Optometry MOptom General Optical Council Approval Process

The University of Leicester continues to work positively and constructively with the General Optical Council (GOC) towards securing full approval for the course. This is a staged process and we are working towards permission to recruit (i.e., enrol) students by the General Optical Council in September 2026 (Stage 3 of GOC approval). The qualification does not yet have GOC approval until a decision is made at Stage 5 of the approval process (i.e., Stage 5 is the final stage of the process and takes place in the academic year in which the first cohort of students reach their final year of study). 

Please note, this is the standard procedure for any new MOptom degree in the UK. Whilst we are working constructively with the GOC to ensure that we meet the requirements to achieve relevant approvals at each stage, which is ongoing for each year until our first cohort graduates, there is a possibility that approval may not be provided despite our best efforts. In this situation your progress will be paused pending GOC approval of the relevant stage. In cases where full approval is not granted by the GOC, you would graduate with the relevant exit award (although this would not be registerable with the GOC). It should be noted that students may be eligible to enrol with other Optometry programmes to complete their studies.

In the event that the University does not obtain Stage 3 the GOC’s approval process (Permission to Recruit Students) in time to commence your studies in September 2026, we would offer to hold your place until our next intake of first year. Alternatively we can release your place to allow you to explore alternative courses through Clearing.

If you have any questions about this, please contact the Optometry team optometry@le.ac.uk.