Optometry BSc (Hons)
University of Huddersfield
Key Course Facts
Course Description
The UK regulator for Optometry, the General Optical Council (GOC) has published revised standards for all optometry providers in the UK. As a result, the current BSc(Hons) course is being adapted and will be replaced by a 4 year integrated Masters course in 2024. Validation of this new course is in progress. The current BSc(Hons) course will remain in place for students starting the 2023-24 academic year.
Get ready to take your first steps on an exciting journey towards a career in Optometry. We'll give you the opportunity to gain the knowledge and practical skills you'll need to complete your professional training and become highly employable. As one of the UK's newest Optometry departments, we are committed to offering you a learning experience that's second-to-none, and small class sizes mean a personal approach to our teaching where you'll be well supported to reach your goals.
- We’ve been ranked 2nd in England and best in Yorkshire for the subject area of ophthalmics, achieving an overall satisfaction score of 91.3% in the National Student Survey 2022. (Subjects rankings refer to Common Aggregation Hierarchy level 3 and are further filtered to include English HEI's with income over £100m in the 20/21 academic year).
- This course has full approval from the General Optical Council.
- We combine scientific principles in Optometry and vision sciences with practical clinical skills from the first year.
- The opportunity to learn clinical skills and develop your ability to meet the General Optical Council competencies for Optometry are embedded throughout our course.
- You'll also have the chance to learn in a new, purpose built Optometry laboratory equipped with all the necessary equipment for your studies. *In your final year you'll get real-world experience seeing patients with a variety of ocular conditions in a real optometry practice, our joint venture eye clinic, University Valli Opticians, here on campus.
- Your studies will also be enhanced through placements in local hospital eye departments, in your final year, where you'll have the opportunity to work alongside colleagues in the NHS.
For more information about the additional costs relating to this course, please see our Coursefinder page and look for the 'Additional costs' tab in the fees and finance section.
Professional links and accreditations:
This accreditation is reviewed on a regular basis
As a student of Optometry you are required to obtain and maintain registration with the General Optical Council (GOC) throughout your studies. (Please see Additional costs section for further details).
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Qualification requirements
Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)
31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
An offer will be influenced by the subjects you are studying, your personal statement and your predicted grades.
T Levels will be judged on an individual basis but are required to be in the Science, Health or Healthcare Science areas. GCSE subjects and grades will be considered in addition to the T Level.
Other suitable qualifications or experience may be considered. Please contact the Admissions Office - [email protected]
Alternatively, a First degree in a relevant Science subject (Orthoptics, Ophthalmic Dispensing, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biomedical Science, Pharmacology, Mathematics, Physics) at a minimum grade of a 1st.
If you are a registered Dispensing Optician wishing to apply you must have met the ABDO qualification (or equivalent) at 65% or better and have obtained a higher specialist certificate either in low vision or contact lens practice. For those with a contact lens specialism they must also be a registered contact lens optician. Proof of registration with the General Optical Council is also required.
Science Extended Degree leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree entry route - If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry onto the Optometry BSc(Hons), you may be able to apply to our Science Extended Degree (BCF0) - https://courses.hud.ac.uk/full-time/undergraduate/science-extended-degree-leading-to-a-bsc-hons-degree/
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check takes place as part of enrolment, this is a compulsory requirement for entry onto this course. As part of this check you are required to have your identification documents verified by the Post Office. There is a charge for this, payable at the point of verification at the Post Office, which you are required to pay (usually around £10). The University will pay for the full DBS check, you are not required to pay for this. Relevant offences disclosed by the DBS will be taken into account regarding your suitability to undertake this course. Once your place is confirmed, you will be required to complete a health check questionnaire. If you have not completed courses of all relevant vaccinations you will be advised to do so. Occasionally these may be chargeable by your doctor. If there are any further medical reports required you may incur additional costs.
Please note that placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course.
For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
-
- 6.5
- All Degrees
Costs
Tuition Fees Optometry BSc (Hons)
| England UK | £9250 | year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | year 1 |
| Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| EU | £17600 | year 1 |
| International | £17600 | year 1 |
Average student cost of living in the UK
| Rent | £518 |
| Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
| Supermarket shopping | £81 |
| Clothing | £35 |
| Eating out | £33 |
| Alcohol | £27 |
| Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
| Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
| Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
| Transport within city | £17 |
| Self-care / sports | £20 |
| Stationary / books | £13 |
| Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
| Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
| Insurance | £51 |
| Other | £95 |
| Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
How to apply
Application deadline:
August 1, 2025
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.
Possible Entry Points:
- year 1 (Default entry point)
UCAS application code:
S004
University Rankings
of University of Huddersfield
among 379 universities in England UK
based on 30 different rankings
Positions of University of Huddersfield in top UK and global rankings.
See all 30 university rankings of University of Huddersfield
About University of Huddersfield
List of 368 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Huddersfield - Course Catalogue
Student composition of University of Huddersfield
-
Total number of students enrolled at University of Huddersfield by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 11075
- postgraduates:
- 3010
- Total:
- 14085
-
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Optometry”: 625 Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Where is this programme taught
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Optometry BSc (Hons) | University of the Highlands and Islands | 60% | 0% | 20% | £9250 £9250 | £15360 £15996 | 124 | Inverness |
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Optometry (Direct Entry) BSc (Hons) | Glasgow Caledonian University | 89% | 0% | 5% | £9250 £9250 | £14500 £15200 | 215 | Glasgow |
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Optometry BSc (Hons) | University of Bradford | - | - | - | £9250 | £22180 | - | Bradford |
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Optometry BSc (Hons) | University of Huddersfield | - | - | - | £9250 | £17600 | - | Huddersfield |
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Optometry BSc (Hons) | The University of Manchester | - | - | - | £9250 | - | - | Manchester |
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FAQ about Optometry BSc (Hons) University of Huddersfield
- Tuition fees for this programme are 9250 per year for UK students. In addition to the tuition fees you should also take into consideration the average monthly cost of living for students in the UK.
- Optometry BSc (Hons) is taught on campus and cannot be taken online at University of Huddersfield.
- It is very difficult to get accepted into this course. Accepted students had an average UCAS tariff score of which makes it one of the 0% most difficult courses to enter among all Optometry students in the UK.