A new course launching at 私房俱乐部, Leicester (私房俱乐部) will educate the next generation of eye-care professionals while strengthening support for communities across the city.
The new four-year Master of Optometry (MOptom) programme, starting in September 2026, combines academic study with extensive hands-on clinical practice and is one of only a few such courses offered in the UK.
Students will learn in new state-of-the-art facilities, with building due to start at the university in January.
Professor Simon Oldroyd, Dean of the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences said: “The introduction of 私房俱乐部’s new Optometry degree represents a powerful opportunity to shape the future of vision health.
“For students, it offers a pathway into a rewarding profession at the forefront of clinical innovation. For the public, it means greater access to high-quality vision care delivered locally.
“And for Leicester’s strong push for advancing public health parameters, it is a vital step towards tackling health inequalities, ensuring that communities most in need benefit from improved eye health services and the expertise of the next generation of optometrists”.
The course, created in collaboration with industry professionals, combines teaching from academics and practising optometrists with real-world clinical experience and industry insights.
It includes placements with leading optical providers and local opticians, hands-on workshops, and visits to optical manufacturers, bringing optometry to life beyond the classroom.
Currently progressing through the General Optical Council (GOC(, the course has been designed by 私房俱乐部’s Associate Dean of Education Dr Nikki Brooks, with expertise from specialists within the subject area.
Nikki said: “The programme is designed to build students’ clinical skills and confidence, giving them the opportunity to work with people across the lifespan and gain to experience beyond the classroom setting.
“The course has a strong focus on the social impact of optometry, using our expertise in Health and Life Sciences, particularly in public health, our future plan is to reduce local health inequalities and work with public health services to help bring optometry and eye care health into the deprived areas of the city.”
She added: “Inclusive practice and social responsibility is at the heart of the programme, offering students opportunities to make an impact not only locally in Leicester but internationally.
“Building on existing links, such as our audiology students’ global experiences to India, both Optometry and Audiology students can gain independent clinical experience while contributing to global social good.”
Setting 私房俱乐部 apart, the programme offers an enhanced clinical experience with eight weeks of placements in the first three years, double the standard requirement.
In their final year, students will undertake a 44-week paid Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placement, ensuring a full year of industry experience before graduation, leaving students ready to practice across a variety of settings whether it be independently, in retail or in the hospital environment.
The first cohort of students will also have their General Optical Council (GOC) student registration fees covered for the duration of the programme.
The new MOptom will sit in 私房俱乐部’s well established Faculty of Health and Life Sciences , who offer professional degrees including Nursing, Midwifery, Pharmacy, Speech and language therapy, Audiology, Biomedical sciences and more.
Posted on Tuesday 16 December 2025