Masters degrees in Ophthalmics involve advanced study of the eye and its diseases, equipping postgraduates with the skills to treat ocular disorders and sight problems.
Related postgraduate specialisms include Public Health and Clinical Ophthalmology. Entry requirements typically include an appropriate undergraduate degree such as Nursing, Medicine or Biology.
This course provides ophthalmic professionals with the knowledge and skills required to reduce blindness and visual disability in their populations by developing an evidence-based public health approach for the control and management of blinding eye diseases. It enables students to contribute effectively at a local, national and international level in research, training and service delivery.
The training will enable students to develop a public health oriented approach to eye care services and the control of blindness in keeping with the objectives of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight.
They will acquire and apply skills in epidemiological and operational research, critical analysis of strategies for the control of major blinding eye diseases, in programme planning, management and evaluation; facilitate a personal development, so enabling individuals to contribute more fully to their countries’ and societies’ eye health; engage with local, national and international networks of health professionals and systems, for the prevention of blindness worldwide.
Graduates from this course are expected to and encouraged to enter into careers with ministries of health, universities and NGOs involved in developing health services to prevent blindness and improve vision.
For further information on the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), visit http://www.iceh.org.uk.
- Full programme specification (pdf) (https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/files/phec_progspec.pdf)
Visit the website https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/public-health-eye-care
Additionally for the MSc Public Health for Eye Care, students are expected to be health care professionals involved in eye care, or to have an appropriate technical qualification and work experience.
Any prospective student who does not meet the above minimum entry requirement, but who has relevant professional experience, may still be eligible for admission. Qualifications and experience will be assessed from the application.
At the end of this course students should be able to:
- describe the basic epidemiology of the major blinding eye diseases
- design and interpret studies to assess public health eye care needs using appropriate methods
- critically appraise and select appropriate public health intervention for the major blinding eye diseases
- design a comprehensive eye care programme for appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures for a community
- develop the skills necessary for resource mobilisation, management and evaluation of local comprehensive eye care programmes and integration in health systems
Term 1:
All students take the following compulsory modules:
Basic Epidemiology
Basic Statistics for Public Health and Policy
Epidemiology of Blinding Eye Diseases
Introduction to Health Economics
Public Health Programmes in Eye Care
Skills for Field Projects in Eye Care
Recommended optional modules can be taken after consultation with Course Director.
Term 2:
All students take the following compulsory modules:
Childhood Eye Disease and Ocular Infections
Non-Communicable Eye Disease
Implementing Eye Care: Skills and Resources
Global Disability & Health
Term 3:
All students take one optional module:
The choice will depend on the student’s interests in public health and health systems and should be discussed with their supervisor and the Course Director. The module can be selected from:
Applying Public Health Principles in Developing Countries
Principles and Practice of Public Health
Proposal Development
Project Report:
During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project on an appropriate topic. Students undertaking projects overseas will require additional funding of about £1,500 to cover costs involved.
Find out how to apply here - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/mscphec.html#sixth
Part time distance learning
Lead academic 2018: Dr Charlotte Codina
This is a part-time distance learning course for practising orthoptists and other eye care professionals.
It's taught online (supported by two residential weekends, an introductory day for Low Vision and virtual tutorials), so you can study for a higher degree without having to leave your current post.
As this is a distance learning programme, attendance in Sheffield is only required for two residential weekends (Year 1 and Year 2), and for the Low Vision module option only, for an Introductory Day and clinical examination. Modules with no residential weekend or introductory day are supported by virtual tutorials. Modules are accessed online, therefore broadband internet access is required.
Please visit our webpages for further information.
Teaching is by distance learning, supported by two weekend residentials that take place in Sheffield and virtual tutorials using e-technology.
The one-year Clinical Ophthalmology MSc will enhance your knowledge of common ocular diseases, ophthalmic surgical and laser procedures and ocular therapeutics. You will develop analytical skills for solving clinical cases and evaluating published research, and gain valuable research experience through the opportunity to undertake a clinical library-based dissertation.
Students will be taught diagnosis and management of common ocular diseases by experienced clinicians and researchers. Students will gain an understanding of clinical assessments and disease processes in the eye, imaging modalities, treatments and side-effects. Additional skills acquired include critical evaluation of scientific literature and research skills . A personal tutor is allocated to each student to assist this process.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits over one year.
The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, flexible three years) is offered.
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, flexible two years) is offered.
Mandatory modules
All eight modules, plus the dissertation module, must be taken.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent library-based research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000–12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, problem-based learning, clinical application, and the possibility of clinical practice observation at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Assessment is through multiple choice question examinations, problem-based learning questions, and a dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Clinical Ophthalmology MSc
This programme provides students with the unique opportunity to study at world-leading ophthalmology institutions, where they will be exposed to the most advanced diagnostic and treatment approaches. Students will learn directly from experienced clinicians and researchers from both Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL, who will help them acquire the basic knowledge for further clinical advancement. Students can obtain basic practical ophthalmic skills (use of slit lamp, how to do tonometry, gonioscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, biomicroscopy) to assist them at the start of their ophthalmic career.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
This Clinical Ophthalmology MSc aims to provide students with in-depth clinical knowledge of modern ophthalmic practice and academic skills to help them become independent clinicians and clinical leaders in any future post.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital are recognised globally and have an outstanding track record in basic biomedical research, teaching and clinical management of patients. This degree builds on the best of all of these to provide the student with an excellent knowledge of ophthalmology.
In the first term basic clinical skills session teaching will be offered. In addition, in the second term the opportunity to attend practical skill courses (microsurgical skills, basic phacoemulsification, trabeculectomy, squint) offered to MSc in Ophthalmology with Clinical Practice Year 2 students are available to attend for an additional fee. In the third term the student writes a dissertation on a topic of interest to them with guidance from the senior clinicians running the programme.
The programme will also provide unique opportunities to interact with leading clinicians from Moorfields Eye Hospital as well as from other prominent institutions. International students from countries with less well-developed ophthalmic services will especially benefit from this unique programme.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Institute of Ophthalmology
80% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Our MSc Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Research gives eye care professionals like you the academic knowledge and practical skills they need to contribute to groundbreaking medical advancements and effectively diagnose and treat a wide range of ocular conditions.
Whether you want to pursue further academic studies or take on new responsibilities as a primary caregiver – our programme gives you the clinical skills and research experience you need. Advance your career and have a meaningful influence on the future of the field.
A combination of core and elective modules and research opportunities – with a research project making up one-third of the programme – allows you to customise your studies based on your personal interests and professional requirements. This includes the option to select a specialisation leading to a named degree on completion of your dissertation:
The programme is suited to applicants who have obtained a first degree in optometry or a related field outside of the UK. The generic stream of the programme gives a broader perspective than the diabetes and therapeutic routes
Modules
Advanced Binocular Vision; Advanced Clinical Investigation and Research Project; Chronic Complications of Diabetes; Clinical Ophthamology; Diabetes Care; Ocular Therapeutics; Practical and Theoretical Prescribing and Health Economics; Skills for Practice for Vision Science; Skills for Professional Practice Biosciences 2; and Public Health.
Students with an interest in diabetes can choose diabetes-related modules to enhance their understanding of how diabetes effects various structures of the human body.
Core modules: Diabetes Care; Skills for Professional Practice for Vision Sciences; Skills for Professional Practice for Bioscience 2; Chronic Complications of Diabetes; Advanced Clinical Investigation and Research Project.
Optional modules: Clinical Ophthalmology; Health Economics and Public Health.
Whether you choose a path in academia or clinical practice, your MSc Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Research will unlock new opportunities to advance and expand your career. The programme is ideal preparation for subsequent studies towards a PhD or other higher academic qualification. It also allows optometrists and other practitioners to advance their careers in primary eye care.
The PgCert in Eye Care Governance seeks to provide those involved in the governing of eye care with a qualification that is currently not provided.
The Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Optometry in Eye Care Governance is a 60 credit Level 7 qualification, which seeks to provide those involved in the governing of eye care in the UK with a professional qualification. Whilst we also run highly successful qualifications for those involved in clinical practice, this qualification is aimed at those who undertake clinical governance and advisory roles in the sector.
Starting in September, this course consists of three core modules – leadership skills, evidence-based eye care and audit, and legal aspects of UK optometry – as well as a free choice of 20 credits to allow students to follow their interests and increase their knowledge and understanding of a specific area. The aim of the course is to provide eye care professionals with the skills required to successfully oversee ophthalmic services, with the opportunity to become effective leaders within the sector, and with a comprehensive overview of their legal obligations in optometric practice in the UK.
Several modules are aligned with nationally agreed competency standards – for example, the Low Vision Service Wales and the MECS scheme among others.
Students who have evidence of achieving such standards within the last three years can present this to the Director of the programme for consideration for approved prior learning (APL) accreditation, where module credits would be given to the student in recognition of their prior achievements.
Distinctive features
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.
Lectures are supported by the appropriate references and resources, and accompanied by assessment exercises. Participation in moderated online discussions is a feature in almost all modules. Practical workshops for skills training will be held at locations convenient to either the module content or the student cohort enrolled at that time, and instructed by educational leaders in that discipline.
How will I be supported?
At the beginning of your course there is a compulsory online induction module.
This will help you find your way around Learning Central and it will also provide general information including about the personal tutor system, and how our administration and IT teams will support you.
At the start of each semester you will be advised of who your Module Leader is. At the beginning of each year a Chair of the Student Panel will be appointed and this will be communicated to all students.
Throughout the course Administration Staff, Module Leaders and Tutors, and Personal Tutors are available via email. The Student Support Service at Cardiff University is able to help with many diverse issues should you feel unable to approach staff in the Optometry department.
The aim of the course is to provide eye care professionals with the skills required to successfully oversee ophthalmic services, with the opportunity to become effective leaders within the sector, and with a comprehensive overview of their legal obligations in optometric practice in the UK.
Our distance learning Postgraduate Certificate in Glaucoma has been developed to allow students to enhance their skill and knowledge in key areas with the opportunity to obtain quality postgraduate qualifications in a flexible and supportive environment.
The distance learning Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Glaucoma aims to help eye care professionals to develop the specific skills and knowledge to manage patients with glaucoma.
The course modules have been specifically designed to complement the levels of activity and responsibility that ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and orthoptists could undertake in community and hospital practice. The content is aligned, wherever possible, with national pathways for enhanced services and professional accreditation schemes.
All of the course modules are accredited for the College of Optometrists’ Higher Qualifications.
The majority of the course is delivered via Learning Central, the University's e-Learning system. 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.
Distinctive features
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.
Lectures are supported by the appropriate references and resources, and accompanied by assessment exercises.
Participation in moderated online discussions is a feature in almost all modules. Practical workshops for skills training will be held at locations convenient to either the module content or the student cohort enrolled at that time, and instructed by educational leaders in that discipline.
How will I be supported?
At the beginning of your course there is a compulsory online induction module.
This will help you find your way around Learning Central and it will also provide general information including about the personal tutor system, and how our administration and IT teams will support you.
At the start of each semester you will be advised of who your Module Leader is. At the beginning of each year a Chair of the Student Panel will be appointed and this will be communicated to all students.
Throughout the course Administration Staff, Module Leaders and Tutors, and Personal Tutors are available via email. The Student Support Service at Cardiff University is able to help with many diverse issues should you feel unable to approach staff in the Optometry Department.
The course has been specifically designed to complement the levels of activity and responsibility that ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and orthoptists could undertake in community and hospital practice. The content is aligned, wherever possible, with national pathways for enhanced services and professional accreditation schemes.
This is the first blended learning postgraduate programme in the UK to be designed for nurses and allied health professionals working in ophthalmology. Developed by two global centres of expertise, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL, this collaboration ensures that students have access to experts in their fields.
The emphasis of the programme will be on relating empirical knowledge to clinical practice and care, whilst developing more analytical and research-based skills. The inclusion of a work-based module, relating clinical care to practice, ensures that the knowledge base is related to experience of clinical conditions in the workplace and that graduates will be able to deliver first-class patient care.
Students undertake modules to the value of 60 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (15 credits each) delivered predominantly via distance learning, with only seven attendance study days.
Core modules
Optional modules
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, discussion forums and online learning. Personal tutors will support your learning. Assessment is through both formative and summative assessment via coursework, workbooks, online multiple choice questions, short answer papers and a final viva examination.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Clinical Ophthalmic Practice PG Cert
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Students will be able to apply for positions in ophthalmology and will be eligible for further postgraduate study at UCL.
Employability
Graduates of this programme will have enhanced their employment prospects with employers both in the UK and overseas, as they will have broadened their ophthalmic knowledge and skills and have a foundation in research. These skills will be transferable within all areas of ophthalmic practice.
This programme aims to bridge the gap between theory and practical skills for those working in ophthalmic practice. It provides an opportunity for UK and EU nurses and professionals allied to medicine, who are working in ophthalmic care, to enhance their understanding of the knowledge base and empirical research that underpins clinical conditions and develop practical skills within their own clinical area.
Students will have access to the foremost ophthalmic library in Europe, both in person and remotely. There will be networking opportunities for online group discussions and web-based discussion forums around the modules being taken.
This programme is based at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, which is world renowned for the translation of biomedical research into new therapeutic advances in eye disease. Students will be embedded in the research environment, have the opportunity to conduct an independent research project, and to work alongside world-leading experts.
Students will develop key transferable personal and professional skills to independently conduct an extended empirical research project supervised by world-leading experts in the field of vision research. Students will also learn about the fundamental biology of the eye in health and disease, providing key knowledge to support their research project.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of two core modules (30 credits), three optional modules (45 credits) and a dissertation (105 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/research project
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 18,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, journal clubs and workshops. Assessment is through essays, oral presentations, problem-based tasks and a research dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Vision Research MRes
The Institute of Ophthalmology currently offers the following bursaries for successful applicants on our postgraduate taught master’s degrees: One £5,000 Duke Elder bursary for non-clinical courses (available for successful applicants on the Biology of Vision, Applied Immunobiology, Applied and Regenerative Neuroscience, and Vision Research degrees). Duke Elder bursaries are open to home and overseas students and will be received in the form of a fee reduction only.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
The Vision Research MRes will develop the necessary competitive skills to pursue a research degree at PhD level in the field of biomedical sciences. Graduates will offer prospective employers skills in research development and practice, suitable for further research careers in academia, industry or business.
Employability
A unique feature of the Vision Research MRes is the delivery of key elements that are essential for the development of an internationally competitive career in biomedical research. The research expertise at the institute will be fully harnessed to prepare students for a new era in research in the global employment market. Students will develop critical understanding of a range of research-related knowledge and skills, including quantitative and qualitative tools for the implementation, management and dissemination of research. The programme will give students both the fundamental knowledge and skills base to address complex issues of global significance in health and wellbeing.
The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is recognised globally for its outstanding record in basic biomedical research, much of which has been translated into important advances in novel and innovative therapies.
The Vision Research MRes is a unique programme that will combine existing high-quality research-informed teaching at the institute with a substantial empirical research project.
The opportunity to participate fully in academic life as part of a research team will provide networking opportunities across the spectrum of biomedical research taking place at the institute, UCL and elsewhere, thereby increasing exposure to further opportunities in research.
This new two year part-time Masters programme, taught entirely online, is jointly offered by the University of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and leads to the degree of Master of Surgery (ChM). It has been developed with the support of NHS Education for Scotland (NES).
The ChM is designed to support advanced ophthalmology trainees in the UK and internationally through a curriculum which recognises their subspecialist ophthalmic interests in preparation for exit examination and hospital-based practice.
Our programmes are aligned with the curricula of both the FRCSEd and FRCOphth examinations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, making these degrees very attractive to domestic and international students.
The ChM provides advanced training for medical and surgical ophthalmologists preparing for the fellowship examinations of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) in the UK and Ireland and those approaching consultancy. On completion of this programme students will be able to:
The programme is taught entirely online. Students are supported by asynchronous discussion with e-tutors - all leading clinicians in their field - and have access to a large learning resource, including subscriptions to key online books and journals. Students will be expected to lead e-seminars and e-journal clubs.
Our online learning technology is fully interactive, award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.
Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
The programme is headed up by Professor Baljean Dhillon.
The programme runs on a semester basis over 2 years and involves approximately 10-15 hours of study each week in a flexible, modular manner.
The programme is delivered using a purpose-built learning environment that supports a variety of learning styles, and allows students flexibility in their study patterns.
Core, compulsory modules in each area of clinical ophthalmology are aligned to the curricula of the FRCSEd and FRCOphth. These are taught and assessed using a clinical problem-based approach, supported by systems-based review of the course material. Knowledge and understanding will be assessed with a formal MCQ exam designed to replicate the trainees' upcoming exit exams.
Academic modules (core and specialist) allow the student to explore research and teaching methodology, as well as develop skills which ensure an ability to analyse published evidence and explore interactive and written clinical communication skills. Students are required to complete an e-dissertation involving an academic critique in an appropriate subspecialty area of work, such as that resulting from a publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Year 1
Year 2
Academic modules will explore research and teaching methodology, whilst enabling students to develop the ability to analyse published evidence and enhance their interactive and written clinical communication skills. Students will also have the opportunity to complete an academic research project in Year 2 e.g. Original research or a Systematic Review in a relevant area of work. Following completion of the programme, students are encouraged to seek publication of their study in a peer-reviewed journal.
Students are supported throughout the programme through asynchronous discussions with e-tutors who are all leading clinicians in their field. Students also have access to a large learning resource, including subscriptions to key online books and journals. A written examination (MCQ)) is held in the second year, following completion of core modules.
The programme will offer an alternative to clinical / laboratory research training for those students who do not wish to take time out of training. It will develop the trainee's academic portfolio and facilitate medical/surgical research projects essential to a research active career.
The ChM programme is designed to follow the FRCSEd and FRCOphth curricula and prepare the advanced trainee for their exit professional examinations.
The award of ChM will highlight the trainee's commitment to continuing professional development and will ensure a competitive edge when applying for consultant positions.
This new three year part-time Masters programme, taught entirely online, is jointly offered by the University of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and leads to the degree of Master of Science (MSc). It has been developed in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland (NES).
Aimed primarily at optometrists seeking formal postgraduate training in community-based clinical care, this programme is also highly relevant for medical and surgical trainees entering specialty training in ophthalmology.
This degree is aligned with the curricula of both the FRCSEd and FRCOphth examinations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, making it very attractive to domestic and international students.
This programme is aimed at supporting optometrists seeking formal postgraduate training in community-based clinical care and also medical and surgical trainees entering specialty training ophthalmology.
This programme gives trainees first-rate preparation for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd) and Fellowship of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) examinations or equivalent, with additional emphasis on acquired knowledge and its application.
The third-year MSc research project also serves as an opportunity to develop an academic career.
The programme is taught entirely online. Students are supported by synchronous and asynchronous discussion with e-tutors - all leading clinicians in their field - and have access to a large learning resource, including subscriptions to key online books and journals. Students will be expected to lead e-seminars and e-journal clubs.
Our online learning technology is fully interactive, award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.
Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
The programme is headed up by Professor Baljean Dhillon.
Delivered through an online learning environment, this programme runs on a semester basis over three years and involves approximately 10-15 hours of study each week in a flexible, modular manner. All modules are compulsory and are taught and assessed using a clinical problem-based approach and involve participation in discussion boards and reflective portfolios.
Students accumulate credits by completing a series of modules leading to a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Science degree. The minimum time for completion of the full Masters programme is three years, and the maximum time for completion is six years.
At the certificate and diploma levels, students must attend an end-of-year examination, held in Edinburgh for UK-based students or with a pre-approved partner institution for international students.
Year 1: Certificate
Year 2: Diploma
Year 3: Masters
The final year involves a supervised masters research project, which will be undertaken in an approved topic that reflects your subspecialty interest and will require the submission of a written project report.
This programme is designed for:
The award of MSc will highlight the student’s commitment to continuing professional development in their chosen career and will ensure a competitive edge when applying for clinical positions. The MSc will also help prepare them for an academic or research career.
The MSc is also relevant to GPs and trainee GPs with a special Interest in ophthalmology, family medicine physicians, orthoptists, ophthalmic nurses and other eye healthcare professionals seeking to advance their understanding of primary care ophthalmology and its interface with secondary care.
The Advanced Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate course is designed for registered nurses working in ophthalmic health or caring for people who are experiencing vision loss. It is for staff nurses and nurse managers, as well as those seeking a career in nursing or health research.
The Advanced Practice in Health and Social Care (Advanced Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner) programme provides ophthalmic nurses with up-to-date research-based and theoretical knowledge of a wide range of ophthalmic fields.
The main focus of the Ophthalmic Nursing programme is prescribing within the context of ophthalmic nursing.
You will complete the non-medical prescribing programme in addition to ophthalmic-related modules which will enhance prescribing competence.
The degree programme offers education in the latest theoretical and clinical developments relating to the role of ophthalmic nurse practitioner. It also develops research and critical thinking skills and provides the opportunity to conduct a research project under expert supervision, laying the foundations for independent practice and research in the future. This provides you with the opportunity to create a challenging and rewarding Master's programme tailored to nursing ophthalmic care.
The prescribing module on this course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The Division of Optometry opened a brand-new, purpose-built eye clinic, City Sight in 2015. These state-of-the-art facilities provide a comprehensive range of services and educational resources in vision sciences for our students, researchers and patients.
There will be extensive use of City’s Virtual Learning Platform – Moodle for a more interactive learning experience.
The range of teaching methods is wide and includes lectures (face-to-face and online), tutorials, advanced clinical training, clinical demonstrations, videos and discussion of clinical scenarios and action learning sets. Discussion forums, interactive seminars, peer reviewing work-based examples and clinically focused critical reflections via a case review process are also included.
Practical classes and clinical skills laboratories provide opportunities to develop practical skills and to give demonstrations of techniques covered in lectures. Many lectures are delivered by external specialists, giving you access to expertise on current issues, research and methods in the field.
There is a significant amount of independent study within each module (e.g.120 hours/15 PG credit module) and this time is for you to read literature related to the modules you are studying and to reflect on your clinical practice.
Methods of assessment vary between modules, to reflect their differences in structure and content. The modular examinations may include any combination of the following:
Some modules have more than one assessment component and the weighting for each assessment component is outlined clearly within the module specification.
The programme provides a range of modules which include 15, 30 and 60-credit modules at Master’s level. This is a flexible programme with a choice of exit routes. Modules can also be taken as stand-alone courses.
You will study six core modules, and a further module from a choice of four discipline-specific modules and four elective modules. If you are part-time, you should aim to take two modules per term over two years. If you are full-time, you take four modules per term over one year.
Each 15 PG credit module is approximately 150 hours (15 PG credits) in duration with around 45% of this time spent attending City for face-to-face learning in either lectures/tutorials or workshops.
Depending on the module, you should be aiming to study approximately:
Core modules
Discipline specific modules
Elective modules
Electives
The Advanced Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner Masters programme will enhance your professional skills in practice, research and teaching. As a graduate, you will enhance prospects in applying for posts in nurse management, student support, and as ophthalmic nurse specialists or advanced nurse practitioners in ophthalmology, in a variety of different settings (public and private). The programme is also suitable for nurses considering a post in research.
This new Master's degree will deliver an in-depth understanding of clinical ophthalmology, disease pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. The programme combines lectures and seminars at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in Year 1 with direct exposure to clinical practice in the ophthalmology clinics at the world-leading Moorfields Eye Hospital in Year 2.
The programme provides knowledge of the theory and practical skills of clinical ophthalmology including ocular pathology diagnosis and management, an understanding of clinical disease processes in the eye, the assessment of patients and the different imaging modalities and treatments available, as well as their limitations and side-effects.
Students undertake modules to the value of 360 credits.
The programme consists of 16 mandatory modules (240 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits) and a case-based portfolio (60 credits).
Year one core modules
Year two core modules
Dissertation/report
In year one all students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000–12,000 words. In year two students will construct a portfolio, examined by a viva.
Teaching and learning
In the first year the programme is predominantly delivered through lectures, seminars and attendance at clinical teaching sessions. The second year is largely clinic based and supplemented by taught sessions. Assessment is through written examinations, oral presentations, problem-based learning, dissertation and a case-based portfolio.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Ophthalmology with Clinical Practice MSc
The Institute of Ophthalmology currently offers the following bursaries for successful applicants on our postgraduate taught Master’s degrees: two £10,000 Allergan Foundation bursaries (available for successful applicants on the Clinical Ophthalmology and Ophthalmology with Clinical Practice degrees). These bursaries are open to home and overseas students and will be received in the form of a fee reduction only.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
This programme provides students with the unique opportunity to study at world-leading ophthalmology institutions, where they will be exposed to the most advanced diagnostic and treatment approaches. Students will learn directly from experienced clinicians and researchers from both Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL, who will help them acquire the basic knowledge for further clinical advancement. Students learn basic practical ophthalmic skills (use of slit lamp, how to do tonometry, gonioscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, biomicroscopy) to assist them at the start of their ophthalmic career. In Year 2 students attend clinics at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Employability
The degree programme aims to provide students with the clinical and academic skills to help them become clinical leaders in their future posts. They will acquire the basic knowledge and clinical skills to become independent clinicians who are able to lead others in modern ophthalmic practice.
The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital are recognised globally and have an outstanding track record in basic biomedical research, teaching and clinical management of patients. This degree builds on the best of all of these to provide the student with an excellent knowledge of ophthalmology. The attachments in the clinics in the second year provide an unparalleled opportunity to see and examine patients with a wide range of ophthalmic diseases with experienced clinicians.
In Year 1 students will be taught diagnosis and management of common ocular diseases by experienced clinicians and researchers. Students will gain an understanding of clinical assessments and disease processes in the eye, imaging modalities, treatments and side-effects. Additional skills acquired include critical evaluation of scientific literature and research skills . A personal tutor is allocated to each student to assist this process. Basic clinical skills session teaching will be offered. In the third term the student writes a dissertation on a topic of interest to them with guidance from the senior clinicians running the programme.
In Year 2 in addition to attending clinics in all sub-specialty areas, you attend practical skill courses (microsurgical skills, basic phacoemulsification, trabeculectomy, squint) run by experienced clinicians.
The programme will also provide unique opportunities to interact with leading clinicians from Moorfields Eye Hospital as well as from other prominent institutions. International students from countries with less well-developed ophthalmic services will especially benefit from this unique programme.
This is the first blended learning postgraduate programme in the UK to be designed for nurses and allied health professionals working in ophthalmology. Developed by two global centres of expertise, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL, this collaboration ensures that students have access to experts in their fields.
The emphasis of the programme will be on relating empirical knowledge to clinical practice and care, whilst developing more analytical and research-based skills. The inclusion of a work-based module, relating clinical care to practice, ensures that the knowledge base is related to experience of clinical conditions in the workplace and that graduates will be able to deliver first-class patient care.
Students undertake modules to the value of 60 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (15 credits each) delivered predominantly via distance learning, with only seven attendance study days.
Core modules
Optional modules
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, discussion forums and online learning. Personal tutors will support your learning. Assessment is through both formative and summative assessment via coursework, workbooks, online multiple choice questions, short answer papers and a final viva examination.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Clinical Ophthalmic Practice PG Cert
Students will be able to apply for positions in ophthalmology and will be eligible for further postgraduate study at UCL.
Employability
Graduates of this programme will have enhanced their employment prospects with employers both in the UK and overseas, as they will have broadened their ophthalmic knowledge and skills and have a foundation in research. These skills will be transferable within all areas of ophthalmic practice.
This programme aims to bridge the gap between theory and practical skills for those working in ophthalmic practice. It provides an opportunity for UK and EU nurses and professionals allied to medicine, who are working in ophthalmic care, to enhance their understanding of the knowledge base and empirical research that underpins clinical conditions and develop practical skills within their own clinical area.
Students will have access to the foremost ophthalmic library in Europe, both in person and remotely. There will be networking opportunities for online group discussions and web-based discussion forums around the modules being taken.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Institute of Ophthalmology
80% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
