on taking an Early Exit or Alternative Award at the end of the year, you must declare this in your application. You should select the actual year you are due to complete your study, list that the completion status is “I am currently studying, but will not complete the qualification this year” and complete the early exit question that will generate.
If after you submit your application you realise you did not claim this information, or you decide you will be taking an early exit, you must inform GEMSAS (
Examples of combined programs that could lead to an early exit are:
Bachelor/Bachelor
Bachelor/Master
Bachelor/Postgraduate Diploma
Bachelor with Embedded Honours
For example, if you are currently studying a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts and at the end of the year plan to complete and be awarded the Bachelor of Science, this should be declared as an early exit on your application. Similarly, if you are currently studying a Bachelor/Masters program, and plan on taking an early exit to be awarded the single Bachelor degree then this should also be declared.
Exchange studies and transcripts
Exchange studies are part of your degree and therefore we use the results from those studies in calculating your WAM. Exchange studies may appear on your home university transcript as pass/fail subjects, but we use your actual results awarded by the overseas institution to calculate your WAM.
You must obtain and supply an original transcript for any exchange studies you have done.
Any qualification undertaken in a language other than English must be documented by the original transcript, accompanied by an officially translated original (by a NAATI translator), in English.
Scans of original hard copy translations (featuring the translator's original stamp and signature on every page) can be uploaded in your account. Please see the Academic Document Submission Guidelines for instructions on supplying digital translation documents (which feature a digitally inserted stamp or QR code).
My declared study and/or results have changed. What should I do?
Ensure you inform
Ensure you inform
Note that ARTS results are retrieved on request and unless you notify us of updates, we will not request ARTS results outside of the scheduled times.
What study should I declare in the application?
ALL tertiary studies (including postgraduate studies, exchange studies, cross institutional studies, non-award single subject studies) are to be declared (this includes completed and incomplete study), whether relevant or not to your key degree.
I have lodged two or more applications for Optometry through GEMSAS.
Only your first submitted application will be processed, regardless of which application has been paid for.
What information/emails, that have been sent to my email address, will be visible on the My Emails page in my GEMSAS account?
The My Emails page in your GEMSAS account should be checked regularly.
The following GEMSAS emails will be visible on the My Emails page:
-
- Confirmation of Registration, Submitted, Payment emails
- Emails from the Assessment team re: academic documents and/or education study claims
- Undeclared study and outcome emails
- Courtesy reminders
The following emails will NOT be visible on the My Emails page:
-
- Place Offer notifications, as the offer/unsuccessful/waitlist email is sent directly from the University of Melbourne
- Any email correspondence sent directly from the University of Melbourne
- Email correspondence from
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. andThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How do I know if my documents have been accepted?
If you have uploaded your documentation, you will be able to view the documents that have been accepted in the Documentation button on the My Applications page of your application. If anything further is required, or the documents were not up to the acceptable guidelines you will be notified via email.
How can I update my personal details after I have submitted my application?
After you have completed your application you can update your gender, phone number, email, postal and/or residential addresses by logging back into your application at applygemsas.edu.au and updating details in the Account, Personal Details and Contact Details sections.
If you need to advise GEMSAS of an error in your date of birth, or a change to your current name or citizenship details, please email
The information in this guide is provided as general guidance to applicants to the Doctor of Optometry at the University of Melbourne and is correct as of April 2024. All applicants should routinely check the University of Melbourne website for admission updates.
https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-optometry/#overview
You do NOT need to provide academic transcripts for studies undertaken at the following institutions:
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
|
Australian National University |
Canberra CAE |
University of Canberra |
|
Australian Catholic University |
Canberra Institute of the Arts |
NEW SOUTH WALES
|
Australian Catholic University |
University of Wollongong |
University of New South Wales |
|
Sydney College of the Arts |
Western Sydney University (University of Western Sydney) |
Charles Sturt University |
|
University of New England |
New South Wales Institute of Technology |
Macquarie University |
|
University of Newcastle |
Southern Cross University |
University of Sydney |
|
University of Technology, Sydney |
CQ University |
University of Notre Dame, Australia |
NORTHERN TERRITORY
|
Charles Darwin University (formerly Northern Territory University) |
|
Darwin Institute of Technology |
QUEENSLAND
|
Australian Catholic University |
Griffith University |
Queensland Institute of Technology |
|
Bond University |
James Cook University |
CQ University |
|
Queensland University of Technology |
Darling Downs IAE |
University of Queensland, The (UQ) |
|
Gold Coast CAE |
University of Southern Queensland |
Queensland Agricultural CAE |
|
Queensland Institute of Technology (Capricornia) |
University of the Sunshine Coast |
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
|
The University of Adelaide |
University of South Australia |
Flinders University of South Australia |
|
CQ University |
TASMANIA
|
Australian Maritime College |
|
Tasmanian CAE |
|
Tasmanian State Institute of Technology |
|
University of Tasmania |
VICTORIA
|
Australian Catholic University |
CQ University |
Victoria College - all campuses 1985 onwards |
|
La Trobe University |
Swinburne University of Technology |
Victoria University (formerly Victoria University of Technology) |
|
Deakin University |
University of Melbourne |
Federation University Australia (formerly University of Ballarat) |
|
Victorian College of the Arts |
Monash University |
RMIT University |
|
Warrnambool IAE |
Caulfield Institute of Technology |
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
|
Edith Cowan University |
Curtin University (Curtin University of Technology) |
The University of Western Australia |
|
Western Australian CAE |
Murdoch University |
Western Australian Institute of Technology |
|
University of Notre Dame, Australia |
AUSTRALIA
|
Open Universities Australia |
PLEASE NOTE: Any qualification undertaken in a language other than English must be documented by the original transcript, accompanied by an officially translated original (by a NAATI translator), in English.
Scans of original hard copy translations (featuring the translator's original stamp and signature on every page) can be uploaded in your account. Please see the Academic Document Submission Guidelines for instructions on supplying digital translation documents (which feature a digitally inserted stamp or QR code).
* GEMSAS and the University of Melbourne make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information provided in this Admission Guide at the time of publication. Applicants must consult the university website for more detailed and specific information and for updates.