Ophthalmology MSc

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About the course

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

 

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