Zinātnieku nakts 2025Professional master's study programme "Clinical Optometry" (4 or 5 semesters)
Programme level: Professional Master's
Language of instruction: English
Study form and duration: Full-time (2 years) or Part-time (2.5 years)
Credits: 120 ECTS
Obtainable degree or qualification: Professional Master degree in Clinical Optometry
Number of students accepted each year: State-funded study places - 0, study places for tuition fee minimum 5 - 16
Tuition fee per year (ac. year 2025/26): 6000 EUR for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, permanent residence permit holders and their family members. 6000 EUR for citizens of other countries
Study location: Tornakalns
The professional master’s study programme “ Clinical Optometry” offers diversified, wide-ranging studies based on the vision science and contemporary problems of primary vision care. The professional qualification offered upon acquisition of the programme meets the requirements of the professional standard "Optometrist".
Acting Director of the Study Programme Evita Kassaliete
The study program is designed to ensure the growth of the young optometrist as a specialist, acquiring knowledge, skills and competences that meet not only the standard requirements of the optometrist profession, employer requirements and the specifics of the labour market, but also the requirements of the optometrist profession defined in Europe and Category 3 (without the use of medication) requirements defined by the World Optometrists Council in the Global competency-based model of scope of practice in optometry, which provides that the optometrist offers not only optical services (management and dispensing of ophthalmic lenses, ophthalmic frames and other ophthalmic devices that correct defects of the visual system), but also provides primary vision care (evaluation and management of defects of the visual system), including evaluation, differentiation, and management of the health status of the eye structures and related general diseases (including referral to other specialists for diagnosis and treatment).
The study programme (120 ECTS) contains compulsory (part A), optional (part B), and practical courses. The practical training (internship) accounts for 39 ECTS. Part A includes specialisation courses: eye diseases and pharmacotherapy, low vision, contact correction, visual perception, as well as the Qualification examination and Master’s thesis. Part B contains clinical and experimental courses in optometry. The Qualification examination consists of a theoretical knowledge test in optometry and a practical examination in the evaluation of the patient's visual function and vision correction. Defence of the Master’s thesis and Qualification examination are the final stages of the Professional Master’s study programme aiming to evaluate students’ research skills, as well as theoretical and practical knowledge, and their correspondence to the requirements of qualification in optometry.
Part C of the free choice (3 ECTS) allows the student to acquire additional knowledge in courses of other fields at the University of Latvia, other universities in Latvia or abroad.
There is an additional opportunity to gain international study experience and new knowledge in one of the many partner universities during the semester of ERASMUS+ studies.
By fulfilling the requirements of the program, a graduate acquires extensive professional skills and abilities in the field of primary vision care – optometry, as well as academic knowledge, skills and competences in vision science, in order to be able to independently develop research at optometrist's workplace or to continue studies in the doctoral programme in Latvia or abroad.
Admission requirements for international students
1. Bachelor degree in Optometry*
2. The average grade in study courses must be 60% of the maximum.
3. English language proficiency.
*Complies with the requirements of the Latvian Standard for the Profession of Optometrist
During a single cycle of studies, students have the opportunity to spend up to 4 months abroad for internships.
Short-term mobility options are also available through the FORTHEM Alliance, offering students the chance to gain new knowledge and skills in international environment.
opto.metodike@lu.lv