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 Master Degree in Advanced Optometry

The main goal of the Master Degree in Advanced Optometry is to provide a high level professional qualification in the field of Optometry, in order to allow the Optometrist to deal with the new challenges, responding to the demands of today's societies. 

The Master's program provides to the student theoretical classes based on scientific evidence from scientific databases, simultaneously with practical classes where the student has access to the most advanced technology in ophthalmic imaging and ocular examination, clinical cases presented by the professors and patients. 

The Master's program runs in a semi-intensive regime that allows the employed student to attend and follow theoretical and practical classes concentrated in two days per week and a maximum of 3 subjects running in parallel at the same time. The student is also stimulated to make searches in scientific database to increase the body of knowledge obtained in the classes and to present the results in the classroom. 

The Master's program ends with an original thesis where the student shows the skills got in scientific research activities. This thesis might be replaced by professional traineeship and respective report.​

The Master Degree in Advanced Optometry is taught in portuguese language.

Fees (non-refundable)

Number of vacancies

Access requirements​

Ranking criteria










2024/2025

General


Academic degree:
  • Master's degree
ECTS:
120
Duration:
4 curricular semesters
Regime:
Daytime
Place:
Gualtar Campus, Braga (UM)
Main Scientific area:
  • Optometry and Vision Sciences

Contacts


    School of Sciences
    Campus de Gualtar
    4710 - 057 Braga

    Tel: +351 253604390 Fax: +351 253604398
    E-Mail: cpedagogico@ecum.uminho.pt; sec@ecum.uminho.pt
    URL: http://www.ecum.uminho.pt

Description


The main mission of the University of Minho is to create, disseminate and apply knowledge. Grounded in the liberty of thought and in the plurality of the critical thinking exercises. It promotes the higher education and contributes to the construction of a model of society based on humanitarian principles, having knowledge, the creativity and innovation, as factors of growth, sustainable development, wellbeing, and solidarity. Inspired by these principles, this course promotes the scientific knowledge in the field of optometry and vision sciences towards the empowering of the students to excel professionally or scientifically. These students will have access to advanced clinical techniques and tools and advances research techniques and tools, supported by the up-to-date existing scientific knowledge. The clinical and scientific practice will be highly supported by the correspondent and inherent scientific knowledge. The close connection with the Department and Center of Physics, Math, Chemistry and Biology of the School of Sciences of the University of Minho will create the required network of competencies to nurture the development of broader and advances competencies. This advanced knowledge will be paramount to support the student in having access to advanced and specialized jobs.

Key learning outcomes


1. To provide a high-quality training with permanent evolution to support the development of the optometry so the optometrist can accept new challenges inherent to the profession, to better face the demanding’s of the present societies.
2. To develop the research in Optometry field, enabling a progression into a 3rd level degree of training.
3. Provide the student with competencies that will increase and update its core abilities to practice Optometry. In particular, in fields like the detection of pathologies of the anterior and posterior eye segments, ocular manifestations of systemic diseases, visual therapy, low vision, occupational optometry, vision in sports and in problems related with learning, and pre and post ocular surgeries assessment.
4. Unequivocally contribute to improve the Optometrists’ core and scientific competencies so they can, independently, contribute to increase the scientific knowledge in Optometry.
5. Enabling the acquisition of clinical competencies by enroll the optometrist in multidisciplinary research teams in the field of visual health, by observing ophthalmic surgeries, by their involvement in the fitting of contact lenses in special cases, by the prescription of optical aids in low vision cases, and by creating and applying visual therapy programs. These competencies may be acquired at the Optometry Clinic, that will be available at the Department of Physics in the University of Minho.
6. Consolidate and enlarge the knowledge in clinical optometry obtained during the undergraduate degree in Optometry and Vision Sciences, mainly in advanced contact lenses fitting, visual therapy, low vision, and vision in sports.

Access to higher education


The graduates of the Master in Advanced Optometry may continue their studies in the field, mainly by joining the PhD program in Optometry and Vision Sciences. Also, they may enroll on other PhD programs as the Physics or Health Sciences programs.

Careers


The following professional exits are available to the students that graduate from the Master in Advanced Optometry:
- Acting as an Optometrist in a multidisciplinary environment in an ophthalmology or an optometry clinic;
- Work in companies of ophthalmic and contact lenses, and ophthalmic and optometric equipment;
- Multidisciplinary teams focused in processing and analyzing vision in an industrial environment, in particular in the field of eye safety;
- Be part and work in research teams in optometry and vision sciences or clinical optometry, in multidisciplinary environments.

Access


25

Vacancies

12

Minimum

Access forms


The access to this Cycle of Study can be done at the Students Portal of the University of Minho
https://alunos.uminho.pt/EN/candidates/MastersDegrees/Pages/default.aspx

This information does not replace consultation of the Academic Regulations of the University of Minho and other official documents.

Formal requirements


The candidates to the Master in Advanced Optometry are:
a) Holders of an undergraduate degree in the field of Optometry or Optometry and Vision Sciences.
b) Holders of an international undergraduate degree in Optometry, organized following the principles of the Bologna’s rules, awarded by a country adherent to the process.
c) Holders of an international degree as recognized by the scientific council of the School of Sciences as a degree to fulfill the requirements to be a degree in Optometry.
d) Holders of a scholar, scientific or professional curriculum, as recognized by the scientific council of the School of Sciences as awarding of the competencies required to obtain the present degree successfully.

Application deadlines


Information on Application Deadlines can be found at:
https://www.ecum.uminho.pt/en/Ensino/Pages/Applications-for-Master-Programmes-.aspx

Registration deadlines


Information on Registration Deadlines can be found at:
https://www.ecum.uminho.pt/en/Ensino/Pages/Applications-for-Master-Programmes-.aspx

Aditional Information


Study Plan


Regime Curricular Unit Scientific Area ECTS
Year 1 60
S1 Applied Biostatistics M 5
S1 Assessment Methods and Ocular Imaging OCV 5
S1 Ocular Pathology and Pharmacology CBiom 5
S1 Opção I 5
Advanced Orthokeratology OCV 5
Occupational Optometry OCV 5
Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Diseases CBiom 5
Ocular Surface Management OCV 5
Specialty Contact Lens Practice OCV 5
Strabismus and Amblyopia OCV 5
S1 Opção II 5
Advanced Orthokeratology OCV 5
Occupational Optometry OCV 5
Ocular Surface Management OCV 5
Specialty Contact Lens Practice OCV 5
Strabismus and Amblyopia OCV 5
S1 Opção III 5
Advanced Orthokeratology OCV 5
Occupational Optometry OCV 5
Ocular Surface Management OCV 5
Specialty Contact Lens Practice OCV 5
Strabismus and Amblyopia OCV 5
S2 Introduction to Epidemiology OCV 5
S2 Research Techniques in Optometry and Vision Sciences OCV 5
S2 Opção IV 5
Evolution and Control of Myopia OCV 5
Low Vision OCV 5
Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Diseases CBiom 5
Sports Vision OCV 5
Vision and Learning OCV 5
S2 Opção V 5
Case Studies in Optometry OCV 5
Evolution and Control of Myopia OCV 5
Low Vision OCV 5
Sports Vision OCV 5
Vision and Learning OCV 5
S2 Opção VI 5
Pre-and Post-Surgical Optometry OCV 5
Strabismus and Amblyopia OCV 5
Visual Analysis of Populations with Special Needs OCV 5
Visual Therapy OCV 5
S2 Opção VII 5
Pre-and Post-Surgical Optometry OCV 5
Strabismus and Amblyopia OCV 5
Visual Analysis of Populations with Special Needs OCV 5
Visual Therapy OCV 5
Year 2 60
A Opção VIII 60
Clinical Internship OCV 60
Dissertation OCV 60

Assessment/Accreditation


A3ES Accreditation status:
Accredited
Resolution publication date:
14-03-2022
A3ES submited report:
Registry number at Ministry:
R/A-Ef 2538/2011/AL02
Registry Date:
30-06-2022
Accreditation validity:
31-07-2027