BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics Bachelor's degree at the University of Sheffield
BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics at University of Sheffield. Orthoptics sits at a specific point in eye care: assessing and managing conditions such as squints, double vision and other disorders of eye movement and binocular vision, in patients ranging from very young children to older adults.
About this course
This course will prepare you for a fascinating and fulfilling career in orthoptics working directly with children and adults to assess and manage a range of eye conditions. It’s approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). From the provider’s course page.
BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics is a Bachelor's degree (BMedSci (Hons)) at the University of Sheffield, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Allied health graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £28,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Nursing & Health, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
First year 5 modules
- Participation and SocietyCore20 credits
Module details
This module aims to introduce students to issues related to understanding healthcare service users as individuals, and as members of society. Content includes: theoretical models of disability, psychology impact of disability across the lifespan, concepts of self and identity, concepts of quality of life and its measurement; health beliefs and behaviours, and the role of gender, race and socioeconomic position in healthcare. Students are introduced to gold standard healthcare concepts, including
- Clinical OrthopticsCore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces the clinical testing techniques, such as different aspects of vision, ocular alignment, binocular vision, ocular motility and ophthalmic tests relevant to orthoptic practice. Expertise is gained by demonstration and practice on peers and normal subjects at the University, combined with clinical placements at different hospital sites. Clinical skills practice provides an opportunity to use these techniques and apply the findings to diagnose and form a management plan for co
- OpticsCore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces Orthoptic apprentices to the foundational principles of geometric and physical optics. Students will transition from a broad understanding of fundamental physics, to the practical application of light behaviour with particular application to the human eye. The module is designed to equip students with theoretical optical physics knowledge, including an understanding of the clinical assessment of refractive errors, and the use of diagnostic instrumentation. Students will le
- Strabismus and Ocular Motility ICore40 credits
Module details
This module introduces students to basic concepts of orthoptics, ethics, professional code of conduct, the structure of the health services nationally and globally and leadership within orthoptic practice. Emphasis will be on the investigation of binocular single vision, the investigation, diagnosis and management of concomitant strabismus and heterophoria. Introduction of aspects of visual perception relevant to orthoptic practice, normal child development with an emphasis on how orthoptic asse
- Anatomy and Physiology (Orthoptics)Core20 credits
Module details
This module covers the basic anatomy and physiology of the human body in semester 1 and detailed anatomy and physiology of structures and functions of the eye and brain in semester 2. The general anatomy and physiology teaching provides an overview of how the normal body functions giving a basis for understanding what happens when something goes wrong. Detailed ocular and neuro anatomy, the function of the eyes and their neural control is taught. The clinical appearance of the normal human eye a
Second year 5 modules
- Clinical Orthoptics IICore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces assessment techniques related to incomitant strabismus and competence is achieved by demonstration and practising these skills at the University. The clinical placement element provides experience of testing concomitant and incomitant strabismus and further develops clinical skills and application of theoretical knowledge to the practice situation. Reflective practice skills will be developed.
- Visual OpticsCore20 credits
Module details
To develop an awareness of the clinical characteristics of refractive errors, and their effect on vision, and to use objective and subjective methods of refracting patients. To consider the nature of low vision aids, illumination and the spectral sensitivity of the human eye. This understanding is related to the clinical content of the course, in order to enhance the role of the orthoptist within a multi-disciplinary team.
- Strabismus and Ocular Motility IICore40 credits
Module details
The strabismus and ocular motility module II will further the understanding of basic orthoptic concepts, binocular single vision, concomitant strabismus and heterophoria. Knowledge of the investigation, diagnosis and management of incomitant strabismus, ocular motility defects and disorders of accommodation and convergence will be enhanced. Develop an understanding of the basic principles and techniques of electrophysiological testing in particular electrophysiological recording of the visual sy
- Clinical Visual OpticsCore20 credits
Module details
To develop an awareness of the clinical characteristics of refractive errors, and their effect on vision, and to use objective and subjective methods of refracting patients. To be competent with the methods of investigation and to be able to describe the clinical appearance of the normal human eye.
- Ocular Disease and Research (Orthoptics)Core20 credits
Module details
This module introduces students to the causes, mechanisms and effects of disease. It covers diseases caused by infectious agents, immune system disorders, abnormal growths and tumours. The causes, mechanisms and effects of ocular tumours and non-ocular tumours affecting the eyes are taught to develop knowledge of management and prognosis of tumours, in particular ocular types. This module introduces the basic principles of research methods and statistical analysis. It includes how to conduct sci
Third year 4 modules
- Ophthalmology and NeurologyCore20 credits
Module details
To develop the ability to identify and describe the clinical characteristics and management of relevant ophthalmic disorders and general ophthalmic conditions applicable to the orthoptists scope of practice. Students are taught investigative procedures, examination techniques and disease recognition and practice given on peers and on patients. Demonstrate knowledge of neurological conditions affecting visual function and how the conditions are diagnosed, clinical characteristics, and managed fro
- Clinical Orthoptics IIICore20 credits
Module details
This module consolidates application of theoretical knowledge to clinical situations and further improves clinical skills in all aspects of orthoptic work. It enables further improved reflective skills and understanding of the value of evidence based practice.
- Research ProjectCore40 credits
Module details
This module requires a student to independently conduct an empirical research project. The project involves converting a hypothesis into an experimental design, developing a project protocol, obtaining ethical approval, conducting a well controlled experiment, and analysis of the experiment data using appropriate descriptive statistics and graphical presentation. A presentation of preliminary experiment findings is given. The write up of the experiment must be written in such a manner that it ca
- Strabismus and Ocular Motility IIICore20 credits
Module details
The strabismus and ocular motility module will deepen the understanding of binocular vision, strabismus and ocular motility defects, with specific emphasis on more complex ocular motility disorders. Knowledge of the investigation, diagnosis and management of these disorders will be further developed with insight into current research.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course covers the science and clinical skills needed to assess and treat a wide range of eye conditions, working with both children and adults. Expect to build knowledge of visual and ocular motor development, the anatomy and physiology of the visual system, and the diagnostic techniques orthoptists use day to day, alongside supervised clinical practice that lets you apply what you've learned with real patients under guidance. While this course is a focused professional qualification in orthoptics rather than a broad health-sciences degree, it sits within a wider Nursing & Health field at Sheffield that includes related allied health and care disciplines such as Adult Nursing, Mental Health, Child Health, Midwifery, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Social Work and Paramedic Science. Being taught alongside, or in a similar academic environment to, these fields can give you a broader sense of how orthoptics fits into multidisciplinary patient care, even as your own studies stay firmly centred on eye health.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who's drawn to a precise, patient-centred career and who doesn't mind working closely with people of all ages, including young children who may be anxious or unable to describe their symptoms clearly. You'll need patience, careful observation skills, and genuine curiosity about how the eyes and brain work together, orthoptics is as much about reading subtle signs in a patient's behaviour as it is about applying clinical knowledge. If you enjoy science but want to see its direct, practical application in helping someone see and function better, this is a good fit. Much of your time will be spent in supervised clinical settings rather than purely in lecture theatres, so you should feel comfortable with responsibility and with building rapport quickly with strangers. Most students who take this route come in with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, typically within the 144–159 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what past entrants held rather than a fixed requirement. What matters most is a steady, methodical temperament and a real interest in eye care as a lifelong profession, not just an academic subject.
Careers & job market
Graduating with an HCPC-approved orthoptics degree means you're eligible to register and practise as an orthoptist, typically within the NHS or related eye care services, working directly with patients to diagnose and manage conditions affecting eye movement and binocular vision. National data across Nursing & Health courses gives a general sense of outcomes for graduates in this field: around 90% are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 87% of those working are in highly skilled roles or continuing study. About 85% of students on courses in this area continue past their first year. On earnings, national Graduate Outcomes and LEO figures for the broader field show starting salaries (15 months after graduating) typically between £27,000 and £30,500, rising to a range of £23,800–£33,600 after three years and £27,200–£38,400 after five years. These figures are national averages across the field rather than specific to Sheffield or to orthoptics graduates alone, and they aren't a guarantee of what any individual will earn.
University & format
The University of Sheffield, founded in 1905, is a public, Russell Group university based on its Main Campus, where this course is delivered full-time over three years, taught and studied entirely in English. The degree culminates in a Bachelor's award with Honours (BMedSci (Hons)), reflecting its combination of academic study and applied clinical training. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships, and it's worth checking Sheffield's own funding pages for what you might be eligible for, since support can vary depending on individual circumstances.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 90% |
| a previous degree | 5% |
| another higher-education qualification | 5% |
| an Access course | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code B520). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Sheffield →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
National funding for this subject
- NHS Learning Support Fund: Eligible nursing, midwifery and allied-health students can receive a non-repayable training grant. Official guidance
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Nursing & Health graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £28,500 | £28,000 – £29,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £27,500 | £23,000 – £33,000 | 250 |
| 5 years after | £34,500 | £28,000 – £41,000 | 265 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Newly Qualified PractitionerPreceptorship / first post · 0–2 yrs
- 2Registered PractitionerAutonomous practice · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / SpecialistSpecialist or team lead · 5–10 yrs
- 4Advanced / Consultant PractitionerAdvanced practice or management · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Nursing & Health nationally
National figures for Nursing & Health graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Nursing & Health courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,506 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Therapy professionalsSOC 2020 222 · 80% of published destinations · ASHE median £37,338
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 65; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Nursing & Health graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine documentation and triage support
- Scheduling and records admin
- First-pass risk flags from data
- Standard reference look-ups
More human than ever
- Hands-on, compassionate care
- Clinical judgement and accountability
- Communicating with patients and families
- Ethics and safeguarding decisions
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Nursing & Health graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- NHS trusts
- Private healthcare
- Care providers
- Community & mental-health services
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Nursing & Health graduates.
Nursing Home ManagerJarrodean Healthcare RecruitmentSenior Charge Nurse Uist Community Nursing teamNHS National Services ScotlandCare Assistant - Nursing Home | Flexible Hours, Weekly PayMpa RecruitmentCare Assistant (Nursing) - Nightshift - RatheaneMacklin Care Homes LimitedSenior Support Worker: Meaningful Care & Flexible ShiftsPotens GroupDental NurseBupa Dental CareIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £28,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.5 out of 10: NSS 90.7% · in work or study 80% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Sheffield
Subjects allied to medicine across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Main Campus
2,964 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Nursing & Health right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Sheffield from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Sheffield; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Sheffield’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Sheffield and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Sheffield
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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