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BSc in Optometry

Key facts

3 years full-time.

UCAS Code: B510

Typical offers:
A Levels: AAA
IB: 34-35 points overall, including 6 points in Higher Level Biology and 6 points in Higher Level Chemistry or Physics, 5 points in Higher Level Maths or 6 points in Standard Level Maths and 5 points in Standard Level English.

Access: 
We do not accept Access courses for entry to this degree.

BTEC & other: 
Three Distinctions in BTEC National Diploma / BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science (Forensic Science, Laboratory & Industrial Science or Medical Science) together with grade B in A level in Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics).

Two Distinctions in BTEC National Certificate / BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science (Forensic Science, Laboratory & Industrial Science or Medical Science). With these qualifications we also require grades A and B in two A level science subjects.

AAAAB in Scottish Highers, including Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Maths. 360 UCAS tariff points in Irish Leaving Certificate including a minimum of A2 in Biology, Maths, and Physics or Chemistry and excluding Irish.

Specific subject requirements:  A level: Two sciences at A level, including Biology with either Maths or Physics. Chemistry may be acceptable as an alternative. General Studies not accepted as part of the offer. Additional AS/A levels welcomed.

GCSE: English and Maths grade B, Physics grade B (if not held at A level) or Dual Award Science grade BB

Tuition fees: £9,000 (£1,000 during placement year) for UK/EU students. (2012).  More on fees

Financial prizes are awarded to successful Optometry Undergraduates.

Applicants receiving offers are invited to an open day.

CRB & Fitness to Practice Information

Visit OPSOC-UK - a comprehensive optometry resource for applicants, students and pre-registration optometrists.

Optometry virtual tour

LHS virtual tour optometry

Watch our video

Optometry video thumbnail

Key benefits

  • Modern, purpose built Vision Sciences building with first-class teaching facilities and Optical Clinic
  • Aston is placed 1st in the UK for Subjects Allied to Medicine in the 2010-12 Times and Complete University Guide rankings
  • A highly ranked optometry programme in terms of student satisfaction (www.unistats.com)
  • 100% graduate-level employment rate, wide range of career options in practice and research settings
  • 23/24 for Teaching Quality Assessment – rated as excellent
  • World-class reputation for research – the School was ranked 3rd out of 63 universities in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
  • Innovative hospital placement scheme
Eye scan

Course outline

Aston's three-year Optometry course is the UK's highest ranked optometry programme for student satisfaction and is ranked 1st in the UK for Subjects Allied to Medicine in the 2012 Times,  Complete University Guide and Sunday Times rankings. 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.

Download the course flyer PDF >

 

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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.

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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 accredication section below.

Find out more about placement and pre-registration years in the Life & Health Sciences.

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Professional accreditation

General Optical Council

Our degree is regulated 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 . 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.

Please note that, although you will have access to key University equipment, you will need to purchase some of your own personal equipment (approximate cost of £1,000) by the beginning of term 2 in the first year. This investment will serve you for future professional practice.
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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.  

Year 1 

  • Medical Biology and Pathology
  • Clinical Optometry
  • Basic Investigative Techniques
  • Clinical Visual Biology
  • Ophthalmic Lenses
  • Optics and Medical Imaging
  • Vision and Visual Perception

Year 2  

  • Contact Lenses
  • Further Investigative Techniques
  • Ophthalmic Optics
  • Primary Optometric Examination
  • Clinical Professional Development
  • Vision Science and Research Methods

Year 3   

  • Anterior Eye Conditions
  • Posterior Eye Conditions
  • Binocular Vision and Paediatrics
  • Clinical Practice
  • Elective Studies
  • Professional, Occupational and Low Vision
  • Ophthalmic Drugs.

 

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Teaching staff

Optometry at Aston University is part of the School of Life and Health Sciences (LHS), which also includes The Pharmacy School, Biology, Biomedical Science and Psychology undergraduate programmes and a thriving research culture. There are over 30 teaching and research staff in Optometry with other LHS staff also undertaking Life/Health Sciences/Physiology related teaching and research. In addition the Optometry department includes a team of technical and support staff and a fully operational Optometry Clinic. 

Dr Frank Eperjesi (Head of Optometry)

Dr Robert Cubbidge (Programme Director)

Further information

Email us
0121 204 4097

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