This degree aims to give you the knowledge and skills required of an optometrist to satisfy the primary eye and vision care needs of the public. Designed around this aim, our course contains syllabus recommendations from the General Optical Council (GOC) and the Optometric professional body, the College of Optometrists.

If you are accepted on to this route, you will undertake a Preliminary Foundation Year and pass each module in order to progress to the three year Optometry BSc degree.

Optometrists are trained to examine the visual system and establish its health through defects in sight, ocular diseases and problems relating to general health. Where necessary, they provide a refractive correction using optical appliances such as spectacles and contact lenses.

Our course aims to provide you with the knowledge and transferable skills needed by any student of the health and life sciences. This approach prepares you for the changes in the profession, which will inevitably occur during your career, and it enables you to undertake and enjoy lifelong learning and continuing professional development. Such an approach means you will not be isolated from other career options.

GOC registration is required in order to practice optometry. Achieving a Second Division Honours Degree (2:2) or better and achieving a Certificate of Professional Competence at Stage 1 will allow you to enter your pre-registration placement. A Certificate of Professional Competence at Stage 2 (the end of your pre-registration placement) is required to be placed on the Optician’s Register. If you fail to obtain a 2:2 degree or better, you will not be able to begin your pre-registration period directly.

Distinctive features

• Our GOC accredited course is delivered by one of the UK's highest ranked optometry schools in a newly purpose-designed building;
• we place great emphasis on clinical aspects of the profession and you will spend considerable time in our public clinic;
• clinical practice of optometry is included from your first week providing vital hands-on experience. You will also make hospital visits and attend lectures;
• Cardiff students consistently obtain the highest pass rates in the UK-wide professional body examinations run by the College of Optometrists.