Overview
Optometry is a healthcare profession concerned with examination, diagnosis and treatment of the human visual system.
In our ageing population the demand for eye care is expected to increase, and optometrists are ideally placed to help meet this demand.
The programme is based on both fundamental academic sciences as well as detailed clinical and practical studies. The emphasis is very much on the optometric service to patients.
You will see patients in the University's own eye clinic, and attend local hospitals where you are instructed in the recognition and management of eye disease by senior ophthalmologists.
Our three-year programme enables you to progress towards practising as a registered optometrist - you will need to complete a year's pre-registration training after graduation in order to do this.
Professional accreditation
This programme is accredited by the General Optical Council.
Rankings
The University of Bradford is ranked 6th in the UK in the Complete University Guide Optometry, Ophthalmics and Orthoptics Subject League Table 2023.
The facilities of the department are excellent along with the renowned Eye Clinic in which we start treating patients from second year.
Learning and assessment
A wide variety of teaching methods are employed throughout the programme, including lectures, seminars, practical sessions and clinical supervision. They focus progressively on student-centred approaches to learning - you are expected to take increasing responsibility for your learning as you progress through the programme.
A range of assessment methods are used for each module. All modules include both formative and summative assessments. Formative assessment has a developmental purpose and is designed to help you learn more effectively by giving you feedback on your performance and on how it can be improved and/or maintained. Summative assessment for each module includes written exams, whilst many modules will require you to demonstrate practical or clinical ability or competence.
Study support
We have a commitment to strong pastoral care for all of our students, which includes a Personal Tutor for all students, regular contact hours for tutor groups and our supportive student service teams who are always ready to help with any questions and provide the advice that you need. In addition to standard study support through taught sessions, our Virtual Learning Environment allows students to access resources, participate in group work and submit work from anywhere in the world 24/7. University central services are rich with support teams to assist students with every aspect of their journey through our degree programmes. From our Career and Employability Service, through our strong Students' Union, to our professional and efficient Student Finance team, there are always friendly faces ready to support you and provide you with the answers that you need.
Research
The School of Optometry and Vision Science research group takes a multi-disciplinary approach to investigating vision and visual perception. This research informs our teaching, ensuring you are learning the very latest techniques and best practice. The group continues to build on over 35 years of vision research at the University of Bradford. Current research embraces a broad range of disciplines including ophthalmology, optics, ocular imaging, machine vision, psychophysics, biomechanics and visual neuroscience. Our aim is to further our understanding of the basic mechanisms of human vision in health and disease, as well as the functional consequences of visual loss. In pursuing this aim we have prioritised a strong translational research dimension and have developed an excellent track record of applying basic research to address clinical problems. The group has achieved a diversity that is naturally collaborative and multi-disciplinary, working with optometrists, ophthalmologists, orthoptists, medical engineers, physicists, psychologists and neuroscientists at local, regional, national and international levels.