Optometry

The Aston Master of Optometry (MOptom) programme is designed to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of optometry and vision science and the practical skills necessary to excel professionally. In our course, you will learn to become a professional clinician responsible for multiple aspects of vision care, specialising in preserving sight by diagnosing and treating visual problems and trained to examine the eyes and detect disorders originating in the eye, brain or other parts of the body.

With clinical experience integrated throughout every year, this programme stands out as a premier pathway for aspiring optometrists. Benefit from a full learning experience combined with hands-on learning through our extensive network of industry partners; develop your skills in our dedicated specialist facilities and learn from the experience and insight of our expert teaching staff. This course is studied over 4 years, with clinical experience integrated throughout the programme from year one.

Year 1

You will develop your knowledge of the scientific principles that underpin optometry while acquiring a range of core clinical skills. You will begin to demonstrate professional skills and behaviours that are required for registration as an optometrist and complete a one-week period of external clinical learning at a local practice.

Year 2

You will develop your knowledge of the scientific principles that underpin optometry while acquiring a range of core clinical skills. You will begin to demonstrate professional skills and behaviours that are required for registration as an optometrist.

Year 3

You will see a wide range of patients in our public service clinic and gain experience in specialist optometry services. Develop further knowledge in areas such as ocular disease and abnormality, and specialist practice and refine your professional skills required for a career in optometry. You will work on our virtual reality simulators to gain experience of a wide range of ocular disorders.

Final Year

You will need to complete a 44-week period of external Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) delivered in collaboration with the College of Optometrists which will enable you to complete the required G.O.C. outcomes for registration to lead to becoming a qualified Optometrist able to practice Optometry in the U.K.

Key course benefits:

• Professionally regulated by the General Optical Council (GOC).

• Ranked 2nd in the UK for career prospects (Health Professions, Guardian 2026).

• Gold standard teaching: Aston University was awarded Triple Gold - the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)

• Extensive patient contact: Benefit from extensive patient contact throughout the course.

• Excellent student experience: 90%+ rating for teaching and academic support (NSS 2025).

Facilities

Students have access to a range of specialist facilities and industry-level equipment, including an onsite public-facing clinic where students experience patient eye care support under close supervision of our expert staff, and a UK-first dedicated ophthalmic simulation suite equipped with the latest. instruments and simulators, designed to develop your clinical skills. See our website for more details of our cutting-edge equipment.

Career prospects:

The Aston programme is valued by some of the best-known companies in the world. Recent graduates have successfully secured careers with employers such as Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Boots, Vision Express, Optical Express, Essilor, Neil Gordon Opticians, NHS hospitals, Specsavers, and Tesco.

No Foundation Programme available.

Your UCAS Application: Explain any gaps in your education, list full qualification names, provide an academic reference, and include predicted grades (even if sitting privately).

Course Modules

For more details of modules please refer to Aston website.

https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/optometry-moptom/september-2027

The Aston Master of Optometry (MOptom) utilises a range of different assessment types and the assessment strategy reflects both the national educational requirements in the FHEQ and the professional educational standards and learning outcomes from the General Optical Council. Assessments are varied and include examinations, written reports, presentations, and assessment of practical and clinical performance, which includes regulations that are part of the Fitness to Practise scheme.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• General Optical Council