MSc Advanced Clinical Optometric Practice

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To apply for a course you will need to complete and submit our online application form. For information and guidance, see: How to apply.

This MSc aims to extend the clinical, problem-solving, and collaborative working skills of UK registered optometrists. This will allow career progression into enhanced services roles and specialist optometric clinics in the hospital eye service.

You will develop a systematic understanding of ocular diseases, the complex issues involved in their treatment and a critical awareness of current research.

Your clinical problem-solving skills will be enhanced, allowing you to make decisions in unpredictable situations, using your initiative and taking personal responsibility.

You will critically analyse and evaluate the latest research to inform the eye care of your patients, ensuring you remain at the forefront of your profession.

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.

You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.

Support for student learning and development

You will be allocated an educational supervisor at the start of the course and tutorials will be arranged where you can access support and have open discussions. You will also be allocated an academic support officer who will keep in frequent email contact with you to track your progress and help you navigate university systems such as assignment submission. They will be your first point of contact if you have any queries.

Expert tutors  

You will be taught by experts in their field:

• Prof Phil Morgan
• Prof Robert Harper
• Prof Christine Dickenson
• Prof Tariq Aslam
• Dr Hema Radhakrishnan  

The course aims to give you an advanced level of integrated clinical knowledge and develop cutting-edge skills to help you excel as advanced practitioners and clinical leaders in your respective field.

To achieve this, the highly structured academic programme will run in parallel with a work-based programme of learning.

Your learning will include:

• interactive workshops;
• seminars;
• action learning sets;
• group and individual tutorials;
• online activities;
• simulation;
• presentations.

All approaches are structured to facilitate engagement in your own learning and that of your peers. Expert practitioners will contribute to teaching, where appropriate.

Work-based learning methods are likely to include a range of activities via a number of placements. You will work in partnership with your academic advisor and a workplace mentor. The latter will play a key role in supporting a range of educational opportunities.

Online learning and technology will be used. You will be supported in the development of skills to engage critically with theory, evidence and practice. A strong emphasis on independent and self-directed learning will encourage your development as an autonomous learner and practitioner.

You will use a number of assessed and non-assessed activities to develop key skills and expand your knowledge base.

Assessment will be via:

• multiple choice questions;
• short answer questions;
• patient interaction/case-based discussion;
• clinical skills portfolio;
• VRICS;
• presentations;
• poster presentations;
• research paper critique;
• OCSE;
• essays;
• research proposal (dissertation);
• reports;
• reflective case studies;
• dissertation report.

You will learn in purpose-built facilities that include a dispensary, 16 bespoke optometric examination rooms and numerous dedicated specialist clinic rooms.

The University of Manchester offers extensive library and online services to help you get the most out of your studies.

Most of our students complete the course part-time while working in a wide variety of optometric roles. This course will give you advanced clinical skills in optometry and provide you with evidence base underpinning these skills. You will increase your scientific knowledge and research skills. Upon graduation, extended roles in primary and secondary ophthalmic settings will be more accessible.