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Graduate Diploma in Optometry

Key facts

Duration of programme: 9 months - October to July

Start date: October 2012

Application deadline: September 9, 2012

Open Day: March 30, 2.30-5.00pm. To register, please email lhspgt@aston.ac.uk.

Entry requirements:
This programme is available for those who have a 3rd or Pass degree classification in a BSc Optometry degree from a UK university. Students from outside the UK may be eligible for this programme if they have a recommendation from the General Optical Council. 

Tuition fees for 2012 entry:
UK/EU students: £13,470
International students: £14,000. 

Apply for this course online 

Optometry - Eye scan
CRB & Fitness to Practice Information

Optometry

LHS virtual tour optometry

Key benefits

  • Modern, purpose built Vision Sciences building with first-class teaching facilities
  • 100% graduate-level employment rate 
  • 23/24 for Teaching Quality Assessment – rated as excellent
  • Students will have the opportunity to work with ophthalmologists in several local NHS eye departments.

Course outline

Optometry - Eye scan

This programme is designed for Optometry graduates who do not achieve the grades required for automatic progression onto the UK pre-registration period (i.e. students who do not achieve at least a 2:2 degree and competence in key skills).

The course can also be taken by practitioners whose certificate of clinical competence has expired.


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Learning, teaching & assessment

Teaching takes place in lectures, tutorials and practical/clinical classes.

Assessment is by written examination (75%), and assessment of practical and clinical performance (25%).

The General Optical Council have stipulated that only one attempt will be permitted at passing the examinations on this programme. All examinations need to be passed and an overall average of at least 50% achieved for successful completion of this programme.

Performance in the Graduate Diploma in Optometry will not alter the classification of the optometry degree initially awarded.

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.

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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 accreditation section below. 

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Professional accreditation

General Optical Council
This programme is accredited by the General Optical Council (GOC).

After completion of the Graduate Diploma in Optometry, 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 . Entry to pre-registration training is regulated by the GOC and minimum entry requirements apply - visit their website for more information.

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.
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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.

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Personal development

The course integrates IT skills, presentation skills, problem solving, clinical decision making and communication skills into a Personal Development Planning module . This module is designed to assist you in recording your achievements as you progress through the programme. You will reflect on your progress to identify areas you are good at and those which you need to improve on. Using this information, you will develop action plans which will help you to achieve your academic and personal goals.

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Facilities & equipment

Our modern, purpose-built vision sciences centre provides outstanding facilities for undergraduate teaching, research and clinical work - including a fully operational Optometry Clinic.

The Aston University Day Hospital, located next to the vision sciences building is unique in Europe and houses the first university cornea and refractive research centre in the UK. The Aston University Day Hospital also brings together our research in areas such as brain imaging, human myopia (short sight) and epilepsy.

As an Aston optometry student your proximity to all this expertise will give your studies additional context and interest. Aston is currently the only optometry school in the world to have cataract and refractive surgery facility on campus.

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Subject guide & modules

The modules that make up the Graduate Diploma in Optometry programme are:

  • Anterior Eye
  • Binocular Vision
  • Clinical Practice
  • General Ophthalmology
  • Low Vision and Paediatrics
  • Occupational and Professional Studies
  • Ophthalmic Drugs
  • Posterior Eye
Plus an evidence based research project.
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Teaching staff

Further information

Tel:  +44 (0) 121 204 4095       
email: lhspgt@aston.ac.uk

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