3 or 4 years full-time
UCAS Code: B510 (BSc route) B512 (MOptom route)
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
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.
Prospective students with a diploma in optometry from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic will be considered for the accelerated BS Optometry/MOptom programme
Tuition fees: £9,000 for UK/EU students. (2012). More on fees
Prizes are awarded to successful Optometry Undergraduates.
Applicants receiving offers are invited to an open day.
CRB & Fitness to Practice Information
Visa information for International students
Visit OPSOC-UK - a comprehensive optometry resource for applicants, students and pre-registration optometrists.
- 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)
- 98% graduate-level employment rate in 2012, 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
Our programme is highly ranked for overall student satisfaction (96% according to a UK government survey in 2012) and is ranked 1 st in the UK for Subjects Allied to Medicine in the Times Complete University Guide and Sunday Times league tables. The programme provides you with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills needed to enter the College of Optometrists’ Scheme for Registration as an optometrist.
Those students who achieve good grades at the end of year 3 (an overall average mark of at least 50%) can choose to continue with further study if they wish leading to the MOptom. During the pre-registration period when students are in practice and training on the College of Optometrists’ Scheme for Registration students who continue on the MOptom will remain enrolled on a full time basis at Aston University and undertake 6 Masters’ modules. These comprise of 4 taught and 2 coursework modules. All course material is online and tutors can be accessed via email, phone or in person. There will be a need to attend 2 days of University based exams, workshops and tutorials. Students will receive the MOptom degree once they have successfully passed the 4 th year modules.
These module can serve as advance prior learning for our Doctorate in Optometry that can be completed 2 years after graduation.
Clinical experience received in the year 1 and 2 will be refined in year 3 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 staff, 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 as well as paediatric and geriatric optometry . 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 have the opportunity to attend a series of observation sessions in local hospital eye departments, a specialist low vision centre and the Aston University Day Hospital.
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.
Most teaching takes place in lectures, tutorials and practical/clinical classes. Year 3 public service clinics are in small groups with 3 or 4 students per supervisor depending on the type of clinic. 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.
For further information, see the programme specification (PDF).
Our degree is regulated by the General Optical Council (GOC).
After graduation students who wish to work in the UK must complete the College of Optometrists Scheme for Registration during the in-practice pre-registration period. In order to enter the Scheme for Registration a student must have at least a BSc in Optometry at 2.2 level or if on the Aston MOptom programme an overall average of 50% at the end of year 3 and have successfully completed all clinical competencies. Students are responsible for finding their own pre-registration post but will be supported by the University’s careers service and our own in-house careers tutor.
You will need to register with the General Optical Council prior to attending classes. University staff will help you with this during Freshers’ week.
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.
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.
Our modern, purpose built Vision Sciences building provides outstanding facilities for undergraduate learning, research and clinical work and includes a public service eye 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.
Note that, although you will have access to key equipment, you will need to purchase some of your own personal equipment (approximate cost of £1,200) by the beginning of term 1 in year 2. This equipment will also be useful during the pre-registration period and future practice.
Aston University has an accelerated Optometry programme for dispensing opticians qualified to FBDO (Fellow of British Dispensing Opticians) level. Students will be accredited prior learning in Ophthalmic Optics (20 credits), Ophthalmic Lenses (20 credits), Clinical Visual Biology (20 credits), Medical Biology and Pathology (20 credits), Optics and Medical Imaging (20 credits), Vision Science and Research Methods (10 of 20 credits) and Clinical Practice Development (10 of 20 credits). Students will have the option of exiting with a BSc in Optometry after two years of study or continuing onto the MOptom with further University study during the pre-registration period. Application is via UCAS. There is a limit on places and this varies from year to year.
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 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.
Dr Frank Eperjesi (Head of Optometry)
Email us or call 0121 204 4097 Academic staff members will not be able to respond to admissions emails or telephone calls.
For further information on GOC registration see www.optical.org and for further information on the College of Optometrists Scheme for Registration and for visa sponsorship see www.college-optometrists.org
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