Optometry

Want an exciting career in eyecare? At Plymouth, you'll study a forward-thinking, clinically focused degree that will equip you with core skills, confidence, and industry experience – preparing you for success as a registered optometrist.

Immersive learning, first-hand
At Plymouth, our innovative learning spaces – like the Centre for Eyecare Excellence (CEE) – are designed to help you apply your learning in practice and work with real patients.

Hands-on, real-world experience
You'll be gaining valuable experience on placements in a range of optometry settings, with regional practice placements during Years 1, 2 and 4 and a hospital placement in Year 3.

Graduate ready to enter the workforce
Graduate with the scientific and clinical knowledge, as well as the professional training, required by the General Optical Council (GOC) to practise as an optometrist.

This course is for you if...

• you want to become part of a pioneering clinical degree programme – the first to bring optometry to the South West

• you want to develop your clinical and communication skills while working with real patients

• you want to make a difference to society through healthcare

• you want to boost your employability by learning through problem-solving and collaboration.

Year 1
In your first year, you’ll focus on learning the basic scientific principles of optometry. You’ll also begin developing the clinical skills essential to the profession. During your one-week observational placement, you’ll see first-hand what working as an optometrist involves.

Year 2
In the second year, you’ll learn about advanced ophthalmic examination and study ocular diseases and pharmacology in more detail. On your two-week clinical placement, you’ll start getting hands-on experience, applying the skills you’ve learnt so far and working directly with patients.

Year 3
In your third year, you’ll continue developing confidence and clinical skills by working directly with real patients at the University’s Centre for Eye Care Excellence optometry practice. Alongside this practical learning, you’ll study complex case scenarios in the key areas of optometry and complete a supervised research project in an area you’re interested in. You’ll also investigate the legal and ethical issues around managing a business.

Final year
In your fourth and final year you will undertake a 44 week placement where you will have the opportunity to hone your clinical skills. During this year you will work in clinical practice under the supervision of a Registered Optometrist.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

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

• General Optical Council

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS