Course summary
This course will prepare you for an interesting and fulfilling career in orthoptics, specialising in the diagnosis and management of a range of eye conditions. It’s approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. Become a specialist at diagnosing, managing and treating eye movement disorders and visual impairments. A degree in orthoptics from the University of Sheffield can take you in so many directions in healthcare – from an NHS hospital or community eye clinic to a rehabilitation centre for patients with neurological conditions. This orthoptics programme is designed to give you a deep understanding of the human eye and different eye conditions. We’ll lay the groundwork, introducing you to the basic anatomy and physiology of the human eye, before going on to explore topics such as ocular misalignment (strabismus), eye movement disorders, ocular diseases and medical microbiology. You’ll also learn how the NHS works, and explore topics such as medical ethics and law. You’ll go on to work with patients and clinicians in specialist departments throughout the UK, developing the skills you need to flourish in a multidisciplinary eye care team. Why study this course?
- Hands-on clinical experience - placements in orthoptic departments across the UK and Ireland give you valuable personal and professional experience. Over the three-year course you’ll spend 32 weeks on placement, learning from the experts and spending vital time with patients with a range of eye disorders.
- Delve into research - in your final year, you’ll put everything you’ve learned into practice with a research project or literature review on a topic that interests you. You might have the opportunity to present your findings at a conference or have your work published in a medical journal.
- £6,000+ annual NHS training grant - annual NHS grants are available for all eligible UK home students to help you with your studies, as well as funding to cover the cost of placements.
How to apply
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.
Application codes
- Course code:
- B520
- Institution code:
- S18
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - BBB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - D: 24 credits M: 21 credits P: 0 credits
Scottish Higher - Not accepted
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DD
Scottish Advanced Higher - B
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - B
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H2, H3, H3, H3
GCSE/National 4/National 5
T Level - D
To find out if you're eligible for additional consideration or an alternative offer, visit: ww.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/access-sheffield
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
All new students must obtain occupational health clearance, which may require an individual assessment. This is to ensure that you meet the fitness to practice standards detailed on the Higher Education Occupational Practitioners (HEOPS) guidance. If you're offered a place, you'll need to comply with the Department of Health and Social Care mandatory immunisation requirements. You should have at least two Covid vaccinations to protect yourself and vulnerable people in your placement areas.
Interview
English language requirements
You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification
English language requirements for undergraduates
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/english-language
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN