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Ophthalmology MSc

London, Old Street

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2023/24)

£18,000

£9,000

Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)

£32,100

£16,050

Duration

1 calendar year

2 calendar years

Programme starts

September 2023

Applications accepted

All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A UK medical degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard (2:1). A scientific degree in an appropriate allied discipline (such as optometry) or overseas equivalent standard (2:1 or above).

The English language level for this programme 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. International Preparation Courses

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 Ophthalmology MSc provides an in depth engagement with the study of Ophthalmology in a contemporary clinical and research focused context. It is intended to provide a comprehensive grounding in the principles, approaches and methodologies that inform current practice in the specific clinical sub specialties in this rapidly advancing area. It is intended to provide you with a deeper theoretical and contextual knowledge to allow you to develop your clinical decision making skills in subspecialty areas and plan coherent next steps and further specialist study, research and training in readiness for patient-facing clinical practice and research.

The relationship between the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and the world-leading Moorfields Eye Hospital as partners in delivering the programme, allows you to develop your understanding in the context of the most current research, diagnostic and treatment advancements in the ophthalmic field.

Teaching will be delivered online by a mix of clinical experts and hospital based practitioners, alongside faculty staff with internationally positioned research profiles, so study and learning is shaped in an environment that allows you the fullest understanding of the interactions and perspectives of career trajectories in the ophthalmology field.

You will have the opportunity to attend two-weeks of ‘Enhancement Activities’ that will provide you with the opportunity to augment your knowledge by giving you experience of the clinical and practical aspects of Ophthalmology, delivered predominantly face to face at Moorfields Eye Hospital/Institute of Ophthalmology in London.

Who this course is for

The flagship Ophthalmology MSc is ideal for medics, doctors, GPs and optometrists who have a particular interest in specialist ophthalmological practice and research.

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

What this course will give you

The Ophthalmology MSc is delivered through a modular structure, in intensive learning blocks that are focused on the core ophthalmic sub-specialties in respect of content and topics (such as Glaucoma, Cornea and external disease, Neurophthamlology, Retinal conditions etc).

This allows for a connected synthesis of understanding to be developed across the programme, while ensuring that in depth knowledge of particular aetiologies, pathologies, management and treatment of conditions in specific areas can be acquired.

This programme aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the field, and the specialist pathways emerging from it to permit informed choices in respect of further developing inpatient care and clinical research skills in ophthalmology.

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

The foundation of your career

Graduates will have a substantial knowledge base in respect of common and rare ophthalmic conditions with diagnosis and management paradigms to apply in various contexts in the UK and abroad.

Graduates will have the capacity to synthesise and evaluate information, principles and practice, and core skills which will aid them should they wish to embark on an application for specialist ophthalmology clinical training.

Employability

Graduates will have a sound ability to frame their future learning, study and training in both an academic and a clinical context.

Teaching and learning

Module teaching is primarily in the form of attended or asynchronous lectures and seminars across terms 1 and 2, in module teaching blocks. Structured teaching sessions form typically approximately 18-20 hours of the week in the teaching terms and there is considerable independent reading and study expected through the module delivery period and in the identified revision weeks. The mix of teaching methods varies according to the demands of each module. Lectures allow for specific, in-depth information to be provided; and then weekly group tutorials allow for this to be discussed and considered.

An ongoing seminar session focused on informal case based presentations discussions related to module content allows for analytical understanding (and presentation skills) to be demonstrated and developed.

Practical skills in respect of examination and function and interpretation of diagnostic technologies and data are delivered through a focused introduction module, and are routinely revisited in each subsequent module, as appropriate to the content.

Module consolidation seminars involving problem or case based presentations relating to module content and informal quizzes allow for knowledge and understanding to be tested, and for formative feedback to be given in respect of this, in advance of summative assessment, alongside focused revision sessions to prepare for this.

Research in practice seminars allow for investigative, analytical, synthesis and data interrogation skills to be developed, prior to being put into practice in the dissertation module.

Term 3 is the dissertation term, where you will embark on an independent library-based research project. You will receive support through tutorials/ workshops in order to shape and develop your dissertation.

The programme is delivered primarily through lectures and seminars across terms one and two, in module teaching blocks. Term three consists mainly of the dissertation.

Assessment is through examinations, coursework, journal reviews, case reports, journal presentations and a dissertation. An overview of module assessment information can be found on the UCL module catalogue, but note that this subject to change year to year. Confirmed detailed information about your module assessments will be communicated to you when you are on the programme.

Modules

The Ophthalmology MSc will be delivered through a modular structure, in intensive learning blocks that are focused on the core ophthalmic sub–specialties in respect of content and topics (such as Glaucoma, Cornea and External disease, Neuro-ophthalmology, Retinal conditions etc).This allows for a connected synthesis of understanding to be developed across the programme, while ensuring that in depth knowledge of particular aetiologies, pathologies, management and treatment of conditions in specific areas can be acquired.

All modules are core and compulsory, in order to proceed to the award.

Teaching occurs across terms 1 and 2 on a full time basis, covers all subspecialties and includes seminar based sessions that support evaluative and academic skills that underpin study across all modules within the programme.

Teaching for the Dissertation Module begins in terms 1 and 2, with a course on “Research in Ophthalmology (RIO)”, weekly skills-based seminars take place across all three terms, and cover foundations of epidemiology, biostatistics, qualitative research, evidence synthesis, critical appraisal tools, literature search and health economics. Seminars explore important aspects of professional and academic life including research ethics, plagiarism and academic writing. The programme also include inspirational talks by clinical academics at Moorfields Eye Hospital and other institutions.

Term 3 is focused on the preparation, research and writing of the Dissertation module. This allows for you to shape your dissertation research topics from a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the field, to specific and focused lines of enquiry, making use of the skills learned in RIO.

The dissertation is a library-based project on one topic which is the equivalent of 4 modules. It allows you to focus on one topic with direction, and to develop many of the research skills learnt in the other terms. For this reason it is non-condonable.

The structure for the part-time programme (distance learning mode only) is as follows:

90 credits must be taken per year, with Introduction to Ophthalmology (OPHT0033) in year 1, after this students can take another 75 credits in any combination in year 1 (not including the Ophthalmology Dissertation).

Students in year 2 will take another 30 credits, either 1x30 credit or 2x15 credit modules and the Dissertation module (OPHT0039). The Dissertation module runs in terms 1, 2 and 3.

The taught modules are usually scheduled Tuesday-Thursday.

Workshops for the Dissertation module (OPHT0039) will usually run on Friday mornings.

Compulsory modules

Adnexal and Orbital Disease

Cornea, cataract, external diseases and refractive surgery

Glaucoma

Introduction to Ophthalmology

Medical Retina, Vitreoretinal, Systemic Diseases, Uveitis and Ocular Oncology

Neuro-ophthalmology, strabismus and paediatric Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology Dissertation

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.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Ophthalmology.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

9 June 2023

Online - Open day

Virtual Information Event: Ophthalmology MSc

16:00 — 17:00

Join the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology to find out more about our exciting Ophthalmology MSc programme. The Ophthalmology MSc provides an in-depth engagement with the study of Ophthalmology in a contemporary clinical and research-focused context. It is intended to provide a comprehensive grounding in the principles, approaches and methodologies that inform current practice in the specific clinical sub-specialities in this rapidly advancing area.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Introduction to Ophthalmology MSc

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£18,000	£9,000
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£32,100	£16,050

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

The following book is highly recommended for you to purchase as an accompaniment to the programme:

Clinical Ophthalmology : a systematic approach

Jack J Kanski Edinburgh : Elsevier Eighth edition. 2016

Other core texts and recommended reading are detailed on module specifications and are available in the library and via UCL e- Journals.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

Please visit UCL's scholarships finder to explore scholarship opportunities that may be available to you.

The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology sometimes has scholarships available for successful applicants to the Ophthalmology MSc programme, such as the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology International Excellence Scholarship. Visit the Institute's website for more details of any available funding.

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: 30 June 2023

Value: £5,000 towards fees (1yr)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

why you want to study Ophthalmology at graduate level
why you want to study Ophthalmology at UCL
what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
how your 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 programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.