Overview of the programme
The programmes are built on a unit-based (modular) system. You will take a total of 120 credits during the year. As the optometry degree is regulated by the General Optical Council, the content of the course is precisely defined. This means that all modules are compulsory and all students on the BSc programme study the same subjects.
Some units are provided by the Faculty of Life Sciences and some by Schools outside the Faculty.
In general, your timetable each week will consist of lectures (usually taught to the whole class) and practical sessions. Lectures will usually be at the same time each week, but your practical timetable will change each week. In view of this, and because you may be occupied from 8:00-18:00 on some days, please think carefully when planning part-time work or other responsibilities.
The University has a system of credit rating for all course units. It is intended to give an indication of the proportion of your time which all the work of a unit is expected to occupy, and is based on a full year’s work being 120 credits. This figure assumes 30 weeks’ work at 40 hours per week. Therefore, you are expected to spend about 100 hours on a typical 10-credit unit. This time includes reading, practising techniques on your own or with other students, eLearning, writing reports and revision as well as all direct contact hours.
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Clinical Experience
Second year optometry students attend clinics at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (MREH) for one week in the summer vacation between the Second and Third Year to gain experience of the hospital eye service. Attendance is compulsory.
In the second semester of Second Year you will be asked to ‘sign up’ for a one week period (dates to be confirmed) when you will attend MREH on a full time basis. Overseas students will be given preference on the rota so that they do not have to return from home specifically to carry out the placement.
Reasonable travel expenses will be awarded to return to Manchester and for local transport to and from MREH each day. If you are allocated the placement during the first week of the vacation no expenses will be paid for the trip from your home address to Manchester as we expect you to already be in Manchester. A small daily subsistence allowance will also be paid.
As part of your Degree Programme, you will be expected to spend time in optometric practice where you will gain experience relevant to the course. In Year 3, you will be required to gain 4 half days (or 2 full days) outside clinical experience between November and April.
The present system of training for Optometrists is a three-year BSc (Hons) course and a pre-registration training year followed by the College of Optometrists’ final assessment examinations. Successful completion of the training year (the “Scheme for Registration”) allows registration with the General Optical Council to practice in the UK.
The University of Manchester received approval from the General Optical Council (GOC) for a four-year course that includes clinical placements and leads to the award of a Master of Science (MSci) in Optometry degree. MSci Optometry students do not take the College of Optometrists’ final assessment examinations.
On the basis of excellence in Year 2 examinations, the top students who wish to be considered for the MSci Optometry degree programme will be invited to apply for one of the available places. A condition of involvement is that students are willing to go to any of the placements. Students should also be aware that working on Saturdays will be expected in the general practice placements.
For the first two years, the MSci and BSc courses are identical. MSci students will then follow a modified third year course before undertaking two clinical placement periods in Year 4. During the placement periods, students will be employed by their relevant practice or hospital, and will be paid at a pre-registration rate. In addition to their clinical work, students will also undertake a research project and an online Personal and Professional Development unit. Clinical examinations at the university will consist of three sets of OSCEs during Year 4, in addition to a summative clinical management assessment at the end of the year
MSci Application Process and Dates
The deadline for applications to the MSci will be the 08/02/2016, the applications will be sent to Miss Rebecca Schulp, who will process them and check that the applicants meet the criteria (1st year average of 60% or more with no carried fails). Dr Caroline Thompson and Dr Ana Hernandez Trillo will shortlist a number of applicants based on the following criteria: CV, cover letter, good clinical performance on OEA, OEB, Slit Lamp and Dispensing (based on assessments’ results). On the 24th of February Dr Caroline Thompson and Dr Ana Hernandez Trillo will check that the criteria are still met by the applicants shortlisted (based on the January Exam Board results). These criteria will be an average of 60% or more with no fails. On the 25th of February, information about the shortlisted candidates’ (CV and cover letter) will be sent to the placement supervisors. The MSci interview day will happen on the 02/03/2016. The aim is to interview 10 candidates and shortlist 6; 4 will be offered a place on the MSci and 2 will be in the reserve (in case of drop-outs or failure to meet the requirements for an integrated Masters).
Optometry Practical Procedures – Informed Consent
You should have received information about Informed Consent in your pre-arrival pack before you arrived in the First Year. You must sign the associated form and return it to the Student Support Office. Additional copies of the information and form are available from the Student Support Office.