Portsmouth University aiming for 2016 MOptom launch

A new four-year integrated Masters in Optometry course will accept its first intake of students in September 2016, hopes the University of Portsmouth.

The university told Optician that it was considering starting a course, which would include a pre-registration year, but had not yet applied to the General Optical Council for provisional approval.

As reported in Optician last week, the university has sought to recruit two senior lecturers with experience in to research staff in optometry.

‘The main aim of an optometry course at Portsmouth would be to combine an evidence-based curriculum and a strong research base to help inform practice; and to contribute to the contemporary public health agenda,’ said a spokesperson for the university.