Optometry

GCU's Optometry degree course is designed to provide the theoretical and practical training to equip graduates with advanced clinical skills which they will use to work as independent eyecare professionals.

Optometrists are eyecare professionals who detect sight problems and prescribe and fit glasses as well as contact lenses and other visual aids. Optometrists also detect and manage a variety of eye conditions such as Glaucoma and Age-related macular degeneration.

Optometrists in Scotland have an extended healthcare role compared to elsewhere in the UK. The advanced knowledge and clinical skills that optometrists need to fulfil this role are at the centre of our four-year Optometry programme.

We offer a high-quality clinical and didactic education that is highly rated by students. As an integral part of their studies, students benefit from a wide range of clinical experiences in our purpose-built on-campus Vision Centre.

Students who have sat a secondary school qualification in Saudi Arabia are not generally able to join an undergraduate programme at the University and would be required to undertake a foundation programme before joining one of our undergraduate programmes at GCU. Contact [email protected] for further information on accepted foundation qualifications.

GCU has been the hub for non-medical eye-care education in Scotland since 1971. Employment prospects are excellent and our graduates are highly rated by employers throughout the UK. Opportunities include private optometric practice, hospital eye services, teaching and research.

Graduates become qualified optometrists after one year's supervised clinical practice and successful completion of the Scheme for Registration run by The College of Optometrists.