Introduction
Train to become a General Optical Council-registered dispensing optician. Study by distance learning while you work, and on residential placements in Cambridge.
Train as a dispensing optician and take the next step in your career.
Dispensing opticians have a vital role to play in community eye care. Our FdSc Ophthalmic Dispensing Registerable Award course will give you skills in low vision and contact lens management, visual optics and ocular emergencies and ophthalmic lenses. It will also give you the chance to fine-tune your professional practice.
Earn while you learn on our accredited distance learning course, which features residential sessions in Cambridge.
Key facts
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Expertise
Achieve your goals with guidance from our expert staff.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Specialist facilities
Learn how to use the latest optometrical equipment in our labs.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Collaborate
Improve your skills alongside your fellow students.
Entry requirements
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Fees and paying for university
Facilities and accreditation
Specialist facilities
In Cambridge, our facilities include:
- 16 fully-equipped optometric consulting rooms
- specialist facilities in contact lenses, low vision and visual stress
- industry-standard equipment
- a dedicated dispensing laboratory
- the University Eye Clinic, a working clinic that’s open to the public.
Outstanding student support
Join our education community and:
- learn from supportive, expert staff who are registered opticians
- benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources
- develop your brilliant business ideas though our Student Start-up Support Hub
- access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.
General Optical Council
Our course is accredited by the General Optical Council (GOC). When you successfully complete your studies, you’ll be able to register with the GOC as a Dispensing Optician.
Julie Hughes
Acting Deputy Head of Department
Careers
Our FdSc Ophthalmic Dispensing course is specially designed for eye care professionals who are already registered with the General Optical Council (GOC).
As an accredited course, it will equip you with the skills you need to work in an optometric practice as a Registered Dispensing Optician.
It can also prepare you for further study. You may be able to progress onto our BOptom (Hons) Optometry degree, or to study for a postgraduate qualification, such as our PG Cert Contact Lens Optician.
Max
"It really helped me develop, not only as a professional but as a person, I've really grown my confidence in myself ... it was a massive stepping stone in building a career for myself in optics."
Max
FdSc Ophthalmic Dispensing
Want to talk to someone?
Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.
We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.
Learn while you earn
With support and mentorship from your current employer, you can study on this course while you work.
Life in Cambridge
Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
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