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.
“Diabetic eye screening in the UK – evaluate the effectiveness, progress, challenges and future directions.”
The competition is open to all those currently in a UK Foundation Programme (F1, F2) at the time of submission, as well as those who have completed the UK Foundation Programme but have not yet achieved an OST1 post.
Essays must be up to 1500 words.
Essays should be submitted to [email protected] by 9.00am on Monday 15 September 2025.
The 1st prize winner will have free entry into the Royal College of Ophthalmologists Annual Congress May 2025 to present work as a poster and will be invited to attend the 2025 Admission Ceremony. The winners of 2nd and 3rd place will be presented with certificates.
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).
HarcourtMedal = 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.
T. F. C. Frost Charitable Trust – Advertisement for Clinical Fellowship Funding for UK Ophthalmology Residents
The T. F. C. Frost Charitable Trust is pleased to welcome applications for clinical fellowships from ophthalmologists currently training in the UK. Applicants should demonstrate that the fellowship period is at a centre of excellence, usually abroad, and that the training will impact the career of the applicant as well as UK ophthalmology more broadly. Awards will be made strictly on merit and will generally be up to a maximum of £50,000 depending on the circumstances in each case
The following information should be included in the application:
Summary of the proposed clinical and research fellowship
Start date and period of funding
Funding required, including details of consumables and expenses
Place of research e.g. name of hospital or university
Applicant’s curriculum vitae
Letter of support from the host institution
Completed applications should be submitted by email to the Trustees’ secretary, Mr John Holmes F.C.A. at [email protected] no later than 30th October 2025. The applications will be reviewed at the next Trustees’ meeting at the beginning of December 2025.
Dates of upcoming application calls and deadlines:
Trustee meetings are held twice in the calendar year and applications are due no later than 30th October.
Brief History of the T. F. C. Frost Charitable Trust
The Trust was established in 1966 and has made impactful contribution to ophthalmology, including:
Funded in excess of 150 Fellowships (including 46 overseas)
Donated in excess of £5.1m for research and training
Established the first Glaucoma Unit at Moorfields Hospital in 1980 for £200,000
Established the School of Nursing in 1989 at the St John of Jerusalem Ophthalmic Hospital and the Endowment of the Frost Bed in perpetuity in 1981
Established the Frost Chair in Ophthalmology at the University of Aberdeen in 1989
Established the Frost Chair at St Thomas’ Hospital in 1990
Awards & Prizes Reports
Read the reports from previous successful applicants and hear what they achieved with their awards and prizes.
