Download Optometry - University of Bradford

Optometry
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BSc (Hons)
3 years full-time
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
CONTENTS
Contents
BSc (Hons) in Optometry
1
Special Features
3
Course Content
4
Career Opportunities
7
Admission8
Postgraduate Activities
10
The Student View
11
On and around Campus
12
City of Bradford and surroundings
14
City Campus map
16
How to find us 17
Taught by
qualified
optometrists
THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
Bradford School of Optometry
and Vision Science
University of Bradford
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD7 1DP
optometry-admissions
@bradford.ac.uk
tel: 01274 234290
fax: 01274 235600
www.bradford.ac.uk/optometry
GENERAL COURSE ENQUIRIES
Tel: 0800 073 1225 or 0300 456 2666 from mobiles
Fax: 01274 235585
Email: [email protected]
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is committed to promoting equality, diversity and an inclusive and supportive environment for students,
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We can arrange for this
material to be transcribed
into an accessible format
such as Braille, large print,
E-text (compatible with
screen-reading software)
or digital audio such as CD.
Please contact Bradford
School of Optometry and
Vision Science on
01274 234290
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
BSc (Hons) in
Optometry
Optometrists do much more
than supply spectacles and
contact lenses. In the UK,
optometry is part of the primary
healthcare programme, and an
optometric examination includes
screening for signs of disease
that may need medical attention.
Conditions such as diabetes or
high blood pressure, which may
affect the eyes, are often first
detected by an optometrist.
Optometrists may also offer
specialist advice and treatment
to patients having problems
with low vision, binocular vision,
and those with specific learning
difficulties such as dyslexia. The
broad range of responsibility of
the optometrist is reflected in the
breadth of your studies, with the
course evenly balanced between
three elements: basic sciences
(such as anatomy, physiology and
optics), optometric studies, and
clinical practice.
Optometry requires a detailed
understanding of the structure
and functions of the human
eye and visual system. The
work calls for a high degree of
accuracy, attention to detail,
and a measure of manual
dexterity - all skills which you
will have the opportunity to
acquire during the course.
You also need an interest and
ability in scientific work, and an
ability to work with people and
to win their confidence.
The course is assessed by a
combination of examinations
and coursework, with your final
degree classification being
based on assessments during
the second and third academic
years. The academic year is
divided into two semesters
(mid-September to January, and
January to May). Each semester
consists of 12 weeks of teaching,
followed by a period for revision
and assessment. You will take
60 credits in each semester,
120 in each year and 360 over
the full degree course.
The very close
community that is
Optometry offers the
chance to develop your
interpersonal skills
right from the start.
After graduation you will
need to spend a further
‘pre-registration’ year of
training, under the supervision
of a qualified optometrist, and
pass professional qualifying
examinations. Graduates in
optometry can look forward to
excellent career prospects,
with a 98% employment record
for our 2013 graduates.
HOLLY HIGGINS,
BSC (HONS) OPTOMETRY
A brief description of the
syllabus and a course structure
diagram can be found on the
following pages.
FOR MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION ON THE
BRADFORD SCHOOL OF
OPTOMETRY AND VISION
SCIENCE (INCLUDING
INFORMATION ON RESEARCH
AND CLINICAL FACILITIES),
PLEASE REFER TO OUR
WEB PAGES AT:
www.bradford.ac.uk/optometry
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
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BSC (HONS) IN OPTOMETRY
Our three-year Optometry course is designed to provide
you with all the theoretical and practical knowledge
and skills needed to become a qualified optometrist.
SPECIAL FEATURES
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WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
Special
Features
The Eye Clinic
Our Honours degree course in
Optometry prepares you for clinical
practice. The emphasis is very much
on the optometric service to patients,
and the clinical content of the course
begins in the first week and increases
steadily through the three years of
the programme.
Opened by HRH the Duke of Gloucester
in October 1997, the Eye Clinic provides
comprehensive optometric services
of a high standard to University staff,
students, their families and members of
the local community. It also supports
local optometrists and other healthcare
professionals requiring diagnostic,
consultative or treatment services.
Excellent Teaching Quality
The Bradford School of Optometry
and Vision Science was awarded
23/24 in a recent Subject Specialist
Review of teaching quality - a grade
regarded as excellent.
Teaching by Qualified Optometrists
We have a core staff of qualified
optometrists, all with broad experience
in optometric practice and teaching.
Staff are also actively involved in
academic research, with which you
may become involved in your final year.
Our Optometry department is regularly
rated highly for student satisfaction,
with a score of 95% in the National
Student Survey 2013.
A Good Relationship with Local
Hospitals and the Community
£6m
recently invested in
modernising our facilities.
Well-Equipped Clinics
and Laboratories
We offer well-equipped clinics for eye
examinations, detection of eye disease,
ocular measurement and photography,
and electrophysiological investigation.
There are speciality clinics in contact
lenses, binocular vision, low vision
and diabetes, offering treatment of
difficulties in co-ordination of the two
eyes, as well as the prescription and
dispensing of spectacles, contact lenses
and low vision aids.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
You will regularly visit eye departments
of local hospitals and receive tuition from
senior ophthalmologists. Optometrists,
hospital consultants, social workers,
schools and general medical practitioners
now frequently refer patients to the
University for special investigation.
Jobs and Career Opportunities
With a 98% record for 2013 graduates
going onto employment or further
study, it is easy to see why our
graduates are spoilt for choice. For
career opportunities, see page 7.
A Friendly Atmosphere
With an intake of around 110
undergraduate students per year, you
can be sure of a close-knit group and an
atmosphere conducive to serious but
enjoyable study. Should you have any
problems, your personal tutor will be on
hand to help out.
Ideally Situated
Centrally located in the Richmond
Building, you are only minutes from
all the University facilities. We are
also conveniently located for the
many patients from the University and
outside who attend our clinics. With
the city centre just minutes away, you
can be sure of a good social life and you
can enjoy all that Bradford has to offer.
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SPECIAL FEATURES
An Emphasis on Clinical Practice
COURSE CONTENT
Course
Content
In the first year, we ensure that
all students start the more
fundamental studies from a
common academic base by
providing introductory modules.
Course Outline
First Year
Semester 1
Second Year
Semester 2
Semester 1
Third Year
Semester 2
Semester 1
Semester 2
Refraction and refractive error
Clinical optometry and
communication skills
Visual and ocular assessment 1
General and ocular pharmacology
Advanced clinical practice
Pure and visual optics
Visual and ocular assessment 2
Ocular and systemic disease
Human body in health and disease
Assessment and management
of binocular vision
Research project
Ocular anatomy and physiology
Ophthalmic lenses and dispensing
Physiology of vision and perception
Basic Sciences
Pure and Visual Optics is a
comprehensive course covering the
fundamental principles of geometrical
and physical optics (pure optics), and
how they apply to the human eye
(visual optics).
Human Body in Health and Disease
covers the anatomy, physiology and
biochemistry of the human body and
how these are affected by disease.
Study topics in this module include the
function of physiologically important
molecules in living cells and tissues, the
structure and functions of body tissues
and systems, digestion, respiration,
blood circulation, nervous system,
endocrine system and renal system.
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Evidence-Based
Optometry
Contact lens
practice 1
Ocular Anatomy and Physiology is the
study of how the eye works. It involves
a detailed study of the eye and visual
system in two stages. In semester one,
you will study the internal and external
anatomy and physiology of the eye.
The second semester covers external
eye muscles and eye movement, bones
of the skull, and the structure and
functions of the brain and visual system.
Physiology of Vision and Perception
is the study of how we see. In the first
semester you are introduced to this
subject as a basis for the clinical study
of optometry, emphasising the physical
and physiological aspects of vision. In
semester two, you will extend this to
include principles of psychophysical
measurement, visual detection and
discrimination, visual search and
attention, and binocular vision.
General clinical practice
Visual impairment
and rehabilitation
Clinical case
studies
Contact lens
practice 2
Professional, legal
and ethical studies
Optometric Studies
and Clinical Practice
Refraction and Refractive Error
introduces students to some of the
core elements of an eye examination, in
particular measuring the patient’s level
of vision and determining the type and
amount of refractive error. One of the
main learning objectives in the module
is to develop a sound understanding
of the relationship between the level
of vision and the refractive error, and
how this relationship changes with the
patient’s age.
Clinical Optometry and Communication
Skills extends throughout the three
years of the course. You will spend an
increasing proportion of your time in
learning clinical skills, and in integrating
them into a clinical routine for the
examination of patients’ visual and
ocular problems.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
In the first year you will learn the
theoretical basis behind the many
clinical measurements which you will
subsequently use. You will also learn
the practical skills you need to make
these measurements and to use
optometric instruments.
In the second year you will start to learn
how to integrate all the clinical results
and solve patients’ problems. In the final
year you will start to examine real patients
and will learn the principles of how to
communicate effectively with patients.
Visual and Ocular Assessment involves
the detailed study and practice of
clinical procedures used by optometrists
to examine the eyes and measure
visual function.
In the first year you will learn the basic
clinical procedures involved in the
examination of the visual system using
instruments such as the Slit Lamp,
Non-Contact Tonometer and Visual
Field Screener.
In the second year you will begin to
look at more advanced investigative
techniques and their clinical applications.
You will also begin to integrate the firstand second-year clinical procedures with
the investigation of the ocular diseases
encountered in optometric practice.
Assessment and Management of
Binocular Vision deals with the
importance of binocular vision and how it
is affected by problems with eye muscle
co-ordination or weakness. You will learn
how to assess binocular vision anomalies,
including squint, and how to manage these
with spectacles and orthoptic training.
Ophthalmic Lenses and Dispensing
deals with the design and performance
of spectacle lenses. You will also learn
the basic principles of dispensing, with
examples of the practical problems you
may encounter in ophthalmic workshops.
Contact Lens Practice is introduced with
a single module in the second year, in
which you deal with the basic principles
of contact lens design and fitting. More
advanced theoretical and practical study
of this subject is presented in the third
year of the course.
Visual Impairment and Rehabilitation
is studied in the third year. The aim is
to assist those patients, whose vision
cannot be improved significantly using
conventional spectacles or contact lenses,
to make the most of their residual vision
using magnifying systems and imaging
technology.
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COURSE CONTENT
Provides theoretical
and practical
knowledge, and
the skills needed to
become a qualified
optometrist
COURSE CONTENT
A very large proportion
of our lecturers are
professionally qualified,
so they are actually still
practising pharmacy
or optometry, or have
worked in hospital
laboratories or on
archaeological digs. So
when they’re teaching
our students, they
are doing so from the
perspective of being
professionals who
understand what the
workplace is.
General and Advanced Clinical Practice is
undertaken in the third year. Under supervision, you
will examine patients with many different problems
in clinics dealing with primary care, contact
lenses, low vision, binocular vision, diabetes, and
dispensing. You will also visit hospital eye clinics
and observe in ophthalmologists’ clinics.
Clinical Case Studies is a third-year module which
complements General and Advanced Clinical
Practice. The module involves the study, in depth,
of individual clinical cases so that you may gain a
more thorough understanding of how to examine
patients efficiently and find effective solutions to a
range of clinical problems.
Pharmacology and Pathology
General and Ocular Pharmacology is taught
in both semesters of the second year. Drugs
may be used on the eye for both diagnostic and
therapeutic purposes. In this module you will study
how different drugs act on the body in general, and
the eye in particular. The module also covers those
aspects of diagnostic drug use that are appropriate
to your work as an optometrist, together with
an indication of therapeutic agents used by the
ophthalmologist. You will also examine the adverse
ocular effects of various systemic drugs.
PROFESSOR RICHARD GREENE,
DEAN OF THE FACULTY
OF LIFE SCIENCES
Ocular and Systemic Disease is studied
throughout the final year. One of the most
important responsibilities of the optometrist in
practice is detection of disease that affects the
eyes and visual system. The eyes may be affected
by a wide range of conditions including cataract,
glaucoma, diabetes and hypertension. In this
module you will learn how to identify normal
variations of the eye, external and internal, and
look at early clinical manifestations of ocular and
related pathology.
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Allied Studies
Clinical optometry cannot be complete without
significant contributions from allied studies.
These are briefly described below.
Evidence-Based Optometry is taught in the second
year. An understanding of statistics is important
in optometry, not only for application in laboratory
experiments and research studies, but also for
understanding how to interpret clinical evidence in
optometric practice. In this module you will learn
the basic principles of statistical analysis, including
the principles of measurement and decision
making in clinical vision science, and you will apply
these principles in studies using both experimental
and clinical data.
Professional, Legal and Ethical Studies, presented
in the final year, gives you an outline of the
principles of English law, followed by detailed
examination of those statutes and rules which
govern the conduct of the practising optometrist.
Research Project
The Research Project is an individual experimental
or theoretical study, extending over two semesters
in the final year of the course. You will be able to
choose from a wide range of titles offered by staff
supervisors, and your supervisor will guide you
through the research process. At the end of the
project you will be required to submit a report of
about 7,000 words. Many recent studies have been
linked to staff and postgraduate research, covering
diverse topics such as visual perception, side-effects
of systemic and ocular drugs, visual problems in
childhood, and clinical aspects of contact lenses,
cataract, diabetes, glaucoma and dyslexia.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
Career
Opportunities
Making Knowledge Work
Your Career in Optometry
The University has a consistently good record for
graduate employment - 89% of 2013 University
of Bradford graduates went into employment or
further study within six months of graduation.*
The work of an optometrist is principally concerned
with the examination of the eyes and vision.
Optometrists give advice about, and assistance
with, a wide range of visual difficulties, as well as
prescribing spectacles and contact lenses.
In 2013 98% of our Optometry gradates entered
employment or further education (99% of those
at professional or managerial level)*. The salary
range for graduates starting work in 2013 was
£9,000-£35,000 in their pre-registration year,
with an average salary of £13,748. Salaries
for registered optometrists vary considerably,
and can be between £25,000-£60,000.
More detailed information on graduate
employment is available on the University
website at www.bradford.ac.uk/careers
Pre-Registration Year
After obtaining a degree, if you wish to qualify as
an optometrist in the United Kingdom, you must
undertake a pre-registration year in private or
hospital practice.
During this time you will take professional
examinations for membership of the College
of Optometrists. Success in these leads to
registration by the General Optical Council, which
will entitle you to practise independently as a fully
qualified optometrist.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
We work closely with optical employers such as
Boots, Specsavers and independent practices to
help our students find the right pre-registration
position after graduating, and also to make sure
our degree programme gives students the relevant
skills they need for the workplace. Our courses
are taught by professionals from within those
industries and organisations, so future employers
can rely on our graduates having the skills they
need and the confidence to use them. We support
entrepreneurship for those who want help and
support in starting or entering business, and
maintain close links with potential employers, to
help you get the graduate career you want.
Optometry is a vocational course, and in due
course the overwhelming majority of our
graduates become registered with the General
Optical Council to practise as optometrists.
After completing the pre-registration year, you
may set up in private practice yourself or join an
established firm or partnership. There are also
opportunities as a salaried employee of a larger
corporate body. Increasing numbers of optometrists
are employed by the Hospital Eye Service, on the
staff of hospital eye departments. You may also
choose to specialise in particular areas of optometry,
or take on consultancy work for industry.
As an optometrist, your expertise is needed by
a broad spectrum of bodies and organisations.
For example, you may work in areas as diverse
as the prison service, charities for the visually
impaired, or the Armed Forces. Optometry is, of
course, a worldwide profession, and a number of
our graduates have spent a few years overseas,
everywhere from the Channel Islands to Australia.
Vision Aid Overseas, a voluntary organisation
formed in 1985, has as its aim ‘the advancement of
the visual welfare and eye health of underprivileged
people overseas’. Many optometrists, including
Bradford graduates, have given their time and
expertise to assist this valuable body.
Some graduates pursue postgraduate research
in optometry or visual science, either at this
University or elsewhere. Others choose unrelated
careers which make use of the excellent general
scientific education the degree course offers.
At present, there is no shortage of employment
opportunities for you as a graduate in Optometry.
The great majority of our students go on to
satisfying and rewarding professional careers.
*These statistics are derived from annually published data by the Higher Education Statistics
Agency (HESA), based on those UK domiciled graduates who are available for employment
or further study and whose destinations are known.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
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Admission
UCAS CODES
Optometry is a highly vocational degree, and thus
has fairly specific entry requirements.
UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD:
BRADF B56
With respect to candidates pursuing GCE A-level
subjects, we welcome applications from candidates
who can fulfil, or expect to fulfil, the following criteria:
BSC (HONS)
3-year full-time
B510
ADMISSION
340 points (equivalent to grades A,A,B) of which a
minimum of 240 points (A,A) must be obtained from
two of the following pure science subjects: Biology/
Human Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics.
We do not count points from General Studies or Key
Skills qualifications.
Applications for our
courses must be made
through UCAS. The
UCAS code for the
University of Bradford is
BRADF B56 and
the course code for
our Optometry
course is B510.
All applicants must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs
at grade C including English Language and
Mathematics (note: GCSE English Language and Maths
equivalences will not be accepted) and 2 sciences (i.e.
Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Combined Science).
FURTHER
INFORMATION
ADMISSIONS TUTORS
Dr James Heron
Dr Matthew Cufflin
Offers are not normally made to applicants who
limit their Year 13 programme to just two GCE
A-level subjects (or equivalent).
THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
Bradford School of Optometry
and Vision Science
University of Bradford
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD7 1DP
optometry-admissions
@bradford.ac.uk
tel: 01274 234290
fax: 01274 235600
www.bradford.ac.uk/optometry
NB: GCE Advanced Subsidiary (AS) scores will be
subsumed into a GCE Advanced score in the same
subject.
Candidates taking Scottish Higher examinations
would be expected to achieve a minimum of 340
points from 5 subjects (to include English language
and preferably three science subjects) with no less
than 60 points (grade B) in any individual subject.
Scottish Higher scores will be subsumed into
Advanced Higher scores in the same subject.
DISABILITY SERVICE
Candidates taking the Irish School Leaving
Certificate at Higher level should achieve a
minimum of grade A2 (231 points) in three science
subjects, with a further 110 points in two subjects
including English, but excluding Irish language.
[email protected]
tel: 01274 233739
fax: 01274 236200
www.bradford.ac.uk/disability
Candidates taking the International Baccalaureate
Diploma should obtain 28 points overall, with 6
in two science subjects at Higher Level (Biology,
Chemistry, Maths or Physics). Science subjects at
Standard Level will not be considered.
Mature students will be considered individually on
merit, but must achieve or offer a similar academic
performance to that described above.
Qualified dispensing opticians, current students
of ophthalmic dispensing, and any students with
degrees should contact Admissions Tutors for advice.
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BTEC Extended Diploma (18 Units)
The BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science passed
with DDD may be considered if offered together with
a science A level at grade B. All BTEC qualifications
can only be considered if offered together with a
mandatory minimum of 6 months of paid employment
in an Optical practice, which should be evidenced by
reference.
Applicants are advised to contact the Admissions
Tutors for advice.
Applicants on Access programmes
The following Access to Higher Education Diplomas
can be considered: Access to Science; Access to
Medicine; Access to Science and Engineering;
Access to Dentistry, Pharmacy and Medical Science.
You will need to obtain 30 of the 45 Level 3 credits
at Distinction and the remaining 15 Level 3 credits
at Merit.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
Equal Opportunities
The qualifications listed above will cover the
majority of applicants to Optometry, but we may
also consider applications from those with different
career experience and qualifications. International
applicants should offer qualifications that are of
a standard equivalent to GCE A level as described
above. Please contact an Admissions Tutor for
advice if you are unsure whether your qualifications
may be acceptable.
The University seeks to provide equal opportunity
for admission to all applicants with appropriate
academic qualifications and experience, irrespective
of factors such as age, gender, ethnic origin,
religious persuasion or disability.
Admissions Policy
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
will be made on all prospective entrants prior to
commencing the course, and all students enrolled
on the course will be required to register with the
General Optical Council (GOC).
Canadian Entry Requirements for Optometry
For all provinces apart from Ontario, our
minimum entry requirements are passes in
at least five grade 12 subjects (at least three
subjects must be science subjects) with an
overall average mark of 80%.
Students with Disabilities
The University of Bradford has always encouraged
applications from students with disabilities, whose
applications are considered on the same academic
grounds as are applied to all candidates.
Optometrists require an eye for detail - probably
their most critical role is discriminating the subtle
signs of early eye disease from normal variations
in the appearance of the eye. Manual dexterity is
important for many clinical techniques, some of
which involve the precise positioning of a diagnostic
instrument on the surface of the eye.
100%
of our undergraduate
students gain exposure
to the world of work
If you have any form of disability, you may contact
the Admissions Office before you apply, to discuss
any special needs you may have. If you indicate a
disability on your UCAS form, you will be invited
to contact the Disability Service to discuss your
particular requirements, and will receive information
about our facilities, and on the Disabled Students’
Allowance (DSA). For more information, help and
advice, please contact the Disability Service.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
Open Days
You are also welcome to visit the University before
you apply. The University holds special Open Days
during the year (in summer and autumn). Precise
dates and further information can be obtained from
the Course Enquiries Office, Tel: 0800 073 1225 or
the website www.bradford.ac.uk/openday
How to Apply
We recognise that you may have any number of
further questions you would like answers to before
you commit yourself to applying for our course.
You are most welcome to contact our
Admissions Tutors informally by telephone,
email or letter, and they will do their best to
answer any questions you may have, (email:
[email protected]).
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ADMISSION
International and other Qualifications
POSTGRADUATE ACTIVITIES
Postgraduate
Activities
The School undertakes a full
programme of research leading to
MPhil/PhD degrees, and also provides
Continuing Education and Training
(CET) for qualified optometrists. These
activities are of great direct benefit to
undergraduate optometry students,
helping to ensure that teaching staff
are up to date in their own knowledge,
as well as contributing to new
developments in theory and practice.
Research in the School has the aim
of linking together findings obtained
from scientific studies of vision with
clinical practice, so that new methods of
clinical investigation can be developed
from research knowledge. The School
therefore acts as a bridge between
optometric practice and optometric and
vision science.
In addition, final-year undergraduate
students carry out a research project
leading to a dissertation, which is
frequently linked to the mainstream
research work of the School. This
enables students to develop their
own skills in research methodology,
and to contribute to the advancement
of knowledge.
Particular areas of clinical research
activity include binocular vision, contrast
sensitivity, motion perception, contour
mapping of the cornea, visual problems
in childhood, dyslexia, and low vision
management. Studies on the progress
of cataracts and their effect on mobility,
retinal function behind cataracts, visual
function in diabetes and glaucoma
(including computer analysis of the
retinal image), are being carried out in
conjunction with local hospitals.
Finally, undergraduate students may
continue their studies on graduation,
either immediately, or after a few years
in professional practice. Whether it is
full-time or part-time study for a PhD, or
attendance at a Continuing Professional
Development course, individuals keen to
further their knowledge of optometry
and vision science are always welcome.
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FURTHER
INFORMATION
POSTGRADUATE
RESEARCH OFFICE
Dr Anne Graham
Director of Postgraduate Research
Faculty of Life Sciences
University of Bradford
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD7 1DP
[email protected]
tel: 01274 235949
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
The Student View
AIMEE
RUTHERFORD
HOLLY
HIGGINS
BSc (Hons)
in Optometry
BSc (Hons)
in Optometry
As a part of my course there is a plethora of skills
and knowledge that you need to have at your
disposal every day throughout your career. These
include patient communication skills, slit lamp,
ophthalmoscope, retinoscopy, and so many more.
There is the Eye Clinic, where many of our practical
sessions are held with volunteer patients. There are
also practice rooms in the Richmond Building which
contain all of the necessary equipment needed.
We are taught how to use up-to-date equipment
on patients and different techniques that can be
carried out. There are also allotted times when we
can practise outside of teaching time in preparation
for our exams.
Every Wednesday the Bradford Ophthalmic Optics
Students’ Association (BOOSA) has an outside
speaker come in. These speakers are from various
different areas within optometry, and provide a good
insight to career pathways once you have qualified.
They also give relevant information on recent
breakthroughs and developments within optometry.
During the first week at University the Optometry
department arranged some ice-breaker activities
to help us settle in. This was really good because
optometry is a very specific subject; we attend all
lectures/practical sessions with the same people all
of the time, unlike in other courses where modules
overlap. So it is important that we make friends in
our year.
This course helps me in every single way. All of the
lectures and practical sessions that I attend are all
relevant to my future career as an optometrist.
Optometry, both as a career choice and the course
itself, offers many opportunities. I never thought
that I would put myself forward as one of the
course reps or be chosen as a course ambassador,
helping to show new candidates around the
campus. In fact, the very close community that
is Optometry offers the chance to develop your
interpersonal skills right from the start, something
which has been very important to me.
From the beginning, the course offered a good
balance of academic work and hands-on study;
every topic has its own practical session built in
so you can immediately try out your new-found
knowledge. This is one of the aspects I’ve found
most useful. In terms of support, I found the
Bradford course second-to-none. This was evident
right from the Open Day where the friendly and
approachable lecturers fully explained how the
course was run. The buddy system (run by secondand third-year students) also helps to ease your
worries and answer any questions you may have.
AESHA SHAH,
BSC OPTOMETRY
This is combined with online help in the form of
different Facebook groups run by students for
students, and also Blackboard, where you can
find up-to-date lecture notes and slides to browse
through. Furthermore, something I have learnt this
year is that you do need to be prepared to study
hard and motivate yourself to learn if you wish to
succeed - you can’t afford to get behind!
The social life is pretty good. The Optometry course
is a tight-knit community, especially BOOSA which
meets weekly for talks and free pizza afterwards. The
University as a whole has many different societies that
welcome newcomers. I decided to join the hockey team
and made an entire new bunch of friends.
Accommodation in The Green is a good option for
your first year, and accommodation in Bradford in
general is brilliant value and plentiful compared to
elsewhere. Bradford’s central town campus makes
life easy, and the University has many attractive
spaces to meet friends or study.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
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THE STUDENT VIEW
Bradford has a very good reputation for
Optometry. I had a look at other universities, and
Bradford was my favourite. I liked the City because
it is not too big and is a stone’s throw away from
Leeds. The staff seemed friendly and willing to
help and I liked the campus and facilities. And it
was also not too far from home for me.
It is important to get
involved in as many
extracurricular activities
as possible, especially
in the first year! I have
recently finished my
first year of the course
at Bradford and have
been elected as treasurer
for BOOSA (Bradford
Ophthalmic Optics
Students’ Association)
and PR (public
relations) for the
Hindu Society.
Bradford
ON AND AROUND CAMPUS
On and around
Campus
We’ve invested over £120 million in our bustling
City Campus and Emm Lane Campus to make sure
you get the most out of your time here – whether
you’re studying, working, relaxing or playing.
Located just five minutes’ walk from Bradford
city centre, the centrepiece of our refurbished
campus is the three-storey Student Central
building – the heart of student activity and
home to University of Bradford Students’ Union.
There’s also plenty of open green space for
you to enjoy on campus, including the grass
amphitheatre outside Student Central which
plays host to everything from sunbathing in
summer to sledging in winter.
Our new developments are among the most
environmentally-friendly buildings in the world,
and have seen us win numerous awards including
the Chartered Institution of Building Services
Engineers (CIBSE) Carbon Champion of Year 2012.
Students studying Management or Law-related
subjects study at the dedicated Emm Lane
parkland campus, two miles (25 minutes’ walk)
from the city centre, where beautiful historic
buildings stand side by side with the latest
state-of-the-art facilities. A dedicated free bus
service takes students between the Emm Lane
Campus and the City Campus.
Around Campus
You can choose from a wide range of places to eat
and drink, including the Global Food Market Atrium
Restaurant, which offers vegan and halal options,
and many other bars and cafés where you can
catch up with your coursemates over a cappuccino
or celebrate with friends on a night out. The
campus also boasts its own theatre, library, art
gallery and music centre.
Student Central
The Ents Mall houses four bars, a patio terrace
and a 1,300-capacity nightclub. The Union Mall has
open spaces for group study, student advice centres
and a well-stocked shop. You’ll also find plenty of
social and study spaces around the central atrium,
with teaching rooms, a 130-seat lecture theatre,
student services and a computer cluster.
Award-winning Facilities
Our award-winning £40 million student
accommodation, The Green, opened
in September 2011.
Our Fitness & Lifestyle sports centre boasts a
range of top facilities including a gym, swimming
pool and climbing wall, with a packed programme
of classes, beauty treatments and children’s
activities available at hugely competitive prices
(visit www.bradford.ac.uk/unique for more details).
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Accommodation
During your first year you will be guaranteed a
place at our £40m award-winning eco-friendly
student village, The Green. Buildings are arranged
as a small village, with rooms available in
apartments or townhouses. Every building meets
the highest standards of sustainability, meaning
it costs very little to heat and light. The Green
has a real community feel. It is set in beautiful
landscaped gardens, with places to relax and
socialise. For more details about what’s
available for our students, and for costs, visit
www.bradford.ac.uk/accommodation
In subsequent years most students choose to
live in privately rented accommodation. Student
accommodation is cheaper, easier to find and
more conveniently located in Bradford than in most
other university cities. Many students live within
five minutes of their lectures! Unipol Student
Homes (www.unipol.org.uk/bradford) offers a
free advice service to students, and is a good way
of finding a good-quality, safe place to live at a
reasonable cost.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
ON AND AROUND CAMPUS
£40m
award-winning, eco-friendly
student accommodation,
The Green
120+
student societies
and sports clubs
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
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City of
Bradford and
surroundings
CITY OF BRADFORD
Bradford is a vibrant, friendly, creative and
cosmopolitan city with a population of over
half a million people speaking around
70 different languages.
With a lively nightlife and a host of shops,
cinemas, sporting venues and cultural
attractions, it’s also one of the least expensive
student cities in the UK – offering you great
value for money too. Social life in Bradford
thrives in the multitude of small, independent
bars and restaurants dotted around the city centre
which, once discovered, will become like a second
home. You’ll also find an abundance of art,
music and theatre on your doorstep with
a wide variety of clubs and venues within a
few minutes’ walk of the City Campus.
A global city
The National Media Museum is one of the most
visited museum attractions outside London,
while the Alhambra Theatre is a major
touring venue offering top West End shows,
contemporary dance and ballet. There’s
also a wealth of grassroots culture to explore,
from artist sound walks around historic
Manningham to the flourishing poetry
and local music scenes.
Historically, Bradford was at the heart of the
Industrial Revolution and its rich Victorian
heritage is evident right across the city with
an abundance of handsome architecture.
More recent introductions include City Park,
an award-winning six-acre landscaped space
at the very heart of the city centre, featuring
a 4,000 square metre mirror pool, spectacular
laser light projections and over 100 fountains.
To support student travel around the
city, a free bus service links the City
Campus to the two railway stations,
the bus station and the city centre.
Almost three-quarters of the City of Bradford
district is green open space. The beautifully
landscaped Lister Park is within walking distance
of the city centre, and is situated next to the
University’s Faculty of Management and Law.
We’re a multicultural community, hosting a diverse
range of dazzling street events and flamboyant
festivals such as the annual Bradford Festival, a
vibrant, colourful and multicultural programme
of theatre, art, music and dance from around the
world. The city’s restaurants serve up a delicious
menu of world cuisine including Polish, Chinese,
Italian and Middle Eastern, while our famous curry
houses earned Bradford the title of Curry Capital
of Britain for a record-breaking fourth year in a
row - 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The surrounding countryside is equally
breathtaking. The towns and villages of
Saltaire, Ilkley and Haworth are all popular
tourist attractions that are well worth a
visit in their own right.
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WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
CITY OF BRADFORD
FURTHER
INFORMATION
ABOUT BRADFORD
www.visitbradford.com
www.bradford.ac.uk/
the-city-of-bradford
ACCOMMODATION
www.bradford.ac.uk/
accommodation
74%
of the City of Bradford
district is made up
of green space
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
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City Campus map
MAP KEYS
L IST ERH ILL
S RO AD
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North
W
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CAM PU S ROA
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1
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T UM BL IN
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47
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TU M BL IN G H ILL ST RE ET
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P.O.
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S TR EE T
T o A lh a m b r a T h e a t r e
& C it y H a l l
Information
Controlled parking areas
(permit holders only)
Visitor car parking only.
Visitors must display a
visitor parking permit in
their car, which they can
obtain from Richmond
Building reception.
Main roads only shown
Map not to scale
COURSES
TO
R
Bus stop for the
number 99 free bus to
the Emm Lane Campus
A 6 47 M
OR LEY
REET
R ANDA LL W ELL ST
O
TH
Free city bus stops
21
EA
Sat Nav
Postcode
BD7 1AZ
Bus stops
GR
21
Main entrances
NN
V IL
SYMBOLS KEY
16
3
1
7
20
B
G HI LL STR
5 EET
RLT
To L a i s t er i d g e
L a n e Si t e
8
CA
B B
GR
EAT
HO
Bus stop to
RTO
E mm L a n e
N R
OA
Campus
D
4
R IC
9
4
5
AD
D R
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10
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THORNTON ROA
HOW TO FIND US
CITY CAMPUS
1. Richmond Building
2. Atrium, Richmond Building
3. Richmond Building Workshop Block
4. ICT Building (Institute
of Cancer Therapeutics)
5. Norcroft Building and
Norcroft Centre
6. The Green
(student accommodation)
7. Horton A Building
8. Horton D Building
9. Chesham B Building
10. Chesham C Building
11. Student Central and
J B Priestley Building
12. Sports and Amenities
and Carlton Building
13. Pemberton Building
14. Ashfield Building
15. Phoenix Building South West
16. Phoenix Building North East
17. Bright Building (re:centre –
Education and Sustainable
Development Centre)
18. Cavendish Building (STEM Centre)
19. Forster Building (Eye Clinic)
20. Peace Garden
21. Forensic Crime Scene House
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WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
Map and directions
How to find us
FURTHER
INFORMATION
FOR MORE INFORMATION
AND MAPS SEE
www.bradford.ac.uk/maps
HOW TO FIND US
Getting here
Bradford is easy to get to, located
right in the middle of the UK with
excellent road and rail links and
its own international airport.
An extensive coach service
also connects most parts of the
country with Bradford’s Travel
Interchange. Postcodes for
our sites are BD7 1DP (Sat Nav
postcode BD7 1AZ) for the City
Campus and BD9 4JL for
the Emm Lane Campus.
By air
Leeds/Bradford International
Airport has a range of daily
domestic flights to/from
destinations across the UK,
as well as regular connecting
flights to/from Amsterdam
and other major European
locations. Manchester Airport,
50 miles away, serves a range
of international destinations.
By road
Bradford is connected to the
national motorway network by
the M62 and M606, which we
recommend you use if arriving
from the south, east or west.
Use the A629/A650 via Skipton
and Keighley if arriving from the
north west, or the A1 or A19 if
arriving from the north east. The
University is clearly signposted
on all major routes into the city.
Approximate travel distances are:
London
200 miles (320 km)
Leeds 8 miles (13 km)
York 33 miles (53 km)
Manchester 35 miles (56 km)
Birmingham 120 miles (192 km)
Edinburgh 200 miles (320 km)
By rail
Bradford Interchange has
extensive rail links, many of
which involve changing at Leeds.
There are some direct trains from
London to Bradford. The free City
Bus service operates between
the railway stations and the City
Campus. Approximate journey
times are:
BRADFORD
London (King’s Cross)
3 hours
Leeds 20 minutes
York 1 hour
Manchester 1 hour
Birmingham 3 hours
Edinburgh 4 hours
Glasgow 4 hours
The contents of this publication represent the intentions of the University at the time of printing. The University reserves the right to alter or
withdraw courses, services and facilities as described in this booklet without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at
any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study. Admittance to the University is subject
to the requirement that the student complies with the University’s admissions procedures and observes the Charter and Statutes and the
Ordinances and Regulations of the University.
WWW.BRADFORD.AC.UK/OPTOMETRY
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THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
Bradford School of Optometry
and Vision Science
University of Bradford
Bradford
West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP
optometry-admissions
@bradford.ac.uk
tel: 01274 234290
fax: 01274 235600
www.bradford.ac.uk/optometry