Course Overview

There is a growing demand for optometrists, highly skilled healthcare professionals, trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases, or abnormalities. Through this innovative, interactive degree, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills you need to work as an optometrist and, importantly, continually adapt to the challenges faced in delivering eye-care provision in today’s healthcare environment.

Our progressive program challenges the way optometry has been traditionally taught in the UK by following a proven, problem-based, and team-based approach to learning and teaching. Through this method, you will gain in-depth theoretical knowledge, and practical experience and develop the required skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and patient management, from an early stage.

As well as practical experience within clinical workshops, delivered in modern, purpose-built facilities in Inverness, you will also be immersed in genuine clinical situations, which allow you to work with employers and gain valuable experience in a safe and supported environment. From year one, you will undertake a combination of placements in community practice and hospital eye clinics, alongside clinical skills training. Throughout the course, you will be out on placements for 19 weeks in total culminating in an extended placement in your fourth year. You will be seeing real-life patients in real-life settings, which will be vital for your future practice. On successful completion of this degree program, you will be equipped with both the academic and practical skills needed to enter the College of Optometrists Scheme for Registration1 as a pre-registration optometrist.

This program is a direct response to the needs of our communities, with workforce plans suggesting an additional 800 optometrists are likely to be needed across the UK to meet the demands of an aging population and the associated prevalence of visual impairment and visual health disorders.2 This need is felt most acutely in remote and rural areas, and with pressures on the NHS, increased focus on extended roles, and shared care with ophthalmology, this will further heighten demand for skilled optometry professionals.

General Eligibility

• 4 Scottish Highers at grade ABBB which must include 2 science subjects out of the following - physics, biology or human biology, chemistry, mathematics 

  • For those without mathematics or physics at higher, National 5 Mathematics or National 5 Applications of Mathematics at grade B or above or standard grade mathematics (grade 2) level or above

  • English at higher is preferred, although other essay-based subjects such as history or modern studies would be accepted as an alternative. For those without English higher, or equivalent, then National 5 English at grade B or above or standard grade English (grade 2) level or above

• 3 A levels at BBB which must include 2 science subjects out of the following - physics, biology or human biology, chemistry, mathematics 

  • For those without mathematics or physics at A level, then GCSE mathematics at a minimum of grade B/5 is required

  • For those without English at an A level, then GCSE English Language at a minimum grade of B/5 is required

• A science-based HNC such as HNC Applied Sciences with a grade of B or above in the graded unit

• Applicants with a recognised qualification in ophthalmic dispensing such as FBDO may also apply and will be considered on an individual basis

• Recognized European or International equivalent qualifications are considered. If English is not your first language, you must have evidence of your English language skills:

  • You must have obtained a minimum score of 7 in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent. Individual scores for each test section must not be lower than 6, except for the ‘Speaking’ section, where a minimum score of 7 is required.

  • Please note that English language tests need to have been taken no more than two years before the start date of the course

• This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to achieve target qualification successfully, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course.

• Successful applicants must be passed fit by occupational health. This will require a questionnaire and also a personal visit to the occupational health department in addition to and on a separate occasion to the interview day

• All applicants will be required to attend an interview. Full guidelines will be provided before the interview day, including required preparation for the event. As part of the interview, you will be expected to demonstrate the following:

  • A genuine interest in the care of patients and demonstration of care ‘values’

  • Team working ability

  • Good verbal and written communication skills

  • IT experience eg. Word processing packages, email, and using the internet

  • A high level of commitment due to the intensive nature of this academic and clinical degree programme

• Successful applicants will be required to obtain registration as a student with the General Optical Council to undertake this course

Part Time Work Details

20 hours work permit for international students

Language Requirement

• • Applicants must have an IELTS score- 6.0 or equivalent

  • English (PTE) Academic-58 average with 51 in each component

  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) iBT4-Min 80 or above with min 18 in each section