The College of Optometrists

England - Department for Education and Skills

Wales - Learning Wales

Student Loan Information

Student Loans Company

College Summer Research Scholarships
The aim of the Summer Research Scholarship Scheme is to encourage high calibre optometry undergraduate students to consider a career in research or academia by sponsoring a short period of experience in an active research laboratory.

To be eligible for an award, applicants must be undergraduates on a UK optometry degree course, preferably in the penultimate year of their course and expect to achieve a first or upper second-class honours degree.

The aim of travel bursaries is to provide financial assistance to postgraduate students to enable them to present papers on their research at conferences. To be eligible for an award, students must be Fellows or Members of the College and must be undertaking a postgraduate course approved by a university for the award of a higher degree. Bursaries are awarded for either a poster or oral presentation.

For further information please speak to Theresa Murtagh 020 776 6364 or e-mail:
theresa.murtagh@college-optometrists.org

Wiseman Memorial Fund

The principal activity of the Wiseman Memorial Fund is to make grants to students of ophthalmic or dispensing optics for the advancement of useful knowledge or for the benefit of visually imperfect; and to encourage education and research in the science of ophthalmic optics in all its branches.

Hardship Award - Second year students facing exceptional financilal difficulties in progressing their course of optical education may apply to the fund for grants. The Fund is not able to support first year students or charities.

Travel Award - The fund provide grants to those who have recently obtained an optical qualification and who wish to promote optics overseas. The award is designed to help meet costs of goaing abroad to work on a voluntary basis.

Research Award - The trustee will consider making an award to assist those undertaking ophthalmic research. A detailed application outlining the area of the research and making a case for consideration is required.

Annual Prizes - The Fund awards an annual prize to the optical technician of the year who gains the best examination results. Equipment Purchase - The Trustees will consider applications for finanacial assistance for the purchase of essential instruments for the personal use of a student. e.g. ophthalmoscopes, retinoscopes etc. Conditions requiring repayment of the grant or return of the instrument may be imposed, so that in future applicants can be assisted.

Optical Workers Benevolent Fund - Trustees of the Wiseman Fund also manage on behalf of the optical industry a benevolent fund for those who have previously worked in the optical manufacturing industry who find themselves imppoverished or otherwise in need. For further information on any of the above awards please contact:

Federation of Manufacturing Opticians

Tel: 020 7298 5123

Email: office@fmo.co.uk

College Research Scholarship

The College awards up to 10 postgraduate research scholarships on an ongoing basis. Each scholarship is normally for a maximum of three years full time research leading to the award of PhD.

To be eligible for an award, students must be Fellows or Members of the College although this requirement does not apply to the project supervisor. However, if the supervisor is not an optometrist he or she should be an ophthalmologist, orthoptist or recognised visual scientist.

For further information please speak to Theresa Murtagh 020 776 6364 or e-mail
theresa.murtagh@college-optometrists.org

The value of each research scholarship in the academic year 2005-2006 is made up as follows:-

£15,000 (in London)

£13,000 (outside London)

Plus a tuition fee benchmarked against fees recommended by DfES for students holding awards from one of the Research Councils: for 2005-2006 the fee is £3010

Bridging the Gap Disabled Student Allowances leaflet.

Tel: (0800) 7319133

Disabled Person's Tax Credit Leaflet

Tel: (0800) 882200