GOC withdraws approval from University of Portsmouth

The General Optical Council (GOC) has withdrawn provisional approval from the University of Portsmouth’s Master of Optometry programme, which was effective from January 10.

The optical regulator issued a notice of intention to withdraw approval on December 9 and gave the university a month to appeal against the decision, which it did not do.

Students currently in their fourth year have been permitted to receive a BSc in Optometry, which will allow them to continue their studies and undertake a clinical placement under the College of Optometrists’ Scheme for Registration.

The GOC is also considering a request from the University of Portsmouth for third year optometry students to undertake further teaching and assessment.