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Optometry

  • MSci
  • 4 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 14 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Glenside Campus
Awarded by:
University of the West of England, Bristol
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Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Benefit from our highly specialist on-site optometry facilities and fantastic placement opportunities to set you up ready to step into your optometry career.

Why study optometry?
Optometrists are highly skilled health professionals who provide specialist eye care services, including sight tests, eye examinations, and contact lens fitting.

Studying optometry will set you on a path towards a rewarding career with excellent employment and salary prospects open to well-trained graduates.

Why UWE Bristol?
MSci Optometry is a new integrated specialist four-year degree that will give you in-depth academic and practical grounding in your career. After completion you'll be able to register as an optometrist in a strong, confident position.

We combine theory, extensive practical sessions, and placements to set you up for success. Benefitting from real-world experience and patient contact from Year one onwards, you'll gain a variety of clinical experience in our optometry training suite and through external placements each year to support you in shaping your professional identity as an optometrist.

In Year three, you'll see real patients in our specialist on-site clinic, with the support of a qualified optometrist mentor. You'll also have the chance to study advanced subjects such as medical retina and glaucoma, offering you an opportunity to tailor your degree to your interests.

Your final year features an extended placement, in association with the College of Optometrists where you'll put into practice all the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience you've gained so far.

Where can it take me?
Optometry is a solid, growing profession. On graduating, you can take your skills into many areas, including hospitals, community optometry practices, ophthalmic research, specialist contact lens provision in film and media, or eye care services for many charities.

A UK optometry qualification is highly respected globally. You may also choose to enhance your clinical skills by taking higher level optometry qualifications.

Professional bodies

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

  • General Optical Council
This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Glenside Campus

Study options

  • MSci • Full-Time • Placement (mandatory) • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 14 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
B511
Institution code:
B80
Campus name:
Glenside Campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Bristol, UWE 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

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
B511
Institution code:
B80
Campus name:
Glenside Campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

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Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level

Grades B and C from two of the following at A2: Mathematics, Use of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Applied Science or Psychology.

T Level

You will have either a B or C in your Core Component in Science or Healthcare Science. Your T Level would be considered as meeting the equivalent of 1 Science A-Level meaning you would need to have further study to meet our full entry requirements.

If you partially achieve your T Level, you can meet our subject requirements if you have at least an A in your Core Section. For further advice on acceptable subjects please email us.

UCAS Tariff
Offer: 136

Access to HE Diploma

15 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit in at least 2 of the following subjects (15 credits in each): Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology and Psychology.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Grade B/5 or above in Mathematics and Grade C/4 or above in English Language or Literature, and Double Science or Physics, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills and Numeracy as alternatives to a Maths GCSE for this course.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

A minimum of H5 and an H6 in two relevant subjects. Subjects include Maths, Use of Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Applied Science or Psychology. We accept the IB Career-related Programme in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications. This qualification cannot be used to satisfy any subject specific entry requirements.

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

You'll need a minimum of a Distinction and a Merit overall in an Applied Science Extended Diploma. Ten units would need to be from two of the following subjects: Mathematics, Use of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Applied Science or Psychology. You may be asked to do more based on the size of your units. Please list the units you are studying in your application.

For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.

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

You must achieve two of the following: Maths, Use of Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Applied Science or Psychology.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

You'll need a minimum of a Distinction and a Merit overall in an Applied Science Extended Diploma. Ten units would need to be from two of the following subjects: Mathematics, Use of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Applied Science or Psychology. You may be asked to do more based on the size of your units. Please list the units you are studying in your application. For further advice on acceptable units, please email us. We do not accept Cambridge Technical qualifications in Sport and Physical Activity.

Relevant subjects:

The following qualifications are also approved for entry onto this course as equivalent to Level 3: ABDO Level 6 Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing, BSc(Hons) Ophthalmic Dispensing (grade third class or above), City and Islington College Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing - 65% or above.

All applicants are required to complete:

  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check
  • Health Checks.

All applications received on or before the UCAS deadline are considered equally, however, due to the volume of applications received, and to ensure that all applications are given equal consideration, you may attend an interview in December or January but may not receive your decision until May via UCAS or through the UWE applicant portal. The University is unable to enter into individual correspondence regarding decisions made following an interview.

If you have not received a decision on your application within a week of the interview, this means that the University is still considering your application. We appreciate your patience during this time and would like to remind you that if you applied through UCAS and have received offers from any other Universities, you will not lose these offers before your UCAS Reply Deadline.

Please note that due to early clinical contact on this course applicants must turn 18 before the start of placement. Applicants who do not turn 18 by the commencement of the placement will be advised to defer or reapply as appropriate. Please see our admissions policy for further information. https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/B511/optometry#entry

Additional entry requirements

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) / Disclosure Scotland Check
Health Checks
Before you start your course, you will be required to complete: an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check a Health Check. read more about Professional Checks: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/professional-checks-for-health-and-education
Interview
If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited to record a short video presentation (two/three minutes long) and to answer some brief questions in Microsoft Forms. We'll use this information to gauge your suitability for the Optometry course at UWE Bristol.
Other
Deferred entry: We do not accept deferred entry applications for this course. Applicants who meet the academic requirements will be required to complete an online selection exercise. For more details on the process, please visit our https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/undergraduate-applications/selection-processes selection page.

English language requirements

If your first language isn't English, you need an IELTS score of at least 7 overall. Individual scores for each section of the test must not be lower than 6.5, with the exception of the 'Speaking' section, where a minimum score of 7 is required. For full details of the language test, contact the British Council https://www.britishcouncil.org. The University's list of alternative English Language qualifications https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/international-applications/english-language-requirements doesn't apply.https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/B511/optometry

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.

At UWE Bristol we are committed to ensuring all applicants can fulfil their potential.

We make contextual offers for this course that are lower than our standard entry criteria.

We use a range of information from your UCAS application to consider your background and experiences as an individual and the impact these may have had on you. You do not need to provide us with any additional information to be considered for a contextual offer.

Learn more on the Bristol, UWE 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.

Subject Spotlights

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Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

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

Fee information is to be confirmed. All fees are subject to final approval. Please visit our website for further information.

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