Best Universities for Optometry in the UK 2027
University of Plymouth tops our 2027 optometry ranking with 59 points, achieving 97% academic support and 94% teaching quality. Cardiff University comes second with 53 points. University of the West of England, Bristol is third with 52 points and 93% teaching quality. We ranked all 13 UK universities offering optometry degrees across eight metrics: graduate earnings, teaching quality, student satisfaction, academic support, safety, cost of living, social life and sustainability.
Optometry graduate earnings range from £23,000 (Manchester and Bradford) to £33,000 (Glasgow Caledonian, 5th). Aston University (8th) achieves 100% academic support — the only institution in this field to do so. Teesside University (12th) has the lowest academic support at 74% and the lowest teaching quality at 86%.
For how these universities compare across all subjects, see the Unifresher best universities overall ranking and our best universities for employability.
Optometry University Rankings 2027
| # | University | Grad Earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching Quality | Academic Support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Plymouth Plymouth |
£25,000 | 75% | 94% | 97% | 59 |
| 2 | Cardiff University Cardiff |
£26,000 | 71% | 91% | 93% | 53 |
| 3 | University of the West of England, Bristol Bristol |
£28,500 | 74% | 93% | 88% | 52 |
| 4 | University of Leicester Leicester |
£28,500 | 73% | 94% | 94% | 47 |
| 5 | Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow |
£33,000 | 71% | 82% | 90% | 45 |
| 6 | University of Manchester Manchester |
£23,000 | 70% | 91% | 95% | 44 |
| 7 | University of Huddersfield Huddersfield |
£28,000 | 74% | 91% | 94% | 43 |
| 8 | Aston University Birmingham |
£24,000 | 75% | 94% | 100% | 39 |
| 9 | Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge |
£24,000 | 70% | 87% | 93% | 37 |
| 10 | University of Hertfordshire Hertfordshire |
£28,500 | 71% | 88% | 83% | 36 |
| 11 | University of Bradford Bradford |
£23,000 | 71% | 89% | 92% | 34 |
| 12 | Teesside University Middlesbrough |
£28,000 | 78% | 86% | 74% | 28 |
| 13 | City St George's, University of London London |
£29,000 | 67% | 88% | 86% | 24 |
What the ranking tells you about studying optometry
Optometry is one of the smallest regulated health professions in the UK — offered at only 13 universities. All programmes lead to General Optical Council (GOC) registration, which is legally required to practise as an optometrist. The degree is a combination of clinical science and professional practice, requiring significant contact lens fitting, ocular disease assessment, clinical dispensing and patient communication training alongside academic content. With 13 programmes, applicants are effectively choosing between all of them — each position in this table matters.
Glasgow Caledonian at 5th: £33,000 — the highest optometry graduate earnings in the UK
Glasgow Caledonian University ranks 5th with 45 points and produces optometry graduates earning £33,000 — the highest in this field by £4,500 above UWE Bristol, Leicester and Hertfordshire (all at £28,500). GCU's optometry programme benefits from NHS Scotland's optometry pay scales and Scotland's optometrist workforce structure, where community optometrists receive enhanced rates for additional sight testing services commissioned by NHS Scotland (including retinal photography, glaucoma monitoring and diabetic eye screening). This reflects structural pay differences in Scottish optometry rather than programme quality alone. GCU ranks 5th rather than higher because of low social life scores and a modest sustainability index. Its course delivery of 82% teaching quality and 90% academic support are both below the field average.
Aston University at 8th: 100% academic support
Aston University ranks 8th with 39 points and achieves 100% academic support — the only institution in this 13-school field to do so. Aston's optometry department is well-established and research-active, with strengths in contact lens science, ocular disease and low vision rehabilitation. Its 8th place overall position reflects Aston's low safety and sustainability scores rather than poor course quality. Its 94% teaching quality matches Leicester's, with both above Plymouth and Cardiff. For students prioritising structured academic support through a technically demanding clinical science degree, Aston's data makes a strong case regardless of position.
University of Manchester at 6th produces the lowest graduate earnings (£23,000) of any full-range optometry programme — yet achieves 95% academic support and 91% teaching quality. Manchester ranks 6th overall, with the lowest earnings driven by Manchester's regional optometry market rather than programme quality. Manchester's optometry research profile is strong, with particular depth in clinical myopia management and contact lens therapeutics. For students comparing Manchester against Bradford (also £23,000, 11th) — Manchester's 95% versus Bradford's 92% academic support and its higher overall position make Manchester the stronger comparative choice at the same earnings level.
For a broader view of how these universities compare, see the Unifresher overall best universities ranking. For graduate employment data, see the employability ranking.
