Scholarships, awards and prizes

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists offers a range of scholarships, awards and prizes every year to undergraduates, researchers and clinicians. Interested? Find out more here.

Each year, we offer a generous number of scholarships, travel awards and clinical/research fellowships in partnership with other organisations. These cover a wide variety of areas, from specialist research, to help with funding placements and overseas travel.

An award grant is a great way to enhance continued professional development and contribute to research, service development and audit for the benefit of eye care services in the UK.

Awards are added through out the year. Please watch out for announcements in EyeMail and on College social media platforms.  Direct any travel awards and scholarship enquiries to [email protected].

Please note: the Patrick Trevor-Roper Undergraduate Travel Award has come to an end. There is no replacement undergraduate travel award planned at this stage. If this changes, there will be an announcement via the usual channels: EyeMail, College social media platforms, and on this page.

Please see the ‘Examinations Awards’ tab below for details of all awards offered to examination candidates. Please note, all queries regarding examinations award should be directed to [email protected]

 

Open Awards

2025 Keeler Scholarship

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Keeler Scholarship.

PURPOSE

To enable the Keeler Scholar, for the subsequent benefit of ophthalmology in the UK, to study, research or acquire special skills, knowledge or experience at a suitable location in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for a minimum period of six months.

VALUE

Up to £30,000.

SPONSORING COMPANY

Keeler Limited.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be Fellows, Members or Affiliates of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, those Fellows, Members and Affiliates being in good standing.

Potential applicants who have received substantial (usually meaning amounts greater than the value of the scholarship) funding for their project are not eligible for the Keeler Scholarship.

The Trustees will give special consideration to candidates intending to make a career in ophthalmology in the United Kingdom.

Applicants may apply retrospectively but should not be more than 3 months into the fellowship for which they are applying for support by 8 September 2025 (application closing date).

The closing date for applications is Monday 8 September 2025.

Further details, and the application form, can be found here.

The following awards are offered to examination candidates on an annual basis. Please direct any queries regarding these awards to [email protected]

 

Crombie Medal = Awarded for the highest mark in Part 1 FRCOphth on first attempt (October-April/May).

Elizabeth Hunt Medal = Awarded for the highest mark in Refraction Certificate on first attempt (for the previous year December/January to July).

Harcourt Medal = Awarded for the highest mark in Part 2 Oral on first attempt (November to April).

Dr Sadhu Ram Gupta Award = Highest mark in Part 2 Oral for overseas candidates only.

Awards & Prizes Reports

Read the reports from previous successful applicants and hear what they achieved with their awards and prizes.

Read more