VISION SCIENCE at Canterbury Christ Church University

Why vision science?

On a day to day level, thousands of dispensing opticians carry out excellent work with the FBDO diploma and acquired years of skill and experience. For many, there was no choice to pick a degree course when they were studying. A significant number of well-qualified practitioners are seeing the new wave of graduates and thinking, ‘I would have liked a degree too.’

ABDO College working in conjunction with Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is now offering any dispensing optician with the FBDO diploma the chance to top up to a degree. The new BSc (Hons) in Vision Science course is designed for fully qualified dispensing opticians who wish to gain a profession specific degree and acquire graduate skills that can be applied to the workplace. It offers a unique opportunity for dispensing opticians to ‘top-up’ to a degree while still working in practice.

What will i study?

The degree progresses you through a mix of assessments; essays, a poster, a leaflet, a case study, and with the option of a workplace project on a topic that you choose according to your specific interests. There are no attended exams to take. The course comprises three compulsory modules and three optional modules from a list which includes contact lenses and low vision, so, again, you can tailor the degree to your interests. 

The compulsory modules are; Academic Skills Development, Evidence-based Practice, and Transforming Ophthalmic Practice.

The optional modules include The Principles of Contact Lens Practice, The Principles of Low Vision Practice, Paediatric Eyecare, Ophthalmic Public Health, Dry eye & Ocular Surface Disease, and an independent study module where you select a relevant topic. Each module has around 8-10 lectures and several live seminars with your course tutors (via our online virtual learning environment, Blackboard).  

The whole degree is offered in a flexible timeframe. You can study two modules at a time and complete it within 18 months, the suggested time, but you have up to three years should you wish to proceed at a slower pace due to other commitments.

What can i do next?

Once you have completed the degree, it will open a gateway to career opportunities such as lecturing or research.

• You will be more respected within your workplace, and your patients will benefit from your evidence-based recommendations.
• You can progress from your bachelor's degree to masters and then to doctorate level taking your research skills and knowledge to the next level and carrying out groundbreaking research.
• You will enjoy the foundations for the ABDO low vision certificate and contact lens practice certificate and may go on to study these at ABDO college.