School of Health Professions

MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology

Programme code 7423
Duration

3 years
Course type

Part-time
Study location Plymouth
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Are you a registered ophthalmic professional who is looking to develop your career to an advanced level of practice in Clinical Ophthalmology? If so, this course is for you! With a strong clinical focus and alignment to the NHS England Advanced Clinical Practice framework, our future-facing programme prepares optometrists, orthoptists and ophthalmic nurses to work with a high level of autonomy as part of integrated healthcare teams, in both the primary and secondary care sectors.

Key features
This innovative and flexible MSc programme supports the postgraduate development of registered ophthalmic professionals to an advanced level of practice in Clinical Ophthalmology.
Commissioned by Health Education England and informed by national and local consultation with sectors specialists, it is the first programme of its kind in the Southwest.
Emphasis is placed on the four pillars of Advanced Clinical Practice: Education, Leadership and Management, Clinical Practice and Research, equipping clinicians with the confidence to provide professional leadership and supervision in complex situations and use person-centred approaches to manage defined episodes of clinical care independently from beginning to end.
The incorporation of a variety of optional clinical modules offers the exciting opportunity to tailor the learning experience to meet the interest of both the clinician and employer
  • Undertake an MSc programme of study designed to prepare you to work with a high level of autonomy as part of integrated healthcare teams.
  • Achieve a named MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology which can be used to enhance career opportunities.
  • Develop your clinical expertise, research, education and leadership skills to an advanced level of practice, equipping you to take on lead roles.
  • Complete the programme over 3 years part-time, or flexibly across 6 years.
  • Follow a blended learning approach, with a combination of distance learning, webinars and a face-to-face clinical day at University of Plymouth.
  • Find the programme to be suitable to those working in both the primary and secondary care sectors.
  • Gain recognition against, and support progression through, the Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT) framework (Levels 1 to 3), where applicable.
  • Gain recognition against the College of Optometrists Higher Qualifications, where applicable.
  • Engage in a multidisciplinary study environment allowing rich peer learning opportunities.

Course details
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology standard route Programme Spec 2024 25 7423

Entry requirements
This programme is designed for registered optometrists, orthoptists and ophthalmic nurses, who are currently working clinically in an ophthalmic setting that will facilitate the successful completion of the programme (primary or secondary care).
  • Applicants will normally have a relevant first degree, BSc (Hons) at 2:1 or above; or a European first cycle equivalent.
  • Applicants without a first degree, BSc (Hons) at 2:1 or above may be eligible to apply, if combined with appropriate practice related experience relevant to the programme and following submission of a written critical evaluation of advanced practice marked against the Level 7 criteria.
  • Certified evidence of an appropriate level of competence in clinical examination of the eye, to include slit lamp examination of the anterior eye, slit lamp biomicroscopy assessment of the optic nerve head and retina and tonometry, will be required where applicable, and where necessary for the successful completion of a chosen clinical module.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English through an IELTS average of 6.5, overall minimum of 5.5 in each part.
  • Due to the blended learning delivery model of this MSc, it is an expectation that applicants will have access to wi-fi and relevant electronic devices that allow them to engage fully with all aspects of programme delivery, teaching, learning and assessment.
  • All applicants will be interviewed to assess their individual ability to meet the requirements of this programme.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certified or experiential are accepted and will be assessed following University of Plymouth regulations and Faculty of Health procedures

Fees, costs and funding
Student 2024-25 2025-26
Part time (Home) £1,220 per 20 credit module £1,260 per 20 credit module

Part-time fees shown are per a number of credits. Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change. Information about loans and funding for postgraduate study .
Students applying for a postgraduate loan will be subject to stipulations regarding the duration of the programme. Please contact the pathway lead for advice before applying.
Additional costs
Please be aware that there may be additional costs to undertaking your studies relating to printing of course materials, parking charges, and requirement for an initial outlay for travel and accommodation in respect of practice placement. If you have any questions regarding these costs please contact pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk.
In order to cater for the needs of the NHS workforce, this full-time programme is also available as a part-time programme, which is flexible in nature and allows up to six years for students to complete the full MSc. For this reason, students on the programme are unable to claim support via the Student Loans Company Postgraduate Loan. The SLC stipulates that only full-time programmes without a part time equivalent can be funded. If you think that you will have trouble funding your place on the programme, we would recommend a discussion with your employer to see whether any financial support can be granted.

How to apply

Apply online

Applying for this programme
If applying for September 2025, please use the link above. Applicants will also need to attach an additional information form to their application.
Applications to commence the programme before September 2025 need to be completed through the Postgraduate Application Form. Applicants will also need to provide an additional information form
Please email forms to: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth, PL4 8AA
What happens after I apply?
After your application is received by the PDU Admissions team, it will be processed and sent to the Programme Lead for a decision to be made on your suitability to study. You may be asked to provide additional information or to take part in an interview (for overseas students this may be by telephone or video conference). Once this decision has been made, you will be sent an email either confirming your place on the programme, or rejecting your application and giving the reasons for this decision (you may request further feedback in order to improve your chances of selection at a later date).
Please note that you will be enrolled on the full MSc programme. You may choose to exit with the qualification of PgCert upon completion of an appropriate 60 credits, or a PgDip upon completion of an appropriate 120 credits. More information is contained within the programme specification.

Update: application process

Please note that there has been an update to the application process for our masters programmes.
Any part-time applications for programmes starting before September 2025 need to continue to use the Postgraduate Application Form and any additional information forms as required. Full details can be found on our admissions homepage .
Part-time applications for September 2025 and beyond need to apply online via the link on the relevant programme page.
Any full-time applications for programmes starting in September 2025 need to apply online via the link on the relevant programme page.
Ophthalmology

MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology

Students looking at an eye scan on computer
Complete the programme over 3 years part-time, or flexibly across 6 years.
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology
Gain recognition against the College of Optometrists Higher Qualifications.
Man completing an eye scan
Modules can also be completed on a stand-alone basis.
Ophthalmology students discussing eye scan
Engage in a multidisciplinary study environment.
Close up of an eye scan
Enhance career opportunities.

This course is aimed at registered ophthalmic professionals looking to develop their career to an advanced level of practice in Clinical Ophthalmology.

Watch our video to find out more about the course.

Areas of specialism

  • Primary care optometry
  • Secondary care optometry
  • Orthoptics
  • Ophthalmic nurses
  • Clinical ophthalmology
  • Advanced clinical practice.

Our alumni

Don Williams
Don Williams - MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology
Eleanor Carr
Eleanor Carr - MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology - Apprenticeship Route

Course enquiries

If you have any queries about this programme or your suitability, please feel free to contact Dr Stephanie Mroczkowska and Hannah Stewart (Programme Leads) at: acpophthalmology@plymouth.ac.uk.

Applications need to be made via the Professional Development Unit. Please see panel below for application details.  

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