Optometry with Independent Prescribing MOptom

What is special about this course?

There is a growing demand across our region and beyond for optometrists - highly skilled healthcare professionals, trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases, and abnormalities - who are qualified to independently prescribe. Join our innovative, interactive, integrated MOptom Optometry and Independent Prescribing* programme, and develop the knowledge and skills you need to confidently pursue a career in this vital field and register as an optometrist with the General Optical Council.

Our progressive course follows a patient- and team-based approach to your learning and teaching, grounding you in foundational skills and building on them throughout each level. Through this method, you will gain in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical experience, and develop key skills including critical thinking, problem solving, patient management, and independent prescribing, as you learn how to make clinical management decisions to provide exactly the right care and treatment plan for your patients.

Practical teaching within clinical workshops is delivered in modern, purpose-built facilities in Inverness. Along with training in our clinical skills suite, in years 1-4 you will also undertake a total of 19 weeks of placements in community practice and hospital eye clinics, giving you unique and immediate access to the situations and emergencies dealt with by optometrists daily, experience that goes above and beyond anything that can be replicated in a university setting.

In year 5, you will spend your entire year in the field, with two paid 6-month placements in different types of practices. During this period, you will cover the practical elements required for independent prescribing and, on successful completion of all modules and assessments, you will be eligible for the GOC register as an optometrist, with the specialist qualification of Independent Prescribing.

*subject to validation

Special features

• Uses a proven, problem- and team-based learning approach to train you in decision making and differential diagnosis, enabling you to become a confident, skilled optometrist, with specialist capacity for working in remote and rural areas
• Taught by a diverse and experienced professional team of clinical and academic staff, with an extensive range of backgrounds, specialisms and interests
• Based at UHI House in Inverness, you will have access to specialist on-site clinical facilities
• Taught face-to-face, supported by online content in the virtual learning environment, with extensive clinical skills training, case studies and scenarios, complemented by community and hospital placements
• Clinical placements across all years of study, helping to consolidate learning and enabling early and continuous exposure to real patients

Entry requirements

• 4 Scottish Highers at grade ABBB which must include 2 science subjects out of the following - physics, biology or human biology, chemistry, mathematics 
  • For those without mathematics or physics at higher, National 5 mathematics or National 5 Applications of mathematics at grade B or above or standard grade mathematics (grade 2) level or above
  • English at higher is preferred, although other essay-based subjects such as history or modern studies would be accepted as an alternative. For those without English higher, or equivalent, then National 5 English at grade B or above or standard grade English (grade 2) level or above
• 3 A levels at BBB which must include 2 science subjects out of the following - physics, biology or human biology, chemistry, mathematics 
  • For those without mathematics or physics at A level, then GCSE mathematics at a minimum of grade B/6 is required
  • For those without English at A level, then GCSE English Language at minimum grade B/6 is required
• A science-based HNC such as HNC Applied Sciences with grade B or above in the graded unit
• Applicants with a recognised qualification in ophthalmic dispensing such as FBDO, or with alternative equivalent qualifications, may also apply and will be considered on an individual basis
• Recognised European or International equivalent qualifications are considered. If English is not your first language, you must have evidence of your English language skills:
  • You must have obtained a minimum score of 7 in the academic International English language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent. Individual scores for each section of the test must not be lower than 6.5, with the exception of the ‘Speaking’ section, where a minimum score of 7 is required.
  • Please note that English language tests need to have been taken no more than two years prior to the start date of the course
• This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage
• Successful applicants must be passed fit by occupational health. This will be arranged as part of the admissions process
• All applicants will be required to attend an interview. Full guidelines will be provided in advance of the interview. As part of the interview you will be expected to demonstrate the following:
  • A genuine interest in the care of patients and demonstration of care ‘values’
  • Team working ability
  • Good verbal and written communication skills
  • IT experience eg. Word processing packages, email and using the internet
  • A high level of commitment due to the intensive nature of this academic and clinical degree programme
• Successful applicants will be required to obtain registration as a student with General Optical Council in order to undertake this course
• Please note: this course does not accept applications for deferred entry; if you wish to take a year out, for example, you must apply next year

CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Foundations of clinical practice
• Introduction to clinical optometry
• Introduction to optometry business skills
• Principles of optics 
• Structure and function of the visual pathway
• Study skills for optometrists

DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Clinical case studies 1
• Clinical case studies 2
• Clinical optometry 1
• Clinical optometry 2
• Management and therapeutics 1
• Management and therapeutics 2

BSc

You will study the following core modules:

• Clinical case studies 3 
• Clinical case studies 4
• Clinical optometry 3
• Literature review
• Management and therapeutics 3
• Management and therapeutics 4

BSc (Hons)

You will study the following core modules:

• Advanced optometric studies
• Community optometry
• Dissertation
• Management and therapeutics 5

MOptom

You will undertake two paid 6-month clinical placements, located across the Scottish region. You will also complete the following core modules:

• Learning and experience in practice
• Independent prescribing 1
• Independent prescribing 2

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term-time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes.  Students will get an automatic scholarship of £4,000 per annum and the 5th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

In years 1-4, you will be responsible for travel and accommodation costs for clinical placements, located across the Scottish region:

• Clinical tunic and badge for wearing to clinical skills sessions (approx. £25)
• Optometry equipment (retinoscope, ophthalmoscope, volk lens) at an estimated cost of £1500 (the optometry team will provide opportunities for the purchase of discounted equipment directly from suppliers). Equipment optional in years one and two, but compulsory for year three
• Supplementary items (pen torch, frame ruler, occluder etc) cost approximately £50 and are to be purchased prior to the commencement of clinical skills in semester two, year one
• It is a requirement of your studies that you maintain student registration with the General Optical Council for the duration of your studies (currently £30 per year)
• You will also be required to cover the cost of a PVG check (approx. £60)