Program Overview

Optometry (MOptom)

Subject area: Optometry

The Master of Optometry is a four-year full-time program that provides students with the scientific and clinical knowledge to register as an optometrist with the General Optical Council.

Why study this course

This program will allow students to gain the knowledge and skills to register as an optometrist with the General Optical Council. Students will have opportunities to attend in-house University specialist eye clinics led by a highly qualified multi-disciplinary eyecare team. Later, during the program, students will take on more responsibility for patient care and hone their clinical skills whilst working during their Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placement organized by the College of Optometrists.

Entry requirements

• We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements.
• Typical offers are as follows:
  • A level: AAA-ABB. Must include two subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and Physics.
  • International Baccalaureate: 36-32 overall including 6 in one HL subject or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include two HL subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.
  • Baccalaureate Wales: From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3).
• Students must have or be working towards:
  • English language at GCSE grade B/6 or an equivalent.
  • GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification.
• We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.

Tuition fees for 2026 entry

• Fees for home status:
  • Year one: ｣9,535
  • Year two: ｣9,535
  • Year three: ｣9,535
  • Year four: ｣9,535
• Fees for overseas status:
  • Year one: ｣30,700
  • Year two: ｣30,700
  • Year three: ｣30,700
  • Year four: ｣30,700

Additional costs

• At the beginning of the program, students are required to register with the General Optical Council (approximately ｣30) and apply for an Enhanced DBS check with a subscription to the annual update service (approximately ｣50 for the initial check and ｣16 per year after that).
• Throughout the career as an optometrist, there is equipment that will be required to do the job. Students will have the opportunity to purchase these over the course of the program to benefit from University negotiated discounts as well as student discounts directly with suppliers.
• Year 1: Students will be required to purchase an optometric kit (approximately ｣250) and cover the cost for travel for 3 individual days of placements (approximately ｣45 in total).
• Year 2: Students will undertake 6 individual days of placements and cover the cost for travel (approximately ｣90 in total).
• Year 3: Students will undertake 3 individual days of hospital placements and cover the cost for travel (approximately ｣30 in total).
• Year 4: Students will undertake a period of clinical learning in practice (CLiP) and may need to travel back to the University for in-person assessments. Students will need to consider associated accommodation and travel costs.

Course structure

The Master of Optometry is taught full-time over 4 academic years. In each year, students will study 120 credits worth of modules.

• Year 1: Students will study 4 compulsory modules, including Eye Examination, Visual Correction, The Eye, and Being a Professional.
• Year 2: Students will study 3 compulsory modules, including Further Eye Examination, Advanced Visual Correction, and Pathology and Management.
• Year 3: Students will study compulsory modules, including Primary Care, Enhanced Services, Professional Certificate in Low Vision, and Research and evidence-based Optometry.
• Year 4: Students will undertake the Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) modules, overseen by the College of Optometrists, which will be undertaken in an optometry setting in the UK.

Learning and assessment

This course offers an integrated curriculum with scientific theory taught alongside real-life clinical eye care practice throughout the program. Students will learn from highly qualified researchers and clinicians who will deliver a diverse learning experience, including tutorials, case-based learning, lectures, and seminars, as well as laboratory and clinical skills sessions.

• Assessment is designed to demonstrate that students have achieved the standards required by Cardiff University for the award of a Master's degree and achieve the Outcomes for Registration set by the General Optical Council to register and practice as an optometrist in the UK.
• Students will be assessed in 7 domains specified by the GOC, including person-centered care, communication, clinical practice, ethics and standards, risk, leadership and management, and lifelong learning.

Careers and placements

• Career prospects: Optometry is a dynamic profession, and the role of the optometrist as part of the eye care team is changing and expanding. Therefore, the career options for optometrists are varied and plentiful, ranging from the hospital eye service to community practice, to the voluntary sector or optical industry, research, or teaching in the UK and internationally.
• Types of jobs: Primary care optometrist, hospital optometrist, industrial optometrist, academic optometrist.
• Placements: There will be internal and externally provided observation and clinical placements throughout Years 1 to 3 of the MOptom. In Year 4, students will undertake the Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placement overseen by the College of Optometrists, at a location in the United Kingdom external to Cardiff University.