Optometry

Our three-year Optometry course is the UK's highest ranked optometry programme for student satisfaction. It provides you with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills needed to become a qualified optometrist.

The first year will develop your knowledge of the basic scientific principles that underpin optometry. These skills will be developed in your second year, providing you with the skills and knowledge to conduct a full eye examination routine. You will go on to study the biological links between eye and brain and gain further skills in contact lens fitting, optical instrumentation and research methods.

Independent clinical and scientific skills will be developed in your final year. You will examine patients in our public service clinics and pursue an area of particular personal interest in more depth through a final year elective study.

Learning, teaching & assessment

Most teaching takes place in lectures, tutorials and practical/clinical classes. Final year public service clinical sessions are in small groups with about four students per supervisor. Assessment is by written examination (75%), and assessment of practical and clinical performance (25%).

Working with patients:
The Aston University BSc in Optometry and Graduate Diploma in Optometry involve the assessment of fitness to practise and one of the requirements is to promote the relationship of trust and confidence between clinician and patient. In order to fulfil this requirement students are prohibited from wearing a full veil during clinical teaching sessions or otherwise obscuring their face in a manner that may adversely affect communication and compromise the relationship of trust and confidence.

Placement year

Not applicable for this programme. Students engage in clinical practice throughout the course and, upon graduating, complete a pre-registration year in the sector - see professional accredication section below.

Please note that students who enter placements in the NHS may be required to pay for CRB checks and occupational health checks.

Professional accreditation

Our degree is accredited by the General Optical Council (GOC).

After graduation you must complete a pre-registration period that leads to a series of Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQEs). Success in the PQEs earns you the qualification MCOptom (Member of the College of Optometrists) and allows you to register with the GOC as a fully qualified optometrist .

You will need to register with the GOC prior to attending classes. The GOC asks students to disclose any prior criminal convictions that may render them unsuitable for training.

Career prospects

You will have excellent career prospects in:

• Private practice, in your own practice, in partnership or as an employee of a large optical company

• Hospital practice
• The optical industry

• Optical research

• Any other career recruiting high quality graduates.

Aston University’s Optometry graduates consistently achieve high levels of graduate employment.

Subject guide & modules

Clinical experience received in your first and second years will be refined in final year public service clinics where you will help to provide patients with a full range of ophthalmic services. You will work under the close supervision of our clinical teachers, including ophthalmologists, optometrists, orthoptists and dispensing opticians.

Throughout the programme you will be taught techniques of general eye examination, spectacle dispensing, fitting and aftercare of contact lenses. These skills and additional optometry specialties are integrated in the clinical investigation and management of visual problems.

To broaden your knowledge and practical experience, you will attend a series of placements in hospital eye departments and we recommend that you arrange your own holiday placements within the industry.