Teesside University receives full approval for optometry courses

Teesside University has received full approval for its BSc (Hons) Clinical Optometry & MOptom (Hons) Optometry qualifications under the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Handbook: Routes to Registration in Optometry (2015) and education and training requirements (2021). 

Under the Opticians Act, the GOC has the power to approve qualifications and education institutions offering optical training. 

Students who successfully complete the BSc qualification can then undertake salaried pre-registration training with a practice before applying for registration with the GOC. Students who successfully complete the MOptom course will be able to join the GOC register directly.  

Emily Hedley, Course Lead (MOptom) at Teesside, said: “As a University dedicated to tackling health inequalities in the Tees Valley and beyond by working with professions to deliver skilled graduates in line with sector needs, we are delighted to receive full approval from the GOC for our BSc and MOptom degrees. Teesside University is the first in the North East to offer Optometry and this is a proud and significant milestone which will give many people from the local and wider region the opportunity to study and join the profession.  

Collaboration with local clinicians, practices, and hospital eye departments has been central in building a course rooted in community and clinical excellence.  We are looking forward to working with all our professional stakeholders to grow and develop the course and support the delivery of high quality accessible eye care across the Tees Valley.” 

Please note that the BSc route is no longer taking on new students as they have adapted to the new Education and Training Requirements. 

For more information about the course, visit the Teesside University website.