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Ophthalmic Nursing PG Cert

London, Old Street

This programme will allow you to develop advanced knowledge of the eye, eye diseases and treatment and the research underpinning clinical practice. It is delivered by researchers and nurses who are at the forefront of ophthalmic research clinical practice at the Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital Trust; both institutions will be involved in the teaching of the programme.

UK students International students
Study mode
Part-time
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£5,600
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£13,100
Duration
1 academic year
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates will need to have a professional healthcare qualification (in nursing or an allied healthcare profession). Students are also required to have at least one year's ophthalmic experience and to be currently working in the field of ophthalmology.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Ophthalmic Nursing at graduate level
  • why you want to study Ophthalmic Nursing at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally after completing this programme

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme.

The English language level for this course is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The programme is designed to help graduates acquire and apply knowledge and skills resulting from evidence-based research required for clinical practice.

It will allow students to develop advanced knowledge of the eye, eye diseases and treatment and the research underpinning clinical practice.

Who this course is for

This programme is suitable for nurses working in an ophthalmic clinical setting.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme will give you the underpinning research and evidence-based knowledge to develop your clinical knowledge base.

This programme is delivered using a blended learning approach. You will have access to face-to-face classroom teaching and virtual learning, both individually as well as through collaborative and cooperative learning approaches, to help you acquire the academic knowledge and skills required for evidence-based practice.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Experience on the programme can be used in applications for ophthalmic nursing roles or further study. As a graduate of this programme, you will have enhanced your employment prospects with employers both in the UK and overseas, as you will have broadened your ophthalmic knowledge and skills and have a foundation in research. 

Employability

Experience on the programme can be used in applications for ophthalmic nursing roles or further study.

Networking

You can participate in the various research seminars, special guest lectures and events held at the Institute of Ophthalmology which will not only widen your exposure to the latest research and hear from speakers from around the world but increase the opportunity to meet with various staff at the Institute, Moorfields or wider UCL, for example research staff, clinicians and fellow students. Your programme will also hold informal events such as social events so you can meet with teaching staff and other students on your programme, who have been based at different hospitals and clinical settings which enriches your peer-to-peer learning.

Teaching and learning

The course has been designed with the working professional in mind. The programme will take place mainly online (both through live/synchronous sessions and through other online materials you will be expected to cover), with the remaining part of the programme being delivered face-to-face.

There will be assessments for each module you study. An overview of module assessment information can be found on the UCL module catalogue, but this is subject to change year to year. Confirmed detailed information about your module assessments will be communicated to you when you are on the programme. There will be a mixture of face-to-face and online live (synchronous) sessions as well as online content you will be expected to go over independently. It is recommended that for every  hour of teaching you receive, you should undertake up to two or three hours of self-study.

You will be assessed by a variety of methods including unseen written examinations. Multiple choice questions
(MCQ), short answer questions, case reports, essays, presentation and viva.

Teaching will be in-person and online as well as content you will be expected to go over independently. It is recommended that for every hour of teaching you receive, you should undertake up to two or three hours of self-study. Students will also display a level of independent study (25-30 hours per week), for example, by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the programme.

You can expect 7-14 hours of teaching time per week and this can vary per module, per week. Most of the teaching on this course will be carried out through live, online synchronous sessions. You can expect 3-4 days of in-person clinical skills workshops over the whole year and the assessment for one module in Term 1, will also be in-person.

Modules

In term 1, you will take 2 compulsory modules which will provide you with a firm foundation of ocular
anatomy and physiology and the influence of genetics, biological and physiological factors on ocular health.

You will develop critical thinking skills in applying theoretical knowledge to identify a variety of ocular pathologies, their manifestations and management.

In term 2 you will take 2 compulsory modules which will help you develop knowledge and skills pertinent to research and statistics and their application in evidence based clinical practice. You will also work with specialist clinicians in the clinical areas to develop ophthalmic skills and a comprehensive approach to the clinical reasoning process in ophthalmic clinical practice. You will apply knowledge of various pathologies to demonstrate your knowledge and ability to undertake the relevant clinical assessment and investigations.

Compulsory modules






Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Ophthalmic Nursing PG Cert

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The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology delivers advanced ophthalmic research and education in partnership with Moorfields Eye Hospital. Together, we represent the largest co-located site for eye research, education, and care in the world. We are ranked the best place in Europe to study ophthalmology (SCImago Institution Rankings 2025 for Ophthalmology). Discover our PGT courses that advance your knowledge as an ophthalmologist, prepare you for clinical training, or launch your research career.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £5,600
Tuition fees (2026/27) £13,100

Part-time = 1 year.

Additional costs

Fee deposit information to be confirmed.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

Visit the UCL Scholarships and Funding webpage here to find out more about scholarship and funding support.

The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology sometimes offers scholarships for successful applications on specific programmes. You can find out more information about these here.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Institute of Ophthalmology International Excellence Scholarships

Deadline: 26 June 2026
Value: £5,000 towards fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Ophthalmic Nursing at graduate level
  • Why you want to study Ophthalmic Nursing at UCL
  • What particularly attracts you to this programme
  • How your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Institute of Ophthalmology
Institute of Ophthalmology

ioo.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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