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The Master’s Medal

Since receiving its Royal Charter in 1629, the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers has encouraged research into the prevention and treatment of vision impairment. Each year, the Company awards a bronze medal to encourage those taking higher degrees or pursuing higher level studies to publish their work. The Master’s Medal is individually inscribed and accompanied by an award of £750.

Submissions for the Master's Medal will next open in 2026.

The Master’s Medal is awarded to an early-stage researcher with the best peer reviewed paper within the broad area of vision science or eyecare, spanning laboratory studies to translational or public health research. The paper should have been based on higher-level study, and must report and interpret the results of research, defined as the process of investigation leading to new insights or new knowledge within a subject area. Articles under review, or those accepted for publication but not yet generally distributed, are not eligible. The applicant must have made a significant contribution to the work and this must be confirmed in writing as part of the application.

Please note that abstracts, data audits, reviews, commentaries and editorials will not be considered since they do not meet the definition of research.

Eligibility

This medal is targeted at those in the early stages of publishing research. Applicants must be registered for a research degree at doctoral level (Level 8 – PhD, MD or professional doctorate) with a UK higher education or medical institution, or be within one year of the date on the award letter for their doctorate. UK citizens undertaking research at this level outside the UK are also eligible. Your supervisor will need to confirm that the output submitted for the Master’s Medal forms part of your doctoral studies. We encourage applications from all eligible candidates, regardless of specialism, age, race, disability, gender or self-identification.

The judging panel is drawn from professors and senior staff working in UK universities and at senior levels in clinical practice. Care is taken to ensure that submissions are assessed by individuals with no supervisory or collaborative connection with the applicant. No account will be taken of any current or previous connection between applicants, supervisors or team members and The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers or with The Spectacle Makers’ Charity. Personal letters of support will not be taken into account in judging entries and should not be provided.

* Previous winners of the Master’s Medal may not reapply and candidates may not apply for more than one medal in the same year. Winners of the Master’s Medal may progress to apply for the Ruskell Medal, and winners of the Ruskell Medal may in turn apply for the silver Fincham Medal at an appropriate later stage in their careers. A separate Call for Submission and online application form for The Ruskell Medal can be found on the relevant page of this website.