Teaching and learning
For students on our undergraduate optometry courses, a range of teaching and learning methods are used to help you get to grips with both the theoretical and practical aspects of the profession.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures
These are delivered using technology such as PowerPoint, video and interactive voting. Our virtual learning environment provides learning resources on demand - such as discussion boards, lecture podcasts and quizzes - to enhance and support your lecture-based units.
Clinics
You will have the opportunity to practice your clinical skills on real patients who attend the University's Vision Centre. Read a short diary from one of our students to find out what a day in clinic is like.
Practicals
You will practice your practical skills, e.g. lens measurement and frame fitting, through sessions in our practical laboratories.
Personal and professional development sessions
Regular sessions with an advisor and a small group of students develop your oral and written communication, IT, teamworking and problem-solving skills while exploring topics related to optometry.
Your timetable
You have around 20 hours of formally timetabled lectures and practicals each week, and you are expected to spend at least an equal amount of time in private study and reading. Each year is organised into two semesters, each with 12 weeks of lectures.
When there is no scheduled teaching, you are encouraged to participate in one or more of the wealth of extracurricular activities on offer from the Athletic and/or Students' union, and inter-university sporting events are focused on Wednesday afternoons.
Typical timetable for Year 1 optometry students
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00 - 10:00 | Personal and professional development session | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Clinic | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Clinic | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture |
| 12:00 - 13:00 | |||||
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lecture | Personal and professional development session | No scheduled teaching |
||
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Lecture | Practical | |||
| 15:00 - 16:00 | Practical | Clinic | Practical | ||
| 16:00 - 17:00 | Lecture | Practical | Clinic |
Postgraduate teaching and learning
Our MSc courses use a range of different teaching methods, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, practicals, and self-directed learning for a more in-depth understanding of the major concepts of the compulsory core course units.
Peer review discussions and the opportunity for staff-student feedback will be provided during tutorials.