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Optometry

  • Master of Optometry – MOptom with Honours
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about Aston University, Birmingham

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Our 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.

Year 1
Develop knowledge of the scientific principles that underpin optometry while acquiring a range of core clinical skills and 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
Further your knowledge of the scientific foundations of the profession, and extend your skills in clinical assessment and interpretation. A range of person-centred care themes are explored in readiness for increasing patient exposure. By the end of the year, you’ll be able to complete a full eye examination, fit a variety of contact lenses, advise on spectacles and perform a range of techniques to investigate binocular vision.

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 professional skills required for a career in optometry.

Final Year
You will work under supervision as a student optometrist during your 44-week paid clinical placement. Once you have successfully completed stage 4 and achieved the Optometry MOptom, you’ll be able to apply to join the GOC register as a qualified optometrist.

Key course benefits:
• Excellent student experience: 94.2% of students felt positive about teaching on their course (NSS 2024)
• Professionally accredited: Our programme is regulated by the General Optical Council (GOC)
• 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: 94.2% of students felt positive about teaching on their course (NSS 2024)
• Top ranking: ranked in top 5 in the UK (Health Professions, Guardian 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:

Our Optometry 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). More tips: https://shorturl.at/cNR2e

Modules

For a full list of modules and course objectives, visit the course page on Aston University's website: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/optometry-moptom/

Assessment method

Our 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.

Professional bodies

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

  • General Optical Council

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Master of Optometry – MOptom with Honours • Full-time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 14 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
B512
Institution code:
A80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Aston University, Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

Apply by
14 January

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:
B512
Institution code:
A80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Please visit our helpful webpage for International Applicants: https://www.aston.ac.uk/international

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
AAB - BBB

AAB in three A Levels which must include two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

ABB in three A Levels which must include two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics with Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or Core Maths at grade A

BBB in three A Levels which must include two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics for contextual offer students for Contextual Offer students* (https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/contextual-offer-aston-ready)

RESIT APPLICANTS:
We welcome applications from students who have taken up to one set of resits to improve their grades. Only the highest grades achieved will be considered, and resit applications are treated the same as all others.

PREDICTIONS AND ACHIEVED GRADES: At Aston University, we are committed to an inclusive admissions process, ensuring every applicant has the best possible opportunity. While our listed grades are the official entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only estimates.
We may consider applicants predicted slightly below the listed grades, provided they meet the subject-specific requirements. This gives applicants the opportunity to improve on their predicted grades. However, any offer made will still contain the listed grade requirements. If you are applying as a private resit candidate, we still require predicted grades from your school, college, private tutor or exam centre as part of your application.
We may also consider applicants who have already achieved BBC at A level. These applications are reviewed individually on a case-by-case basis. If shortlisted and successful at interview, you will receive a conditional offer at the published entry grades, and your application will be reconsidered during results week in August, subject to available spaces.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDD

National Extended Diploma (RQF/AAQ) / Extended Diploma (QCF) in Applied Science:

Standard Offer: DDD + one A-Level at grade B in either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DDD + one A-Level at grade C in either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Extended Diploma (QCF) / National Extended Diploma (RQF/AAQ) in any subject:

Standard Offer: DDD + grades BB in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DDD + grades BC in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Access to HE Diploma
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
AAAAB

must include two science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DD

Diploma (QCF) / National Diploma (RQF/AAQ) in Applied Science:

Standard Offer: DD + one A-Level at grade B in either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DD + one A-Level at grade C in either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Diploma (QCF) / National Diploma (RQF/AAQ) in any subject:

Standard Offer: DD + grades BB in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DD + grades BC in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
D

National Foundation Diploma (RQF/AAQ) in any subject:

Standard Offer: D + grades BB in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: D + grades BC in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D

Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) / National Extended Certificate (RQF/AAQ) in any subject:

Standard Offer: D + grades BB in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: D + grades BC in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Not accepted

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
DDD

Extended Diploma (QCF) in Applied Science:

Standard Offer: DDD + one A-Level at grade B in either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DDD + one A-Level at grade C in either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Extended Diploma (QCF) in any subject:

Standard Offer: DDD + grades BB in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DDD + grades BC in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
DD

Diploma (QCF) in Applied Science:

Standard Offer: DD + one A-Level at grade B in either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DD + one A-Level at grade C in either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Diploma (QCF) in any subject:

Standard Offer: DD + grades BB in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DD + grades BC in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC 90-Credit Diploma (QCF)
DD

90 Credit Diploma (QCF) in any subject:

Standard Offer: DD + grades BB in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: DD + grades BC in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
D

Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) / National Extended Certificate (RQF/AAQ) in any subject:

Standard Offer: D + grades BB in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Contextual Offer: D + grades BC in two A Level science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC Certificate (QCF)
Not accepted

Scottish Advanced Higher
AAB

must include two science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
32 points

STANDARD: 32 points overall and three Higher Level subjects at 6, 6, 6, which must include 2 science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in English Language and grade 6 in Maths.

OR

CONTEXTUAL: 32 points overall and three Higher Level subjects at 6, 5, 5 which must include 2 science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in English Language and grade 6 in Maths for Contextual Offer students.*

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

This will be accepted in place of one A Level, but not in place of the subject specifics stated.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

This will be accepted in place of one A Level, but not in place of the subject specifics stated.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H1, H1, H1, H2, H2

Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with 5 subjects at Higher Level. Must achieve H1, H1, H1, H2, H2 and includes two core science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics at grade H1.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, which must include B/5 in Mathematics and C/4 English Language or English Literature.

Please note that we do not accept Key Skills or Functional Skills in place of these.

T Level
D

Distinction in the T Level in Healthcare Science, including a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism in Optical Care Services and at least grade B in the Core Component.

Please note that this qualification is being phased out.

Age of qualifications: Applicants must normally have achieved their eligible academic qualifications for entry onto this course within the last two years, to ensure their subject knowledge and study skills are current. Qualifications achieved more than two years ago will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic Admissions Lead. Meeting this requirement does not guarantee an offer.

Dispensing Opticians / FBDO Entry - To be considered, you must also have:

• at least five GCSEs, including Mathematics at grade B/5, English Language at grade C/4, and three further subjects at grade C/4 or above.
• BBC from three A Levels, including at least one science subject from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.
• achieved a BSc in Dispensing at 2:1 or above (or are in their final year of study) OR already achieved FBDO (Fellowship Diploma of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians) status prior to application.
• applications must be made through UCAS as we do not accept direct applications.
• provide a satisfactory academic reference must be provided from the institution you have studied/been studying your degree.
• any gaps in your education history must be explained within your application form.

Please note: We do not accept direct entry into Year 2, Year 3, or Final Year of this programme under any circumstances.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Interview
We list our standard entry grades on this course page. Predicted grades are only estimates, so if your predicted or achieved grades are slightly below these, we may still consider your application if the rest of it is strong. However, this is a highly competitive course. This means: ⦁ We do not make offers below the published entry grades. ⦁ You may not receive a decision until after the UCAS Equal Consideration deadline. ⦁ Being considered does not guarantee an interview or an offer. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to an online interview on Microsoft Teams. The interview is a compulsory part of the application process, and we can only make offers to applicants who pass it. When you apply, please include an up-to-date personal email address (not your school/college email) and mobile number so we can contact you if you are shortlisted. We will send you full interview guidance via email if you are shortlisted. Previously Interviewed Applicants - If you have previously applied to this course and were successful at the interview stage, please email ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk with your full name, UCAS ID, and course name after submitting your new application, to confirm that you have already passed the interview.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)76.5 in each test

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Aston Ready is our contextual offer scheme that could reduce your undergraduate offer by one or two grades. Assessed at the point of application, there are no additional forms to fill in. Details of eligibility criteria can be found on our website.

Learn more on the Aston University, Birmingham website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

The duration of your programme is set out above and you will be responsible for the payment of an annual tuition fee in each of these years. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions (aston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-12/Terms_and_Conditions_of_Enrolment_2025-6.pdf) and subject at all times to the maximum tuition fee caps set by Government from time to time. This means that your total tuition fee may be higher than stated above, but your total tuition fee will never increase by more than 6% year on year. An increase in fees will allow the University to cover the increased costs of delivering the course and ensure it is able to maintain high standards of education and facilities.

Sponsorship information

Please visit our helpful webpage for applicants: https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/your-application/funding

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