MSc Clinical Optometry
Cardiff, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
56 weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 22,500 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas | for home: £12,060
Key Summary
The aim of this programme is to provide optometrists with the opportunity to undertake a challenging and rewarding Master's in Clinical Optometry that focuses on their personal development as professionals leading, managing and developing ophthalmic practice roles and models of care delivery.
The MSc Clinical Optometry is designed for optometrists in primary, secondary and tertiary settings who wish to advance their knowledge base and specialist clinical and leadership skills. You will become actively involved in the advancement of optometry.
The MSc is a 180-credit Level 7 qualification. It has been designed to meet the continuing education and training needs of the modern eye care professional providing advanced knowledge and facilitating understanding in this rapidly expanding field of healthcare, whilst at the same time achieving a higher degree.
A deliberately wide portfolio of modules is offered in order to recognise the increasing desire for specialist training within optometry, including glaucoma, acute eye care, paediatrics, dry eye, medical retina, clinical teaching and leadership, amongst others. Specific programme pathways are suggested for those wishing to focus on certain areas of practice.
Successful students in this programme will have an advanced standing both clinically and academically, taking them to the forefront of the profession, and enhancing their personal and professional development.
Please note that this Master's degree does not lead to full professional registration with the General Optical Council (GOC), and it does not qualify students to practice in the UK.
If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2024 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.
Postgraduate loans are separate from undergraduate funding and any undergraduate funding you previously received is not linked to your access to a postgraduate loan.
The postgraduate loan available to you will depend on where you are ordinarily resident before you start your course and the course you plan to study. Previous study on a postgraduate course, including any time spent registered on an integrated masters course could also impact the postgraduate loan available to you.
The full-time MSc Clinical Optometry degree is a modular programme for which students must complete a total of 120 taught credits of the programme. This includes one module which is compulsory; the research methods module has a value of 10 credits. The remaining 110 credits will be achieved through a selection of optional modules. The final 60 credits will be achieved through a research project.
You will have access to multimedia lecture presentations, supporting resources and discussions led by course tutors. On many of the modules leading educators in the field also provide practical skills workshops and tutorials directly relevant to everyday practice. These workshops are delivered by our staff within our custom-designed building. These sessions are an integral part of the course so attendance is compulsory. Formative and summative assessment is via online multiple choice questions, submitted written coursework and assignments (including group wikis and blogs) plus practical exams where appropriate.
The course has some flexibility so you select modules you want to take to fit in with your area of practice or we can suggest combinations or study routes that would suit your professional or personal circumstances. An academic coordinator will work with you to help plan your studies and monitor your progress.
You would complete 120 taught credits over 2 terms and submit your research project dissertation in week 56.
At the start of term in September there is an induction week.
There are two terms of taught modules and students will take 60 credits in each of these terms. The first term runs from September to February and you will undertake the compulsory module on research in this term. The second term runs from February to July.
In March we confirm the research project and you will work with your supervisor to plan the project and gain ethics approval if it is needed. In July, once it has been confirmed that a pass has been achieved in all the taught elements, the research project commences.
Core Modules for Year One
- Study and Research Skills for Eye Care Professionals
- Research Project
Optional Modules for Year One
- Low Vision 1: Theory
- Low Vision 2: Practical
- Acute Eye Care in Optometry 2
- Paediatric Optometry
- Glaucoma Foundation
- Glaucoma 1
- Legal Aspects of UK Optometry
- Management of Tear Film Disorders
- Medical Retina
- Cataract and Refractive Surgery
- Anterior Segment: Clinical Examination and Management
- Study and Research Skills for Eye Care Professionals 2
- Paediatric Eye Care 2: Practice
- Ocular Therapeutics for Minor Eye Conditions
- Contact Lenses 1
- Essential Optometry
How will I be Assessed?
Each module will be assessed formatively and summatively in line with each specific module assessment strategy. This incorporates a variety of modes of assessment including the following:
- Assignment (theoretical and reflective)
- Presentations/ Peer reviewed presentations/ seminars
- Discussion/ seminars/ workshops
- Case scenarios
- Simulated clinical workshops
- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
- Multiple choice question classroom tests
- Practical examinations
- Key Features Scenarios (used in medical education to test clinical reasoning, problem-solving ability and the ability to apply given knowledge)
- OSCEs – Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
- Group wikis
- Blogs
- Written research project report
Assessments used within the programme relate to the measurement of professional, academic and clinical practice.
What Skills Will I Practise and Develop?
After fully engaging with this course, you should be able to:
Knowledge & Understanding
- Demonstrate knowledge of complex, controversial and/ or contentious issues related to optometric practice
- Illustrate an understanding of modern key concepts of optometric practice by applying them to challenges within your own environment and specialist areas of practice
- Appreciate the benefit of inter-professional teamwork in research and/or the delivery of ophthalmic care
Intellectual Skills
- Critically examine the evidence-based literature to assess practice and methods of management in ophthalmic care
Professional Practical Skills
- Assess the signs and symptoms of eye disease to make a differential diagnosis and to rank options
- Problem solve and develop solutions/ management plans in complex and specialist areas of practice based on evidence and sound professional and clinical judgment
- Demonstrate independence of thought and contribute via your own research to the development of knowledge and evidence base of your profession
Transferable/Key Skills
Academic Skills
- Advance your own knowledge and understanding
- Collate and synthesise information from a number of resources to improve learning
- Write concisely and clearly for the academic and clinical community
- Interpret data
Generic Skills
- Manage projects and time
- Work independently
- Use a range of IT software packages and online resources
- Problem solve
This course will enable optometrists to advance their careers. In addition, depending on which modules are chosen, it may act as an assurance that practitioners are competent to work in specialist clinics as outlined in the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and College of Optometrists joint Competency Framework for Allied Health Professionals. For example, the Medical Retina and Glaucoma module aligns with the Medical Retina and Glaucoma Competency Frameworks respectively.
How will I be Taught?
Modules may differ, but you can expect to be taught online (via lectures) and webinars, and by attending workshops for clinical modules. You will study alongside optometrists who are studying part-time. Full-time students will be supported by an academic coordinator.
Participation in moderated online discussions is a feature in almost all modules.
Practical workshops for skills training will be held at locations convenient to the module content and instructed by educational leaders in that discipline. Lectures are supported by the appropriate references and resources, and accompanied by assessment exercises.