You now know all the facts and stats about the Bachelor of Vision Science at UNSW. If you don’t, have a quick look here!
But, are you still curious about how people feel about this degree? Wonder no more! We chatted with Harsh, a Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Clinical Optometry student at UNSW, about what this degree is really like to study.
Have a look!
Why should you study a Vision Science degree at UNSW?
Top 3 Pros of a Vision Science Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Vision Science Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting UNSW Vision Science
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying UNSW Vision Science
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Vision Science degree at UNSW?
If you’re someone looking to pursue a career within the ophthalmic industry, a Bachelor of Vision Science at UNSW could be for you! There are many reasons why you might want to take on this degree at UNSW — from the state of the art equipment to the friendly approachable staff and cohort,
Harsh tells us why he decided to complete his studies at UNSW:
Top 3 Pros of a Vision Science Degree
#1: The teaching staff
The teachers within the Vision Science Faculty at UNSW are very receptive and supportive of their students! You’ll find that they continually go above and beyond to ensure that students are getting the most out of their degree.
“If you shoot them an email, the next day they’ll reply to you! They will give you in-depth advice and resources to solve any questions you may have. They will also stay back after classes usually for around 15-20 minutes to help you!” Harsh tells us.
#2: The access to technology and equipment
At UNSW, students have access to state of the art equipment and facilities! “The Clinical environment is awesome, I love testing out the instruments and getting a hands on practical feel,” Harsh tells us.
Students will get their hands on a range of clinical tools and experience a clinical environment within labs! Some of the different things students will learn about will include: Binocular Vision Testing, Slit-Lamp Biomicroscopy, Tonometry and so much more!
#3: The cohort
The Vision Science cohort is not only praised because of the teachers — the students make up a lot of the fun also!
“Everyone is friendly — there are lots of friendship based groups. Even when joining lab groups, everyone connects with one another in a social sense,” Harsh says.
So if you’re worried about trying to make friends when you start this degree, rest assured that you’ll be able to befriend people studying this degree too!
Top 3 Cons of a Vision Science Degree
#1: Trimesters take some getting used to
UNSW is the only uni in NSW that utilises the trimester teaching pattern!
“UNSW utilises trimesters, so we have three teaching terms. It’s 10 weeks per term, so it’s a very fast-paced teaching and learning environment,” Harsh says.
This may take some getting used to, but, in saying that you could fast track your degree by overloading and studying 3 subjects every trimester and completing 9 subjects within a year, rather than just 8.
#2: Not everyone will be able to progress past this degree
The Bachelor of Vision Science is a difficult and competitive degree to embark on. Students will have to really shine to continue onto the Masters component of the degree.
“60% is the lowest WAM, but to progress you will also have to attend an interview to see if you will be selected,” Harsh says.
So if you want to move onto postgrad studies, you’ll have to work hard throughout the undergrad portion of your degree!
#3: There aren’t a huge amount of jobs with the Bachelor of Vision Science alone
The Bachelor of Vision Science combined with other study or Masters opens up a world of employment opportunities. However, this degree studied alone does not.
Though, students who graduate with the Bachelor of Vision Science will be able to find employment through clinical research positions within the optical field!
Any regrets?
Harsh has a regret, that hopefully won’t be relevant to students commencing!
“My regret about this degree is how my studies throughout 2020 were delivered online due to the pandemic. At home people don’t tend to focus as much as they would in the classroom — it’s a lot easier to fall behind when studying online,” Harsh notes.
What do you wish you had known before starting Vision Science at UNSW?
Looking to take on further study? There are many different things you can do with this degree after finishing the undergrad component.
“With Vision Science and achieving a certain WAM, you can go onto studying a Master of Clinical Optometry, or continue to PHD studies, or you could transfer to Orthoptics at UTS!” Harsh tells us.
However, it should be remembered that students will need to have a WAM of 60% or higher to obtain further study status, and also ace their interviews!
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
This degree is the only Bachelor of Vision Science degree offered within NSW. While there are other degrees like this across Australia, they’re in other states, such as Queensland and Victoria, as well as the ACT.
UNSW’s offering of Vision Science is distinguished by its ranking — UNSW is ranked 6th in Australia for Anatomy and Physiology by QS. Studying this degree here only means that you’ll be receiving a high quality education from some of the best teachers and tutors in this field.
What inspired you to choose Vision Science at UNSW?
There are many different reasons students choose to study the Bachelor of Vision Science and UNSW — from location to reputation, UNSW’s got it all!
“This degree helps you build analytical skills, how to analyse situations in a clinical environment. You’ll learn optics, how to do calculations, how to see what a person’s eye number is through calculations, basically the fundamentals,” Harsh says.
What are the possible career paths?
As mentioned prior, the job pool for Bachelor of Vision Science students isn’t huge without further study, but there are still career opportunities!
Career opportunities for a Bachelor of Vision Science include:
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- Ophthalmic assistant
- Ophthalmic industries
- Eye and vision research
Further study can lead to careers as Optometrists — this can be achieved upon completion of a Master of Clinical Optometry. You may even work towards your PhD and engage in research in a specific area of study!
Matilda Elliott is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and a Communication graduate with a major in Journalism at Western Sydney University. You can find some of her published work in a range of platforms including SBS World News, The Music Network and within her own creative exploits with her twin sister. Matilda is a lover of listening, helping people to tell their stories, making genuine connections, clowning around in her circus troupe and dancing like no one is watching at live music shows!
