Professional Certificate in Glaucoma

Module

Attendance mode: Part-time
Start date(s): September, January, June
Duration: 3 months
Location: Distance learning

UK students can apply

Overview

The next available intakes are June 2025 and September 2025.

The programme is based in the School of Optometry and Vision Science, which has continued to pioneer high-quality new developments in optometric education, and it is recognised both nationally and internationally for the excellence of its courses, graduates and research.

Professional accreditation

This module carries 20 credits at level 7, and is accredited for the Professional Certificate in Glaucoma for the College of Optometrists.

Entry requirements

Applicants must be a General Optical Council registered optometrist or from other registered allied Health Professions with an equivalent background.

What you will study

Distance learning lectures:

Classification, terminology and clinical features
Epidemiology and risk factors
Examination of the anterior segment
Pachymetry
Tonometry
Visual fields
Examination of the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fibre layer
Differential diagnosis
Detecting changes in clinical status
Patient information and support
Guidelines and landmark studies
Clinical governance

Practical workshops:

Binocular indirect biomicroscopy and optic nerve head assessment
Contact tonometry
Pachymetry
Van Herick and introduction to gonioscopy

Learning and assessment

The course is delivered by distance learning lectures, and a practical workshop at the university. Assessment is via written examination and a practical station-type examination.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

Professional Certificate in Glaucoma: £650
Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma: £1150

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

One of the University of Bradford's goals is to equip all our students with the attributes and capabilities to be confident and capable in their life beyond university.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Study support

Every student is assigned an individual member of academic staff from the School of Optometry and Vision Science as a Personal Academic Tutor, whose main roles are :

To monitor students’ progress through the degree programme
To provide references
To act as students’ representative at examination boards
To act as a contact point should a student have any personal problems for which they need advice or support

Research

The School of Optometry and Vision Science research group takes a multi-disciplinary approach to investigating vision and visual perception. This research informs our teaching, ensuring you are learning the very latest techniques and best practice. The group continues to build on over 35 years of vision research at the University of Bradford. Current research embraces a broad range of disciplines including ophthalmology, optics, ocular imaging, machine vision, psychophysics, biomechanics and visual neuroscience. Our aim is to further our understanding of the basic mechanisms of human vision in health and disease, as well as the functional consequences of visual loss. In pursuing this aim we have prioritised a strong translational research dimension and have developed an excellent track record of applying basic research to address clinical problems. The group has achieved a diversity that is naturally collaborative and multi-disciplinary, working with optometrists, ophthalmologists, orthoptists, medical engineers, physicists, psychologists and neuroscientists at local, regional, national and international levels.

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This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.