Program Overview

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (Adults) - FdSc

Overview

Become a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist practitioner in enabling adults with a vision impairment to be as independent as possible in their day to day lives, by studying our foundation degree course.

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

• GCSE English Language or English Literature at grade C/4 or above
• One of the following:
  • Level 3 NVQ or Diploma or equivalent (full award)
  • Two or more A-Levels (DD/48 UCAS Tariff points) or a BTEC ordinary National Diploma
  • Level 2 NVQ or Diploma (full award) plus a written paper (details of content will be provided by the admissions tutor post application)
  • Five GCSE passes at grade 4 (grade C) or above plus a written paper (details of content will be provided by the admissions tutor post-application)

Mature students

• Personal or professional experience within a health and social care profession
• Ability to study at Foundation Degree level

Fees & How to Apply

UK students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament
• Award: FdSc
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 2 years
• Fees: £6,000 in 2025/26

Included in your course fees

• Access to computer equipment
• Printing (£5 print credit in each year of your course)
• Access to Microsoft Office 365
• Key software (SPSS and Nvivo)
• Key subscriptions (journals and websites)
• Occupational health assessment
• DBS check (first check included in fees)

Not included in your course fees

• Specialist equipment (long cane, pencil and roller marshmallow tips)
• Placement expenses (accommodation and travel costs)
• Travel (bus, rail, and tram tickets)
• Excess printing
• Personal stationery and study materials
• Books (optional)
• Accommodation and living costs (optional)

Course in Depth

Year one

• Visual Impairment and Specialist Assessment (40 credits)
• Foundations of Indoor Orientation and Mobility (20 credits)
• Foundations of Outdoor Orientation and Mobility (20 credits)
• Independent Living Skills 1 (20 credits)
• Independent Living Skills 2 (20 credits)
• Work Based Learning Year 1 (0 credits)

Year two

• Professional Practice (40 credits)
• Orientation and Mobility Routes and Crossings (20 credits)
• Advanced Orientation and Mobility (20 credits)
• Technology Communications and Low Vision Therapy 1 (20 credits)
• Technology Communications and Low Vision Therapy 2 (20 credits)
• Work based Learning Year 2 (0 credits)

Employability

Enhancing Employability Skills

• You'll graduate from this course with a recognised and valuable rehabilitation worker qualification
• You will have the competence and skills to enable people who have sight loss to be as independent as possible in their day to day lives
• You will develop a range of problem solving skills that will be crucial in your practice
• You will gain knowledge and experience from work with a range of professionals who work within a wider multi-disciplinary setting

Placements

• You will complete a work-based learning placement in each academic year
• These are invaluable opportunities to build up hands-on experience and skills from the vision impairment sector

Careers

• Examples of some of the skills rehabilitation workers can offer their clients:
  • Teach individuals how to cross roads independently and negotiate complex routes
  • Demonstrate a range of adaptive equipment
  • Instruct in safe cooking methods and daily living skills
  • Provide group training programmes to fellow professionals
  • Teach a range of communication skills
  • Give advice and reinforce training in relation to the use of magnifiers and low vision aids
  • Provide support and advice to individuals with a sight loss, carers, family members and parents of children with a vision impairment
  • Advise about design and modifications to specific environments to make them more accessible to those with vision impairment

Facilities & Staff

We have invested over £400 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus.

Home Environment Room

• This space is used to simulate non-clinical settings, as not everything health professionals deal with is hospital based
• This is used for simulations of activities such as home visits, home births and supporting people to become independent in their own home

Assisted Living Space

• This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits
• The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students

Assisted Kitchen

• This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated vision impairment
• There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience vision impairment

Our staff

• Peter Cooke (Senior Lecturer/Admissions Tutor)
• David Bignell (Course Lead BSc (Hons) Qualified Habilitation Specialist)
• Susan Cadby (Senior Lecturer in Rehabilitation Work)