Course summary
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 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 a real optometry practice, our joint venture eye clinic, University Valli Opticians, 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.
Modules
Year 1 Core modules: Human Body Systems Ocular Anatomy and Physiology Geometric and Physical Optics Visual Optics and Perception Assessment of Vision and Professional Skills Year 2 Core modules: Abnormal Ocular Conditions Neurophysiology and Binocular Vision Correction of Vision 1: Dispensing and Contact Lenses Ocular Pharmacology Clinical and Professional Skills Final year Core modules: Paediatric Optometry Contact Lenses in Practice Optometric Practice Across the Human Lifespan Clinical and Professional Practice Research Project
Assessment method
Assessment will include project work, assignment and examinations. The final year research project contributes to your degree classification. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- General Optical Council
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- S004
- Institution code:
- H60
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - AAB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM
Access to HE Diploma - Not accepted
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
An offer will be influenced by the subjects you are studying, your personal statement and your predicted grades. T Levels will be judged on an individual basis but are required to be in the Science, Health or Healthcare Science areas. GCSE subjects and grades will be considered in addition to the T Level. Other suitable qualifications or experience may be considered. Please contact the Admissions Office - [email protected] Alternatively, a First degree in a relevant Science subject (Orthoptics, Ophthalmic Dispensing, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biomedical Science, Pharmacology, Mathematics, Physics) at a minimum grade of a 1st. If you are a registered Dispensing Optician wishing to apply you must have met the ABDO qualification (or equivalent) at 65% or better and have obtained a higher specialist certificate either in low vision or contact lens practice. For those with a contact lens specialism they must also be a registered contact lens optician. Proof of registration with the General Optical Council is also required. Science Extended Degree leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree entry route - If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry onto the Optometry BSc(Hons), you may be able to apply to our Science Extended Degree (BCF0) - https://courses.hud.ac.uk/full-time/undergraduate/science-extended-degree-leading-to-a-bsc-hons-degree/ A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check takes place as part of enrolment, this is a compulsory requirement for entry onto this course. As part of this check you are required to have your identification documents verified by the Post Office. There is a charge for this, payable at the point of verification at the Post Office, which you are required to pay (usually around £10). The University will pay for the full DBS check, you are not required to pay for this. Relevant offences disclosed by the DBS will be taken into account regarding your suitability to undertake this course. Once your place is confirmed, you will be required to complete a health check questionnaire. If you have not completed courses of all relevant vaccinations you will be advised to do so. Occasionally these may be chargeable by your doctor. If there are any further medical reports required you may incur additional costs. Please note that placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
https://www.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/
Additional entry requirements
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent will be considered acceptable.
Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our 'Where are you from?' information pages.
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £9250* | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9250* | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9250* | Year 1 |
Wales | £9250* | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9250* | Year 1 |
Republic of Ireland | £9250* | Year 1 |
EU | £17000* | Year 1 |
International | £17000* | Year 1 |
*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Additional fee information
Sponsorship information
Please see our website for more information - http://www.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-finance/undergraduate-scholarships/
Provider information
University of Huddersfield
Queensgate
Huddersfield
HD1 3DH