Students Past

Students past is an ongoing project of the MusEYEum to record the historical experience of studying optometry in the United Kingdom. If you have memories of university life that you would be willing to share, please get in touch. 

Three and four-year courses were not introduced until 1949 and the required standards were not raised to those of university entrance until the 1960s. Since then taking an optometry degree has been a more academic experience. Find out about it on these pages.

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  1. Early classes

    Early classes

    Private tuition and correspondence courses

  2. Birmingham - Central Technical College and Aston University

    Birmingham - Central Technical College and Aston University

    Studying optometry in the Midlands

  3. Bradford

    Bradford

    Studying optometry in West Yorkshire

  4. Cambridge - APU and Anglia Ruskin

    Cambridge - APU and Anglia Ruskin

    The industry-sponsored course in the Fens

  5. Cardiff - Welsh CAT and UWIST

    Cardiff - Welsh CAT and UWIST

    Studying optometry in Wales

  6. Coleraine

    Coleraine

    Studying optometry in Northern Ireland

  7. Glasgow

    Glasgow

    Studying optometry in Glasgow

  8. London - The Northampton Institute and City University

    London - The Northampton Institute and City University

    The principal course in London...not in Northampton!

  9. London - other colleges

    London - other colleges

    The British Optical Institute, West Ham College and others

  10. Manchester

    Manchester

    The principal course in the North

  11. Plymouth

    Plymouth

    Studying optometry in the South West