UWA Handbook 2024

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module).

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE module is not required to repeat the module.

English Language competency requirements

3.(1) To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

(2) Applicants with qualifications from overseas institutions where English is not the medium of instruction as recognised by AHPRA, must provide evidence of English language competence.

(3) Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 7.0 at the time of application.

Admission requirements

4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) a bachelor's degree in health science, vision science, biomedical science, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

and

(b) a selection Weighted Average Mark (sWAM) of at least 65 per cent;

and

(c) demonstrated adequate knowledge of each of the following: chemistry (at year 12 or tertiary level), mathematics (year 12 or tertiary level mathematics or statistics), microbiology (at tertiary level) and pharmacology (at tertiary level);

and

(d) a current Australian National Police Certificate, or equivalent certification, indicating no criminal convictions. The currency of a National Police Certificate is 12 months.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on—5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on—

(a) a structured interview in which eligible applicants will be assessed based on the personal qualities considered desirable in allied health practitioners;

and

(b) the intake quota for that year;

and

(c) a selection score determined by the sWAM and interview score for non-rural applicants, or the sWAM, interview score and rurality ranking for rural applicants

OR

(d) entry via an indigenous pathway

Articulations and exit awards

6. This course does not form part of an articulated sequence.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 192 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass all units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) The School, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, may assign a progress status of 'On Probation' or 'Excluded' to a student who does not make satisfactory progress under Rule 8.

(2) Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, and except as set out in (3), the School, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, assigns a progress status of 'On Probation' to a student who fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8.

(3) Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, the School, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, assigns a progress status of 'Excluded' to a student who—

(a) fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 and has previously repeated two years of the course;

or

(b) fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 in the same year of the course for a second time.

(4) A student who is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded' under (3) (a) or (b) will not be permitted to re-enrol in the course.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants are not permitted to defer admission to this course and are expected to commence their course in the offered intake only. Approved leave is not available during the first academic year of this course. Applicants seeking admission to an alternative intake must submit a new application for that intake.

Additional rules

Supplementary assessment

14.(1) Subject to (2), a student who fails a barrier component of a unit may be granted a supplementary assessment in that component.

(2) The Board of Examiners will not provide an opportunity for supplementary assessment to a student who—

(a) fails two or more units in any calendar year;

or

(b) fails a deferred or supplementary assessment.

Requirements of students on probation

15. Students who have been assigned a progress status of 'On Probation' must repeat all units that they have previously attempted in that year of the course, in which they have a mark of less than 60 per cent.

Approved Leave and retention of credit

16.(1) Students may apply for a period of approved leave in accordance with the University Policy on Student Enrolment.

(2) Following a period of approved leave of less than two years, students retain credit for all units previously passed.

(3) Following a period of approved leave of two years or more, full credit is unable to be granted and students must repeat the units comprising the most recently completed year of the course.

Requirement to attend and complete prescribed work

17.(1) Students must attend compulsory teaching and undertake practical and clinical work at the University, and other institutions as approved by the School.

(2) Students must abide by the School's Professional Behaviour Procedures set in out in the Workplace-based placements.

(3) Providing approval is granted, a student is permitted to take a maximum of 10 University days annually as leave. Leave can include compassionate leave, medical leave, personal/other leave.

(4) Leave is administered and managed as outlined in the UWA Optometry Student Orientation Handbook.

School's Infection Control Requirements

18. At admission and during their enrollment, students must comply with the School's Infection Control Requirements as appended to the UWA Policies on Admission and Student Enrolment.

First Aid Course Requirements

19. At the time of enrolment students must show first aid competence equivalent to assessment requirements for HLTAID001,

valid for no more than three years.

Mode of Study

20.(1) Students must enrol on a full-time basis unless the School permits otherwise in exceptional circumstances.

(2) Students who have been permitted to enrol on a part-time basis in units of one level will not be permitted to enrol on a part-time basis in units of the next level.

Australian National Police Clearance

21. At admission and annually during enrolment, students must provide a clear current Australian National Police Clearance or equivalent certification.

Credit Transfer

22. Students who

(1) have completed a bachelor's degree in Vision Science or equivalent as recognised by UWA;

and

(2) have completed the UWA Doctor of Optometry Bridging Program;

may apply for credit of prior learning up to a value of 48 points for relevant units in year 1 of the Doctor of Optometry Course.

Commonwealth Supported Place transfer

23.(1) Students enrolled in a Full-Fee Paying place may apply to transfer to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) at the end of each academic year if places become available.

(2) Students must demonstrate financial need to be eligible.

(3) Students must be in good standing and completed a minimum of 48 points credit to be eligible.

(4) Students will be awarded a CSP based on their course WAM, until all CSP places are filled.

Commonwealth Supported Places

24. A limited number of commonwealth supported places are available at the point of admission. Places are awarded on the following basis:

(1) indigenous applicants;

(2) rural applicants; and

(3) applicants with academic merit demonstrating financial need