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The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers

Bursaries

Since we launched our bursary scheme, we’ve helped more than 140 people taking qualifications to lead to a career in eye health.

The amount of the bursary depends on what each applicant tells us they really need.  The maximum bursary value is £1,000.

You are eligible to apply if you are in any year of diploma or undergraduate study in the UK, on a recognised course at Level 4 or above which is designed to lead directly to a career in eye health. This includes part time, day release and block release students and people registered on government-approved apprenticeships at Level 4 and above directly related to eye health.  That includes students studying ophthalmic clinical support and ophthalmic imaging; degrees in optometry; degrees in ophthalmic nursing; and diplomas involving block release or blended learning alongside paid work.  

Students on access, foundation or 1-year introductory courses are not eligible for this scheme. We also do not award bursaries for post-graduate research Master’s or PhD level studies.

It is important to note that the scheme is competitive. Not everyone who applies will receive a bursary.  The scheme operates to a fixed timetable and applications must be submitted online using the form below.  The Trustees will not respond to individual emails or requests for help outside the terms of the student bursary scheme and the professional development award scheme for ophthalmologists in training.


Bursary winners will be notified and bursaries will be paid by 31 March in the year following application. If you have not heard back from us by this time, it means that your application has not been successful.

The bursary scheme for 2024/25 is now open. Applications must be submitted online using the form below. PLEASE READ THE GUIDANCE NOTES BEFORE COMPLETING THE FORM.

The criteria and questions on the application form change every year. The Trustees ask for information about your motivation to study, the decisions you have made so far and an idea of your budget, to try and identify those candidates who could benefit most from a little extra financial support to support their studies. General statements like "studying costs more than I expected" or "my food and rent bills have gone up this year" will not give the Trustees enough information to explain why you really deserve their help. The more detail you can give about the costs you need to cover, the most likely you are to succeed in your application. 

It's also important to note that the Charity's bursaries are intended to help people achieve a professional goal. In the past successful bursary winners have asked for help with many different things  - equipment, laptops, books, travel, basic needs like accommodation and food, childcare costs, driving lessons - even a new pair of spectacles. In each case they were able to put the costs into context and say why a bursary would make such a difference to their studies and future career.

The Trustees will not make grants to students who ask for money for personal expenses such as gym memberships, holidays, hairdressing, or to make gifts to charity or family members.

We typically receive 10 applications for each grant we can make, so it is worth spending time on your application.

" I am the first to attend university in my entire family on both sides and I always dreamed of making a difference to society – even if that is making someone smile! My first degree was in ophthalmic dispensing and I realised I loved this work. In 2021, I enrolled on the optometry course at Anglia Ruskin University knowing I would need to use all my savings and work both weekend days to fund my course.The bursary I received greatly helped towards purchasing my Optometry kit (ophthalmoscope and retinoscope) from Keeler. I practised on different members of my class, actively asked for hard patients and attended lab sessions to develop my competence. I graduated this summer and am now on my Scheme for Registration year.  (Jemini, bursary award winner 2023-24) 

Professional Development Awards

The Spectacle Makers’ Charity also has a Professional Development Award Scheme for ophthalmologists in training and ophthalmic nurses, to help with the costs of presenting work and taking up short term fellowships outside the UK.

We will consider making awards of up to £1,000 to cover the costs of international fellowships or presenting research findings via posters or presentations at national and international conferences such as ARVO, ESCRS etc. which would involve significant personal expense.

Award winners in this programme must provide written reports on their progress and must acknowledge the Charity’s help in social media posts and on the face of papers/presentations. The Charity Trustees will take a continuing interest in their future careers and award winners are warmly invited to join the Spectacle Makers’ Company, the oldest optical organisation in the world.

To apply for a professional development award, please fill in the online application form by clicking on the link HERE