At Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, MA/MS in Clinical Vision Science is offered as a master's degree in Optometry programme. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered on campus.
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Optometry
Duration: 2 years
Delivery: On Campus
We have no tuition fees on record for this programme yet — see the official programme page.
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Clinical Vision Science is a graduate program delivered full-time and in person from Halifax, offered as either a Master of Science or a Graduate Diploma in Orthoptics and Ophthalmic Medical Technology, delivered in partnership with the IWK Health Centre. The program combines classroom-based vision science courses, laboratory training, supervised clinical practica, and, in the thesis stream, independent research. The thesis stream runs three years or more and requires 45 credit hours of coursework, 12 credit hours of clinical practica, and a research thesis; the non-thesis stream runs two years, covering the same coursework and clinical training without a thesis, and exits with a Graduate Diploma rather than the master's degree. The program states it is the only one in Canada able to certify graduates in both orthoptics and ophthalmic medical technology. Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a B average, and the program recommends a background in anatomy, neuroscience, physiology, biology, or a related science; applications are also assessed on references, a letter of intent, and a CV, with a March 1 deadline for September entry. The program suits students aiming for clinical careers as orthoptists or ophthalmic medical technologists, including those considering further doctoral study.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: Dalhousie's MSc in Clinical Vision Science requires an honours degree or four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B average); no prior background in optometry or ophthalmology is required. Recommended (not mandatory) undergraduate coursework includes human anatomy, neuroscience, neuroanatomy, psychology, physiology, biology, biochemistry, physics and statistics. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the Faculty of Graduate Studies English-language proficiency requirement: TOEFL iBT 92, IELTS Academic 7, CAEL 70 (no band below 60), or PTE Academic 65 overall (nothing below 54). Applications also require letters of reference, a letter of intent and a CV. The program's next application deadline is March 1 for a September start.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:Dalhousie's live Dates and Deadlines page still shows the September 2026 entry cycle as of mid-September 2026, not the 2027 cycle. For that cycle, Bachelor of Science (Nursing), Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science (Medical Sciences) and Bachelor of Social Work close February 15, 2026; the Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (Architecture) closes March 1, 2026; and the Health Sciences post-diploma option closes June 15, 2026. All other undergraduate programmes are considered on a rolling, space-available basis for both domestic and international applicants, with no separate international closing date published; May 15, 2026 is only the deposit and English-proficiency deadline, not an application deadline. Dalhousie has not yet published September 2027 entry dates. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
