Dispensing Optician Registerable Award

Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Dispensing Optician Registerable Award

Introduction

Train to become a General Optical Council-registered dispensing optician. Study by distance learning while you work, and on residential placements in Cambridge.

Why Dispensing Optician at ARU?

• Our course is developed in partnership with representatives from Specsavers, Boots Opticians, Hakim Group and many independent optical businesses to ensure it meets the needs of a wide range of optical businesses.
• Accredited by the General Optical Council (GOC). When you successfully complete your studies, you’ll be able to register with the GOC as a Dispensing Optician.
• Learn in the workplace and develop your skills in the optical sector, whilst completing a series of clinical tasks, formative online assessments and clinical scenarios.
• Attend four residential placements per year. Take part in seminars, lectures and practical workshops facilitated by qualified and experienced GOC registered Dispensing Opticians alongside your fellow students.
• This course is designed for working professionals in the optical practice wishing to apply the skills and knowledge gained within their workplace.

Course Options

• 3 years
• September
• Blended learning

Key Facts

• STUDY OPTIONS: 3 years
• START DATES: September
• LOCATION: Blended learning
• FEES: £9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

Teaching and Assessment

Year 1

• Introduction to the theoretical and practical principles of ophthalmic dispensing – including the legal and ethical frameworks within which optical professionals work.
• Demonstrate mathematical skills, including algebra, geometry and trigonometry, to focus on the theory of ophthalmic lenses and how light passes into the eye are developed.
• Learning in the workplace is an integral part of your degree. Therefore, you will be provided with a setting for exploration and discovery of a range of knowledge, skills and understanding.
• Reflect on your work practice, critically appraise your own performance and report on the experience of learning at work.
• Demonstrate an awareness of ethical and cultural issues relevant to your practice and studies.

Core Modules

• Introduction to Geometrical Optics and Ophthalmic Lenses (30 credits)
• Refractive Management part 1 (15 credits)
• Academic Techniques for Standards of Practice (30 credits)
• Ophthalmic Practice 1 (30 credits)
• Human and Ocular Anatomy (15 credits)
• Into ARU

Year 2

• Build upon your learning from the first year with a more in-depth analysis of ophthalmic lenses.
• Complete 800 hours of supervised practice documenting case studies and continually reflecting upon your conduct and ability.
• Visit a world leading spectacle lens manufacturing facility where you can follow the process of making a spectacle lens from start to finish.
• Building upon the ethical framework studied in year one and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team you will take part in a Ruskin Module.
• Ocular pathology and low vision assessment and management are explored in depth here, including effective triage and exploration of appropriate services available to enhance patient outcomes.
• Use our state-of-the-art facilities, you will gain knowledge and experience in the use of ophthalmic instruments within the scope of practice for a Dispensing Optician.

Core Modules

• Ophthalmic Lenses 2 (30 credits)
• Refractive Management part 2 (15 credits)
• Ruskin Module: How can Professionalism Promote Patient Safety? (15 credits)
• Ophthalmic Practice 2 (30 credits)
• Low Vision Assessment and Management (15 credits)
• Ocular Pathology (15 credits)

Year 3

• Work towards professional registration.
• Complete a further 800 supervised hours, documenting and critically reflecting upon your learning so far.
• Practical dispensing and communication skills will be fine-tuned in preparation for final qualifying station based exams.
• Undertake a major project under the supervision of a registered optometrist or dispensing optician.
• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of legislation and appropriate dispensing of optical appliances to support patient outcomes.
• Written project will be complimented with a VIVA to explore and explain content while further assessing communication skills.

Core Modules

• Ophthalmic Lenses 3 (15 credits)
• Contact Lenses (15 credits)
• Principles of Practice Management (30 credits)
• Ophthalmic Practice 3 (30 credits)
• Professional Registration (30 credits)

Entry Requirements

• 5 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English Language and Maths at grade C, or grade 4, and at least one Science at grade C, or grade 4.
• If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 7.0 (Academic level with no individual score being lower than 6.5) or equivalent English Language qualification as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
• An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure and registration with the General Optical Council (GOC) will be required.

Fees and Paying for University

• £9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)
• Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.
• Repay the loan in the April after you graduate.
• Repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000.

Student Experience

• Hands-on experience
• Expertise
• Specialist facilities
• Collaborate

Facilities

• 16 fully-equipped optometric consulting rooms
• Specialist facilities in contact lenses, low vision and visual stress
• Industry-standard equipment
• A dedicated dispensing laboratory
• The University Eye Clinic, a working clinic that’s open to the public.

Accreditation

• General Optical Council

Lecturers

• Rachel Avery
• Senior Lecturer Practitioner in Ophthalmic Dispensing

Careers

• Our BSc (Hons) Dispensing Optician course is specially designed for eye care professionals who will be registered with the General Optical Council (GOC) ) through the duration of their study and beyond.
• As an accredited course, it will equip you with the skills you need to work in an optometric practice as a Registered Dispensing Optician.
• ARU students have gone on to work for companies such as Specsavers, Vision Express and many independent opticians.
• It can also prepare you for further study. You may be able to progress onto our MOptom Optometry degree.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Students will learn about ophthalmic lenses and dispensing of optical appliances along with low vision and contact lens management, visual optics, and ocular emergencies.
• The course also features four residential placements per year at ARU in Cambridge, where students will take part in seminars, lectures and practical workshops with their fellow students.
• Year 1:
• Introduction to Geometrical Optics and Ophthalmic Lenses
• Refractive Management part 1
• Academic Techniques for Standards of Practice
• Ophthalmic Practice 1
• Human and Ocular Anatomy
• Year 2:
• Refractive Managment part 2
• Ruskin Module (15 credits)
• Further Ophthalmic Lenses
• Low Vision Assessment and Management
• Ocular Pathology
• Ophthalmic Practice 2
• Year 3:
• Contact Lenses
• Advanced Ophthalmic Lenses and Paediatric Dispensing
• Ophthalmic Practice 3 - dissertation
• Professional Registration - OSCE

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Assessment:

• The course uses innovative assessment methods to support progress towards registration.
These include:
• Completion of a workbook detailing a series of clinical tasks
• Formative online assessments
• Videoed demonstrations of clinical skills

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Careers:

• Graduates will be ready to work as dispensing opticians or may choose to continue their studies and join the BOptom (Hons) Optometry degree.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

Tuition fees and student loans for UK students (2024/25) £9,250 UK students starting 2024/25 (full-time, per year) If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now. If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees. Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year. You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate. If you start a course on or after 1 August 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £25,000. This is called repayment Plan 5. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000. After 40 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped. If you started a course on or before 31 July 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £27,295. This is called repayment Plan 2. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £27,295. After 30 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped. For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5: If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45. What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back. For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page. This information also applies to: Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement. Paying for uni: bursaries, sponsorship and working Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement. Paying for uni: bursaries, sponsorship and working We offer a range of ARU scholarships and bursaries, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university. If you're eligible for a scholarship, you'll generally receive it automatically – there's no need to apply. Our campus employment bureau, ARU Temps, can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies. It's a great chance to enhance your CV and boost your income while you study.