Take the first steps towards a career as an optometrist by studying for our General Optical Council accredited 3 year degree in Cambridge.
As a BOptom (Hons) Optometry student at ARU, you’ll study in our specialist eye care facilities, learning how to perform eye examinations, diagnose sight problems, improve people’s vision and manage a range of eye conditions.
You’ll spend much of your time in our University Eye Clinic. A working clinic that’s open to the public, it boasts 16 fully-equipped testing rooms and the latest optometric equipment such as an optical coherence tomographer, video slitlamps, and videokeratoscopes.
With support from expert tutors and the chance to gain work experience, this is the perfect place to train as an optometrist.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Achieve your goals with guidance from our expert staff.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Learn how to use the latest optometrical equipment in our labs.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Improve your skills alongside your fellow students.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Get real-life experience by working in our very own University Eye Clinic.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Get real-life experience by working in our very own University Eye Clinic.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Get real-life experience by working in our very own University Eye Clinic.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Get real-life experience by working in our very own University Eye Clinic.
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In Cambridge, our facilities include:
Join our education community and:
Our Optometry degree is fully accredited by the General Optical Council, allowing you to go straight into a pre-registration, year-long clinical placement once you graduate.
Senior Lecturer
Principal Lecturer
Associate Professor Director of the Vision and Hearing Sciences Research Group
Professor of Optometry and Visual Science
Lecturer Practitioner
As our Optometry degree is fully accredited by the General Optical Council, you can join The College of Optometrists’ scheme for registration once you graduate.
Optometry students will need to accumulate 360 credits (usually over three years of study) and have an award classification of at least 2:2 to be eligible for BOptom (Hons). For a lower degree classification, a BSc (Hons) Applied Vision Sciences or BSc Applied Vision Sciences will be awarded, but this will not allow you entry into the Optometry Scheme for Registration.
Once you’re a registered optometrist, you could go on to work in your own practice, a hospital, or an international optical company. You could also take the first step towards becoming an academic or a researcher with our postgraduate research degree. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get a discount on your fees.
For students who complete their first year of BOptom Optometry to an exceptional high standard, there may be the opportunity to transfer to Year 1 of MBChB Medicine. We encourage your interest in studying medicine, but it should be noted that this is a highly competitive route and there is limited availability.
"Through numerous lab sessions, personal tutor and supervisor meetings, lecturers get to know you well. One of the many highlights is the experience you obtain at the University’s own Eye Clinic. Every clinic day gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge to real patients. It truly aids in developing confidence. Studying Optometry has been incredible."
Rahavi
BOptom (Hons) Optometry graduate, 2019
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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.
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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