Optometry

Description

The programme trains up to 90% of Scotland's optometrists and attracts research and sponsorship to match.

The BSc (Hons), Optometry offers an excellent integrated, professional and scientific education in optometry. It emphasises clinical practice and provides ideal training for careers in private practice, hospitals and research.

There is a modern, purpose-built Optometry Clinic on campus, providing students with access to state-of-the-art equipment that is routinely used in a clinical setting - a £100,000 Optomap machine was a recent donation.

A BSc (Hons) in Optometry from GCU opens doors to professional placements, providing links to future employers throughout the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

In addition, some collaborative programmes exist with European and Far Eastern partners.

Optometry graduates are required to register as student trainees with the General Optical Council to obtain a registration number. Trainees become qualified optometrists after one year's supervised clinical practice and successful completion of the Professional Qualifying Exam (PQE) of The College of Optometrists.

In addition to private optometric practice, a number of other career paths are open to graduates of this programme such as hospital eye services, teaching and research.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

Year 1: Optics, Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Optometric Professional Studies.

Year 2: Pathology, Optometric Refraction, Diagnostic Techniques/Pharmaceutical Agents, Binocular Vision, Ophthalmic Materials.

Year 3: Clinical Studies, Ophthalmology, Research Methods, Contact Lens Studies, Ergonomics, Ocular Disease.

Year 4: Optometric Practice, Shared Care of Ocular Disease, Speciality Clinics, Anomalies of Binocular Vision, Visual Development, Ocular Therapeutics, Project or Dissertation.

Work placement: GCU has its own eye clinic, providing clinical training facilities, and students have the opportunity for placements in commercial practice. The programme also involves visits to ophthalmology and optometry departments in hospitals and to optometric practices in the private sector.

Assessment: Assessment of this programme involves clinical and theoretical exams of both formative and summative types.

English Language Requirements

CAE score : 60(Grade C)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Higher: AAABB, A Level: AAB, ILC: AAABBB.

Essential subjects: Mathematics and Physics (S Grade 1/Int 2 A/GCSE A), English (S Grade 2/Int 2 B/GCSE B/ILC-O B).

Recommended subjects: Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Higher/A Level/ILC-H).

FE college students: Contact us or visit www.gcu.ac.uk/study for a copy of our College Student Supplement.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Glasgow Caledonian University.

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the College of Optometrists and General Optical Council.