MOptom (Hons) Optometry

Study the Optometry MOptom at Aston University, Birmingham and you’ll experience hands-on teaching with real patients, setting you up for a rewarding life-long profession that changes lives.

Following a strategic review of optical education, the General Optical Council (GOC) published new education and training requirements in 2021.

For optometry, the changes mean that there will no longer be a 2-step process to qualification (optometry degree followed by the Scheme for Registration), but programmes must integrate all clinical learning within them, and be at Master’s level. Education providers are expected to transition to the new requirements in 2023-24, or 2024-25.

At Aston School of Optometry, we will be offering our updated programme from September 2023 onwards, which will be a 4 year Master of Optometry programme, with an integrated 44 week period of external Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP), delivered in collaboration with the College of Optometrists.

Student optometrists will be responsible for applying for and securing a paid CLiP placement at an external practice location, with support available from Careers and Placements, and the Aston School of Optometry careers tutor. The BSc in Optometry will cease to admit new students.

Optometrists are professional clinicians responsible for multiple aspects of vision care, specialising in preserving sight by diagnosing and treating visual problems. They’re trained to examine the eyes and detect disorders originating in the eye, brain or other parts of the body.

Studying Optometry at Aston will give you the practical clinical skills, theoretical knowledge and contact with real patients needed to prepare you for a rewarding career in this exciting field of healthcare.

You’ll experience a wide range of learning methods and opportunities like:

• Supervised hands-on clinical experience working with patients at the Aston Eye Clinic, based on our vibrant city centre campus.
• Virtual patient simulators designed to help you develop your skills and expertise.
• Observing treatment of patients in multiple settings such as specialist clinics, local eye hospital departments and the Aston University Day Hospital.
• The opportunity to complete a masters level qualification while working as a re-registration optometrist.