Elective bursaries

A medical elective is a short-term placement where medical students gain hands-on experience in real healthcare settings. Electives can be take place in the UK or abroad and are usually arranged by students during a dedicated elective period, often in the final or penultimate year of medical school.

We’ve compiled a list of organisations that offer bursaries for medical student electives. Make sure to read the application criteria carefully and visit individual websites for more detailed information. If you provide funding for medical electives and wish to be listed on this page, please contact us

The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland

Applications are invited from medical students studying in Great Britain and Ireland to apply to the AAGBI Foundation for funding towards a medical student elective. 

Funding: Maximum of £750

Apply

The British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons

Bursaries available to support medical students who wish to undertake research, travel or an elective in a subject related to plastic surgery.

Funding: Ten awards of £500 each, available annually.

Apply

The British Geriatrics Society

A limited number of grants are available to enable medical students to make use of their elective period for a project concerned with health or health care in old age either in the UK or abroad. 

Funding: Limited number of grants of up to £500.

Apply

The British Medical and Dental Student’s Trust

The BMDST-RSM Advisory Board are awarding elective funding to successful applicants who want to undertake a specific project on their medical elective.​

Funding: Bursaries between £500-1000 available.

Apply

British Neuropathological Society

The Society is offering prizes to promote activities in Neuropathology.

Funding: Maximum £600

Apply

The British Society for Haematology

Student Elective Scholarships for students undertaking electives in the field of haematology.

Funding: Twenty grants of up to £1000 available.

Apply

CoScan Travel Awards

The travel awards scheme was initiated in 1985, the ‘International year of Youth’, and its aim is to help young British people to visit a Scandinavian country. It is open to anyone between the ages of 15 and 25, planning to undertake a worthwhile project of a broadly educational nature.

Funding: Awards are generally in the region of £100 – £200.

Apply

Institute of Medical Ethics

Bursaries available to support Medical Student Electives on issues in medical ethics.

Funding: Bursaries of up to £800 each.

Apply

Lady Allen of Hurtwood Memorial Trust

Applications are invited from candidates with a scheduled project in mind who can offer full details of how the award will help them to gain specific knowledge and experience which will enhance the quality and nature of their work with young children and their families.

Funding: The awards, granted annually, normally in the region of £1,000.

Apply

Pathological Society

Funding to support research projects in pathology or gain experience in diagnostic departments during elective.

Funding: £150 per week for a maximum of eight weeks.

Apply

Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh

Several schemes available including Bursaries for Affiliate Medical Student Elective Placements in Africa, Bursaries for Undergraduate Elective or Vacation Studies, Wong Choon Hee Medical Student Elective Travel Bursaries, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Medical Student Elective Travel Awards.

Funding: various

Apply

Royal College of Pathologists

The scheme is jointly funded by RCPath and partner societies from the different disciplines and will offer small grants of up to £1,000 to help support undergraduate medical and veterinary students who wish to undertake electives in pathology disciplines.

Funding: Bursaries of up to £1000.

Apply

Royal Society of Medicine

Various prizes and awards available.

Funding: various

Apply

Scar Free Foundation

The Scar Free Foundation offers awards for students to undertake their electives for research in the area of wound healing and scarring conditions.

Funding: Up to £1200

Apply

Worshipful Society of Apothecaries

The Faculty of Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine offers three annual student elective prizes for medical student electives in the fields of Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine.

Funding: Three annual student elective prizes worth £750 each.

Apply

South Asian Health Foundation

The South Asian Health Foundation, a UK charity whose aims are to improve the health and well-being of South Asians, is delighted to invite applications for two medical student elective bursaries of £250.

Funding: £250

Apply

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