Program Overview

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Optometry

MOptom

Attendance

Full-time

Campus

Preston Campus

Start

September 2025

Duration

3 years

Start

September 2025

Delivery

Blended learning

Are you working within the optical industry and want to gain a qualification in Optometry? Our three-year Master’s in Optometry is an ideal option. The course allows you to integrate learning from your on-campus study into your clinical practice.

Read more about the Optometry course

The course combines several week-long blocks of on-campus learning with online study. Time away from campus is spent in practice, observing, practising and advancing the skills and knowledge gained.

The course is taught over three semesters, so there are no long gaps between learning. This means you can fast-track your progress to the MOptom Optometry qualification.

This course has been developed in line with the General Optical Council (GOC) 2021 learning outcomes.

Why study with us

• Gain real-world skills in our specialist dispensing and optometry pre-clinical lab.
• Our on-campus Eye Health Clinic is the student-led equivalent of a high street optical practice. The clinic meets the eyecare needs of members of the public.
• Throughout the course, you'll complete GOC required placement hours, culminating in the final-year Clinical Learning in Practice placement. This is facilitated by the College of Optometrists in partnership with the university.

Important information

• This course is only available to UK students.
• The application deadline for September 2025 entry for UK students was Saturday 31 May 2025.

What you'll do

• We arrange specialist clinical experience, such as hospital ophthalmology observations. We work with partners such as East Lancashire Hospital Trust.
• On-campus block sessions include guest lectures by industry colleagues. Topics include specialist contact lenses and getting a good image using an OCT.
• You'll work with volunteer patients who form a part of the general communication skills teaching resources as well as volunteers from visual impairment charities.

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

Clinical Optometry

This module aims to introduce you to full eye examinations with professionalism and patient-centred care, covering a wide range of optometry skills, from recognising and treating ocular conditions to fitting contact lenses. It also emphasises adherence to legal and ethical standards and the development of critical thinking and effective communication skills in optometric practice.

Module code

OP3003

Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

Clinical decision making in Ophthalmic practice

This module equips aspiring optometrists with essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills, emphasising clinical decision-making, regulatory compliance, and safe use of ophthalmic drugs. It focuses on developing competencies aligned with the General Optical Council's guidance and includes clinical placements to refine communication, patient rights, and diagnostic abilities.

Module code

OP4004

Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

Clinical learning in Ophthalmic Practice

This module aims to develop independent clinical decision-making skills in an optometry real world setting. You'll be able to take personal responsibility for a proactive, purposeful, and life-long approach to learning and to build relevant, new and complementary skills through a combination of action and reflection.

Module code

OP4005

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. We may also make changes to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Looking to start your postgraduate journey?

Our range of subjects and study modes can support your goals. Take your next step with a postgraduate degree.

View our optometry course facilities

Optometry Laboratories

Eye Health Clinic

The Library (Preston Campus)

Academic expertise

Rupal Lovell-Patel

Academic Lead - Vision Sciences

Marie-Laure Orr

Course Leader

Haleema Younas

Lecturer in Optometry and Ophthalmic Dispensing

Accreditations

General Optical Council (GOC)

This course is accredited by the General Optical Council (Provisional Approval). They are the regulator for optical professions in the UK and set standards for optical education and training, performance and conduct. Whilst under provisional approval, students recruited on to the programme are not guaranteed entry to the GOC Register and may be required to undertake additional assessments through an alternative GOC approved education provider in the event that any aspect of the programme when delivered does not satisfy the GOC standards. You will need to be registered them throughout the duration of your studies.

Future careers in optometry

As a registered optometrist, you'll have the opportunity to be self-employed or work in a primary care or hospital setting.

Read more

Master's in Optometry graduates may choose further study to gain higher qualifications in:

• Low vision
• Glaucoma
• Paediatrics
• Medical retina

A research degree opens doors to companies developing new technologies and treatment options.

Entry requirements

Select your country/region of qualification or education

UKIndiaNigeriaNepal-------------------AlgeriaAngolaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBermudaBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgariaCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechiaDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEstoniaEswatiniFijiFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNorwayOccupied Palestinian TerritoriesOmanPakistanPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSaudi ArabiaSerbiaSeychellesSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabwe

Please note if your application is deemed unsuccessful, subsequent applications submitted within the same academic cycle will not be considered

You'll need to be registered with the General Optical Council as a student registrant throughout the programme. As the clinical learning in practice placement in the final year is facilitated by the College of Optometrists, you'll also need to be a member of the college during your studies.

Minimum qualifications:

• Applicants will be a Registered Dispensing Optician with one-year post-registration experience along with passing the entrance exam
• Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits in the light of the nature and scope of the programme and if they have experience
• A satisfactory Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland) and Occupational Health clearance is required for this course

All offers of a place on this course are subject to satisfactory health screening. It is important to note that should your health screening not be satisfactory your offer of a place on this course may be withdrawn.

If you have already enrolled on the course prior to completion of your health screening, or if your health screening clearance is revoked or changes during the course, you may be required to withdraw from the course even if you have already started.

If you would like to discuss or seek advice in respect of the health screening requirements for this course, please contact the Course Enquiries Team.

This course involves working with vulnerable people, including children. To make sure we accept suitable students, you must get a clear enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, previously called a CRB check.

Read more

We will help you with this process after you receive a conditional offer to study at the University of Central Lancashire.

If your Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is not suitable for the course you applied for, your offer may be taken back. If you have already started the course and your DBS check later shows a criminal conviction, you may have to leave the course. If you know that your DBS check will show a past conviction, please speak to the Course Leader. Some convictions may not stop you from doing the course.

Fees and funding

2025/26

UK

Full-time£10,500 per year

Additional costs

As part of your course there may be additional costs to consider that are not included in your tuition fees. Most of these will be optional, but some courses have essential additional costs. Find out more about additional costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer many scholarships, bursaries and funds to support you during your studies. Select your country or region to see if you are eligible and how to apply.

Select your country/region

UKMexicoOther countries-------------------

• Alumni Loyalty Discount

UK students with a previous award from us will receive 20% tuition fee discount.

Find out more about Alumni Loyalty Discount

Open all accordion items

Learning and assessment

Lectures are online with formative questions to support learning at the end of each lecture. We also use a variety of multi-media formats such as audio recordings, hand-outs, and videos to deliver course content. You’ll benefit from online collaborations such as team-working, discussions and webinars.

Campus block attendance pattern one week (Monday to Friday) once a month across the whole year.

A range of assessment formats are used. These include:

• Practical assessments
• Written exams comprised of MCQs
• Short-answer questions and calculations
• Presentations
• Case records
• Written assignments

Industry links

The optometry academic staff members are all registered optometrists and dispensing opticians. They have both clinical experience and teaching qualifications. This ensures that the course content is up-to-date. Visiting clinicians supervise and facilitate specific aspects of the optometry degree.

Pathway opportunities

After graduating from this MOptom, you can consider gaining a professional doctorate or a PhD. You could also consider entering academia by gaining a learning and teaching qualification.

Interested?

Apply for this courseNext stepsDownload

This course is delivered by the School of Medicine and Dentistry

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Lancashire on our student contract page

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