Original post by kvpl01
hi i currently study biology, psychology and english a level. because i dont study chemistry finding an optom degree is hard to get into after y13. does anyone know any degrees i can take which are transferrable into optometry?
According to the following job profiles, you would need an MOptom degree approved by the GOC:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/optometrist
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/optometrist
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/medical/job-profile/optometrist
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/wider-healthcare-team/roles-wider-healthcare-team/clinical-support-staff/optometrist
The list of approved degrees are listed on the following page in the GOC website:
https://optical.org/en/education-and-cpd/education/what-to-study-and-where/
Strictly speaking, the MOptom degrees ask for 2-3 sciences, not just biology and chem. Psychology is sometimes considered as a science, but this is rare. The main sciences unis consider are from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Maths.
From the list, I have found a course with an integrated foundation year (they call it preliminary year instead):
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/course/master-of-optometry-with-preliminary-year-5-year
The following unis would accept Biology + Psychology combo:
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/moptom-optometry
https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/B510/optometry#entry
Personally, I would do A Level Maths during a gap year, since it doesn't require a practical assessment (which can be costly). That would allow you to meet all the subject requirements for all the Optom degrees. If not, you can choose either physics or chemistry for your other A Level.
I am not entirely sure whether you can do a science A Level privately and the unis from the list would accept you without doing a practical assessment. If they don't, then you need to fork out about £800-1500 (average is about £1000) for the practical assessment on top of a min of £250 exam fees (£350 max) + any other cost of doing the A Level privately (e.g. course fees, books, etc. if applicable depending on how you want to go about it).
Do note, you can become a dispensing optics professional before going into optometry. The former doesn't have as strict entry requirements, but if you go down that route it would be unnecessarily longer than just doing the foundation year/extra A Level + MOptom degree.
(edited 7 months ago)
Original post by kvpl01
hi thanks alot for all of that, really appreciate it.
just wondering, how do you know that you can become an optometrist after doing dispensing optics?
and also do you know if a degree like dispensing optics will allow me to transfer into an optom degree?
just wondering, how do you know that you can become an optometrist after doing dispensing optics?
and also do you know if a degree like dispensing optics will allow me to transfer into an optom degree?
how do you know that you can become an optometrist after doing dispensing optics?
Look at the job profiles. If in doubt, also look for certain optometry degrees that aren't quite 5 years in length
if a degree like dispensing optics will allow me to transfer into an optom degree?
I think you would need to complete it as an undergrad before you can do the optom degree as a postgrad (they still call the optom a bsc though). I think I have came across 2-3 of such degrees when I was browsing through the list of accredited degrees. I recommend you looking through the list of approved unis and courses yourself (there are about 15 in the list).
Plymouth accepts psych and bio - 4 year course! Good luck!! Are you only applying for Optom?
Original post by siahateskwl
Plymouth accepts psych and bio - 4 year course! Good luck!! Are you only applying for Optom?
thanks, yeah i saw that, but id rather stay in london tbh. optom is my first choice. i also put biology at queen mary(AAB) as my 5th choice bc i had no idea what else to do. my grades are ABC. any suggestions?
Original post by kvpl01
thanks, yeah i saw that, but id rather stay in london tbh. optom is my first choice. i also put biology at queen mary(AAB) as my 5th choice bc i had no idea what else to do. my grades are ABC. any suggestions?
After biology you can do a physicians associate masters! You work in the NHS. Also teaching is another career you can go into! If you’re interested in psychology you can go into the psychotherapist route which is also very good, just make sure you apply for a course which is counselling + psychology! Let me know how it goes! X
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