Orthoptics BMedSci
2024-25 entryThis course will prepare you for an interesting and fulfilling career in orthoptics, specialising in the diagnosis and management of a range of eye conditions. It’s approved by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Key details
- A Levels BBB
Other entry requirements - UCAS code B520
- 3 years / Full-time
- September start
- Find out the course fee
- Industry placement
- View 2025-26 entry
Explore this course:
Course description
Become a specialist at diagnosing, managing and treating eye movement disorders and visual impairments.
A degree in orthoptics from the University of Sheffield can take you in so many directions in healthcare – from an NHS hospital or community eye clinic, to a rehabilitation centre for patients with neurological conditions.
This orthoptics programme is designed to give you a deep understanding of the human eye and different eye conditions.
We’ll lay the groundwork, introducing you to the basic anatomy and physiology of the human eye, before going on to explore topics such as ocular misalignment (strabismus), eye movement disorders, ocular diseases and medical microbiology. You’ll also learn how the NHS works, and explore topics such as medical ethics and law.
You’ll go on to work with patients and clinicians in specialist departments throughout the UK, developing the skills you need to flourish in a multidisciplinary eye care team.
Why study this course?
- Hands on clinical experience - placements in orthoptic departments across the UK and Ireland give you valuable personal and professional experience. Over the three year course you’ll spend 32 weeks on placement, learning from the experts and spending vital time with patients with a range of eye disorders.
- Delve into research - in your final year, you’ll put everything you’ve learned into practice with a research project or literature review on a topic that interests you. You might have the opportunity to present your findings at a conference or have your work published in a medical journal.
- £6,000+ annual NHS training grant - annual NHS grants are available for all eligible UK home students to help you with your studies, as well as funding to cover the cost of placements.
Modules
We’re making some changes to this course and we’re in the process of confirming the modules. The information on this page gives you an idea of the areas we expect the course to cover. There may be changes before you start.
From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.
UCAS code: B520
Years: 2024
You can expect your first year to cover the following topics:
Clinical Orthoptics
An introduction to the clinical testing techniques required to assess ocular alignment, binocular vision and ocular motility.
Optics
An introduction to the principles of geometric and physical optics, with particular reference to the eye.
Strabismus
An introduction to basic orthoptic concepts, with particular emphasis upon the investigation of normal Binocular Single Vision, the investigation diagnosis and management of concomitant strabismus and the diagnosis and management of heterophoria.
Anatomy and Physiology
The basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, providing an overview of how the normal body functions giving a basis for understanding what happens when something goes wrong.
Ocular Anatomy, Physiology and Neuroscience
The detailed anatomy and physiology of structures and functions of the eye and brain. This includes detail on the function of the eyes and their neural control and a number of common pathologies encountered in eye clinics.
Participation and Society
An introduction to issues related to understanding people as individuals, and as members of society. This includes concepts such as disability, gender, socioeconomics and cultural factors in healthcare and education.
Associated Professional Studies
Medical ethics, law and appropriate professional behaviour as a health care professional, as well as the organisational structure of the NHS and health policy in the UK.
You can expect your second year to cover the following topics:
Clinical Orthoptics
Testing techniques related to incomitant strabismus.
Microbiology and Pathology
The causes, mechanisms and effects of disease processes in general, and diseases affecting the eye and its function in particular.
Visual Optics
The clinical characteristics of refractive errors, and their effect on vision.
Electrodiagnosis
Principles of measurement and, in particular, the principles behind recording electrophysiological signals from the visual system.
Strabismus and Ocular Motility
Further study of basic orthoptic concepts, binocular single vision, concomitant strabismus and heterophoria.
In the third year, you can expect to cover the following topics and complete your own research project:
Clinical Orthoptics
Continued application of theoretical knowledge to clinical situations, while further improving clinical skills in all aspects of orthoptic work.
Ophthalmology
The clinical characteristics and management of ophthalmic disorders and general ophthalmic conditions.
Paediatric Neurology
Developmental disorders and birth disorders and their effects.
Strabismus and Ocular Motility
Advanced study of binocular single vision, strabismus and ocular motility defects, with specific emphasis on more complex ocular motility disorders. Topics in neurology, such as developmental disorders and birth disorders, are also covered.
Sale, Supply and Administration of Medicinal Products
Practice in prescription only and non-prescription exemption-listed medicines for Orthoptists. This enables graduates to be annotated on the register with the Health and Care Professionals Council, to use exemptions to sell, supply and administer specific listed medicines for any condition within their scope of practice.
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Learning and assessment
Learning
You will learn through lectures, independent study and clinical placements.
Assessment
You will be assessed by exams, coursework and practical tasks.
Programme specification
This tells you the aims and learning outcomes of this course and how these will be achieved and assessed.
Entry requirements
With Access Sheffield, you could qualify for additional consideration or an alternative offer - find out if you're eligible.
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
BBB
including a science subject
- A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification
- BBC, including B in a science subject + B in a relevant EPQ; BBC, including B in a science subject + B in Core Maths (not applicable if Maths is taken at A Level)
- International Baccalaureate
- 32, with 5 in a Higher Level science subject
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- DDD in Applied Science
- BTEC Diploma
- DD in Applied Science + B in an A Level science subject
- T Level
- Distinction in the Health, Healthcare Science or Science T Level, including grade B in the core component
- Scottish Highers + 1 Advanced Higher
- ABBBB + B in a science subject
- Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
- B + BB, including a science subject
- Access to HE Diploma
- Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 24 at Distinction and 21 at Merit
-
GCSE Maths, English and Science grade 4/C
-
Science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths, or Physics
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
BBC
including B in a science subject
- A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification
- BBC, including B in a science subject + B in a relevant EPQ; BBC, including B in a science subject + B in Core Maths (not applicable if Maths is taken at A Level)
- International Baccalaureate
- 31, with 5 in a Higher Level science subject
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- DDM in Applied Science
- BTEC Diploma
- DD in Applied Science + C in an A Level science subject
- T Level
- Distinction in the Health, Healthcare Science or Science T Level, including grade B in the core component
- Scottish Highers + 1 Advanced Higher
- BBBBB + B in a science subject
- Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
- B + BC, including B in a science subject
- Access to HE Diploma
- Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 15 at Distinction and 30 at Merit
-
GCSE Maths, English and Science grade 4/C
-
Science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths, or Physics
You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification
Equivalent English language qualifications
Visa and immigration requirements
Other qualifications | UK and EU/international
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Graduate careers
Your career prospects as an orthoptist are excellent as it’s a field with plenty of opportunities to specialise or progress. Most of our graduates secure a position in the NHS soon after graduation. You might choose to work in an orthoptic clinic in a hospital, health centre or school for children with special needs. An Orthoptics degree from the University of Sheffield is recognised worldwide – graduates have worked in New Zealand, Australia, USA, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Malta, Cypress, Denmark and Gibraltar.
The course also provides an excellent foundation for future postgraduate study both within research and advanced clinical practice in orthoptics and related fields. We offer two postgraduate distance learning courses, a Masters in Vision and Strabismus specifically aimed at orthoptists and an Ophthalmology Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) in Paediatrics. We also offer excellent PhD opportunities.
Orthoptists can progress into more senior positions and clinical management as their clinical experience develops. You might end up taking on a specialist role involving ocular assessment, diagnosis and treatment in fields such as paediatrics, low vision, stroke and neuro-rehabilitation, vision screening, and ocular diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.
School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
Our graduates work in orthoptic clinics in hospitals, health centres and schools for children with special needs. Others go on to postgraduate research in orthoptics and related fields. We offer a distance learning Masters in Vision and Strabismus specifically aimed at orthoptists and offer excellent PhD opportunities.
This orthoptics degree is recognised worldwide. Graduates have worked in New Zealand, Australia, USA, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Malta, Cypress, Denmark and Gibraltar.
Orthoptists can progress into more senior positions and clinical management as their clinical experience develops. Many orthoptists also take on one or more specialist role which may involve ocular assessment, diagnosis and treatment in example Low Vision, Stroke and neuro-rehabilitation, Vision Screening, and ocular diseases such as Glaucoma, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy and Cataract.
School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
The School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery sits in the Faculty of Health and brings together expertise from across three core areas: human communication sciences, nursing and midwifery, and orthoptics.
We aim to train compassionate, resilient and highly skilled healthcare professionals and support them throughout their working lives. We work closely with organisations such as the Royal College of Nursing, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Health and Care Professions Council to make sure our teaching meets the needs of the NHS workforce. This means that we're ideally placed to offer you high-quality courses, informed by the latest health-related research.
If you study with us, you’ll join a diverse and supportive community, led by passionate teachers, clinicians and researchers who help students fulfil their ambitions. We're dedicated to nurturing students' talents and upholding the highest standards of excellence and professionalism.
We provide an excellent study environment for health professionals across our main campus. We have a close relationship with the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, which is home to our dedicated Health Sciences Library and high-quality clinical teaching and research spaces.
Our students also benefit from our internationally recognised Patients as Educators programme, which allows students to learn from real patients.
We're part of the University's Health Sciences School in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health. Our relationship with the Royal Hallamshire Hospital eye department means that orthoptic students learn within a high-quality clinical teaching environment. Orthoptic students will also work in orthoptic departments across the UK and Ireland, to build on communication skills and develop the practical skills needed to start their career.
Facilities
Our relationship with the Royal Hallamshire Hospital eye department means that students get to learn within a state-of-the-art clinical teaching environment. Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a large range of clinical tests required for orthoptic assessments.
Our optics room is the location for investigations into the nature of light and the teaching of clinical visual optics such as the fundamentals of static and dynamic retinoscopy, the use of slit lamps and focimetry.
The vision science room is a clinical research space equipped with a range of clinical orthoptic tests, as well as an autorefractor, pupilometer, focimeter and a PlusoptiX photorefractor.
The Eye Movement Room is primarily used for research projects. The room houses a high-resolution Eyelink 1000+ eye movement recorder.
Why choose Sheffield?
The University of Sheffield
Number one in the Russell Group
National Student Survey 2023 (based on aggregate responses)
92 per cent of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent
Research Excellence Framework 2021
Top 50 in the most international universities rankings
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
Number one Students' Union in the UK
Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
Number one for teaching quality, Students' Union and clubs/societies
StudentCrowd 2023 University Awards
A top 20 university targeted by employers
The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers report
School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
Times Higher Education (THE) World Subject Rankings 2022
Orthoptics
Complete University Guide 2021
Fees and funding
Fees
Additional costs
The annual fee for your course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition. If an item or activity is classed as a compulsory element for your course, it will normally be included in your tuition fee. There are also other costs which you may need to consider.
Funding your study
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a bursary, scholarship or loan to help fund your study and enhance your learning experience.
Use our Student Funding Calculator to work out what you’re eligible for.
Additional funding
NHS Learning Support Fund
If you are a UK (Home) student on our Orthoptics course you can apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund to help support your studies, which you won’t need to pay back.
This includes a training grant of £5,000 per academic year plus an additional £1,000 payment (due to Orthoptics being a specialist subject), money back for clinical placement travel costs, as well as extra funding for students with dependent children or those facing hardship.
Visit
University open days
We host five open days each year, usually in June, July, September, October and November. You can talk to staff and students, tour the campus and see inside the accommodation.
Subject tasters
If you’re considering your post-16 options, our interactive subject tasters are for you. There are a wide range of subjects to choose from and you can attend sessions online or on campus.
Offer holder days
If we consider offering you a place, we'll invite you to a virtual interview, usually between December and March. The interview will be conducted by academic and clinical staff. An awareness and commitment to the core values of the NHS will form part of the assessment in the interview. There will be an opportunity to meet current students and staff following the interview.
Campus tours
Our weekly guided tours show you what Sheffield has to offer - both on campus and beyond. You can extend your visit with tours of our city, accommodation or sport facilities.
Apply
Contact us
- Telephone
- +44 114 222 2030
- ahpnm-enquiries@sheffield.ac.uk
The awarding body for this course is the University of Sheffield.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.