MSc Advanced Clinical Optometric Practice / Course details
Year of entry: 2024
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Course description
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.Special features
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:
Teaching and learning
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.
Coursework and assessment
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.
Course unit details
There are 14 units that can be combined and studied in any order to complete the PGCert (60 credits), PGDip (120 credits) or combined with a research dissertation (60 credits) for the MSc award (180 credits).
15-credit units:
- Refractive Management
- Clinical Science of Contemporary Contact Lenses
- Dementia
- Fundamentals of Epidemiology
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Professional Certificate in Medical Retina
- Professional Certificate in Glaucoma
- Professional Certificate in Low Vision
- Professional Certificate in Paediatric Optometry (awaiting accreditation)
If you choose to study for a PGCert, you may select from these units:
- Refractive Management
- Clinical Science of Contemporary Contact Lenses
- Dementia
- Professional Certificate in Medical Retina
- Professional Certificate in Glaucoma
- Professional Certificate in Low Vision
- Professional Certificate in Paediatric Optometry
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Research Dissertation | OPTO61262 | 60 | Mandatory |
Medical Retina | OPTO70301 | 15 | Mandatory |
Professional Certificate in Medical Retina | OPTO71300 | 15 | Mandatory |
Professional Certificate in Low Vision | OPTO71312 | 15 | Mandatory |
Professional Certificate in Glaucoma | OPTO71360 | 15 | Mandatory |
Dementia: A Person Centred Approach | NURS63570 | 15 | Optional |
Genetics of the Eye | OPTO70322 | 15 | Optional |
Clinical science of contemporary contact lenses | OPTO70352 | 15 | Optional |
Refractive Management | OPTO70422 | 15 | Optional |
Evidence Based Practice | POPH60041 | 15 | Optional |
Displaying 10 of 12 course units | |||
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Facilities
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.