Optometry

This course will provide you with the scientific and clinical knowledge to graduate as a pre-registration optometrist and enter your final training under the supervision of a practising optometrist. optometrists are trained to examine the visual system and establish its health through investigating for defects in sight, ocular diseases and problems relating to general health.

ELP programs are offered by universities or pathway institutions to assist students in achieving the language proficiency required for academic studies. You can get admitted to your course with a lower language requirement if you do an ELP program.

Qualified optometrists can choose a career in private practice, the hospital eye service, universities conducting research and teaching or various options in industry. registration also opens possibilities to work abroad as an optometry qualification from the uk is highly regarded worldwide. in 2017, 100% of the school’s graduates were in employment following graduation, while others were engaged in further study or took time out to travel. employers included universities, various nhs trusts, multiple and independent optometrists and companies such as astra zeneca and johnson & johnson. cardiff university optometry graduates are significantly ahead of the national average in gaining their professional qualifications. to make the transition from a student to a professional optometrist, trainees are required to complete a pre-registration period governed by the college of optometrists. the 2015 average pass rate for graduates from cardiff university’s school of optometry and vision sciences is 92%, compared to the national average of 74%. after graduating you must complete a period of supervised practice if you wish to register with the uk's general optical council (goc). this is called your pre-registration placement and you must gain at least a lower second class degree (2:2) to enter this training. our graduates rarely have difficulty securing pre-registration positions, a process that begins in your second year. many employers visit us to recruit future graduates, and are familiar with the high calibre of cardiff students. several of our graduates are successful each year in gaining much sought after hospital pre-registration positions. you will become uk qualified after satisfactory completion of the pre-registration period (normally 12 months), where you will undertake work-based assessments to demonstrate stage 2 competencies, and which will conclude with a final assessment. the pre-registration placement and final assessment is administered by the college of optometrists. graduate careers optometrist

Work while you study

You can also work on a UK student visa, from 10 to 20 hours per week during the academic year, 40 hours per week or full-time during vacations.

Partnerships

Most universities in Wales have partnerships with different companies and organisations to ensure their students get enough professional training as students. In addition to increasing their students' chances to get hired by one of the universities. Cardiff University has partnerships with the following companies: