Official Optometry Applicants Thread 2026
If you're applying to university for Optometry for 2026 entry, this is the place to introduce yourself to fellow applicants, ask questions and share your experience of applying so far. 
A few questions to start the conversation:
Which universities are you hoping to apply for?
What subjects are you studying?
Work/shadowing experience?
Anything else?
Share as little or as much information as you are comfortable with.
Please don't share details of interview questions on the forum - it gives those who follow you an unfair advantage.
Sharing or requesting social media handles or group chats is not permitted under the TSR community guidelines.
A few questions to start the conversation:
Which universities are you hoping to apply for?
What subjects are you studying?
Work/shadowing experience?
Anything else?
Share as little or as much information as you are comfortable with.
Please don't share details of interview questions on the forum - it gives those who follow you an unfair advantage.
Sharing or requesting social media handles or group chats is not permitted under the TSR community guidelines.
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
what work experience has everyone done? i have work experience at an independent opticians and a pharmacy but im not sure if i should do some more? maybe volunteering at a charity?
Reply 2
Original post
by Mahima_Rahmanwhat work experience has everyone done? i have work experience at an independent opticians and a pharmacy but im not sure if i should do some more? maybe volunteering at a charity?
I was lucky to get 4 days of experience at an independent opticians
Original post
by FPTGSVLYI was lucky to get 4 days of experience at an independent opticians
Which unis are you thinking of applying to?
Reply 4
•
City St Georges
•
Cardiff
•
Plymouth
•
ARU
•
Aston City is for sure my first choice
Reply 5
Original post
by Mahima_Rahmanwhat work experience has everyone done? i have work experience at an independent opticians and a pharmacy but im not sure if i should do some more? maybe volunteering at a charity?
hey i did work experience at a GP, nursery and pharmacy but dw i think ur experience is enough i'd probably say just reflect on ur experiences and link it to optom x
Reply 6
Original post
by abraar07hey i did work experience at a GP, nursery and pharmacy but dw i think ur experience is enough i'd probably say just reflect on ur experiences and link it to optom x
hii, do we have to deffo have wex at an opticians. Can it not be anywhere else healthcare related ?
Reply 7
Original post
by tharms678hii, do we have to deffo have wex at an opticians. Can it not be anywhere else healthcare related ?
Heyy I think optician work experience is preferable but tbh they don’t really specify if they want just specifically optical experience. So yh I think anything healthcare related should be fine or even volunteering in healthcare related places x
Original post
by tharms678hii, do we have to deffo have wex at an opticians. Can it not be anywhere else healthcare related ?
For healthcare courses, there is usually a requirement to show you understand the role of an optometrist so just a day or two of shadowing experience will be fine. You could also look at 'A day in the life of an ....' videos online. The rest of your work/volunteering experience can be in any public-facing role - it doesn't have to be in healthcare. This shows that you are comfortable and confident dealing with the general public so work in a supermarket, cafe, charity shop, care home, etc. is valid experience.
Reply 9
hii, i did an Allison course called 'introduction to optometry'. the certificate says that this course is CPD certified. Do you think it is worth me talking and reflecting about this course in my personal statement because i'm just worried that it's not as good as futurelearn or coursera courses.
Reply 10
Hi, I just wanted to know how is everyone getting on with applying for optometry. What are your predicted grades?
Original post
by Tyhere989ajnsHi, I just wanted to know how is everyone getting on with applying for optometry. What are your predicted grades?
I've moved our post to the 2026 optometry applicants thread to help you get replies.
Reply 12
Hi so I’m just wondering as I’m applying for optometry thisyear what unis you got offers from and what your predictedwere just to give me an idea .also please mention if it wascontextual or not
Reply 13
Original post
by Aisha ashhxhdbdbHi so I’m just wondering as I’m applying for optometry thisyear what unis you got offers from and what your predictedwere just to give me an idea .also please mention if it wascontextual or not
Reply 14
Original post
by Mahima_Rahmanwhat work experience has everyone done? i have work experience at an independent opticians and a pharmacy but im not sure if i should do some more? maybe volunteering at a charity?
I did a week of work experience at Boot's Opticians but im also not sure if I should do more, my personal statement is annoying me too cuz literally all the ai detectors i've run it too are flagging it as 60-90% ai generated 😒 im going crazy lmaooo
Reply 15
Original post
by tharms678hii, i did an Allison course called 'introduction to optometry'. the certificate says that this course is CPD certified. Do you think it is worth me talking and reflecting about this course in my personal statement because i'm just worried that it's not as good as futurelearn or coursera courses.
i did this one asw and was planning on talking about it, now idk whether i should or not 😭
Original post
by n1sh417aI did a week of work experience at Boot's Opticians but im also not sure if I should do more, my personal statement is annoying me too cuz literally all the ai detectors i've run it too are flagging it as 60-90% ai generated 😒 im going crazy lmaooo
Please do not run your PS through an AI detector as you are increasing the likelihood that it will be cached and then you might get a high plagiarism score when you submit it on UCAS.
If your PS is all your own work, there is no need to run it through an AI detector.Reply 17
Original post
by normawPlease do not run your PS through an AI detector as you are increasing the likelihood that it will be cached and then you might get a high plagiarism score when you submit it on UCAS. If your PS is all your own work, there is no need to run it through an AI detector.
If your PS is all your own work, there is no need to run it through an AI detector.Reply 18
Original post
by Mahima_Rahmanwhat work experience has everyone done? i have work experience at an independent opticians and a pharmacy but im not sure if i should do some more? maybe volunteering at a charity?
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 19
Original post
by n1sh417ai did this one asw and was planning on talking about it, now idk whether i should or not 😭
hi, i think i'm still gonna talk about it because it is still relevant to the course after all
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