Specsavers supports pre-reg placements for Masters course

Specsavers is supporting third-year optometry students at the University of Hertfordshire, offering pre-reg placements to nearly three-quarters of the cohort.

The University of Hertfordshire launched a four-year Masters course in optometry in September 2015, welcoming 40 undergraduates.

As a four-year course, it integrates the pre-reg year, with students graduating as a fully-qualified optometrist at the end.

Speaking about the partnership, Specsavers’ director of strategic recruitment, Chris Howarth, said: “The collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire is very valuable. We now have an ongoing relationship with a student body that’s going to result in those individuals working for us in the longer term.”

The placements begun this week, with 29 students joining a branch of the multiple.

Student Jayant Hirani joins Specsavers Wembley as a pre-reg optometrist. Speaking about the placement, he said: “It’s an opportunity to apply my knowledge from two and a half years at university to real-life situations. I’m very keen to get to know the team and learn the way the practice works.”

Ophthalmic director at the practice and a head of enhanced optical services at Specsavers, Rakesh Kapoor, added: “I hope his placement will provide a firm foundation in building his career and making him a good optometrist. I’m sure his eagerness to learn will be a breath of fresh air for the store.”