The College of Optometrists partners with Boots Opticians to launch funded PhD scholarship

The College of Optometrists has partnered with Boots Opticians to launch a fully funded PhD scholarship supporting research with the potential to advance optometric knowledge and improve patient care.

The scholarship will cover university tuition fees and provide a grant for maintenance costs and research-related expenses for a PhD researcher at a UK university offering an undergraduate degree in optometry. The successful candidate must be a College of Optometrists member.

Applications from prospective PhD researchers and supervisors will open on 1 October 2026 and close on 19 February 2027, with one PhD scholarship available during the 2026–2027 year.

Boots Opticians director of optical practice, Kyla Black, shared that as an optometrist she is passionate about the future of the profession and the patients optometrists care for every day.

“That’s why I’m particularly proud that Boots Opticians is partnering with the College of Optometrists to fund this PhD scholarship. Investing in research is vital to the continued development of optometry, helping to advance knowledge, drive innovation and strengthen the evidence that underpins the high-quality care our patients deserve,” she said.

College of Optometrists director of knowledge and research, Mike Bowen, highlighted that the scholarship represents an important investment in the future of optometry research.

“By inviting applications across all areas of optometry research, we hope to encourage innovative ideas that will strengthen the evidence base for clinical practice and ultimately benefit patients. We look forward to receiving applications from universities across the UK,” he said.