Course summary

This course will prepare you for a fascinating and fulfilling career in orthoptics working directly with children and adults to assess and manage a range of eye conditions. It’s approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Become a specialist at diagnosing, managing and treating eye movement disorders, and supporting patients with reduced vision. The degree in orthoptics from the University of Sheffield is recognised world-wide and opens up a diverse range of career opportunities. Whether you work in a community eye clinic or a rehabilitation centre for patients with neurological conditions, you’ll make autonomous decisions about patient care every day. Our experienced and passionate team of orthoptists, clinicians and researchers have designed the curriculum to give you a deep understanding of vision and different eye conditions. We’ll introduce you to the basic anatomy and physiology of the human eye, before going on to explore topics such as strabismus, eye movement disorders, ocular diseases and medical microbiology and pathology. You’ll learn about medical ethics and the law, and the role orthoptists play in the NHS. Clinical placements allow the theoretical and practical sides of the course to merge. You’ll travel to eye departments throughout the UK and Ireland working with qualified orthoptists to examine and support a range of patients. Research also plays a key role in your studies. Our world-leading researchers have made substantial contributions to the field, and they’ll incorporate the latest findings into the course. A research methods module and final year project will develop your analytical skills, advancing your understanding of vision and helping you make informed decisions about patient care. 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.