Program Overview

The UK regulator for Optometry, the General Optical Council (GOC) has published revised standards for all optometry providers in the UK. As a result, the current BSc(Hons) course is being adapted and will be replaced by a 4 year integrated Masters course in 2024. Validation of this new course is in progress. The current BSc(Hons) course will remain in place for students starting the 2023-24 academic year.

Get ready to take your first steps on an exciting journey towards a career in Optometry. We'll give you the opportunity to gain the knowledge and practical skills you'll need to complete your professional training and become highly employable. As one of the UK's newest Optometry departments, we are committed to offering you a learning experience that's second-to-none, and small class sizes mean a personal approach to our teaching where you'll be well supported to reach your goals.

• We’ve been ranked 2nd in England and best in Yorkshire for the subject area of ophthalmics, achieving an overall satisfaction score of 91.3% in the National Student Survey 2022. (Subjects rankings refer to Common Aggregation Hierarchy level 3 and are further filtered to include English HEI's with income over £100m+ in the 20/21 academic year).
• This course is aligned to the requirements of the General Optical Council (GOC) and has full approval from the General Optical Council.
• We combine scientific principles in Optometry and vision sciences with practical clinical skills from the first year.
• The opportunity to learn clinical skills and develop your ability to meet the General Optical Council competencies for Optometry are embedded throughout our course.
• You'll also have the chance to learn in a new, purpose built Optometry laboratory equipped with all the necessary equipment for your studies. *In your final year you'll get real-world experience seeing patients with a variety of ocular conditions in our newly built, state-of-the-art University Eye Clinic here on campus.
• Your studies will also be enhanced through placements in local hospital eye departments, in your final year, where you'll have the opportunity to work alongside colleagues in the NHS.