Doctor of Ophthalmic Science

5.0
1 review
  • Even though the accomodation process was well organized, the prices for rooms were extraordinary high. I enjoyed my experience.
    |

Postgraduate

In Birmingham

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Postgraduate

  • Location

    Birmingham

This course is for you if you are looking to obtain a professional doctorate that enables eye care professionals to enhance their knowledge, critical awareness of current issues, and to be at the forefront of their academic discipline through taught and research elements. This is the first UK professional doctorate in optometry and is available part time via distance learning.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Birmingham (West Midlands)
See map
West Midlands, B4 7ET

Start date

On request

About this course

Entry requirements
See below for full details

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Reviews

5.0
  • Even though the accomodation process was well organized, the prices for rooms were extraordinary high. I enjoyed my experience.
    |
100%
4.6
excellent

Course rating

Recommended

Centre rating

didion julia

5.0
03/09/2018
What I would highlight: Even though the accomodation process was well organized, the prices for rooms were extraordinary high. I enjoyed my experience.
What could be improved: Everything was OK.
Would you recommend this course?: Yes
*All reviews collected by Emagister & iAgora have been verified

This centre's achievements

2018

All courses are up to date

The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 7 years

Subjects

  • Optometry
  • English Language
  • Access
  • Credit
  • IT
  • English
  • University
  • Project
  • Part Time
  • Doctor
  • Project Proposal

Course programme

Mode of delivery: Part time d istance learning

Duration: Up to 6 years part time for the doctoral degree, u p to 5 years part time for the master's degree

Intake: Places on the course are limited therefore the application process is competitive. Decisions on applications are given following the closing date for applications.

Entry requirements:

  • We welcome applications from candidates interested in our course who have the skills and capability to excel. All candidates are considered on an individual basis based on their qualifications, experience, references and motivation.
  • Applicants must hold at least an upper 2nd class honours degree in an ophthalmic or biomedical field from a UK university or the recognised equivalent from an overseas university.
  • Other qualifications (such as Fellowship of the British Dispensing Opticians) will be considered individually, on merit.
  • Applicants must have spent at least two years in clinical practice before entering the course.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. English language test requirements may be waived where students’ undergraduate degree was studied in an English speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements.
  • The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

Start dates: Two intakes per year - 1 October and 1 March

How to apply:

  • Apply here
  • The application deadline for each intake is 6 weeks before the start date.
  • If you are applying close to the deadline, please ensure you have all supporting documentation ready for the application. If the deadline has passed, we may still be able to consider you, so please contact us.
  • Decisions on applications are given following the closing date for applications.

  • UK / EU: £1,100 per module / £8,400 full research project (£2,800 p.a)
  • International students: £1,100 per module / £8,400 full research project (£2,800 p.a)
  • MSc Research Review (60 credits) fee will be three times the 20 credit Module Fee, for the relevant academic year.
  • In accordance with University policy, tuition fees may increase in future years of study.

  • The Doctor of Optometry/ Doctor of Ophthalmic Science (previously known as the Aston “Ophthalmic Doctorate”) is a unique qualification - a professional doctorate - that enables eye care professionals to enhance their knowledge, and critical awareness of current issues, and to be at the forefront of their academic discipline through taught and research elements.

    Taught modules 20 credits each, nominally equivalent to 200 hours of student learning. Modules consist of remote access lectures with electronic formative assessments and a module coursework assignment such as reflective case records, or an essay/literature review related to the module. There are two study periods per year to complete taught modules; 1st October -31st January and 1st March - 30th June. Module results are ratified at Examination Boards held shortly after the end of each study period.

    The research project is the major component of the doctorate, supervised by members of the Optometry Subject Group academic staff. Students will develop their research proposals based upon their own clinical interests, or may opt to select a project nominated by an Aston academic. Because this is a distance-learning programme, the research is not normally carried out on the University campus, and it is essential that the student has access to the facilities and resources needed to carry out the research, usually in the student's place of work.

    The research stage requires a significant long-term commitment, as it is equivalent to around 2 years of full-time work (i.e. 4 years part-time). Candidates ultimately submit a thesis which is examined in a viva voce examination.

    The Doctor of Optometry programme is aimed at practising optometrists, who will complete case records where required for taught module coursework, and will undertake a practice- based research project. The Doctor of Ophthalmic Science programme is for eye care professionals who may not be practising optometrists, e.g. medics/ orthoptists/ product designers; these students may complete scientific essays to fulfil the coursework requirements, and undertake a non-clinical research project.

    This degree is only available as part-time distance learning, so it is vital that the student has access to a good broadband internet connection.

    Flexible credit accumulation

    New students initially register as LHS postgraduate students within a framework of flexible credit accumulation (FCA). Within this framework it is possible to graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate in Optometry (60 taught credits); Postgraduate Diploma in Optometry (120 taught credits); M.Sc. in Optometry/ Ophthalmic Science (180 credits: 120 taught, 60 dissertation) or the Doctor of Optometry (DOptom)/ Doctor of Ophthalmic Science (DOphSc).

    As part of the flexible programme, UK optometrists may complete the theoretical element of the GOC-approved Independent Prescribing for Optometrists.

    The MSc requires the completion of 6 taught modules (120 credits) and a 60 credit narrative research review (dissertation).

    Completion of the DOptom/ DOphSc requires 180 taught module credits and successful completion of a substantial personal research project, with submission of a thesis/ portfolio of work and a "viva voce" examination with an internal and external examiner. Up to 60 credits may be awarded in respect of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), whether experiential or certificated (e.g. previous completion of the Aston MOptom). To progress to full doctoral registration requires a minimum of 120 taught module credits including the compulsory 20 credit Research Methods module, an approved project proposal, and successful completion of the qualifying report stage, assessed by "viva voce" examination with an internal examiner. The report and the viva voce examination will be used to assess suitability for progression to the full doctoral project.

    Timescales for study

    Taught credits are valid for 5 years, so students studying for an MSc./ PG Diploma/ PG Certificate must complete their studies within 5 years of enrolment on the programme.

    Students undertaking the DOptom/DOphSc. programme must complete their taught module requirement and complete the research stage within 6 years of registration. Note that in accordance with University Regulations for part-time research students, the earliest date for completion of the doctoral programme (i.e. submission of thesis/ portfolio) is 4 years following registration.

    Taught modules include:

    • Accommodation and Presbyopia (OP4AAP)
    • Advanced Contact Lenses (OP4ACL)
    • Advanced Visual Science (OP4AVS)
    • General Ocular Therapeutics (OP4GOT)
    • Glaucoma (OP4GL1)
    • Investigative Ophthalmic Science (OP4IOS)
    • Myopia (OP4MY1)
    • Nutrition and the Eye (OP4NE1)
    • Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (OP4OT1)
    • Prescribing for disorders of the eye (OP4OT2)
    • Refractive Surgery (OP4RS1)
    • Research Methods (OP4RM1)
    • Research Review (Dissertation modules OP4OPR and OP40SR)
    • Retinal and Macular Disorders (OP4RMD)
    • Visual Impairment (OP4VI1)

Doctor of Ophthalmic Science

Price on request