Program Overview

Bachelor of Optometry with Honours

Overview

The Bachelor of Optometry with Honours is a primary health care profession that examines, diagnoses, and manages eye and visual disorders. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is the first university in the country to offer this program and has over 30 years of experience in teaching and research.

Program Structure

In the first two years of study, students will be taught basic and applied optometry, including anatomy and physiology, pathology, pharmacology, optics, and ophthalmic lenses, as well as clinical methods in optometry. The clinical-related subjects will be taught in the third year to prepare students for clinical experiences and postings. In the final year, students will work independently with patients and learn to assess, diagnose, and manage optometry cases. They will also conduct scientific research in various fields of optometry.

Career Prospects

The degree is recognized at national and international levels, allowing graduates to work independently as optometrists in private practices or government hospitals. They may also pursue careers in academic or research institutions or work in the optical industry. Potential career paths include:

• Vision Researcher
• Paediatric Optometrist
• Sports and Workplace Vision Specialist
• Consultant in Ophthalmic Industries
• Optometrist

General Requirements

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

1. Complete 12 years of primary and high school education
2. Obtain a high school diploma (e.g., Higher Secondary Certificate, Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate, Tawjihiyah, Ijazah Sekolah Menengah Atas, High School Diploma)
3. Meet the minimum English requirement set by the faculty
4. Pass the UKM interview (if required)
5. Meet faculty-specific requirements

Programme Requirements

Faculty of Health Science

Required subjects:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics/Physics The General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level: BBB International Baccalaureate Diploma: 32 points overall, with a score of 3 in two Higher Level subjects

Country-Specific Requirements

The following countries have specific requirements:

• Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen: 85%
• Afghanistan, Albania, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Liberia, Macao, Macedonia, Maldives, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe: 80%
• Algeria, Australia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, New Zealand, Niger, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Guinea, Rwanda, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Zambia: 70%
• China: 80%
• Indonesia: 70%
• Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, Gabon, Guyana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Norway, Portugal, Senegal: subject to faculty review

English Requirement

The English requirement for the program will be specified by the faculty.

Intakes

The program has one intake in September.

Duration

The program duration is 4 years.

Campus

The program is offered at the UKM Kuala Lumpur campus.

Fees

The fees for the program are available for local and international students.