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

Applications are now open to the Sir William Lister and Dorey Bequest Travel Awards. The administrative process for the two travel awards has been amalgamated for the purposes of application.

The award is for ophthalmologists in training who are citizens of the United Kingdom as well as Members and Fellows of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, in good standing.

Those who have received a travel award from the Ethicon Foundation Fund are not eligible to apply. Retrospective applications will not be considered.

Successful applicants will submit a report to the Education Committee on completion of the period of training or research for which the award is granted.

Dorey Bequest Sir William Lister Awards Application Form 2026

The closing date is Tuesday 1 September 2026.

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