University of Leicester begins making provisional offers to future optometry students

More than 400 applications have been made for 34 places on the optometry Master’s course, the university said

2 min read

University of Leicester

20 January 2026

The University of Leicester has begun making provisional offers to students for its MOptom degree, which it hopes to start running in the coming academic year.

More than 400 prospective students have applied for 34 places on the four-year course, the University of Leicester said.

The first cohort of students is expected to be welcomed in September 2026, pending Stage 3 approval from the GOC.

Stage 3 approval gives an institution permission to recruit for a qualification. The university hopes that full GOC approval will take place later in 2026.

Professor Christian French, who is leading the new course, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching this degree to fulfil local and national demand within this rewarding profession. Our high-quality course will deliver confident optometrists ready for the world of work.”

Students will undertake multiple placements throughout the degree and the university is working collaboratively with “a fantastic database of local optometrists” as well as businesses, French said.

“Our students will learn how to carry out detailed eye examinations, prescribe glasses or contact lenses, and detect and manage a variety of disorders in vision or disease – skills which put them at the frontline of healthcare,” he added.

Students will benefit from dedicated clinical teaching spaces at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Teaching will also take place at optics labs and medical dissection rooms on the University of Leicester campus, and at the nearby Space Park Leicester.

The aim is to equip students with business acumen as well as with clinical knowledge, French said.

Final year students will undertake the clinical learning in practice placement via The College of Optometrists and will also complete a professional certificate in glaucoma.

The degree will be housed in the university’s College of Life Sciences.